Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer | Teen Ink

Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer MAG

October 31, 2008
By Kenzie413 BRONZE, Portland, Oregon
Kenzie413 BRONZE, Portland, Oregon
3 articles 0 photos 3 comments

Favorite Quote:
"That which me manifest is before us. The car goes where the eyes go."


There are good books, there are bad books, and then there are the books in between. Into Thin Air is one of those. I generally find nonfiction boring, and this was true for most of this book. For the last hundred pages, however, I couldn’t put it down.

Into Thin Air is the story of the 1996 Mt. Everest disaster, told by Jon Krakauer, a reporter who was asked to accompany the expedition to write a magazine article.

For the first half of the book, Krakauer explains how he came to climb Everest and recalls the events that led to this ascent of the highest summit in the world. Along with him were some accomplished climbers and some who probably couldn’t climb Mt. Hood without a guide, which made for an interesting mix. Virtually nothing happened until almost the end, so there is not much to tell without spoiling it.

I think if I hadn’t been reading this book for school, I would have given up after a few chapters. I didn’t really feel like I got to know most of the characters, and there were times when I felt Krakauer was trying to divert blame from himself, instead of just telling the story.

Most of the writing seemed like one huge newspaper article, stretched out and fattened with useless information that I couldn’t remember when I needed it later in the book. There was little dialogue and too many quotes.

As I said, the last hundred pages were a lot less dull. All I can tell you (without giving it all away) is that a lot of people died and the ones who managed to live made some hard choices.

I would recommend this book to avid mountain climbers and people who have more patience than I do when it comes to reading.


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This article has 5 comments.


on Nov. 15 2010 at 11:20 pm
Kenzie413 BRONZE, Portland, Oregon
3 articles 0 photos 3 comments

Favorite Quote:
"That which me manifest is before us. The car goes where the eyes go."

agreed... I read this two years ago and as of now I can't honestly remember much of it. It's just one of those things you have to read and be done with... I can think of a thousand better books. But hey, since when did teachers ask what we wanted to read? :P

bunnybee said...
on Nov. 15 2010 at 7:31 pm
i am reading this book at the moment and this book to me seems really complicated there is to much writing but not enough information if this wasnt for school  i wouldnt read it

on Feb. 11 2010 at 11:19 pm
Kenzie413 BRONZE, Portland, Oregon
3 articles 0 photos 3 comments

Favorite Quote:
"That which me manifest is before us. The car goes where the eyes go."

halo with the hair EPIC WIN

on Jul. 21 2009 at 11:19 pm
Kelly Johnson BRONZE, Silver Spring, Maryland
4 articles 0 photos 11 comments
Yeah, I felt the same way when I read it. If you want to get really bored, read another of Krakaur's books- Into the Wild. The story would be good if it had been a short story, but God how long can you go on about that sort of thing!

good review :)

on Nov. 6 2008 at 11:56 pm
good job mckenzie