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Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mt. Everest Disaster
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Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mt. Everest Disaster
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Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mt. Everest Disaster
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Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mt. Everest Disaster

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

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About this audiobook

When Jon Krakauer reached the summit of Mt. Everest in the early afternoon of May 10, 1996, he hadn't slept in fifty-seven hours and was reeling from the brain-altering effects of oxygen depletion. As he turned to begin his long, dangerous descent from 29,028 feet, twenty other climbers were still pushing doggedly toward the top.  No one had noticed that the sky had begun to fill with clouds. Six hours later and 3,000 feet lower, in 70-knot winds and blinding snow, Krakauer collapsed in his tent, freezing, hallucinating from exhaustion and hypoxia, but safe. The following morning, he learned that six of his fellow climbers hadn't made it back to their camp and were desperately struggling for their lives. When the storm finally passed, five of them would be dead, and the sixth so horribly frostbitten that his right hand would have to be amputated.

Into Thin Air is the definitive account of the deadliest season in the history of Everest by the acclaimed journalist and author of the bestseller Into the Wild. On assignment for Outside magazine to report on the growing commercialization of the mountain, Krakauer, an accomplished climber, went to the Himalayas as a client of Rob Hall, the most respected high-altitude guide in the world.  A rangy, thirty-five-year-old New Zealander, Hall had summited Everest four times between 1990 and 1995 and had led thirty-nine climbers to the top. Ascending the mountain in close proximity to Hall's team was a guided expedition led by Scott Fischer, a forty-year-old American with legendary strength and drive who had climbed the peak without supplemental oxygen in 1994. But neither Hall nor Fischer survived the rogue storm that struck in May 1996.

Krakauer examines what it is about Everest that has compelled so many people -- including himself -- to throw caution to the wind, ignore the concerns of loved ones, and willingly subject themselves to such risk, hardship, and expense. Written with emotional clarity and supported by his unimpeachable reporting, Krakauer's eyewitness account of what happened on the roof of the world is a singular achievement.

Into the Wild is available on audio, read by actor Campbell Scott.

LanguageEnglish
Release dateJul 4, 2000
ISBN9780553754117
Unavailable
Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mt. Everest Disaster

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Rating: 4.208175160545024 out of 5 stars
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  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    Don't Be Fucking Stupid should be the title. Into Thin Air shares this distinction with Werner Herzog's Grizzly Man. The hubris depicted here has other effects than the envirnonmental ones described: thinning the herd, officer; Malthus would agree.

    It isn't bad journalism.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    As another climbing season on Mount Everest passes, this year’s season deadlier than most, Jon Krakauer’s Into Thin Air acts as both a witness and a warning to past and future mountaineers. Published in 1997, a year after the events of the 1996 Mount Everest disaster, Krakauer’s intimate account of the deadly expedition topped the charts. It remains popular to this day, as it was recently adapted into a movie, and it continues to be studied in classrooms across the nation.

    “…attempting to climb Everest is an intrinsically irrational act—a triumph of desire over sensibility. Any person who would seriously consider it is almost by definition beyond the sway of reasoned argument.”

    Krakauer begins the book on a literal high point: when he reaches the summit of Everest on May 10th, 1996. This short chapter doesn’t provide much information beyond foreshadowing the disaster to come, but it is highly effective at piquing interest. A few arguably dull, albeit informative, chapters follow, providing background information about Mount Everest, including how it was discovered and named, as well as brief descriptions of some of the most famous expeditions led by explorers George Mallory and Andrew Irvine, as well as Edmund Hillary and Sherpa mountaineer Tenzing Norgay. The book picks up steam the moment Krakauer starts his account on March 29th, 1996.

    Krakauer is an excellent writer. He wrote most of his account throughout the ordeal, only later going back to add his research and provide a more intimate version of events. This approach pays off wonderfully, as his descriptions of the cold beauty surrounding him are so palpable that it’s difficult not to feel like you’re taking the journey with him. The addition of quotations about Everest and a variety of other pertinent topics (the allure of danger, the perils of exploration, etc.) convey a sense of universality to the book, as people have always been attracted to the unknown, despite the potential risks.

    “…on Everest it is the nature of systems to break down with a vengeance.”

    The most fascinating parts of the book involve the tour guides and clients, their behavior, and the mistakes they made. The team Krakauer joined, led by expert climber and tour guide Rob Hall, was one of many that began the ascent during the 1996 season. Surprisingly, most clients of the guided tours are not professional climbers. If they could pay the hefty permit fee, which at the time was roughly $65,000 per person, they could join an expedition. When a motley group of inexperienced adventurers band together to climb the highest peak in the world, it is not surprising when things start to go awry. But the sheer amount of absurdity displayed is still astonishing and tragic.

    Perhaps the biggest drawback of the book is that it’s told solely from Krakauer’s point of view. It’s difficult to stay objective when writing about one’s own experience. He does attempt to remedy this predicament by interviewing and adding direct quotes from other team members throughout his account, as well as a chapter devoted to how other survivors were affected by the disaster, but these efforts still fall somewhat short. Interestingly, a controversy followed the publication of his book, when another climber, Anatoli Boukreev, published The Climb, his own version of events which differed significantly from Krakauer’s account. Boukreev and Krakauer disputed for quite some time until Boukreev’s untimely death. Later editions of Into Thin Air include a captivating postscript with Krakauer’s thoughts on the debacle.

    Jon Krakauer’s Into Thin Air is one of the most interesting personal accounts of a recent disaster in history. Krakauer’s thoroughness and attempt to provide an accurate representation of what happened during that fateful spring of 1996 is highly commendable. Man has always found the conquest of nature appealing. When George Mallory was asked why he wanted to climb Mount Everest and replied, “Because it is there,” maybe he would have given it a second thought it he knew the dangers that awaited him. And yet again, maybe not.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    1996 has so far been the single deadliest year on Mount Everest in recorded history. While people die every year trying to reach the summit of the highest mountain on the planet, in 1996 twelve climbers died and many other climbers sustained significant injuries. This includes the eight deaths associated with what is now known as the Mount Everest Disaster which occurred in May of that year. Jon Krakauer--journalist, mountain climber, and survivor of the disaster--wrote about his experiences in Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mount Everest Disaster. Originally published in 1997, the book was based on his article "Into Thin Air," written for the magazine Outside in September 1996, a mere four months after the tragic event. Several books have since been written by other survivors but Into Thin Air remains the most popular and well known. Into Thin Air has received many awards and recognitions, including being nominated for a Pulitzer Prize in 1998.When Jon Krakauer was asked by Outside to write an article on the commercialization of Mount Everest, a subject of much debate and concern among mountain climbers, he agreed under one condition: that he be allowed to make a summit attempt. Thinking that the cost involved would be prohibitive for the magazine, Krakauer was surprised when he was granted a spot on an Adventure Consultants guided expedition lead by Rob Hall scheduled for the spring climbing season of 1996. At least fourteen other expeditions were on the mountain during that time, including several commercial and guided ventures, which meant a relatively high number of relatively inexperienced climbers were also present. Many felt that the increase in the commercialization of mountain climbing was just asking for disaster to happen. That disaster finally struck in May 1996 when several groups, including Krakauer's, were caught unprepared in a storm during their climb to reach the peak of Mount Everest.Nearly every year people die on the slopes of Mount Everest. Mountain climbing is a hazardous pursuit. High-altitude climbing is particularly difficult and quickly takes its toll on the human body. Even small mistakes can have profound consequences at a height where decision making is already impaired. But despite the risks and dangers involved, people continue to climb, often driven by reasons that can't be readily explained. In Into Thin Air, Krakauer not only describes his own experiences on Mount Everest but also attempts to put the Adventure Consultants expedition into historical context. Excerpts from mountaineering literature are often incorporated into the beginning of chapters. Krakauer shows that mountain climbing, although it tends to be romanticized in popular culture, is anything but glamorous. Even when everything goes perfectly, which is exceptionally rare, there is a significant amount of personal suffering involved.It is important to remember that Into Thin Air is Krakauer's own personal account. His experiences and understanding of the events are necessarily different than those of the other survivors of the disaster due to their individual backgrounds and knowledge. (Krakauer admits to not being an expert on high-altitude climbing.) Another notable account is The Climb: Tragic Ambitions on Everest written by Anatoli Boukreev, one of the head guides on the mountain during the disaster, with the assistance of G. Weston DeWalt, partially in response to Krakauer's Into Thin Air. Even Krakauer's own recollections of the disaster changed between writing his article "Into Thin Air" and the book. Because he couldn't be everywhere on the mountain at once, Krakauer must rely on second-hand, and sometimes even third-hand information to piece together as complete a story as possible. In some instances he is forced to speculate, but I never felt he was being deliberately malicious. Krakauer recognizes these types of criticism and includes them in his book. Keeping this in mind, Into Thin Air is a tremendous and engaging account of the 1996 Mount Everest Disaster.Experiments in Reading
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Seriously considering going back to page 1 and reading the whole book again.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I really enjoyed this version of this disastrous expedition to Mt Everest. I read this due to the movie coming out and am very excited to see how the movie deals with what happened. I would recommend this book.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This book was devastating and heart-breaking but also beautiful and awe-inspiring. I was torn in so many different directions, and I just couldn't put the thing down. I generally shy away from non-fiction but read it in two days. It was a great true tale of desperation, loss, and humanity's struggle to deal with the pains of the past. I would recommend it to anyone who thirsts for adventure, appreciates others' struggles in the face of reality, or generally enjoys reading about daring risks from the safety and warmth of their own homes.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Jon Krakauer was given an assignment by Outside Magazine to join a climbing expedition ultimately going to the top of Mount Everest. Being an avid mountaineer he thrilled at the chance to join a professional team to reach the highest summit in the world. What he didn't anticipate was being witness to one of the worst Everest disasters in the mountain's history.As Karakuer takes us to higher elevations he not only gives the reader a play by play of the events unfolding at each camp, he also details the physical and psychological effects wreaking havoc on the climbers, adventurer and Sherpa alike. It's a grueling quest and Krakauer never lets you forget the danger.It has been said that the mountaineering community is unique unto themselves. Never before was this more apparent than when Kraukauer described climbers so hellbent on reaching the top that they would push on past half dead individuals lying in the snow, slowly freezing to death. Or step casually over the legs of a half buried dead man...Despite the dangers of climbing such high elevations, the challenge continues to draw thousands to Everest. It is an industry unto itself, making millions for guides, the sports corporations looking to sponsor them, and the Sherpas looking to lead the way.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    In 1996, Jon Krakauer was sponsored by Outside Magazine to accompany a climbing expedition to the top of Mount Everest. This particular expedition ended in disaster after an unexpected storm left eight dead and several others with severe frostbite and permanent injuries. Krakauer's account of the expedition includes historic information about extreme climbing at high altitudes and explains how high altitude exposure can lead to delirium, confusion, life-threatening medical conditions, and a high risk of death. This autobiographical account is supplemented with interviews by the survivors, to try to bring an honest and multi-faceted perspective on the motivations of the climbers and guides.This is a suspenseful real-life thriller about the tragic climb and I greatly enjoyed learning more about high-altitude climbing. Since I had little awareness about the event, it was suspenseful to anticipate who might survive and how it would end. The author has since been criticized for assuming the motivations of those who died on the expedition and the survivors who refused to be interviewed. While the author acknowledged that he made some errors in presenting the information, which was hurtful to the families involved, I appreciated his candor and willingness to admit to his mistakes. I felt his account was a humble and genuine attempt to make sense of his traumatic experience and bring peace to himself and others impacted by the tragedy. Highly recommended.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    The movie, "Everest," is based on this book. A true description of the dangers, the popularity, and tragedies of trying to climb the the highest peak in the world.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    The book recounts the complicated and sometimes chaotic ascent of several guided groups on May 10, 1996, during which a "rogue storm" blizzard wreaks havoc, resulting in eight deaths, the most on Everest in a single day.

    I was only marginally aware of the incidents in this ill-fated 1996 Everest expedition, and in my mind I had it mixed up with the IMAX film "Everest", which was a different group also hiking the mountain at the same time. Although the IMAX crew did assist with some of the rescue operations, it was the Adventure Consultants expedition, which Krakauer joined as a writer for Outside magazine, which suffered losses that day.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Heart-stopping drama
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    The author recounts his climb in 1996 in which 5 climbers died.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Always enjoy stories about Everest. Heartbreaking and honest account of the events!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This is probably the best climbing book I have read despite the controversy surrounding some aspects. It was as enthralling as books like Endurance and as readable. I was with the author on the mountain and felt the terrible pain of the losses they endured, the guilt of the survivors and the many "what ifs" after the event.

    The author relays his personal experiences climbing Everest in 1996 with a number of groups. This was the tragic year when many of the participants didn't make it off the mountain due to a catalogue of errors and an untimely snow storm. He also documents a lot of the history of other climbs and delves into the personalities and characters of some of the great climbers.

    More generally, I am drawn to these adventure books and stories which hold a certain fascination. But whenever I read about the cost ($70,000 minimum,) the risk ( 1 in 4 people die in an Everest attempt) and the pain and possible life changing injuries from frost bite, I am always glad I can just read about it from the warmth and comfort of a safe altitude on dry ground.

    There is something unique about people who set out to achieve these goals. Krakauer describes them like this

    To become a climber was to join a self-contained, rabidly idealistic society, largely unnoticed and surprisingly uncorrupted by the world at large. The culture of ascent was characterised by intense competition and undiluted machismo, but for the most part, its constituents were concerned with impressing one another only. Getting to the top of any given mountain was considered much less important than how one got there: prestige was earned by tackling the more unforgiving routes with minimal equipment, in the boldest style imaginable

    I find myself wondering how they feel when it is all over. They have spent a fortune, risked everything, endured much pain, put their waiting family through a nightmare and possibly lost colleagues or friends to a gruesome death. What is it all for? Is it worth it? What are they really seeking?

    Reading books like this, one might suppose that most climbers do it for the beauty of the scenery or the thrill of the surroundings. However, it is clear from this book and others that these aspects very much take a back seat. Instead, it is a competition to be the best in the field and it can take over a person's life. Climbing mountains is what they dream about and ultimately what they live for. It can become an obsession in the same way that sport or work or any other hobby can. That is when it becomes dangerous and purposeless.

    God created each of us with a vacuum that only He can fill. Man will seek to deny this and seek pleasure and fulfillment in many places other than God. These things then become idols. They must be kept in their proper place and we need to keep a proper perspective.

    This is a great book. The strong language is not so great hence the less than perfect rating. There is no sexual content and no violence. There are upsetting scenes of death.

  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    A chilling read. A real page-turner.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    "Please place the oxygen mask on your own face before assisting others." says the standard instructions from airlines everywhere. Jon Krakauer faced this situation - repeatedly - on Mt. Everest and still can't come to terms with his decisions.This book is an unflinching account of a disastrous mission to climb Mt. Everest by an author sent specifically to document an example of a "guided" expedition (with the implication that Everest had become a glorified tourist destination.) I finished the book in three sittings, but could have finished it in one setting if I didn't want to sleep. Krakauer is an excellent author who brings the sport of mountain climbing to life (or death, as it were). It is also written as an eyewitness account, and the author takes great pains to explain how he made every effort to get all the facts straight, but realizes that the combination of stress, cold and oxygen deprivation caused considerable confusion.The mission was led by a guide who had the best reputation in the business and who never lost a customer. He was a consummate professional who was known for his intense preparation. In the end, several people died, and many survivors lost body parts to frostbite. And, like most catastrophes, it wasn't one bad decision, but many, many small ones. Ironically, several people who had no business being on the mountain survived, and some of them were saved by much more qualified people who didn't make it.I never had "Climb Mount Everest" on my bucket list, but I've just added "never get anywhere near Mount Everest."
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I've read a few accounts of this story, and Krakauer paints a vivid picture of what happened on that trip. This is a must-read book.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    An account of tragedy on Everest; heartfelt, detailed, controversial, and packed with real life tension. A must read.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    It's been awhile since I have read an adventure book of this caliber. The snow leopard and Alive.Very disconcerting how he jumps from first names to last names and nicknames! . I was forced to reference the rooster at the front of the book repeatedly to fully understand who was who, which group they were in and if they were guests or leaders. The cast of noted people was expansive.I could not put this book down. I was riveted to the pages, reading as fast as I could to find out what was happening and who was going to survive!Since it happened 20 years ago, I would love to know what has happened to the survivors and how they view Jon's book with so much time in passed.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Into Thin Air tells the story of the disastrous 1996 Everest storm from the perspective of a journalist who was on the mountain at the time. Written by Jon Krakauer, who has high altitude experience and who conducted significant later research working to put together the moving parts of the disaster (including people who knew each other having a conversation at high altitude and both swearing they were speaking with someone else until enough details coincided for them to realize they must be remembering the same conversation), the book is a fast read. As well as chronicling one of the deadliest storms on the world's highest mountain, Into Thin Air provides insight into the world of the high stakes sport of mountain climbing, the complexities of guiding Everest ascents, and the dangerous that exist on mountains in general and in the death zone in particular.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    1996. Jon Krakauer, a journalist and competent mountain-climber, is hired by Outside magazine to join an expedition to the top of Mt. Everest and write an article about it. Little did he know at the time that it would be one of the worst mountain disasters on Everest and that he would return to base camp having lost several of his climbing companions do to a sudden, fast-moving storm during the descent.I will be the first to admit that I knew next to nothing about this catastrophic historical event when I picked up this book (which is a current book club read). I was familiar with the title and the fact that it had been a best-seller at one time, but that's about it. I have no idea what I was doing at the time in 1996 & have no recollection of hearing about this in the news. However, this book gripped me from nearly the beginning. Similar to a train wreck, I knew the outcome was going to be bad, but I couldn't stop reading. While I was reading, I was constantly Googling people & places to get a visual and find out more information. After reading, I watched movies based on the book & scoured YouTube for documentaries and additional info. And still, this tale persists in my thoughts & haunts me. If you've not already read this one, I'd heartily recommend it.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Incredibly compelling. Could not put it down. Climbing details are staggering. Felt like I'd conquered Everest when I was done, I was so stimulated emotionally. Stuck with me for a while, this one.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    Unlike the rest of the world, I did not care for this book. I gave it two stars for some good scenes, but overall I thought it was self-congratulatory and I had little sympathy for those who suffered in this incident.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    All stories bring lot of truth - its a matter of viewpoint. The truth brings only one story.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    An extraordinary memoir of Jon Krakauer's ascent up Everest and the 1996 Everest disaster.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Readable account of what it takes to climb Everest and about the recent tragedies there with some hikers.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Personal account of the 1996 Everest disaster

    I had heard about this event at the time and had wondered what had happened to lead to the deaths of some of the most well-respected mountain climbers. It is told in first person by the author, a reporter and experienced climber. The book is fast paced, well-written and engrossing. I found it hard to put down. It gives insight into the reasons for climbing the highest peak and insights into the associated difficulties, hazards and risks.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    This was a well written story and great if this is your type of genre.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This book should have been titled 100 Horrible Ways to Die. I read this with the hope of understanding why someone would want to climb Everest, but I'm afraid it's not in my psyche to understand. So many wasted lives.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Title: Into Thin Air

    Author: Jon Krakauer

    Publication Date: Oct 1997

    Genre: Non-fic

    Score: 5/5

    Into Thin Air is the true story of the disastrous 1996 Mount Everest climbing season. Jon Krakauer was there doing a piece for Outsider magazine. He was so traumatized that he wrote a book chronicling the events to gain some clarity about the events that led up to the disaster.

    This is the first nonfiction book review I’ve composed and it’s difficult to assign a score. This book is competently written, tells the story, and seems credible. What else is there to judge a nonfiction event novel? There’s no message to take away or lesson to be learned. There’s just the quality of the writing and credibility of the author. In that case, I have to give this a 5/5. I liked the book and learned about the events chronicled. This is a good book.