Recently finished Jon Krakauer's "Into Thin Air." Found it enthralling. Do not understand subsequent criticism of Krakauer.

It is silly for people to go on very dangerous mountain climbs and then argue later about whose fault it was that someone got killed.

You failed to read the comment. The person who wrote it read both books. And her opinion of Krakauer declined--he disparaged a woman which it seems you find nothing wrong with. Krakauer is more of a fiction writer than a non-objective write. More of an Op-Ed type that an honest news type--his writing strongly supports his predetermined opinions, which of course are opinions to help him look better than others, and to sell more books.

Bad Wigins wrote:

It is silly for people to go on very dangerous mountain climbs and then argue later about whose fault it was that someone got killed.

Which is exactly why Krakauer deserves to be skewered. His write is all about about criticizing the actions of others. His fans love that stuff; better left to the tabloids.

Everest tragedies are the Olympics of second-guessing.

I read the comment. Just because a person states they read the book does not mean they a) understood it or b) even read it at all. A person who read the book and remembers what it actually said would not write such a comment.

I'm not sure why anyone would have a problem with disparaging a woman any more than disparaging a man if it was warranted. That's why Krakauer is a great writer and people like you are not: he is honest and people like you would sugarcoat the facts simply because a person is a woman. Give me a break.

There are no heroes when all this suffering is self-inflicted. Better heroes with REAL causes...

The White Rabbit (Yeo-Thomas)

The Big Show (Clostermann)

Survival in Auschwitz (Levy)

moanswers wrote:

Read Boukreev's book "The Climb". It's his account of the same expedition. It's a great read that gives another perspective on Krakauer's version.

I read Boukreev's book and I have to say that it didn't make me like the guy. I felt that Krakauer's comment that Boukreev should not have gone without oxygen because he was hired as a guide (and thus his first concern should have been staying alert and strong to assist others), was reasonable. I think the criticism that Krakauer could have done more is misguided - he wasn't a guide.

Krakauer's book was also much better written. I bought it in an airport to read on the flight and I finished the book before the wheels left the runway.

Base Camp Future wrote:

I read the comment. Just because a person states they read the book does not mean they a) understood it or b) even read it at all. A person who read the book and remembers what it actually said would not write such a comment.

I'm not sure why anyone would have a problem with disparaging a woman any more than disparaging a man if it was warranted. That's why Krakauer is a great writer and people like you are not: he is honest and people like you would sugarcoat the facts simply because a person is a woman. Give me a break.

Krakauers book was the first to shed light on the absolute absurdity of guiding clients up Everest. All folly that follows in Into thin Air was guide-based. Booker even, author of The Climb, refuted Krakauers version of events but he too had a one sided version. One fact tilts towards Krakauer in the spat. ---Scott Fischer, lead guide and Boukerevs boss was livid at him all expedition for skirting his responsibilities and climbing for himself. Only after disaster struck did Boukerev turn hero and then he truly was. Krakauer was straight up correct in his observations and all radio communications that day back up Fischers anger at Boukerev ignoring his duties for his own goals. The mountaineering guide community doesn't like Krakauer. Conrad Anker, the best living American climber is one of his best friends and that speaks volumes. ---Unfortunately, Boukerev passed away the next season in an avalanche extending the tragic events further and putting an exclamation point on the reality of it all.

Actually, that comment is the top rated comment for that book on Goodreads. Goodreads is top book review site on the internet. So, you are not only claiming the person who commented is unqualified, but are also taking on those who rated that comment as the best.

Base Camp Future wrote:

I read the comment. Just because a person states they read the book does not mean they a) understood it or b) even read it at all. A person who read the book and remembers what it actually said would not write such a comment.

I'm not sure why anyone would have a problem with disparaging a woman any more than disparaging a man if it was warranted. That's why Krakauer is a great writer and people like you are not: he is honest and people like you would sugarcoat the facts simply because a person is a woman. Give me a break.

It may be top comment. That does not make it true. Democracy fails sometimes. Look who's in the white house. My issue is with this sentence:

"Contrast this with Krakauer's Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mt. Everest Disaster (view spoiler) where he slags off Boukreev as a guide who... didn't do enough to save people in the disaster that was the 1996 climbing seaon on Everest."

Krakauer does not say that anywhere in the book and actually says the exact opposite. That comment is factually incorrect about what Krakauer says in Into Thin Air.

Base Camp Future wrote:

Anyway, loved the book. Would be interested to hear others' thoughts.

I've been an ice climber and alpinist for a long time; not into the Himalayan circus but have been to

Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, Canada, Alaska, all over and have talked to a lot of climbers about this. I've

read his book, also read Boukreev's book as well. (Boukreev's performance during the rescue

remains criminally underrated in my opinion.)

While there may some valid criticisms here and there my take on it is deep down, there is a hell of

a lot of jealousy about the fact he cashed in on this hugely. A lot of people calling him a 'whore', etc,

but the fact is so many of these guys living on shoestring budgets would have done the same thing

if given the half a chance and are frankly pissed it wasn't them who got to write the book and cash

in.

The other issue here is Krakauer was never one of the 'brotherhood' really, not part of the cool-kids

club of the era. If Barry Blanchard or Conrad Anker or someone like that had written the book I would

bet every dollar I had the response would have been far different. Just my opinion of course.

Don't know Krakauer at all btw, never met him.

no point to it wrote:

Bad Wigins wrote:

It is silly for people to go on very dangerous mountain climbs and then argue later about whose fault it was that someone got killed.

Which is exactly why Krakauer deserves to be skewered. His write is all about about criticizing the actions of others. His fans love that stuff; better left to the tabloids.

Have you read the book? This is not true at all. It is ONE man's account of a deeply complicated and unfortunate event on a mountain that has unfortunately become a complete circus. Krakauer may not be everyone's cup of tea but he called it as he saw it and in my view it's as balanced an account as it can be when coming from ONE guy.

The highest i've ever been is just over 22,000 feet, not even the height of Camp 4 on Everest. Was heading that direction but divorce and single-parenthood derailed that piece of my life. But I've climbed a long time and know people who have summited everest twice, and have many 8000m peaks to their credit. Some of the strongest humans I've ever known, and they'll all tell you when it goes bad up there it goes bad in a way that the silly armchair quarterbacks who shudder at the thought of walking outside to get their paper in winter could never imagine. There is no question that Scott Fischer should come in for a lot of criticism here; guiding Everest in a loose fashion like he did is just asking for it. He was a cool dude and an amazingly strong athlete, but just got in WAY over his head when faced with what amounted to herding cats on the tallest summit in the world. A large group of people, with wildly varying levels of strength, experience, and motivation, on a mountain like that? Trouble waiting to happen. I've personally never done a trip with a team bigger than three people and even that seemed like one too many at times, and we were pretty damn good climbers.

Bad Wigans is spot on.

SaRchoSucHuSSssSSss wrote:

There are no heroes when all this suffering is self-inflicted. Better heroes with REAL causes...

The White Rabbit (Yeo-Thomas)

The Big Show (Clostermann)

Survival in Auschwitz (Levy)

Who said the Everest climbers are heroes? In fact, JK points out the absurdity of it all. That said, the book is a fascinating story and some people like to take risks in life doing things they like. And some people like reading about those stories of adventure.

Krakauer's book was very good.

Unfortunately nothing got better afterwards. If you thought it was a circus at Everest 96 what would you call it now?

EgoKrakauer wrote:

He is an egomaniac. Only his way is the right way. Anyone who disagrees with him about that must be attack, and attacked, and attacked.

www.markhorrell.com/blog/2011/the-krakauer-syndromehttps://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/may/07/jon-krakauer-heckler-missoula-forum-rape

I would take the opinion of a mountaineer anytime over a hobby climber and hobby writer like Mark Horrell.

If you liked Into Thin Air, rent "Meru" - probably the best alpine climb documentary I've ever seen.

Krakauer is a talking head in the movie.

Read Ed Viesturs book: No Shortcuts to the Top, you will really enjoy his perspective on these events as well as his philosophy on climbing. He is the only American to climb all 14 of the 8000 meter peaks without supplemental oxygen

Climbing book reader wrote:

Krakauer's book was very good.

Unfortunately nothing got better afterwards. If you thought it was a circus at Everest 96 what would you call it now?

Everest is not my problem. The mountaineering community need to sort it out. I love adventure books and read them for personal pleasure.

rocker spaniel wrote:

If you liked Into Thin Air, rent "Meru" - probably the best alpine climb documentary I've ever seen.

Krakauer is a talking head in the movie.

Yup, that is an EXCELLENT film. Those dudes are hard core beyond belief. Tough mofos. Much respect.