Everest: Mountain without Mercy by Broughton Coburn Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Everest: Mountain without Mercy
Book Review: Have you ever climbed a mountain?
Summary: 5 Stars
If you haven't this may make you want to. Either that or you will have a hard time walking to the high places in your yard. The details of the '96 tragedy on Everest in this book are amazing. In combination with the incredible photography and multiple points of view, it makes for a compelling, engrossing story. I borrowed a copy to read and devoured it in a week. It's a tough read in bed, but a must for any desk or coffee table. I have only seen previews for the film, but they are breathtaking. I'm counting down the days until I can go see it.Book Review: The details make this more satisfying than "Into Thin Air"
Summary: 5 Stars
Although this book does not have the emotional punch of Jon Krakauer's "Into Thin Air", ultimately I found it to be more satisfying mainly due to the amount of detail and the incredible photography. Without a doubt, this is a more complete accounting of the events which occurred during the May 1996 climbing season on Everest. I enjoyed the sections on Everest history, geology, cartography, Sherpa culture and religion, climbing techniques, high-altitude physiology, etc. All this detail may be annoying to some readers - this book is a serious read. Most importantly, I consider the recounting of the Rob Hall & Scott Fischer team disasters to be more objective and credible. Jon Krakauer's telling of the story is more gripping, but it is also tainted by guilt and blame due to his intimacy with the events. I recommend reading both books together - Krakauer's for the emotion, and this one other for the detail, photos, and objectivity. I can't wait to see the IMAX movie.Book Review: Buy your own copy! It's a keepsake.
Summary: 5 Stars
I borrowed this book from a coworker and I've had it so long, I'm just giving it back to buy my own. The editorial is very compelling, and loaded with sidebars. I gave this book a "9" rating, because it's hard to read in bed. : ) . I've read Into Thin Air by Krakauer, The Climb by Boukreev, about 150 pages of this book, and this weekend I'm going to see the IMAX film on Everest. Can't wait! (Of course, my feet are firmly planted at sea level!!)Book Review: Primer on Buddhist/Sherpa culture
Summary: 3 Stars
After reading "Into Thin Air," I've been searching out any book or magazine article about the obsession of reaching the top of Everest. After hearing David Breashears on NPR, I couldn't wait to get my hands on this book. Maybe I expected too much. The photography is stunning, and I appreciated the technical info about the logistics of filming at high altitudes. What I did not like was the extreme detail Coburn went into every time anyone waved a juniper branch. Fully 1/3 of the way into the book I was still reading details of every Buddhist god of every rock on the trek. I realize this faith is extremely important to the Sherpas (and also the author) but my enthusiasm for the prayers and rituals did not match Coburn's need to illuminate me.Book Review: Amazing, engrossing, thought-provoking, ...but the typos!
Summary: 5 Stars
I can't remember the last time I became so engrossed -- even obsessed -- with a book. The fact that it's a true story complete with fantastic photos doesn't hurt. I loved the way it gave plenty of background and technical information, and wasn't afraid to educate it's readers. And how it answered little questions about what it's like up in the death zone, but still left me wondering, yearning for a chance to talk to the expedition members. It painted detailed pictures of the people on the mountain without really giving many specific details -- when life hangs in the balance, you really see what people are made of just from their actions. I grew to admire a few, hate some, and I even developed a crush on Araceli Segarra. The reason I can't give it a 10, is the editing. I have never seen a book of this quality (or even of considerably lesser quality) with this many mistakes and typos! As Jerry Kratochvil (previous review) stated, the flow of the text was interrupted by the "sidebar" articles, and while I did know the word "cwm" I assume most wouldn't, and they didn't give the definition/explanation of it until it had already been used several times. The book is beautifully laid out from a visual standpoint, but it seems like no editor actually read through it.
Still, I can't recommend the book enough! And for much more about the story, including lots of great stuff including breathtaking QTVR images (the one from the summit is beyond words!)