Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mt. Everest Disaster by Jon Krakauer Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mt. Everest Disaster
Book Review: Simply a fantastic book. . .
Summary: 5 Stars
"Into Thin Air" is absolutely fantastic.Well-written and compelling, it's a book that I couldn't put down.I've already recommended the book as one of the best I've read in the last 5 years. As for those who criticize Krakauer -- I really don't understand it. Yes, he's getting media attention, but so what? In this book, there are no villains, no heroes -- only real people. Krakauer takes more blame for himself than he tosses toward other people. "Into Thin Air" has it all -- a compelling story with meticulous research, fascinating characters, and written with wondrous stlye. Nicholas Sparks, author of THE NOTEBOOK.Book Review: Never climb?...never crow
Summary: 5 Stars
JK review of the events that transpired on last years everestexpedition are without a doubt some of the clearest recolections oftime spent above 8,000 meters. As a longtime climber and one of the few who has been to Camp IV, I will tell all who feel the need to question the actions of last years expidition. Above 8,000m nothing is rational, nothing makes sense, only one thing is running through your brain. "how do I get out of here?", if people feel the need to blame JK for not helping his fellow climbers then I suguest you take a moment to listen to some words that apply "Only the strong will survive"Book Review: Good Book. Facts, with little analysis
Summary: 4 Stars
If I were to tell you that this book needed more photos of teammembers, you'd dismiss this as trite. But it's not, for this reason:In _Into The Wild_, Krakauer gave more of an emphasis on seeking to determine WHY McCandless embarked upon an ill-fated adventure. That work was developed, personified, analyzed. _Into Thin Air_ only gives a few of K's. speculations on why this major x. up was permitted to happen. What he wishes not to provide in full analysis and judgement, he makes up for with linear chronology that may claim greater objectivity. Krakauer assumes responsibility for his mistakes. He states he didn't wait the 2-3 years to write this to develop "perspective": it had to be written now. As such, it's NOT Norm McLean's _Young Men and Fire_, a painstaking analysis of research that so well analyzed the '49 fire at Mann Gulch, MT.. _Thin Air_ is good, but WHY this was permitted to happen, however, I feel, was left mostly unanswered. Do we look forward to his readdress in the future?Book Review: An account of man's grandiosity and abject depravity
Summary: 5 Stars
As a non-climber, I am still amazed that Into Thin Air was ableto keep me riveted for two days until, finally, I took a deep breathand finished the book. Like some other readers, I felt stunned by the account of these climbers whose grandiosity would allow them to step over the bodies of comrades in order to attain the summit. These bodies were left behind, out in the open, some for decades even. Five more climbers have died on Mt. Everest this season. The mountain is more crowded than ever with climbers, but also with dead bodies. Only the most grandiose of ambition and the most abject depravity would allow someone to look the other way, to step over the bodies, and proceed to the top. This is a sport, folks, not a war!!!!!
I view Krakauer's book as an extremely important sociological document. Also, by the way, fascinating reading.
Book Review: Storm and Arrogance
Summary: 5 Stars
Jon Krakauer is unquestionably one of the finest writersinvolved in mountaineering literature. What makes his writing great isperhaps responsible for the only fault I can find in his retelling of this gripping tale.Krakauaer possesses no affect, no ego is discernable in his writing. He tells the story with the simple honesty of a child. The story unfolds unselfconsciously, and non judgmentally, and yet the reader finds his bile rising at the arrogance and stupidity of guides who claim to have "Big E wired" with a "yellow brick road" to the summit.
Krakauer tells of these events and personalities without ever making a negative reference to any of the personalities involved.
Krakauer's judgments are saved for himself. In that is the only weakness of the book.
Krakauer is a highly skilled alpinist. He may have been one of the most skilled of the amateur climbers on the mountain during those faithful days. However, due to the manner in which Rob Hall treated clients Krakauer and the remainder of the clients are reduced to mindless drones completely dependent on the guides, Sherpas, and fixed ropes to complete the climb.
Krakauer blames himself for allowing this to happen to him. He feels that he is in part responsible for the tragic deaths and injuries that occurred on the mountain. This seems to be a part of Krakauer's existential need to beat himself up because he and his father never achieved closure (see Into the Wild).
As a reader and climbing guide I felt particularly frustrated with Krakauer's willingness to forgive the guides for what to me represented incredible arrogance and unbelievable irresponsibility. Once you have reduced your clients to mindless drones you are totally responsible for them and their safety. Unless you prepare your clients to make judgment calls in advance you can not expect them to suddenly begin making them in the midst of disaster. The major axiom of mountaineering that good luck consists of being prepared is most relevant here.
In truth, the parties on Everest were totally unprepared for anything but the uneventful ascents of the past years. They were caught completely unprepared for the storm that hit with no contingency plans in place and no one ready to accept the responsibility for leadership in the event the main leader, Rob Hall, became incapacitated.
This is a superb book. It is frustrating and horrifying to imagine that so little seems to have been learned from the tragic events of 1996. The degradation of the world's highest mountain for the ego gratification of yuppies and the financial aggrandizement of the guides and governments of Nepal and China is unforgivable. Perhaps this book will begin the process of awaking a reaction to stop the decline.