Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer
by Jenners • 01/14/2010 • 4.5 Stars, I Titles, K Authors, Non-Fiction • 22 Comments
Hosted by Alyce at At Home With Books.
that you read before you started blogging!
by Jon Krakauer
This book is a first-person account of the author’s May 1996 ascent to the summit of Mt. Everest. Originally conceived as a journalistic account of how professional guides were taking relatively inexperienced clients to Everest’s summit, the book took a radically different turn when Krakauer’s expedition was caught in a storm that ended tragically for numerous members of his and other expeditions. The book gives you an idea of what it feels like to climb a mountain like Everest. And the stories of those who survived and those who didn’t will haunt you. Whether you like mountaineering or not, this is a riveting book written by one the most accomplished “journalist writers” around today.
Even knowing what happens once they make the ascent, I was captivated by the stories of survival and death. Krakauer’s account of guide Rob Hall’s final phone call to his pregnant wife is heartbreaking. The story of Beck Weathers—who manages to survive a night exposed on the face of Everest—boggled my mind.
There was some controversy surrounding the book after it was released as Krakauer was critical of some decisions made by people who were on the mountain that day. I think whenever there is a highly charged situation with life and death consequences, this is to be expected. Overall, I felt that Krakauer does a masterful job of presenting his own feelings and experiences while still maintaining the keen observational skills of a journalist. You won’t soon forget this book, and I suspect it is the closest many of us will come to experiencing the thrills and chills of high-altitude mountaineering. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that this book was a favorite of my Dad as well.
If you are looking for an “armchair adventure,” you can’t go wrong with this book. It will stay with you for years afterwards.
Every time you post something like this, it hits home yet again how very much alike you and I are…..our reading tastes are uncannily similar!
That sounds really amazing – I can't beleive what some people go through, it makes you realise just how lucky a life you lead when you think about what some people have gone through.
I have a very similar weekly meme every sunday – A Blast From the Past. If you are interested, my entry is here http://pageturnersbooks.blogspot.com/2010/01/blast-from-past-father-frank-by-paul.html
I loved this book!!! I remember reading Krakauer's articles in Outdoor magazine and was thrilled when it was made into a book (and then a movie). It was amazing. I had to keep telling myself it was true.
I read a recent fictionalized biography of George Mallory and I enjoed it. I love adventure books, and this one sounds like quite a read.
I thought this book was fantastic. You are so on when you say it kept you at the edge of your seat. Very few non fiction books grab me like that but this one certainly did. Great review!
Another wonderful review!
I would like to present you with the Honest Scrap Award!
http://bookywooks.blogspot.com/2010/01/honest-scrap-award.html
I love this book also. Sad story but great adventure writing!
My roommate loved this book when she read it…back when I had a roommate! I never did pick it up though. I think I saw a documentary on PBS about that storm. It was fascinating, but also horribly sad.
I enjoyed this book as well and also Into the Wild. I like his writing style. He supplies so much great detail while still making his work very readable and accessible.
Great review. I too loved this book and your review definitely captures some of the reasons why. Krakauer is an incredibly talented nonfiction author.
I do love to read about adventures like this since I'm not brave enough to embark on any.
another book, waiting patiently in my TBR pile for me to someday read it. Maybe time to dig it out..
Jason I listened to this on a road trip way back when it came out. It appeals to both men and women, so it was perfect for it. We couldn't stop using the word sherpa of quite ahile
I have heard that Krakauer writes a great book. I've been meaning to read Into the Wild forever now. One of these days, I may have a Krakauer marathon.
I just saw this book in the used bookstore but didn't pick it up. I tend not to like "real life" adventure stories. Or, I guess, adventure stories at all. But I should branch out, and maybe this is the one to entice me!
Of course I've heard a lot about this book, and the subsequent movie…I guess my hesitation is that I don't really like "mountain climbing" books.
But I read the one by Anita Shreve (A Change in Altitude) and managed to stay interested. This one actually sounds more exciting.
My post:
http://snowimpressions.blogspot.com/2010/01/my-favorite-reads.html
This book is on my must read list for this year. I love living vicariously through survival stories because those adventurers have the courage to face situations that I'm not sure I'd ever voluntarily face (in other words, I won't be signing up to climb Everest any time soon).
I so want to read this book .. Sounds very interesting..
What a terrific review, and it must be a comfort since your dad loved it as well
What a wonderful review! i like books that can give you that "you are there" feel while keeping you on the edge of your seat. Glad you enjoyed it so much.
I have this book – and Into the Wild – on my list of books to be read at some point! Great review!
How ironic that it was a favorite of your dad's!
I loved this book and I still think about issues of survival it raised. Like the people who were only 100 feet from rescue and died, but then the one guy who improbably lived.
This was really an edge-of-your-chair book, I thought, even though you know the outcome!