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Into Thin Air, Krakauer

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mozzy
Posts: 1034 - Karma: 60
Anyone read this? I just finished reading it, and it's a pretty riveting story about the 1996 Everest climbing fatalities.

It's quite remarkable how a number of human factors, mixed in with the weather, led to all these deaths on the mountain. Amazing story.






Aug 9 2010 8:10AM
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1337
Posts: 31059 - Karma: 29,329
One of my favorite books of all time. It's a great read, and really well told; Krakauer is a great author.
Aug 9 2010 8:20AM
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SkierX
Posts: 16253 - Karma: 538
Beat me to the punch.

Great book for sure.
Aug 9 2010 8:52AM
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dwigt
Posts: 461 - Karma: 2
if you haven't already definitely read Krakauer's other book Into the Wild, i liked it even more than Into Thin Air.
Aug 9 2010 8:52AM
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SkierX
Posts: 16253 - Karma: 538
Personally disagree. Found Thin Air to be much better than Wild.
Aug 9 2010 8:53AM
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mozzy
Posts: 1034 - Karma: 60
I might be wrong, but maybe one of the NS members had family on that expedition?


Aug 9 2010 9:05AM
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1337
Posts: 31059 - Karma: 29,329
Agreed. It's a non fiction book that he experienced first hand, where as Into the Wild was fictional (based off a true story, but he was not there to experience it). He captured the emotion, drama, and helplessness of the events on Everest perfectly.
Aug 9 2010 9:44AM
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nomensteven
Posts: 4 - Karma: 105
Great book. I really enjoyed it. If you are into this kind of book also check out:

No Shortcuts to the top by Ed Viesturs (He also talks about that disaster a bit in it)
In The Path of an Avalanche by Vivien Bowers
Snowstruck by Jill A. Fredston

Some really great reads.
Aug 9 2010 9:50AM
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sugarloaf
Posts: 7866 - Karma: 299
ahh good book. i read it in like 4 days cause i couldn't put it down. the whole thing left me kinda shook up. I can't even imagine what it was like for people on the mountain, nevermind krakauer himself, who was still finding out about things months after the expedition.
Aug 9 2010 9:53AM
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SkierX
Posts: 16253 - Karma: 538
Read about three quarters of No Shortcuts to the Top. I never finished it due to other things catching up with me and not having personal reading time. I should revisit it and finish reading it.
Aug 9 2010 9:55AM
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nomensteven
Posts: 4 - Karma: 105
If your still short for time I would highly recommend the audiobook (the unabridged version read by Stephen Hoyle). It is extremely well done and runs around 13 hours long. I read it while driving to and from the cottage (6.5 hour drive).

Check out www.audible.com they have it.
Aug 9 2010 10:00AM
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