Title of the Book: Into thin Air
 Author: Jon Krakauer
 # of Pages: 364
 Star Rating: ☆☆☆

 Review:

Jon Krakauer begins Into thin Air at the top of Mount Everest. Krakauer’s recollection is not chronological by any means. It is organized by location on Everest, and specifically altitude. Krakauer is a journalist and it was his career which funded his expedition. Motivation to climb Mount Everest held a different meaning for each individual climber. For Krakauer, it meant fulfilling his childhood dream. Into thin Air is not just any personal account though. Krakauer began his journey with more than he ended it with.

At first glance, Into thin Air was just another transcendentalist non-fiction book. But, the author has a completely unexpected lens. He does not romanticize standing on top of the world. In fact, Krakauer does the exact opposite. Krakauer refers to his his fellow climbers as “clients” and other teams as “commercial expeditions.” His voice is sarcastic and pessimistic even when the section is informative. At times his negativity was even humorous. The comedy was what got me through the first half of the book, because the mountain climbing jargon was even slightly boring.

I found the book more compelling towards the end as he describes the more tragic part of Everest: descending in the storm. The inverse relationship of climbing higher into the atmosphere and depleting mentally and physically ends at the summit of Everest. Suddenly, Krakauer and the other people became more relatable. The effects of oxygen deprivation is very clear throughout the last quarter of the book. However, after reading responses from the other climbers to Jon Krakauer’s book, I lost some respect for it. Specifically, Sandy Pittman’s survival story was celebrated until Jon Krakauer’s article momentarily ruined her reputation as an athlete.

Despite it’s faults, Into thin Air is definitely worth reading. It is simply uniquely written and successful. Do not make a snap judgement about the book based on the first half though as there are definitely sharp switches in voice to keep you as a reader on your toes.