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

"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)

Great insights and well written book

I've enjoyed the detailed information regarding this tragic event. It was an unfortunate event but glad you spent the time recording details and providing them to the public.

Compelling and enjoyable book

Listen to book as is, without being to analytical about facts and foes, this is based on the writer's perception of what happened and whether it is 90% true or not, should not matter. Perceptions can be deceiving. It is a good story and the performer voice is easy to listen to. It remains interesting and compelling throughout.

Absolute classic.

Riveting account of an absolutely harrowing adventure and calamity. Expertly told by a great writer as he lived it.

fascinating and enlightening

Here are fifteen words, which are required by Audible even though this review is 'optional.

But, since I am here, this book is intense and fascinating. It opened my eyes to a world I knew little about and I will forever look at mountaineering differently.

Mezmerizing

Have you listened to any of Philip Franklin’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

A brief comment on Philip's reading of this book. I'm not clear the South African accent was spot on, but he is one of the most talented readers I've heard. He had to attempt a number of accents and switch back and forth between them. His reading was not a distraction but a definite enhancement to this story.

Any additional comments?

Into Thin Air is easily one of the most compelling audiobooks I've listened to thus far. Krakauer's writing is both detailed, nuanced and full of humanizing details... His inclusion of his multiple interviews with climbers after this tragic event deeply colors and fills out the story line. Descriptions of the scenery on the way to the summit are exquisite and are probably the closest I'll ever get to being there myself. In addition to the story line Krakauer discusses motivations and even archetypes of high altitude mountaineers; their courage, strength, warmth, sometimes lack of warmth, lack of care, single-mindedness, goal-seeking, and ultimately humanity of this group of athletes. Finally, Krakauer shares best he can the history of extreme mountaineers as well as the lives of Nepalese/Sherpa community that co-exist with this avid group of adventurers.In all this story was thrilling, horrifying and deeply touching.

I appreciate the sensitivity and attempt to present a well-rounded account of events as they occurred on May 10th, 1996. I rarely see an author lay out his own challenges, successes, and deep regrets so clearly.

Amazing account, amazing writing. I finished this in 3 days.

Wow

I couldn’t stop listening to this book. Riveting and horrifying I felt like I was on the mountain. Great reader and I like this author. Will listen again

Awesome

This was a great book it was very sad though that all those people died though but I like this book so much that I keep reading it over and over I had a disaster happen to me to in 2001 I was in a very bad car accident and I was in a coma for two months and the doctors weren’t sure if I would make it or not when I did come out of my coma I had to relearn how to do everything again eat talk feed myself walk and because of that accident I have permanent brain damage my name is Ashley Timm

amazing and sobering

The account of the multiple expeditions chronicled in this book is fantastic. I can only pretend to imagine how difficult it was to pen. I found myself audibly exclaiming with disbelief during the reading of it. It is an amazing and sobering log recounting a part of the deadliest season in the history of Everest; spring 1996

Good Read

This is a well written and well read adventure tale. The author was there in that cold strange place. He allows you to feel the thin air, the cold and the idea of being alone even while with others. A good read.

Best Everest Book

I have read a lot of books about Mt E (mostly pertaining to the 1996 disaster) and this one by far takes the cake. I highly recommend this oldie but goodie!