Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Everest Disaster

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and finished it within a week. I'm interested in Mount Everest and it's history so this was right up my street. There were many fascinating and inspiring stories from the author about the 1996 expedition and other mountaineering experiences from various people. There were also some tragedies that made for sad and emotional reading and it also made you admire the courage and determination of the climbers. All in all Jon Krakauer is an excellent author and this book was fantastic!

Chose this as an "adventure/exploration" read for our book club. Thought it was well written and conveyed a sense of excitement, thrill of the climb, grim reality of the living conditions and physical challenges and ultimately the horror and trauma of the disastrous outcome. I couldn't put it down. The references to other climbs provided further interest and a more complete picture. Have had other positive comments from the book club although we have not yet had our review session. Was slightly disappointed that this paperback version did not include the photographs listed at the front of the book.

After watching the movie "Everest," I felt compelled to buy this account. I've just finished this book and feel obliged to chip in. Firstly, it's written extremely well, with explanations for the bewildering amount of mountaineering jargon, aiding accessibility. The account moves long at a rapid rate and it is, to coin a well used phrase, a real page-turner. Krakauer transports you, through the medium of his words, into the expedition's footsteps. Through the filth and squalor at Lobuje to the stacks of empty oxygen bottles at South Col to the frozen corpses that litter the "Death Zone," you are on Everest with him. Secondly, I would disagree with the criticisms levelled at Krakauer regarding Anatoli Boukreev. The book was written from Krakauer's perspective, not an unbiased textbook. In Jon's OPINION, Boukreev was selfish to leave his group behind. Personally, I agree with Krakauer - if you are employed as a guide, you are there for your clients, not yourself. Having said that, no one living, was party to the conversations between Anatoli and Scott Fischer, leader of the Mountain Madness company. They may well have had a philosophy along the lines of: "When we hit a certain point, it's every man for themselves" and advised their clients of this philosophy. The clients in turn, may well have indemnified Mountain Madness to that effect. Who knows? Now, was Anatoli brave in doing what he did? Absolutely and he deserved every award and plaudit that came his way and I don't believe that Krakauer disagrees that Anatoli was brave. I think that Jon felt a lot of guilt over the fact that he was so exhausted and sick after arriving in base camp, that he couldn't assist in any rescue attempts. At the end of the day, we can dissect and argue until the cows come home, but the book is a cracking read and is highly recommended. I paid double its current £1.96 price and I still think it was a bargain.

This is a very informative account of not just the tragic events of 1996 but of Mount Everest itself. We learn exactly where it is, who first measured it as the tallest peak in the world and a timeline of those who attempted and succeeded in conquering it. There are many supporting facts, figures and stories of other people’s expeditions on Everest, each relevant to setting the scene for the attempt of 1996. The technicalities of mountaineering are well explained and should be easily understood by those without climbing experience. Perhaps the book’s biggest strength is in providing a close-to-the-action account of what life is really like for those who spend weeks on end surrounded by ice and snow. Jon captures their daily challenges perfectly and shows very clearly the sometimes invisible line between life and death. Occasionally that line is very thin and appears when you least expect it. Falling off a mountain usually results in certain death but in sub-zero temperatures even the most innocuous of tasks undertaken by the ill-prepared have the ability to ruin a climber’s day. As a leading witness to the fateful events of the 1996 ascent Jon Krakauer had an unenviable job in writing this book. Not only was he a professional journalist, he also returned alive leaving him with a near-monopoly in the early reporting of this tragedy to the public – an advantage that did not go unnoticed when the book was first published. Readers will have to decide for themselves whether he accurately and honestly produced a true and fair account of the whole event. Jon directly addresses this very issue himself in the Author’s Notes of his book going as far as to highlight a wide variety of conflicting views and their sources for further reference. Perhaps in part-vindication of his work, Into Thin Air remains, after twenty years, the number one bestselling mountaineering book on Amazon. Touching the Void is currently in second place. Either the subject of ice-climbing very tall peaks enjoys a loyal and steady following or we have an insatiable appetite for reading about high-altitude disasters! A great and timeless book. John Kean

This book is an impressive narrative about decisions and their consequences. A real and hard analysis carried out. More than a report, a legacy. Outstanding book.

Such a provocative read. Makes one question the stupidity and selfishness of the climbers, that makes them forsake all others in the name of glory. Not to mention those climbers who only made it to the summit because they were virtually carried by the Sherpa's, but still get the glory. There are always going to be glory hunters it is imprinted in our DNA. One would hope that there have been significant changes to the regulations regarding permitting climbers up the mountain, but I'm guessing that the almighty dollar wins out in such a poor country.

First of all I want to say that I'm not a climber and I have no desire to become one but I'm totally fascinated by these people that go and risk their lives to get on top of the highest mountains. This book is written extremely well and in my opinion is a very balanced recount of the events that took place on Everest in May 2006. Krakauer has been attacked from many people saying that he didn't portray the truth of what happened or the characters of certain climbers but I totally disagree with that. I think he's done a great job in trying to make sense of the tragedy and he doesn't blame anyone in particular for the outcome of the expedition. He merely points out many things that went wrong and things that could have been done differently (also from his part). Overall this is a great read.

A very well written, objective view of what happened in 1996 from someone who was actually there. Mr Krakauer offers an honest analysis of the events, his fellow climbers, guides and himself. You know you've done a good, honest job when not everyone is happy with the story. People tend to hide their shortcomings and tell only the parts of the story they want others to know. Mr Krakauer tells it how it is, regardless of who will like it and who will not. This includes admitting his own shortcomings, which is both admirable and courageous. I don't for one second think he was to blame for anything, but honesty about how one feels and views themself is important not only in the storytelling but also in the healing process. I hope Mr Krakauer has found some healing and meaning in his life from this experience. I would recommend this book to everyone, it is so well written that I am now seeking out his other work.

A fascinating and informative story. A few photographs would have been a nice addition to help understand the terrain but that is s minor quibble. Highly recommended for anyone who would like to understand what it might be like to climb Everest.