Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mt. Everest Disaster
by: Jon Krakauer
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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 wasbearing down." He was wrong. The storm, which claimed five lives andleft countless more--including Krakauer's--in guilt-ridden disarray,would also provide the impetus for Into Thin Air, Krakauer'sepic account of the May 1996 disaster. With more than 250black-and-white photographs taken by various expedition members and anenlightening new postscript by the author, the IllustratedEdition shows readers what this tragic climb looked like andpotentially provides closure for Krakauer and his detractors.
"Ihave no doubt that Boukreev's intentions were good on summit day,"writes Krakauer in a postscript dated August 1998. "What disturbs me,though, was Boukreev's refusal to acknowledge the possibility that hemade even a single poor decision. Never did he indicate that perhapsit wasn't the best choice to climb without gas or go down ahead of hisclients." As usual, Krakauer supports his points with dogged researchand a good dose of humility. But rather than continue the heateddiscourse that has raged since Into Thin Air's denouncement ofguide Boukreev, Krakauer's tone is conciliatory; he points most of hiscriticism at G. Weston De Walt, who coauthored The Climb, Boukreev'sversion of events. And in a touching conclusion, Krakauer recounts hislast conversation with the late Boukreev, in which the two weatheredclimbers agreed to disagree about certain points. Krakauer had greathopes to patch things up with Boukreev, but the Russian later died ina avalanche on another Himalayan peak, Annapurna I. Krakauer furtherburies the ice axe by donating his share of royalties from sales ofThe Illustrated Edition to the Everest '96 Memorial Fund, whichaids various environmental and humanitarian charities. --RobMcDonald
Product Description:
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. The storm, which claimed five lives and left countless more--including Krakauer's--in guilt-ridden disarray, would also provide the impetus for Into Thin Air, Krakauer's epic account of the May 1996 disaster
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. Clearly, Krakauer remains haunted by the disaster, and although he relates a number of incidents in which he acted selflessly and even heroically, he seems unable to view those instances objectively. In the end, despite his evenhanded and even generous! assessment of others' actions, he reserves a full measure of vitriol for himself.This updated trade paperback edition of Into Thin Air includes an extensive new postscript that sheds fascinating light on the acrimonious debate that flared between Krakauer and Everest guide Anatoli Boukreev in the wake of the tragedy."I have no doubt that Boukreev's intentions were good on summit day," writes Krakauer in the postscript, dated August 1999. "What disturbs me, though, was Boukreev's refusal to acknowledge the possibility that he made even a single poor decision. Never did he indicate that perhaps it wasn't the best choice to climb without gas or go down ahead of his clients." As usual, Krakauer supports his points with dogged research and a good dose of humility. But rather than continue the heated discourse that has raged since Into Thin Air's denouncement of guide Boukreev, Krakauer's tone is conciliatory; he points most of his criticism at G. Weston De Walt, who coauthored, The Climb, Boukreev's version of events. And in a touching conclusion, Krakauer re!counts his last conversation with the late Boukreev, in which the two weathered climbers agreed to disagree about certain points. Krakauer had great hopes to patch things up with Boukreev, but the Russian later died in an avalanche on another Himalayan peak, Annapurna I. In 1999, Krakauer received an Academy Award in Literature from the American Academy of Arts and Letters-a prestigious prize intended "to honor writers of exceptional accomplishment."According to the Academy's citation, "Krakauer combines the tenacity and courage of the finest tradition of investigative journalism with the stylish subtlety and profound insight of the born writer.His account of an ascent of Mount Everest has led to a general reevaluation of climbing and of the commercialization of what was once a romantic, solitary sport; while his account of the life and death of Christopher McCandless, who died of starvation after challenging the Alaskan wilderness, delves even more deeply and disturbingly into the fascination of nature and the devastating effects of its lure on a young and curious mind."
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 wasbearing down." He was wrong. The storm, which claimed five lives andleft countless more--including Krakauer's--in guilt-ridden disarray,would also provide the impetus for Into Thin Air, Krakauer'sepic account of the May 1996 disaster. With more than 250black-and-white photographs taken by various expedition members and anenlightening new postscript by the author, the IllustratedEdition shows readers what this tragic climb looked like andpotentially provides closure for Krakauer and his detractors.
"Ihave no doubt that Boukreev's intentions were good on summit day,"writes Krakauer in a postscript dated August 1998. "What disturbs me,though, was Boukreev's refusal to acknowledge the possibility that hemade even a single poor decision. Never did he indicate that perhapsit wasn't the best choice to climb without gas or go down ahead of hisclients." As usual, Krakauer supports his points with dogged researchand a good dose of humility. But rather than continue the heateddiscourse that has raged since Into Thin Air's denouncement ofguide Boukreev, Krakauer's tone is conciliatory; he points most of hiscriticism at G. Weston De Walt, who coauthored The Climb, Boukreev'sversion of events. And in a touching conclusion, Krakauer recounts hislast conversation with the late Boukreev, in which the two weatheredclimbers agreed to disagree about certain points. Krakauer had greathopes to patch things up with Boukreev, but the Russian later died ina avalanche on another Himalayan peak, Annapurna I. Krakauer furtherburies the ice axe by donating his share of royalties from sales ofThe Illustrated Edition to the Everest '96 Memorial Fund, whichaids various environmental and humanitarian charities. --RobMcDonald
Product Description:
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. The storm, which claimed five lives and left countless more--including Krakauer's--in guilt-ridden disarray, would also provide the impetus for Into Thin Air, Krakauer's epic account of the May 1996 disaster
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. Clearly, Krakauer remains haunted by the disaster, and although he relates a number of incidents in which he acted selflessly and even heroically, he seems unable to view those instances objectively. In the end, despite his evenhanded and even generous! assessment of others' actions, he reserves a full measure of vitriol for himself.This updated trade paperback edition of Into Thin Air includes an extensive new postscript that sheds fascinating light on the acrimonious debate that flared between Krakauer and Everest guide Anatoli Boukreev in the wake of the tragedy."I have no doubt that Boukreev's intentions were good on summit day," writes Krakauer in the postscript, dated August 1999. "What disturbs me, though, was Boukreev's refusal to acknowledge the possibility that he made even a single poor decision. Never did he indicate that perhaps it wasn't the best choice to climb without gas or go down ahead of his clients." As usual, Krakauer supports his points with dogged research and a good dose of humility. But rather than continue the heated discourse that has raged since Into Thin Air's denouncement of guide Boukreev, Krakauer's tone is conciliatory; he points most of his criticism at G. Weston De Walt, who coauthored, The Climb, Boukreev's version of events. And in a touching conclusion, Krakauer re!counts his last conversation with the late Boukreev, in which the two weathered climbers agreed to disagree about certain points. Krakauer had great hopes to patch things up with Boukreev, but the Russian later died in an avalanche on another Himalayan peak, Annapurna I. In 1999, Krakauer received an Academy Award in Literature from the American Academy of Arts and Letters-a prestigious prize intended "to honor writers of exceptional accomplishment."According to the Academy's citation, "Krakauer combines the tenacity and courage of the finest tradition of investigative journalism with the stylish subtlety and profound insight of the born writer.His account of an ascent of Mount Everest has led to a general reevaluation of climbing and of the commercialization of what was once a romantic, solitary sport; while his account of the life and death of Christopher McCandless, who died of starvation after challenging the Alaskan wilderness, delves even more deeply and disturbingly into the fascination of nature and the devastating effects of its lure on a young and curious mind."
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Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: 
- Fear of Dying
I started out having this book read out aloud to me on the beach; it was so engrossing that by the time we were headed home I had commandeered it and didn't stop reading until eleven that night, when I had finished it.
Into Thin Air probes mountaineering pretty deeply, and gives an absorbing factual account of the disaster and the personalities that caused it. It's impossible to imagine that you won't enjoy and be gripped by this well written and emotionally charged book.
Read More
Rating: 
- Into Thin Air vs The Climb
I've read all the accounts of the 1996 season, not just these two.
I've also climbed three mountains including Mt. Kilimanjaro to 19,340 feet.
At no time in any of my mountain experiences were my guides ever out of my sight if not roped directly to me.
Fisher's attitude was, "we have Big E wired" and it fueled Boukreev's oxygenless scamper to the summit and back. But Boukreev's "freshness" at the South Col couldn't save Fisher or the others. He later saved several lives but it ... Read More
Rating: - First-person account of Mt. Everest tragedy
Jon Krakauer was asked to go along on a climb of Mt. Everest as a journalist who could report some problems which were arising as a result of too many inexperienced climbers being guided up the mountain by greedy companies who coveted the large fees paid by their clients.Instead he found himself in a life-and-death experience when a terrible storm struck shortly after he had reached the summit.Krakauer reports the dark side of Mt. Everest climbs such as the ecological damage which results from ... Read More
Rating: - read this book if you want to gain or break an Everest obsession
A cannot put it down real life tale.BUY THIS BOOK.You will never regret it.You will never forget it either.
Rating: - Great read - sparked my interest in Krakauer and Everest
This is a great read.This was the first book that got me hooked on Jon Krakauer's writing, and I have not looked back since.Very gripping, hard to put down, and well worth the time.Read it!
- Fear of DyingI started out having this book read out aloud to me on the beach; it was so engrossing that by the time we were headed home I had commandeered it and didn't stop reading until eleven that night, when I had finished it.
Into Thin Air probes mountaineering pretty deeply, and gives an absorbing factual account of the disaster and the personalities that caused it. It's impossible to imagine that you won't enjoy and be gripped by this well written and emotionally charged book.
Read More
- Into Thin Air vs The ClimbI've read all the accounts of the 1996 season, not just these two.
I've also climbed three mountains including Mt. Kilimanjaro to 19,340 feet.
At no time in any of my mountain experiences were my guides ever out of my sight if not roped directly to me.
Fisher's attitude was, "we have Big E wired" and it fueled Boukreev's oxygenless scamper to the summit and back. But Boukreev's "freshness" at the South Col couldn't save Fisher or the others. He later saved several lives but it ... Read More
- First-person account of Mt. Everest tragedyJon Krakauer was asked to go along on a climb of Mt. Everest as a journalist who could report some problems which were arising as a result of too many inexperienced climbers being guided up the mountain by greedy companies who coveted the large fees paid by their clients.Instead he found himself in a life-and-death experience when a terrible storm struck shortly after he had reached the summit.Krakauer reports the dark side of Mt. Everest climbs such as the ecological damage which results from ... Read More
- read this book if you want to gain or break an Everest obsessionA cannot put it down real life tale.BUY THIS BOOK.You will never regret it.You will never forget it either.
- Great read - sparked my interest in Krakauer and EverestThis is a great read.This was the first book that got me hooked on Jon Krakauer's writing, and I have not looked back since.Very gripping, hard to put down, and well worth the time.Read it!
