Into Thin Air grips you from the start and keeps you interested throughout the entire 288 pages. Krakauer writes in such a way that tells a factual story but also invests you in the characters and their fate. Each of the climbers we are introduced to have their own personal motives, interests, and flaws. Climbing Mount Everest is an inherently illogical act, one that places intangible accomplishment before self-preservation. This draws the most superficial individuals to the mountain, who want only to stand atop the tallest mountain in the world and then never step on another summit in their entire life.
I found Krakauer's illustration of these people to be one of the strengths of this book. A large part of why so many people died at 28,000 feet in 1996 was because of the selfishness and greed of those who would stop at nothing to summit Everest. Bruce Herrod, the last of the 12 who perished on Everest during those few days, died because of this relentless desire to reach summit. He was 3 hours past the designated turnaround time and still continued to push for summit. His team abandoned him and did not tell Herrod to turn around even after they passed him on their way down. Herrod reached summit and disappeared into the night, presumed dead today. Krakauer gives us a look at the humanity behind climbing Everest, and it allows the reader to connect with those on the mountain. Personally, I could see myself refusing to turn around so close to the summit after spending the better part of seven weeks committed to reaching the top.
Another part of the book I could connect with was the immense guilt and regret Krakauer was burdened with after surviving the 1996 Everest disaster. Obviously I have never been exposed to an event as traumatic as what Krakauer experienced on Everest, but his description of his grieving process makes it very relate-able on a personal level. With only 1 of the 5 other people that made summit with Krakauer surviving the descent, it comes as no surprise to me that he has some amount of survivor's guilt. I can connect with Krakauer because of the natural human response to such a disaster, and he portrays that well in Into Thin Air
The epilogue of the book serves as a recognition of all the criticism he and his teammates received for their part in the 1996 disaster. Krakauer was torn apart by both the media and members of various victim's family-members. They claimed he could have helped more and simply did not do enough to save those in need. Krakauer recognizes this as legitimate criticism and does not try to argue against his accusers. I too held some doubts about whether or not Krakauer truly did all he could to stop deaths on that mountain. I also grew to look at some parts of Into Thin Air with cynicism, for it was all the word of one man and he had the ability to include or exclude whatever he wanted. Krakauer realizes this in his epilogue, and connects with the reader in such a way that demonstrates that he knows he isn't perfect. Krakauer did what he thought was logical and righteous at Camp Four and the Summit, and I think that is morally acceptable.
The intended audience of Into Thin Air is a wide range of people. I would consider the audience to be those personally affected by the disaster, the media, anyone considering climbing Everest, and the public at large. Krakauer's book serves as a personal account for what happened at 28,000 feet, it is not a source of justification for himself or others. I believe Krakauer wanted this book to be out there so that his side of the story would be available for all to see. I recommend Into Thin Air wholeheartedly because it is a thrilling nonfiction, that goes into depth with the complex social issues surrounding the climbing of Everest.
