Into Thin Air
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Into Thin Air- Exceptional Read
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It's hard not to get attached to Krakauer's story. I didn't think I was going to like it, but it quickly became one of my favorite books ever. A fascinating story.
I read this book in 1998 (not long after the actual disaster) while trekking to Mt. Kailash in Tibet. Made my little journey seem less significant.
I've read twice at least and was eyeing it the other day in the bookshelf. Story does pull you in.
This book and Touching the Void launched my interest in the 'adventures' of these intrepid mountain climbers. After reading the Krakauer, I read the Boukreev and amazing Beck Weathers stories of the same event . However, I still say Into Thin Air was an excellent read.
Even though I already knew the fate of the climbers from news stories I could not put this book down. It is one of my favorite books. I think when we have our first snow here it will be time for me to read it again.
This was a great read. I'm fascinated by extreme mountaineering/climbing because *I* sure won't do it. It was a momentous event and being in the middle of it, Krakauer puts you right there on the mountain with him.
I loved this book and it launched me into at least a week of reading all about climbers on Mt. Everest including the Beck Weathers account.
Incredible book. It was like a thriller.
This is a great read. I loved this book - the tragedy unfolds as all they all do - as expected and unexpectedly. The combination of known errors and the hand of fate (bad weather).
A favourite of mine. I reread it as a palate cleanser after disappointing books. Into Thin Air was my first Krakauer and he became a habit. If you are drawn by the romance of adventure read Into The Wild, a cautionary tale for wannabe hermits.
One of a pair of excellent books on the tragic circumstances which took place on Everest in 1996.Having lived and climbed with Scott Fischer in the Wind River Range for five weeks during the summer of 1974, the story was made all the more personal and heartfelt for his loss.
I read the book shortly after it was published, and enjoyed it. Since that time, the accuracy of some of the events have been questioned by others who were there.
I'd like to recommend the similar themed 'The White Spider' by Heinrich Harrer.
I loved this book. Jon Krakauer did an amazing job with both the story as well as how the mountain climbing business works. What I loved the best is how he describes how the thin air turn rational people in to mistake laden disasters.
One of my favorite book ever -- great read!
Lorraine wrote: "A favourite of mine. I reread it as a palate cleanser after disappointing books. Into Thin Air was my first Krakauer and he became a habit. If you are drawn by the romance of adventure read Into Th..."I wouldn't say Chris McCandless was a wannabe hermit.
Sasanka wrote: "Incredible book. It was like a thriller."Couldn't agree more! I couldn't put it down once I began reading it.
I have to agree with most everyone here, it is a great book. But, rather than seeing it as a thriller, I consider it a book recalling a terrible tragedy, the reasons behind it, and the incredible heroism shown in a horrific situation. For the would-be Everest climber with little-to-no mountaineering experience, this book should be a warning. A lot of these guides just really, really want your money and despite your lack of experience, they are willing to risk entirely too much to put you on their expeditions and try to push you to the summit. But that's just my opinion about it. :)
Jen wrote: "This book and Touching the Void launched my interest in the 'adventures' of these intrepid mountain climbers. After reading the Krakauer, I read the Boukreev and amazing Beck Weathers stories of th..."I recently saw the Boukreev book and Weathers book at Barnes & Noble but decided not to buy them. This was partly because I'm already reading other things, but it was also partly because I didn't think they would be as good as Into Thin Air. Furthermore, Boukreev seemed like kind of a jerk in Into Thin Air; I couldn't believe he went down as a guide when his compatriots were dying up there. Weathers's story would surely be fascinating, but his was a mass market paperback co-authored by someone else, so I wasn't sure about it. Any recommendations?
Read Boukreevs book. I found it much more plausible than Krakauers. Others who were there back him up in regard to sending a rescue team after the stranded. Krakauer twice refused to join in the team.
Michael wrote: "Jen wrote: "This book and Touching the Void launched my interest in the 'adventures' of these intrepid mountain climbers. After reading the Krakauer, I read the Boukreev and amazing Beck Weathers s..."I suggest you read the book if you read Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mt. Everest Disaster. It will give you the other side of the story. Nobody said Krakauer was the definitive right story. My experience tells me there is more to meet the eye in these kinds of situations.
I was fascinated by the Krakauer book. A few years later, I saw a documentary about the event, featuring several of the climbers, but not him. He is hated, I mean hated to death, by the survivors of that climb for what he said of them in Into Thin Air. Krakauer claims to have found Weathers in a tent just before they were all taken off the plateau, or he might have been missed altogether. Weathers, in the documentary, mentioned the incident but wouldn't even say his name.That's a whole lot of hate. A truckload of bitterness, but it would seem from my amateurish, non climber point of view, Krakauer had a valid point. None of those tourists really had any business being on that mountain, and they paid for it.
I'm reading touching the void right now, will have to grab into thin air off the shelf when I'm finished.
Christopher wrote: "None of those tourists really had any business being on that mountain, and they paid for it." My point exactly, Christopher. Krakauer's too, it would seem.
Adam wrote: "Into Thin AirOverall, I thought it was a great read and presented the opportunity to establish a connection between the reader and writer. Krakauer thoroughly explained his experience in effort to..."
Read this book four or five times; never gets old. Still remember my first time with it--and what a harrowing read it was. A must-read for any armchair explorer.
My friend Roland Hooks - former Buffalo Bill - half back, played behind Simpson for 6 years..... bought me this book when I visited him at his home in Denver in 1998. Again, one of the best books I ever read.OUTSTANDING!!! It is so very cool that it lasts. I have bought 5 copies over the years because I keep giving mine away to people - and then they love it so much they recommend it and give the copy I gave them away!!! I guess that speaks for itself.
Greg
Papaphilly wrote: "Michael wrote: "Jen wrote: "This book and Touching the Void launched my interest in the 'adventures' of these intrepid mountain climbers. After reading the Krakauer, I read the Boukreev and amazing..."I just ordered Bourkeev's and Weather's books. Can't wait to read.
Great book, I loved it.
Into Thin Air is on every list of books for inmates. I knew about the book for many years but gave it more attention when I was looking for a book to mail to somebody who was in the above-mentioned situation. I read it for myself first. It was amazing, mesmerizing. I used to do so much hiking and backpacking but this book really covered so much ground in terms of the human element, motivation, profit motive... I cannot listen to the news any more about Everest (etc.) tragedies without referencing what Krakauer describes so painfully. This book is a must-read.
I just - this weekend - recommended "Into Thin Air" to my wife.We went to the library and checked it out.
She is gobbling it up - loves it!
That book has legs
Greg
My personal feeling (and I know others disagree) is that it's a shame so much energy and effort were wasted on the sort-of feud between Bourkreev and Krakauer. The whole point, to me, is that once people get up to those altitudes, their brains stop working properly and yet the are somehow expected to come back down with a clear, comprehensible story. It ain't going to happen. Everybody was at fault for being up there; nobody was at fault for failing to save the others. A couple of guides (Hall, Fischer) clearly were people whom you could literally trust with your life, and others were not, but there's no way to tell until you're up there, and who knows if things wouldn't have turned out very different if (God forbid) the whole thing were to happen again?
I read it years ago.... loved it. Stayed with me.
Justin wrote: "My personal feeling (and I know others disagree) is that it's a shame so much energy and effort were wasted on the sort-of feud between Bourkreev and Krakauer. The whole point, to me, is that once ..."I think the point Krakauer was trying to make, right or wrong, was that Anatoly was a paid guide with responsibility to the paying clientele to help usher them up and down the mountain as safely as possible. His personal quest to climb without the use of supplemental oxygen shouldn’t have been undertaken under these circumstances and probably should have been done at another time, when he wasn’t on the clock.
But for those who want to hear his side of the story need only to read “The Climb: Tragic Ambitions of Everest”, his personally account of the tragedy published mere months before his own untimely death on Annapurna I. He does a fitting job of filling in the blanks left out from “Into Thin Air” and answering his many critics.
Pete wrote: "I think the point Krakauer was trying to makeThough it's a point he made, I think it's a minor one. Major point being human folly.....
Great story though, a kind of mythology for the modern age....
one of my favorite books. Krakauer nailed the job of write a book to let the "survivor's guilty syndrome" let out.
Hi Atul, not sure if you were writing to me or to Pete, but I also read 'The Climb'. Jon Krakauer is a professional writer who had a riveting story to tell and told it well; Anatoly Bourkreev wasn't a writer at all. So if you're just interested in reading good writing, there's no need to read Bourkreev's book, but if you're deeply interested in what happened on the mountain, and want an additional point of view, then by all means read it.
I find it fascinating how they get people to the summit. It also felt like you were there .
I loved this book.
Justin wrote: "Hi Atul, not sure if you were writing to me or to Pete, but I also read 'The Climb'. Jon Krakauer is a professional writer who had a riveting story to tell and told it well; Anatoly Bourkreev wasn'..."
Graham Ratcliffe's "A Day to Die For" is a must read too. Krakauer either lied by omission or completely failed in his research about the storm being "rogue" or a "typical Everest squall". Two other teams were getting daily, high altitude weather forecasts and shared the info with both Rob and Scott's teams. They knew the storm was coming. Rob's sirdar knew about the reports, but Krakauer never interviewed him. Why?
Graham Ratcliffe's "A Day to Die For" is a must read too. Krakauer either lied by omission or completely failed in his research about the storm being "rogue" or a "typical Everest squall". Two other teams were getting daily, high altitude weather forecasts and shared the info with both Rob and Scott's teams. They knew the storm was coming. Rob's sirdar knew about the reports, but Krakauer never interviewed him. Why?
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Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mt. Everest Disaster (other topics)
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Overall, I thought it was a great read and presented the opportunity to establish a connection between the reader and writer. Krakauer thoroughly explained his experience in effort to conquer Everest and the difficulties faced internally and externally. He captured the feelings felt during the time of the progression reaching the summit and back to the ground. I agreed and admired the fact that he gave background information of previous happenings for some who didn’t know and achievements and hardships of people he encountered. I felt close to the author because of his extensive diction, comprehensive commentary, and intense moments mentioned. Also, he always made sure to connect it to the long term themes of trust and loyalty among teammates, questions may remain unanswered, and overwhelming the force of nature. I advise one’s who have yet to read the book to quickly buy it and become attached as I am to the events and uncover to the extent of the experiences Jon Krakauer was confronted with while conquering the great Mount Everest!