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

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Product Details

Author : Jon Krakauer
Binding : Paperback
EAN : 9780385494786
Edition : 1
Number of Pages : 368
Product Group : Book
Publication Date : 1999-10-19
Publisher : Anchor
Release Date : 1999-10-19

ASIN : 0385494785

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Editorial Reviews

From Amazon.com

A bank of clouds was assembling on the not-so-distant horizon, but journalist-mountaineer Jon Krakauer, standing on the summit of Mt. Everest, saw nothing that "suggested that a murderous storm was bearing down." He was wrong. The storm, which claimed five lives and left countless more--including Krakauer's--in guilt-ridden disarray, would also provide the impetus for Into Thin Air, Krakauer's epic account of the May 1996 disaster. With more than 250 black-and-white photographs taken by various expedition members and an enlightening new postscript by the author, the Illustrated Edition shows readers what this tragic climb looked like and potentially provides closure for Krakauer and his detractors.

"I have no doubt that Boukreev's intentions were good on summit day," writes Krakauer in a postscript dated August 1998. "What disturbs me, though, was Boukreev's refusal to acknowledge the possibility that he made even a single poor decision. Never did he indicate that perhaps it wasn't the best choice to climb without gas or go down ahead of his clients." As usual, Krakauer supports his points with dogged research and a good dose of humility. But rather than continue the heated discourse that has raged since Into Thin Air's denouncement of guide Boukreev, Krakauer's tone is conciliatory; he points most of his criticism at G. Weston De Walt, who coauthored The Climb, Boukreev's version of events. And in a touching conclusion, Krakauer recounts his last conversation with the late Boukreev, in which the two weathered climbers agreed to disagree about certain points. Krakauer had great hopes to patch things up with Boukreev, but the Russian later died in a avalanche on another Himalayan peak, Annapurna I. Krakauer further buries the ice axe by donating his share of royalties from sales of The Illustrated Edition to the Everest '96 Memorial Fund, which aids various environmental and humanitarian charities. --Rob McDonald

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Customer Reviews

One of my favorite books. (2008-05-29)

I discovered this book after I read "Into the Wild", and quickly became a huge fan of Jon Krakauer. I am almost done reading "The Climb" by Anatoli Boukreev, another climber from the 1996 Everest tragedy, and much prefer Jon Krakauers book. Jon is very descriptive in "Into Thin Air", making constant sidenotes to explain mountaineering techniques and other information that readers may not understand. He is very thorough and honest when describing the events before, during, and after the Everest event...making the reader truly be able to picture themselves there. The book has photos as well...so we know what some of the climbers and guides look like...as where crucial events happened on the mountain. "The Climb" by Anatoli Boukreev seems to rush through the events, and not describe things as well. This book is a must read for outdoor enthusiasts, mountain climbers, and history lovers.

The Perfect Storm .. but on a mountain.. (2005-11-24)

many times whilst reading i found myself droping it from view and shaking my head. obviously without spoiling it for others, there is not a better example of this than the last sentence or paragraph.

on several occasions other climbers in desparate trouble were passed, sometimes without even a mere glance, and left to surely die. yet it's as if the climbers never actually weighed up the pro's and cons of stopping for fellow men (and women) but just that, in such extreme conditions, the thought process never even occurs.

one can never imagine this clime unless being exposed to it oneself, Into Thin Air is as close as we'll get.

i found the postscript diminishing the book though. the author defends his book in length which i found unnecessary considering he never attempted to explain the actions of others and also praised them in equal quantities throught the text. Jon Krakauer himself questions the risks involved in having a jounalist as part of the expedition, i prefer to question the risks of not having one present.

the book, whilst no doubt appealing to budding mountaineers, is equally enjoyable to those who relish good narrative non-fiction.

Where do I sign up for the next expedition (2005-04-25)

Although Jon Krakauer had been writing for Outside magazine for serveral years, and had published several novels, this is the book that put him on the literary map. Krakauer's first hand account of the Mt. Everest tragedy which claimed the lives of serveral mountain guides and their clients is a riveting tale of man against nature. It is also a cautionary tale of just how things can go wrong when the proper warning signs are not heeded.

On the whole, this book is well written. Krakauer's writing style is such that it easy to start reading this book and forget that you have a non-fiction book in your hands.

An Intense, Captivating and Emotional Read (2005-04-06)

I Can't begin to describe how amazing this book was. At many times you forget that this is a true story, the way it pulls you in, and once you do remember, the shock of that reality is unbelievable. I watched the Imax film at a museum while in the middle of reading the book, and didn't know that they were both from the same 1996 climbing season until about 15 minutes in and i finally clued in. The two together paint such a vivid picture, although i can never truly understand what it was like, of those tragic events, that i was caught completley off guard. All i can say is that, you, the person reading this comment, should most definitely pick this one up. Even if this is not the sort of book you normally read, i know it wasn't the sort of thing that i enjoy reading, trust me when i say that you will most certainly enjoy this one.

Good Story (2004-07-14)

An example of a Mt Everest expedition gone wrong and the personal account of the author who was there. Well written and exciting to read.

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