Into
Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mt. Everest Disaster
John Krakauer
Paperback: 368 pages
Publisher: Anchor; Reprint edition (October 19, 1999)
ISBN: 0385494785
Overall Rating: 5 Stars 
Readability: 5 Stars
Content: 5 Stars
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In May of 1996 John Krakauer climbed to the summit of Mt. Everest.
Tragically, on that same day, nine climbers perished as a storm
engulfed the precipitous slopes of the highest mountain on earth.
The expedition, one of a growing number of commercial guided ascents
of Everest, was criticized by many climbing experts for allowing
climbers with sub-standard skills on the mountain. Krakauer, an
experienced climber with many years of experience, participated
in the expedition with the intent of later writing an article
for Outside Magazine. After the tragedy, Krakauer expanded the
scope of the project and wrote Into Thin Air. Into Thin Air is
a fascinating book that is exceptionally easy to read. Krakauer's
prose is more journalistic than literary, exploring all the facets
of the expedition in a factual, impartial tone. The story is filled
with gut-wrenching tragedy, leaving the reader questioning the
motives of the many people involved. The reader is also left with
an in depth understanding of the complexity and dangers of climbing
Mt. Everest. Into Thin Air is a fascinating, sobering book, one
that is sure to become a classic in the adventure literature genre.
