Into Thin Air

A Personal Account of the Mt. Everest Disaster

By: Jon Krakauer

Narrated by: Philip Franklin

Length: 9 hrs and 8 mins

Publisher's summary

When Jon Krakauer reached the summit of Mt. Everest in the early afternoon of May 10, 1996, he hadn't slept in 57 hours and was reeling from the brain-altering effects of oxygen depletion. As he turned to begin his long, dangerous descent from 29,028 feet, 20 other climbers were still pushing doggedly toward the top. No one had noticed that the sky had begun to fill with clouds.

Six hours later and 3,000 feet lower, in 70-knot winds and blinding snow, Krakauer collapsed in his tent, freezing, hallucinating from exhaustion and hypoxia, but safe. The following morning, he learned that six of his fellow climbers hadn't made it back to their camp and were desperately struggling for their lives. When the storm finally passed, five of them would be dead, and the sixth so horribly frostbitten that his right hand would have to be amputated.

Into Thin Air is the definitive account of the deadliest season in the history of Everest by the acclaimed journalist and author of the best seller Into the Wild. On assignment for Outside Magazine to report on the growing commercialization of the mountain, Krakauer, an accomplished climber, went to the Himalayas as a client of Rob Hall, the most respected high-altitude guide in the world.

A rangy, 35-year-old New Zealander, Hall had summited Everest four times between 1990 and 1995 and had led 39 climbers to the top. Ascending the mountain in close proximity to Hall's team was a guided expedition led by Scott Fischer, a 40-year-old American with legendary strength and drive who had climbed the peak without supplemental oxygen in 1994. But neither Hall nor Fischer survived the rogue storm that struck in May 1996.

Krakauer examines what it is about Everest that has compelled so many people - including himself - to throw caution to the wind, ignore the concerns of loved ones, and willingly subject themselves to such risk, hardship, and expense.

Written with emotional clarity and supported by his unimpeachable reporting, Krakauer's eyewitness account of what happened on the roof of the world is a singular achievement. Into the Wild is available on audio, read by actor Campbell Scott.

©1997 Jon Krakauer (P)1997 Bantam Doubleday Dell Audio Publishing, Bantam Doubleday Dell Audio Publishing, A Division of Random House Inc.

Critic reviews

Winner, Margaret A. Edwards Award (Alex Awards), 1998

"Into Thin Air ranks among the great adventure books of all time...a book of rare eloquence and power that could remain relevant for centuries." (Galen Rowell, The Wall Street Journal)

"No added dramatics are needed for the listener to imagine the high-altitude cold, fear, bravado and sense of total isolation felt by all who were trapped beyond help, as well as by those who survived. Franklin’s emulations of the multinational voices of guides, clients and Sherpas bring one still closer to the action." (AudioFile)

Worth it

Extremely gripping story. Very well constructed narrative. I listened to it all in one go. Highly recommended to listen to.

Great book- pity about the narrator

What did you like about the performance? What did you dislike?

Contrary to what is stated in other reviews, the narrator is not the author - and he is unfortunately not able to pronounce the word "Himalaya" properly. But he does a reasonable job imitating NZ and British accents, if you like that kind of thing.

excellent story

loved every minute of this well written first hand account of one if Everest's deadly days.

Adventure plus

This book and story was riveting
There was never a dull moment.
What courage & poor judgement at the same time. I saw the movie which was great, the book is even better.

My favorite all-time audio book

This is one of my favorite books and I have given print or Audible copies to at least a dozen friends. I respect the honesty and accuracy that Krakauer strives for and hearing the book in his own voice makes it more real. I've read several books on Everest and the 1996 tragedy. Eiger Dreams is also an enjoyable book.

Breath Taking

What did you love best about Into Thin Air?

Jon Krakauer the narrator

Who was your favorite character and why?

all of the people on the climb for different reasons

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

It has been made already

Riveting

I had previously read the book and had also watched the movie, yet this still kept my rapt attention. The narrator was good, I felt like I was listening to Krakauer himself telling the story. Will probably loop around and listen to this one again in the future.

must read !!

loved it. it was so gripping and the real life instances were very well encapsulated in this book. thanks for sharing your story !! left me with a vacuum in my heart for a few days after I finished the book .

Riveting!

An amazing story! I've read it many times and keep coming back to it. The audiobooks format is good, but I recommend you sit down and actually read the book.

Mesmerizing

What did you love best about Into Thin Air?

I have no personal experience in climbing, and I chose this book on tape because of its ratings and because it was in the great first listen section.

What did you like best about this story?

I knew very little about this subject matter before listening to this book, and have become quite interested in climbing and in other climber's experiences.I learned alot about something that I knew very little.

What does Jon Krakauer bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I thoroughly enjoyed listening to the author read his own book