Into Thin Air : A Personal Account of the Mt. Everest Disaster

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Summary: Intense Book. So gripping, it seems like fiction, not fact!
Review: I found myself consumed by this book. I had no interest in climbing before I read it, and certainly none now. I knew people had lost their lives on Everest, but I thought most were experienced climbers who overstepped their abilities. I thought Everest was so remote and difficult, climbing it was a novel experience. Now it's just another stop on the adventure tour for those that can afford the bus fare. Krakauer's narrative and, I thought, subjective approach, gives us insight into how things can go wrong even with the best intentions and planning. This was not a trip to the local mountains, yet reactions of some of the family members of the professionals that died were out of line in their criticism of Krakauer. Mistakes were made by all, both on a individual and group level. Krakauer acknowledged that even though they were a "team" they were really climbing as individuals.

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Summary: Exciting Read....
Review: This is a great, easy read. Finished it in 2 days. I highly recommend reading it and then getting out to see the IMAX film, which was filmed right after the disaster. My only problem with his writing. There are too many names to keep track of, and on one page he refers to someone by their first name, the next page he refers to the same person by their last name. Very confusing to keep track of who is who. Overall, I think it is a must read for anyone who loves the outdoors.

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Summary: A book you'll never forget...
Review: I read Into Thin Air in one sitting. I just couldn't put it down. Despite the criticism by some readers of Jon Krakauer's lack of objectivity, I think his account was balanced, and gave a balanced view of the tragic events of their Everest undertaking.

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Summary: could not put it down
Review: It was almost physically impossible to put this book down. I carried it everywhere with me for two days until I finished it, and then I took two more days to reflect on it. Anyone who likes survival stories will find this a must read.

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Summary: A lucid remembrance of a nightmare
Review: People do stupid things, and INTO THIN AIR recounts a fairly deadly instance of this on one of mother nature's obsticle courses. Read, ponder, and learn from it.

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Summary: Riveting!
Review: Jon Krakauer's account of what transpired on Mt. Everest on May 11, 1996 is superb. I admit that I was drawn into his tale and could not put down the book until I finished. However, I do feel that Krakauer himself is an egomaniac. He spent too much time trying to prove to the reader that he was a far superior climber than his teammates. It also seemed trivial that he ridiculed the paying clients just for the mere fact that they were wealthy. It is possible for a wealthy individual to be an excellent mountain climber. Luckily, the actual tale outshines his ego and the final product is a marvelous read.

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Summary: Morality -- does it exist at high altitudes?
Review: Hi. I am a senior in high school and I read this book for my Advanced Contemporary Literature class. I'd heard only good things about it from my friends so I thought it would be a good choice. Although it starts off slowly, which is necesary to provide the background to the trip, the climax becomes more and more anticipated with each page. The battle for survival at the summit makes the last 200 pages seem like 20. Krakeur writes with such passion and honesty, the reader is drawn into the delicate balance of life and death and feels the ups and downs of small accomplishments, then disatrous downfalls, with the climbers. One comment made in the book by a climber in another expedition, Shigekawa, poses an idea that seems to be an underlying issue of the book: "'Above 8,000 meters is not a place where people can afford morality.'" This is a scary statement because it advocates the "you're on your own" principle high atop Everest and that is a place where many people do need help and cannot survive on their own. I wonder, though, after reading of the severe effects of high altitude on the human mind, if it is even possible for morality to exist above 8,000 meters. Morality involves the conscious ability to determine what is the right action to take (the one beneficial to mankind, in the larger sense) and the wrong action to take. Hypoxia does not allow for this type of cognitive thinking to occur at high altitudes. Krakeur is having trouble forgiving himself for actions he did not take on the mountain that could have saved lives and, in retrospect, he realizes he should have taken them now, but how can he be held responsible for neglecting them when his brain was not functioning? One of the paradoxical aspects of Everest is that quickness of wit and sharpness of mind are necessary to conquer the mountain, yet the mountain denies its conquerors these things by restricting oxygen. I defintely recommend this book.

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Summary: This book proofs that we are not as Invincible as we think
Review: Mr. Krakauer's account of the tragedy he lived, shows us, normal humans, that we have limits, and that we aren't "Kings of the World". This is the kind of book that you don't want to put away. The description of the events that happened almost two years ago are incredible. The tale of all these adventurers is well described... It is a breathaking book.

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Summary: An amazing story told in a gripping way
Review: I found Krakauer's account of his expedition to Everest absolutely riveting. I couldn't put it down and managed to finish it in just two days. Mr. Krakauer has an amazing gift for story telling. He puts us there on the mountain with him to see and feel the agony and the ecstasy of the expedition. I highly recommend it!

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Summary: As good as writing gets.
Review: Ah, to be in thin air with the fierce winds and desolate beauty . . . it was a shock to the system to finish Jon Krauker's book. He made his harrowing experience real to the armchair climber. I admire his objectivity, his compassion and his concise writing style. He does not patronize but rather educates the reader. The book is a masterpiece!