Into Thin Air- A Personal Account of the Mount Everest Disaster by Jon Krakauer

4.3 (15)
$18.00
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Product details

Web ID: 15623619

#1 NATIONAL BESTSELLER , The epic account of the storm on the summit of Mt. Everest that claimed five lives and left countless more, including Krakauer's, in guilt-ridden disarray. "A harrowing tale of the perils of high-altitude climbing, a story of bad luck and worse judgment and of heartbreaking heroism." People a bank of clouds was assembling on the not-so-distant horizon, but journalist-mountaineer Jon Krakauer, standing on the summit of Mt. Everest, saw nothing that "suggested that a murderous storm was bearing down." He was wrong. By writing Into Thin Air, Krakauer may have hoped to exorcise some of his own demons and lay to rest some of the painful questions that still surround the event. He takes great pains to provide a balanced picture of the people and events he witnessed and gives due credit to the tireless and dedicated Sherpas. He also avoids blasting easy targets such as Sandy Pittman, the wealthy socialite who brought an espresso maker along on the expedition. Krakauer's highly personal inquiry into the catastrophe provides a great deal of insight into what went wrong. But for Krakauer himself, further interviews and investigations only lead him to the conclusion that his perceived failures were directly responsible for a fellow climber's death.

  • Product Features

    • Suggested age range- Adult
    • Format- Paperback
    • Product dimensions- 6.56" W x 7.98" H x 0.81" D
    • Genre- Sports
    • Publisher- Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group, Publication date- 10-19-1999
    • Page count- 368
    • ISBN- 9780385494786
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Ratings & Reviews

4.3/5

15 star ratings & reviews

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4 months ago
from California

A Good Read (for a sophomore in high school)

I am a sophomore in high school and I read this book for a research project. As a person who is really into reading books for classes, I felt that it was too complicated and uninteresting for me. Honestly, it's not the worst book ever, but it is still a lot to get through if you're not into reading. I wouldn't recommend this book if you're looking for something extremely exciting and thrilling. However, if you're buying this book for a class, I would totally recommend it as it had most of the information I needed without much need for outside research. The author's definition and side notes about the cultural details of the book helped me comprehend the context more. But I also had to skip through parts of the book because it seemed overly detailed. Personally, I would have liked the book more if the author had more depth in the climbers' personality. I didn't want to just read the lesson of climbing Mount Everest, but was looking forward to knowing more about characters' emotions and personality throughout their adventure. Overall, I am not very fond of this book, but I do appreciate having learnt values and knowledge about what it takes to risk your life, throughout the book.

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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com

1 year ago
from Long Beach, CA

Captivating yet devastating

Krakauer's memoir Into Thin Air thoroughly chronicles the tragedies of the 1996 Mount Everest climbing disaster. Krakauer explains the extremities of ascending Everest and the physical and mental tolls it took on his teammates as well as himself. His first account of the tragedy vividly depicts the harrowing challenges climbers were faced with and how said challenges affected their expedition. The narrative mentions complicated dynamics between team members and the dangerous conflicts that emerged in life-threatening situations. Krakauer also expresses his frustration with the commercialization of climbing Mount Everest and the ethical issues it brings about. His immersive writing style makes the reader feel more involved with the story and makes the plot more compelling. His personal thoughts and insights cause the reader to feel varying waves of emotions that sympathize with his story. Although there is some controversy surrounding Krakauer's point of view, he does an amazing job at addressing the more "modern" issues in the climbing industry. Overall, Into Thin Air is a noteworthy book of life adversity, strength, and the great powers of nature. Krakauer's story is incredible, inspiring, and is a great read for people of all ages.

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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com

1 year ago
from Cypress Woods

Amazing Book

I bought this book in order to read t for a class. Its appeal utilized Ethos by trying to describe and put you in the perspective of Jon. It helps how he is a journalist and later adds a lot of information from his later research. This book has a compelling story and is also very educational.

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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com

1 year ago
from Dallas Texas

Tense read but great story line!

This book was such an amazing read and really connected me to the author. I felt as if I was relieving this climb. Jon is an expert on this topic and you can really tell due to his highly educated language. In the book there were many ups and downs and the ending was amazing. I found myself super indulged while reading yet some parts were very confusing. I would recommend it to a higher age group due to some violent scenes and very realistic nature.

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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com

1 year ago
from Houston, TX

Great Read, even better plot !

Jon's work is truly a National Seller title for a reason. Into Thin Air embarks the reader on an adventure sure to be full of action, seemingly back to back greatness, and overall good time. This book is just something so easy to pick up and pick right back up from where you left it; I'd go as far to say if you decided to read it again, you could read it over at least 4 more times. While reading this, it feels like you are a hiker who's ready to climb with your crew. It's so easy to not put your book down for so long. How could you not give it a go with all the praise it got? This is easily one of the best reads for a classroom setting, or even for bookworms on a nice cold day.

Customer review from barnesandnoble.com

1 year ago

Into Thin Air

The book is very accurate because it uses many articles and statistics to support the author's claims. The book provides you with all the struggles Jon had to face during his most dangerous climbing expedition. It allows you to have a clear view on what actually happened during their journey to the summit. Furthermore, the book teaches us about guilt and how every action has its own consequences. I recommend this book to anyone that loves adventurers and climbing.

Customer review from barnesandnoble.com

1 year ago
from Cypress, Texas

Review for readers who want to read Into Thin Air

I have read this book for a month now and I must say it has really taken my breath away. The whole experience on Mt.Everest by Jon Krakauer(who survived the Everest Disaster in 1996) has really opened me to how brutal the Everest Disaster really was for the hikers who lived through it. 12 people died during the Everest Disaster and Jon Krakauer explains how this event happened, how he escaped, and how people were left for dead in the freezing cold and lost their lives. I highly recommend this book for anyone who likes history and adventure.

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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com

1 year ago

Thrilling Climb up Mount Everest!

Into Thin Air reveals the precautions and emergencies not exposed while climbing Mount Everest. Jon Krakauer walks you through his climb step by step showing every detail and thought that is carried along the way. With an ominous, eerie, and cautious tone, you are kept on the edge of your seat trying to figure out who will make it to the top and who will be left behind. The use of pathos and logos are portrayed throughout the whole story, emotions carve out Jon´s story and his use of actuality have you reliving the summit along side of him. Jon´s true character can be seen through his determination, willingness, and drive to have a successful climb. Jon can be seen as a role model for anyone, specific to no goal. I recommend this book for anyone who is interested in a non-fiction thriller that shows the true intensity of Mount Everest.

Recommends this product

Customer review from barnesandnoble.com