Lawson, J. (1997). Into thin air (Book Review). School Library Journal, 43, 150. Retrieved December 1, 2009, from Article Citation database.

Scott, A. (1997). Into thin air (Book Review). The New York Times Book Review, 102, 11-12. Retrieved December 1, 2009, from Article Citation database.

 

Very interesting story of mountain climber and his climb to the top of Mount Everest. ( )

In 1996, sponsored by Outside magazine, Krakauer went on a guided climb of Mount Everest, reaching the summit on a day that turned out to be one of the most deadly in Everest's history. A sudden storm trapped members of several expeditions near the summit, and eight people died. Krakauer's chronicle of these events is harrowing and gripping. ( )

A classic for the arm chair adventurer, outdoors enthusiast, or true adventurer.

The story has its detractors. In particular, other who end up in Krakauer's version of the story. My grumbling is that the author comes off sounding very proud of himself and finds few of his own errors. ( )

Krakauer was a member of a commercial guided expedition to Mount Everest in 1996. He was assigned to write about the commericalization of Everest, but his expedition and another were caught poorly prepared in the summit trek, and 8 perished, including the two organizers of the expeditions. The narrative was superbly fastpaced, and gripping, especially in the description of the horrible endurance required when the oxygen is low above 25000 feet. The mountain is a regular tourist trap, with used supplemental oxygen cylinders accumulating on the summit, and horrible hygenic conditions on the way up. It did nothing to encourage me to take up rock climbing, let alone high althitude climbing ( )

This is a harrowing true story of several expeditions to climb Mount Everest in 1996. Through bad luck (a massive storm hit unexpectedly) and bad judgment (among other things, preset turn around times were ignored), a number of climbers were stranded and both deaths and serious injuries ensued.

It's a well-written tale, in which Krakauer conveys both the details of the ascent process and the tremendous difficulties--not just the technical climbing aspects, although those play a part, but, more crucially, the physical and mental toll that the altitude and lack of oxygen take on the climbers. Even with a gradual process in which climbers take weeks at increasing altitudes to become acclimated, the higher altitudes make them sluggish and mentally foggy, as well as more vulnerable to a number of serious illnesses and frostbite.

I don't pretend to understand what makes people want to do dangerous, physically miserable pursuits like this, but I do get that it's an obsession for some--and a burden for their families, left alone for months to wonder if their adventurous loved one will return alive. This book will stay with me for a long time.

Into Thin Air is the story of the 1996 Mount Everest disaster as told by a reporter who was part of the expedition. Over the course of the climb down the side of Everest, twelve people lost their lives. Into Thin Air details exactly how they died to the best of Krakauer’s ability.
The book is, obviously, written in such a way that one knows from the beginning that specific people are going to die. That knowledge is what inspires the morbid fascination that kept me glued to this book for hours on end. Mountaineering, admittedly, is not something I am particularly interested in, and at times I did find it difficult to understand why on Earth anyone would want to climb up a mountain when there was obviously so much danger involved. I suppose that its thrill is similar to that of gambling, only the people climbing are betting not only money but also their lives on whether or not the mountain will kill them.
I mentioned a feeling of fascination coupled with morbidity, and this book did inspire a certain amount of anxiety, if not fear, in me, for I was reading about men- and women- who are now dead. Who staked everything on their ability to survive, on their guides’ ability to make decisions when thin air makes rational thinking all but impossible. Who gambled and lost. And their companions had to leave them behind.
One of the more frightening parts of this book is how Krakauer describes the death of each of these people in depth, whether they died of disease or froze in the snow. I did find that the descriptions that frightened me the most were those of Ngawang Topche and Yasuko Namba. Ngawang fell ill early on in the book but his death was no small matter. He had contracted HAPE, a dangerous high-altitude disease, which was made more dangerous by some pre-existing pulmonary condition. He was shuttled down the mountain and brought to the doctors as quickly as possible, but he still died after struggling for days. Yasuko made it to the top of Everest, but was trapped with the others when that fateful storm blew in. She and another member were separated from the group and lost their way trying to find the camp. When searchers found them they were both alive, both breathing, but it was evident that Yasuko had gone beyond the point where the doctors could save her. By some miracle those two had survived in the cold, and the expedition had to leave her behind anyway. If they hadn’t, there would have been more death.
Walking hand in hand with that reality is Everest, spreading its message that mountains are not things to be trifled with, no matter how skilled the climber. In the end, the mountain is the one that decides whether climbers live or die. The smallest storm on top of that mountain can kill a man easily. The truth is , as it says in the book, that getting to the top of a mountain is easy. It’s getting down that matters.
To tell the truth, just thinking about that freaks me out. To be on top of a mountain, where the air is thin enough that bottled oxygen is necessary, and there’s no promise of returning to the ground, and the wind slices through layers of cloth like a knife. I know that I’d never be able to climb up that high, no matter how euphoric the experience may be. For one thing, I’m afraid of heights, and for another I just don’t like the chances. I’m not very fond of gambling. ( )

Had I been 20 years younger when I read this book I think I might have had the courage to work towards climbing Everest myself. Even though this book is wrought with tragedy, the determination and drive to reach the goal is phenomenal. Once someone has achieved something that incredible it has to leave them with the knowledge that there is nothing they can't do if they try hard enough. ( )

When my son was assigned to read this book the summer before starting high school, our family decided to read it as well. I felt as if I were climbing Mt. Everest right along with Krakauer, who as a writer for Outside magazine, was asked to join an expedition in May of 1996 and write an article about it. upon returning, he realized the article did not do the expedition justice and decided to put this life-changing experience into a book. Krakauer begins each chapter with the location of the expedition, time, date and the elevation, along with a quotation. This true story will move you, as it did me.

This tragic true story touches on many events; too numerous to mention here. I found the arrogance, and cluelessness of some of the individuals inolved in the ascent to be appalling. The professional climbers should have known better. The commercialization of Everest is another tragedy in and of itself. At the end of the book I was amazed that anyone survived. At the same time, I wonder how hard it must have been for the author to sort through all the misery, and suffering, and write such a riveting book. My heart goes out to the families that were forever changed by these experiences. ( )

Climbing Everest had to be an obsession, a pretty strong one. Even with all the difficulties and pain the climbers went through, they kept pressing on. I wondered what they would do once they reached the top. There wasn't much description of what they saw from this pinnacle. In fact once Krakauer made it, he merely 'tagged the base' and turned around. Krakauer did cover the feelings well .. he lets you into his head; describing his impressions of the other climbers and the Sherpas. When the storm blew up and snuffed the life from several struggling to descend. I thought was it worth it? I guess I'll never understand why anyone would want to suffer like that with frostbite and hypoxia. I would have wanted to stay on top longer, or had more to say about being up there. All-in-all this book had me hooked, as far as wondering what happened to those who lost their lives. Knowing that several didn't make it back alive, had me feeling anixous for them and the moves they made. It was like knowing something bad would happen to them, but unable to stop them before it was too late. I feel sympathy for Krakauer, and the survior's guilt he endures. ( )

This was a pretty good book, but it is not one that I would let my child read. It was a little confusing with all the character names to memorize, but the themes from the book are very important. This book talks about the struggle of men to achieve their goals, and is really a good classic novel. Overall, this was a really good book. ( )

This is a book I have a pattern with: purchase, read, giveaway, rinse, repeat. I think this is the fourth or fifth copy I've had & the fourth or fifth time I've read it. I love this book. Krakauer's a great writer & the story is tragic on a grand scale.

I have very clear memories of when these awful events happened. I was working a graphic design job in a warehouse that looked out over a parking lot by Lake Union in Seattle. I had a little radio & would listen to NPR all day & that's where I heard the coverage of the people lost on the mountain & the attempts to rescue them & then the death toll. I remember it raining a lot during that time, but it was Seattle so it rained a lot all of the time. A friend of mine had a rock climbing housemate who knew Scott Fischer, one of the guides who died. The whole thing was heartbreaking & seemed so unnecessary.

Jon Krakauer was on Everest with Rob Hall's group as a journalist for Outside Magazine - to summit Everest & to write about the relatively new practice of commercial guided climbs on Everest. Like all of his books, Krakauer includes a fair amount of history - of mountain climbing, adventuring, & of Everest. He was one of the few people from the group that climbed that day that walked away alive & this book is definitely a survivor's meditation. There is a fair amount of controversy surrounding all of this - who did what when, who should've done what but didn't, who wanted to save his own ass more, who should never have been on the mountain. At the end of the day, though, I love this book - a tragedy that happens inch-by-inch as one decision after another adds up to disaster. ( )

Rating: A

So, I had planned to read this book for last year's Modern Classics challenge, but never got around to it. Then, after my sister incessantly berated me, I picked it up. It started kind of slow, as did Into the Wild (one of Krakauer's other books), but it got really good.

Krakauer has this way of telling a story where you already go in knowing what happens; seriously, he tells you in the preface notes that a bunch of people died in a horrible storm, but you still keep reading.

Why?

Probably because in the "tedious" set-up of the book, he has laid out the meticulous nature of these guides (whom you know end up dying in the end) and you ask yourself, "What went wrong?"

The only problem is that you can't really read this book if you're looking for answers--there aren't any. Sometimes accidents happen and the people who were in the position to anticipate and/or prevent the "accidents" are all dead, so we can't know their motivations or thought processes. Also, the people who are still alive sometimes have conflicting accounts of their own experiences.

None the less, the book does open up discussions for interesting topics such as, "If there's a point on the globe that's so high that it's nearly impossible to reach it without compressed air or the assistance of hard-working, and perhaps under-paid, sherpas, should we be going there?" Granted, there are a handful of people who have summited Everest without using canned air or the assistance of sherpas (one guy in 1996 did it... he's an all-star in my book), and maybe this mountain (a sacred part of Himalayan culture) should be left alone except for the truly exceptional people. Who knows? That's not necessarily for me to answer, but I've definitely been thinking on this for a couple of days now.

This book was so fantastic that I'd recommend for everyone I know to read it (with the up-front disclaimer that it's worth plugging through the "tedious" part so you can really get it in the end). Also, several other people who were on the trip have written their own accounts (my sister read Beck Weather's book, Left for Dead, and I'm intrigued beyond belief to read this, also Mike Groom, a guide from Scott Fisher's team who lived wrote a version based on his recollection).

All in all, this is a dynamite, fantastic, should be read by everyone in the entire world kind of book. (I only marked it down from A+ to an A because I would have preferred the "tedious" part to be a little less tedious, but I'm not entirely sure that's possible.) ( )

On New Year's Eve night, when I was visiting relatives with my kids, I picked up this book because it was on a table and there was nothing else to do. The reader is immediately transported to Nepal, and is looking up at the top of Everest. This book captures all the characters, and is so intense that I was immediately engaged with the story. Three hours later everyone in the house, including my kids, had put themselves to bed and I was still up reading. The next morning, as soon as the local bookstore opened, I was there buying my own copy because we had to leave and I wanted the six hour drive home to provide me with the time to read it.

This is an amazing story. The whole time I was reading it, I couldn't believe that people actually attempt to climb this mountain, and then wondered why they wanted to climb it. Each person in the book had their reasons, but I still wonder what part of their brain cells give them the impression that this is a good idea.

Don't get me wrong -- I respect these folks like no others, and admire their ability to follow a dream no matter what. ( )

Good account of Everest disaster in '96. ( )

For the record, John Krakauer has the dullest reading voice I've heard in a while. I'm surprised they didn't get an actor to read this book, but as it is Krakauer's personal life-story maybe they thought it'd be best if it was read by him. I have to give him props for one thing, though - when he knows an accent is beyond him, he might emphasize a word or two to let the reader know that the speaker is an Aussie or Nepalese, but he doesn't try to blow the accent up into a ridiculous stereotype.

This is an incredibly sad story. The deaths of eight climbers during the May 10th, 1996 summit attempt on Mt. Everest could have been avoided in so many ways...the first of which would be not climbing the idiot mountain in the first place. Seriously, people. Thin atmosphere, slippery ice, 7000 foot drops and hurricane-gale freezing storms? Only an idiot would put himself in such a situation to begin with.
Maybe I can never understand the people who would climb Mt. Everest or other extreme, dangerous sports because I would never put myself in such a situation. Because of this, I feel sorry for the people who die - no, scratch that. I feel sorry for the families they leave behind, the wives and husbands and children and parents. The climber must know what they're getting into when they force their bodies beyond human endurance to - to what, exactly? Take a piss off the summit of the highest point on earth? - and, well, if you put yourself in a suicidal situation then can anyone really be surprised when you die?
I do find myself agreeing with Krakauer's assessment that perhaps bottled oxygen should no longer be allowed, as it makes it much easier for unqualified climbers to attempt to topple Everest while littering the beautiful mountain with discarded cannisters. Lord knows the place is already full of unsightly debris with at least 150 dead bodies to be found (usually not buried, either.)

Into Thin Air is a fascinating account of Jon's successful summit attempt and the tragedy of the deaths of eight climbers. Excellent narrative, strong story. Jon's survivor guilt and confusion over the actions of himself and his teammates (choosing to abandon Yasuko Namba, for example, even though she was still alive, so that she died alone in the dark and cold) makes the account gripping and raw. As much as I disagree with the philosophy of climbers to tackle such deadly places, I admit it is fascinating to hear about their daring and determination. ( )

A page turner. ( )

The story of a terrible day on Everest in May 1996 when 8 people died on Everest. Karkauer was there and his account has been attacked by the relatives of some of those who died. Ultimately this book is a salutory reminder of man's place in nature and inability to control everything. Were mistakes made, probably, we are human, was this a tragedy that could have been averted? Probably not, people will always want to climb Everest because it is the highest point on earth, whether or not they should be allowed to is something that should be open to further debate. ( )

This book was every bit as good as I was told it was, and I don't even like mountain climbing. It's just amazing what people will put themselves through for a couple of minutes on top of the tallest mountain on Earth. It's also amazing how a bunch of trivial seeming things can snowball into such a disaster. I recommend this highly... ( )

This is a riveting first-person account of the author's trip to the summit of Mt. Everest. Originally conceived as a journalistic account of how professional guides were taking relatively inexperienced clients to Everest's summit, the book took a radically different turn when the expedition Krakauer was on became caught in a storm that ended tragically for numerous members of his and other expeditions. The books is gripping and really gives you a feel for what it feels like to make a climb like Everest. And the stories of those who survived and those who didn't will haunt you forever. Whether you like mountaineering or not, this is a riveting book written by one the most accomplished "journalist writers" around today. ( )

You have to give a book 5 stars if you finish it in less than 2 days right?

This book had me on the edge of my seat the entire way through until 1:30am this morning. My eyes are feeling it now. I was so engrossed in these people who risk their lives to reach the summit of Mount Everest. It takes a certain type of person to put themselves and their bodies through such torture for 5 minutes on top of the world.

The sad and terrible turn of events on the mountain in 1996 was not a new story to me. I remembered when it happened, I have watched numerous Discovery shows about it and seen the IMAX movie Everest. However, I had not read this true personal account of one of the team members before. Jon Krakauer does a wonderful job of sharing his experience and making you understand the conditions on the mountain that spring.

This book made me cry, it made me angry, and it made me very thankful that my rock climbing, backpacking husband has no interest in taking up high altitude mountaineering.

This book is getting past on to him next to further convince him that he has no desire to climb mountains. ( )

This book is 9th on the list of the National Geographic Adventure published a list of the “The 100 greatest adventure books of all time." A bit graphic in spots, but quite an insight into the mentality, passion, and discipline of extreme mountain climbing, as well as the uni-vision of "make it to the top" that overshadows everything else. Some interesting parallels for other passions we might have. ( )

Best read for: Personal enjoyment, book club read

In a nutshell: An indepth look at the author's experience climbing Mount Everst during the tragic climb of 1996. This book gives you a pretty good perspective of what climbers go through on high-altitude climbs. Once I started it, I couldn't put it down.

The book covers the tragedy that took place on Mount Everest around May 10th, 1996 involving two primary climbing teams, those of Scott Fischer and Rob Hall. The author was a member of the latter team. The mountain claimed the lives of 12 people within a short amount of time. Jon Krakauer did a wonderful job of telling readers about the groups and individuals on the mountain during their ascent. He also details the conditions the climbers face and how they prepare to reach the top.

At times, I feel the author may have been too hard on himself, but at least he shares his thoughts on what may have contributed to the disaster, and includes some reactions from relatives of those members who were lost as well as conversations with survivors.

On occasion I found the book a little hard to follow, as some descriptions and accounts of people or places didn't flow along with the story as well as I would have liked. That said, once I picked it up, I couldn't put it down.

I don't think I will ever truly understand what drives people to climb this mountain, especially after I read about what the climbers go through for a chance to try to reach the summit of the mountain. Learning what these climbers go through to make it to the top was amazing. There didn't seem to be any fun to be had on the journey, and the climbers sure seemed to suffer through a lot of medical problems and environmental challenges.

Reading about Jon's firsthand account of the expedition gives the reader great insight into what goes on, and the different reasons people choose to aim for the highest place on earth. He also provides a lot of factors that probably had a negative impact on the climb, and ultimately culminated in the disaster that so shocked everyone.

I read this book after my husband gently reminded me for two months or more that he was interested in discussing the events detailed in the book. I am glad I finally took the time to read it. I ended up recommending the book to one of the book clubs I participate in, and it turned out to be a very well-liked and very much discussed book. ( )