Eiger Dreams

By: Jon Krakauer

Narrated by: Jon Krakauer

Length: 5 hrs and 40 mins

Publisher's summary

No one writes about mountaineering and its attendant hardships and victories more brilliantly than Jon Krakauer. In this collection of his finest work from such magazines as Outside and Smithsonian, Krakauer explores the subject from the unique and memorable perspective of one who has himself battled peaks like K2, Denali, Everest, and, of course, Eiger - always with a keen eye, an open heart, and a hunger for the ultimate experience.

©1997 Jon Krakauer (P)1997 Bantam Doubleday Dell Audio Publishing, a division of Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing Group, Inc.

Critic reviews

"As hard-edged and gripping as the peaks themselves." (Climbing)
"... the stories unwind as though the reader were front-pointing up a Himalayan serac or hanging by a nubbin in an Arizona canyon." (Snow Country)

Awesome

Great read. I think I am beginning to understand the mindset of climbers a little bit more.

Krakauer knows how to tell a story.

I would have given five stars to the story rating but somehow I couldn't make it happen on my iPhone. I'll pretty much read any book that krakauer writes.

Excellent

What made the experience of listening to Eiger Dreams the most enjoyable?

Krakauer is an excellent reader.

What did you like best about this story?

I enjoy mountaineering literature and Krakauer's books are among my favorites.

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

I like his understated manner of reading.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

His solo journey to the Devils Thumb.

Great Read Inspiring and Moving

If you want to be swept up into the fierce world of triumph and loss in the world of climbing look no further than Jon Krakauer. He delves into the world of climbing, talks about famous, infamous and tragic figures and places and inspires me towards the limits of my potential. Does not specifically focus on Eiger, but it and other climbs.

Eiger Dreams (abridged) by Jon Krakauer

What made the experience of listening to Eiger Dreams the most enjoyable?

Jon Krakauer reading his own excellent work.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Eiger Dreams?

Jon's attempt at climbing the Eiger.

What about Jon Krakauer’s performance did you like?

Jon's voice makes for very good listening.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It runs through all the emotions.

Any additional comments?

Would very much like an unabridged version, read by Jon.

Great book. Where Krakauer got his start...

A collection of enjoyable and sometimes funny short stories that were originally published in Outside Magazine. This book precedes Krakauer's "Into the Wild" which put Jon on the mainstream map, and of course "Into Thin Air", which is my favorite book of the past 10 years. Read by the author. Stories like these are easy to listen to several times.

Excellent mountaineering book

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, The book is great at describing the obstacles people face when climing , struggles against nature and yourself.

What other book might you compare Eiger Dreams to and why?

Boys of Everest, Ed Viesturs K2, they are very descriptive about the journey and you get a clear picture of what it might be like.

What about Jon Krakauer’s performance did you like?

The flow of his and description of his stories.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Yes, the final 3 minutes of the book is great.

Any additional comments?

I think it's great that he reads his own stuff.

Great stories. Narration could use some polishing.

As far as a book goes, Jon's work here is 5 stars. As far as the narration? 4 stars- it seemed that I could tell Jon's different sessions of reading his book to the audience. At times it even sounded like the narrator had changed!

After reading Into The Wild as one of the first adult books I ever read as a kid back in the '90s, and after Into Thin Air more recently, and then after reading some of Ed Viesturs' words about Jon, I feel I know him personally.

He here does great work telling tales of adventure, obsession and loss. This is another confirmation to me, only a novice mountaineer, of the danger climbing entails.

Great stories from Jon’s young climbing days

Jon recounts his climbs in Switzerland on
the Eiger, but also has a number of stories about ice climbing in Alaska, climbing El Capitan in Yosemite and big rock climbing in Chamonix. Great stories of very interesting climbing characters !

Probably not for me.

I got bored pretty quickly, so I don't think this book was for me. I should have picked something else.