Into Thin AirInto Thin Air
What it's about
In May 1996, journalist Jon Krakauer joined a guided expedition to the summit of Mount Everest on assignment for Outside magazine. On the day he reached the top, a storm swept in, and by the next morning eight climbers from several teams were dead, including expedition leaders. Krakauer reconstructs what went wrong, and wrestles with his own role in a disaster he survived.
Why it's worth reading
It's one of the greatest adventure books ever written, gripping, terrifying and morally serious, and it changed how the world sees high-altitude climbing. It was a Pulitzer finalist.
You'll love it if you liked
The Right Stuff, Challenger: A True Story of Heroism and Disaster on the Edge of Space or Fire Weather: A True Story from a Hotter World
Good to know
It's about 300 pages and reads fast. Some of Krakauer's judgments of other climbers have been disputed, notably by a guide who wrote his own account.
By the numbers
- Readers87 out of 100 · counts 40%+40
- Critics48 out of 100 · counts 14%+7
- Bestseller66 out of 100 · counts 32% (its stronger lane)+23
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 15%+0
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero.
Pulitzer Prize (General Nonfiction) finalist (1998). #1 New York Times bestseller (4 weeks at #1). 4.27★ from 594K Goodreads ratings.
Where it ranks
- #18 of the 168 memoirs and biographies we rank
- #42 of the 666 modern books we rank
- #103 of the 1,405 books we rank
Bestseller
- #1 New York Times bestseller (4 weeks at #1)
Shortlisted
- Pulitzer Prize (General Nonfiction) finalist (1998)
- NBCC Award (Nonfiction) finalist (1997)
Reads as
True story, Adventurous
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