Into Thin Air review

Title of the Book: Into Thin Air

Author: Jon Krakauer

Number of Pages: 333

Rating: ☆☆☆☆

Review:

Nature is so beautifully unpredictable, some places are more fortunate than others, like the Himalayan Mountain Range. The five highest peaks in the world are all located in this mountain range, making it the destination of many climbers who desires to conquer Everest’s peak. But, is it worth one’s life? Is $65,000 really the value of our lives?

Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer is a literary nonfiction book that narrates the deadly events occurred on May 10, 1996, from the point of view of one of the survivors. Since Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay ‘conquered’ Everest, people around the world were thrilled and wanted to accomplish the same without thinking the dangerous it was. Krakauer has been a passionate climber that did not lose the opportunity to climb Mount Everest when he was offered this opportunity. He was asked to go on a guided expedition to Everest and write an article for Outside, where he worked. Because he has never climbed with a large group, he was somewhat worried about the dangerous risk this can bring, but little did he know that nature can be more dangerous than some trust issues. Hall was the leader of Krakauer’s expedition group, where everyone has paid $65,000 in order to reach the summit. On May 10, 1996, one of the most tragic events in the history of climbing occurred. It is registered that eight people died and many more ended both physically and psychologically injured.

This literary nonfiction book narrates the horrifying experience that Jon and many others went through, creating a sense of sympathy for real events that have happened whereas, in fictional books, readers have sympathy for fictional situations which can lead to the misunderstanding of the struggles from people in our society. And not only the tragic event makes this book unique but also the author’s use of literary techniques that help to the concise narrative. Krakauer has explained that he waited a year to write this book because he wanted everything clear and not affected by the need for oxygen that Everest caused. During 1996, Mount Everest became very commercialized making this a principal theme of the story. The story also had a shifting tone; in low altitudes, the tone was animated and assertive whereas, in high altitudes, it was ambivalent and confused. The tones change along with the need for oxygen which makes one critical thinking malfunction. Moreover, mountaineering diction attracts sports fans.

This book has many memorable moments such as the moment in which Krakauer finally recovered his ‘conscience’ and realize he was alive, but soon was hit with guilt for not rescuing the people he could, like Namba.  Or when Jon Krakauer and Neal Beidleman reunited and talk about what they went through in a way that both provided comfort to each other in a simple way like listening.

I recommend this book because it teaches the importance of trust in a group. It also helps sharpen one’s ability to concise important information while note-taking, in this book every little detail was important and those detail led to the tragic event on May 10. This book is not only for students also for sports fans most likely climbers who are also wanting to climb Everest. I highly recommend this book whether is for educational purposes or if seeking thrilling experiences.