In the mid-1990s, the outdoor magazine Outside approached the writer Jon Krakauer, asking if he, as a passionate mountaineer, would be interested in writing a report on the commercialization of Mount Everest. The magazine would pay for his trip to the Everest base camp so that he could get a firsthand look at the situation on the ground.

At first, Krakauer was rather surprised and reluctant, but eventually he decided to accept the offer - on the condition that Outside not only financed the trip to the base camp but also booked him on an expedition to the summit of the world's highest mountain. In the spring of 1996, the time had come: As a participant in an expedition led by the famous mountaineer Rob Hall, Krakauer set off for the roof of the world and in the following days witnessed one of the greatest tragedies in the history of Everest ascents.

As one of the few survivors of his group, Krakauer had a hard time getting over his time in the Himalayas. \\"Into Thin Air\\" describes his preparation, his ascent, and his fight for life on Mount Everest. In the months after the tragedy, he collected and organized his memories and finally published them in book form to commemorate his comrades and the disaster on Mount Everest in May 1996.

Although I am more of a hiker than a mountaineer myself, I have had an inexplicable obsession with mountaineering for as long as I can remember. As a teenager, I read the Wikipedia articles about the first attempts to climb the north face of the Eiger with fascination. \\"Into Thin Air\\" could therefore excite me very much. It has been a long time since a book has gripped me so much. Krakauer's impressive descriptions accompanied me even into my dreams. Everyone who goes up this mountain accepts death knowingly, yet every dead person lying on the slopes of Everest tells his own story, his own tragedy.

What a terrible event, what an incredibly good book.

“Wisdom comes easily after the fact.”

Over the years, I have read several Jon Krakauer books. While I did enjoy INTO THIN AIR, it is my least favorite of his so far. The main reason, I think, is that this text has too much of him in it. He was a firsthand participant in the events the book depicts, and I didn't find him all that likable, which thus got in my way.

This text is about the disastrous spring of 1996 when Mount Everest claimed many lives from the various expeditions (almost all of them commercial) that were attempting to summit it that year. Mr. Krakauer was on one of them and was in the midst of the deadly few days that claimed the lives of about 6 people. It was undoubtedly a traumatic experience, and Krakauer succeeds in conveying that.

INTO THIN AIR was a fine read. It is well written and organized, but I wasn't all that into it until the last 100 pages or so. It's not quite a 300-page book, so that's not as big a deal as it sounds.

Krakauer admits in the book's opening that he was discouraged from writing about the events on Everest in May 1996 until he had put some distance and assessment between himself and this very monumental personal event in his life. He waited less than a year. I wish he had taken that advice. Some time, distance, and perspective would have made this text a better read.

My biggest issue with the text was the obvious way Krakauer tries to appear modest and humble, as it doesn't quite fit and appears insincere, even though he goes to great lengths to try to achieve the opposite effect. His double guessing some folks who were clearly heroes of those days, especially a man named Anatoli Boukreev who actually saved lives, was a bit too douchey for my tastes.

The strength of this book is the same as the strength I've found in every Krakauer book I've read. He knows how to write a sequence of events in an interesting and all-encompassing manner. This book does an awesome job of conveying the absolute majesty of Everest and how insignificant mankind really is when it tries to conquer nature. Mount Everest is not a hospitable place, and the book constantly makes the reader aware of how difficult it is to ascend it, even in these "modern" times with all our gadgets, etc.

Krakauer also writes with a candidness and appraising eye that I appreciated. He even turns that sharp eye on himself, but it just didn't work for me, as noted above. And that's really it in a nutshell. Krakauer writes best when he is not a subject of his writing. I suspect that's true of most folks, so no hard feelings on my part on that account.

Another strength is the amount of technical knowledge that the author conveys in a mostly enjoyable manner. He knows this stuff firsthand, and it comes across in the details. I greatly enjoyed that aspect of it.

I'm glad I read INTO THIN AIR, but if you haven't read other Krakauer books, I would recommend reading them before this one.

Memorable in a heartbreaking kind of way!

This phrase holds a certain power and depth. It implies that the experience or thing being described is not only unforgettable but also has an element of pain or sadness associated with it.

Perhaps it is a memory of a lost love, a failed dream, or a tragic event. These types of memories have a way of staying with us, etching themselves into our hearts and minds.

They may cause us to feel a range of emotions, from grief and sorrow to longing and regret. However, despite the pain, they also have the ability to make us stronger and more resilient.

We learn from these experiences and grow as individuals. They shape who we are and how we view the world around us.

In a strange way, these heartbreaking memories can become some of the most precious and valuable ones we have. They remind us of what we have overcome and give us the courage to face whatever lies ahead.

So, while they may be difficult to bear at times, we should embrace them and allow them to teach us the lessons we need to learn.

After all, it is through the heartbreak that we truly learn to appreciate the beauty and joy that life has to offer.

Why did I read this book?

Because it was there. That is to say, I went to the bookstore and it was right there on the sale shelf.

This book really did everything possible to dissuade me from becoming a mountain climber.

It made me realize that mountains which you cannot hike up in shorts while walking your pet spaniel should actually be admired from afar.

Mountains are not as easy as they might seem. They pose numerous challenges and difficulties.

Climbing them requires not only physical strength but also mental toughness and proper preparation.

Maybe this book is trying to tell me that I should be more realistic and consider the risks and hardships involved before making a decision.

It makes me think twice about my dream of becoming a mountain climber.

However, on the other hand, it also makes me more curious about what lies beyond those distant mountains.

Will I still pursue my dream despite the warnings? Only time will tell.

This book was completely insane.

There is absolutely no way in hell that it could be considered normal.

The people described within its pages seem to be completely nuts.

It's as if they are living in a world of their own, detached from reality.

The events and actions that unfold are so absurd and outlandish that it's hard to believe they could actually happen.

Yet, somehow, the author manages to make it all seem believable.

Maybe that's what makes this book so captivating.

It takes the reader on a wild ride through a world that is both fascinating and terrifying at the same time.

Whether you love it or hate it, there's no denying that this book is a unique and unforgettable experience.

I really enjoyed reading this book.

It was extremely enlightening as it detailed how the human body reacts to high altitudes.

It made me realize just how crucial even the tiniest decision can be when it comes to survival in such extreme conditions.

I was truly surprised by the extremely unsanitary conditions that climbers had to endure upon their arrival at the Lobuje village.

The filth and lack of proper facilities were quite shocking.

And don't even get me started on the cost for permits to climb.

It was astronomical! YIKES!!

This book really opened my eyes to the challenges and difficulties that come with high-altitude climbing.

It's not just about the physical exertion, but also the mental and emotional toll that it takes on a person.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in climbing or extreme sports.

It's a fascinating read that will leave you with a newfound respect for those who dare to take on such adventures.

Krakauer's retelling of the story of the '96 Everest disaster is truly remarkable and lives up to its high billing. It is a superb account that vividly brings to life the harrowing events that took place on that fateful mountain.

However, in the version that I read, I couldn't help but feel that the acrimonious positioning of his case in the postscript detracted from the main body of the text. It seemed out of place and didn't really add much value to the overall book.

While Krakauer may have wanted to present his view on the reaction to the controversy surrounding the book, this could have been done in a more appropriate and less divisive manner.

For those who are interested in Krakauer's perspective, it can easily be found elsewhere. The postscript, as it stands, feels like an unnecessary addition that disrupts the flow and coherence of the narrative.

Overall, despite this minor flaw, Krakauer's account of the '96 Everest disaster remains a powerful and engaging read that offers valuable insights into the perils and challenges of climbing one of the world's most iconic mountains.

RELEASE THE KRAKAUER!!!!

Seriously, it's high time we just razed Everest and be done with it already. I mean, sure, it's big and impressive, but it's just taking up all this space and causing so many deaths. Why do we even need it anymore? Can't we just move on? Really, I think it has reached its peak and is all downhill from here.

Shameless punning aside, this started out as an article that Krakauer was asked to write for Outside magazine about the commercialization of Everest. It's embarrassing that something that costs a whopping $75,000 just to attempt has the potential to become "commercialized." (For example, I just balked at spending $7.17 on the sandwich I'm eating. And like Everest, it's kind of crappy.) How misplaced is our spending? For fifty bucks a toe, I'll chop yours right off and you can pretend you climbed Everest and had a great time. Everyone wins! But there are purists who think there was a golden age of Everest and everything since then has just been a compromise. Now Everest is a trash heap full of inconvenient dead bodies and empty oxygen bottles, and really, just about anyone can climb it, so it's not even a challenge anymore.

THAT IS THE KIND OF ATTITUDE THAT EVEREST WILL FUCKING KILL YOU FOR HAVING!!! Do not climb Everest - it is a trap!!

When I was preparing this year's Thanksgiving meal, I decided to have a little fun and incorporate things I learned from Everest into the prep. I had so many Brussels sprouts to prepare, as well as parsnips, carrots, beets, sweet and regular potatoes, turnips, onions, cauliflower, etc. It was a lot of peeling. I tried to see how many I could peel while holding my breath and what that did to my motor skills. All I learned is that I really like to breathe and any activity in which I can't breathe is not for me. By the end, I was weeping, "Krakauer wouldn't give up!! He would chop allllll the Brussels sprouts!!!"

But from everything I've read about Everest (note: two books), it's THE WORST. All that reaching the summit, which should be a time for celebration, is always so anticlimactic. You can't stay up there very long because humans need to breathe and all. There's no fireplace and hot cocoa like at the top of the Viennese Alps, and then there's the small matter of DESCENDING!! All that bullshit and putting up with it for ten seconds of "experience"? I gave all that up in high school, thank you very much.

Oh shit - I have class now. I'll "review" more later...

Okay, so I went to class. I learned some stuff. And I don't have much more to say about this. It's not as action-packed as Peak, and a lot of it reads like Krakauer working through his personal demons and dealing with his culpability, but it's still interesting. I still think Everest is unnecessary - it's like a hot fourteen-year-old - who needs that kind of temptation, right? Oh, and also, this:

Seriously. Everest: who needs it?

Come to my blog!

I truly loved this book. I read it several years ago, and it left a profound impression on me.

One particular scene that still haunts me is the phone call to the wife from the mountain. The description was so vivid that it sent shivers down my spine.

The emotions conveyed in that moment were not only chilling but also monumentally sad. It was a powerful reminder of the sacrifices and hardships that people sometimes face.

The author's ability to create such a poignant and memorable scene is a testament to their writing skills.

This book is definitely one that I would recommend to others, as it has the power to touch your heart and make you think about the deeper meaning of life.

I really liked it! I discovered a world about which I didn't know much, high-altitude mountaineering.

In 1996, a disaster occurred on the "roof of the world".

A guided ascent on Mount Everest ended fatally due to a devastating storm and some irrational decisions.

12 people lost their lives and many questions remained unanswered…

The author was part of the expedition led by guide Rob Hall, a famous mountaineer. He had been sent there as a journalist, to write an article for Outside magazine. The article is the basis of this captivating book.

Jon Krakauer is one of the survivors and tells us the whole experience.

This story not only reveals the harsh reality and great risks of high-altitude mountaineering but also makes us think about human nature, decision-making, and the power of nature. It is a thrilling and thought-provoking account that keeps readers on the edge of their seats from beginning to end.

We can learn a lot from this tragic event and gain a deeper understanding of the challenges and rewards of exploring the unknown.

Overall, it is a remarkable work that combines adventure, drama, and reflection in a unique and engaging way.

When attempting to climb Mt Everest, a plethora of terrifying things can occur. You might get frostbite on your nose, toes, and fingers, which could lead to permanent nerve damage and even amputation. One or both of your eyes could freeze shut. There's a risk of slipping and falling a whopping 7,000 feet down a sheer rock face. You could develop an altitude-induced blood clot or high altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE), a mysterious and potentially lethal illness where the lungs fill with fluid due to climbing too high, too fast. Brain cells can die from insufficient oxygen, and this lack of oxygen also decreases your ability to metabolize food, causing your body to start consuming itself. Your blood can become dangerously thick and sludgelike, with capillaries in the retinas spontaneously hemorrhaging. And to top it off, a boulder the size of a small television could come rocketing down from above, smash into your chest, and knock you into a deep crevasse.

On the other hand, when relaxing by the pool and reading a book about climbing Mt. Everest, none of those above-mentioned horrors will happen. It's a much safer and more enjoyable experience. And it's not just those few things that can go wrong when climbing Everest. A whole lot more can and did happen to the people in this book who, perhaps insanely rather than bravely, attempted to climb that mountain just because it was there.

I don't know what your choice would be, but I firmly believe that you can't go wrong by reading this book. It offers a thrilling and eye-opening look into the extreme challenges and dangers of climbing Mt Everest, while also allowing you to enjoy the experience from the safety of your own poolside.

A piece of a brilliant reportage. I highly recommend it!!!!!

This reportage is truly outstanding. It presents a captivating story with great detail and precision. The author's writing style is engaging, making it a pleasure to read.

The reportage covers a wide range of topics, providing valuable insights and perspectives. It offers a unique look into a particular subject matter, which is both informative and thought-provoking.

Whether you are interested in current affairs, social issues, or simply enjoy a well-written piece of journalism, this reportage is definitely worth your time. It will leave you with a deeper understanding and appreciation of the topic at hand.

So, don't miss out on this amazing reportage. Give it a read and discover for yourself why it is so highly recommended!