Into Thin Air: A Personal Account Of The Mt. Everest Disaster

True life account of climbers trapped on Mount Everest and their quest for survival. I was hoping for more information on the formation of the Himalaya Mountain range and more insights into each of the affected climbers. Yes, the story is real and dramatic but I found it quite distant and cold requiring more of a human touch. Still not a bad read.

I have wanted to read this personal account of the Mount Everest disaster for some years now, and I have finally done so.

This is a very vivid memoir, and if you as a reader ever had a romanticized notion of what climbing Everest would be like, Krakauer puts them to bed.

Beyond his initial excitement at the prospect of acheiving his life-long goal of summiting Everest, he does not glamorize this climb in any way. Instead, he takes his reader back to that mountain with him. Nothing is left to the imagination, you smell every smell, feel every ache, gasp for every breathe, feel every degree below zero, and he will wring you out emotionally as he takes you to the brink of madness, it is raw, the way only a survivor could tell it, but you will not be able to put this book down. The fact that there were any survivors at all is a testimony to the human survival instinct, and the unbelievably selfless acts of heroism juxpositioned against the unimaginable decisions that had to be made, are a testimony to the human spirit.

Although this book is 15 years old, it will definitely be making my Top Ten Best Reads for 2011, and though it is a tough read emotionally, I can't recommend it highly enough.

This is one of those books that will stay with you forever. I listened to the audio book which was read by the author. To him telling you this story in his own voice - this true story- was amazing. It is the story of trip to the top of Mount Everest. He was hired by Outdoor Magazine to write a story about the tours to the top of Everest - how there was a lot of debate about these "tour groups" as opposed to real climbers. You know there is disaster coming and as you learn to like and enjoy these people you are so worried as to who is going to die. The IMAX Everest movie is being taped during this same season on Everest so if you have seen that movie you have seen some of the story. It was so moving and terrifying. Jon Krakauer wrote the article quickly after the horrible experience and it turns out some things were wrong. You can feel his regret through out this book as he tries to get the story right for the families of the other climbers. I couldn't stop listening to this book. I highly recommend this emotional fascinating read.

I have always had a facination with Everest and this is probably the closest that I will ever get. This is a great book summarizing the details of a very tragic year on Everest. Krakaur (sp?) does a wonderful job of giving an unbiased view of the events and makes you feel sorry for what he went through, with his humble words on what he should/could have done to help, if it weren't for the weather and lack of oxygen. I have lent my copy to friends who are not even outdoor enthusiasts (I am one!) and they couldn't put it down. It is a real page turner and you won't be able to put it down. I recommend this book to anyone. Absolutely AMAZING! A book I will read over and over again!