1998, ISBN: 0676584020

edizione con copertina rigida

Hardcover, [EAN: 9780676584028], Villard, Villard, Book, [PU: Villard], 1998-12-01, Villard, "Intrinsically irrational" is how Jon Krakauer characterizes the compulsion to climb Mount Eve… Altro …

Hardcover, [EAN: 9780676584028], Villard, Villard, Book, [PU: Villard], 1998-12-01, Villard, "Intrinsically irrational" is how Jon Krakauer characterizes the compulsion to climb Mount Everest in his audiobook Into Thin Air. The highly publicized fates of the May 1996 Everest expeditions, including the tragic loss of 12 lives, seem to bear out Krakauer's statement. Listening to Krakauer read his own account of the events in this unabridged version adds a uniquely intimate and thought-provoking dimension to the tragedy. Although Krakauer reads his account with journalistic professionalism, it's impossible to forget that you are listening to someone unburdening himself of a great weight, an unburdening that sometimes nearly approaches a confession. Since the 1980s, more and more "marginally qualified dreamers" have attempted the ascent of Everest, as guided commercial expeditions have dangled the possibility of reaching the roof of the world in front of anyone wealthy enough to pay for the privilege. In 1996, Outside magazine asked Krakauer, a frequent contributor, to write a piece on the commercialization of Everest, and Krakauer signed on as a member of New Zealander Rob Hall's expedition. The disastrous outcome of the 1996 expedition forced Krakauer to write a very different article. Those who read Krakauer's book may wonder whether the audiobook can possibly shed more light on the unfortunate events. It does. Krakauer's chronicle is chilling and horrifying. He recounts with excruciating detail the physical and mental cost of such a climb. Even under the best of circumstances, each step up the ice-clad mountain is monumentally exhausting, and the oxygen-deprived brain loses the ability to make reliable judgements. And on May 10, 1996, when Hall's expedition and several others made their summit assault, the conditions were far from ideal. The mountain was so "crowded" that climbers had to wait their turn near the summit while their bottled oxygen dwindled by the minute. By afternoon a blinding hurricane-force storm had stranded a number of climbers on the highest, most exposed reaches of the mountain. By writing and reading Into Thin Air, Krakauer may have hoped to exorcise some of his own demons and lay to rest some of the painful questions that still surround the event. He takes great pains to provide a balanced picture of the people and events he witnessed and gives due credit to the tireless and dedicated Sherpas. He also avoids blasting easy targets such as Sandy Pittman, the wealthy socialite who brought an espresso maker along on the expedition. Krakauer's highly personal inquiry into the catastrophe provides a great deal of insight into what went wrong. But for Krakauer himself, further interviews and investigations only lead him to the conclusion that his perceived failures were directly responsible for a fellow climber's death. Clearly, Krakauer remains haunted by the disaster, and although he relates a number of incidents in which he acted selflessly and even heroically, he seems unable to view those instances objectively. In the end, despite his evenhanded and even generous assessment of others' actions, he reserves a full measure of vitriol for himself. (Running time: 467 minutes; six tapes), 3061581, Memoirs, 934986, Biographies & Memoirs, 927726, Subjects, 916520, Books<

1998, ISBN: 0676584020

Hardcover, [EAN: 9780676584028], Villard Books, Villard Books, Book, [PU: Villard Books], 1998-12-01, Villard Books, A bank of clouds was assembling on the not-so-distant horizon but jou… Altro …

Hardcover, [EAN: 9780676584028], Villard Books, Villard Books, Book, [PU: Villard Books], 1998-12-01, Villard Books, A bank of clouds was assembling on the not-so-distant horizon but journalist/mountaineer Jon Krakauer, standing on the summit of Mount Everest, saw nothing that "suggested that a murderous storm was bearing down." He was wrong. The storm, which claimed five lives and left countless more--including Krakauer's--in guilt-ridden disarray, would also provide the impetus for Into Thin Air, Krakauer's epic account of the May 1996 disaster. With more than 250 black-and-white photographs taken by various expedition members and an enlightening new postscript by the author, the Illustrated Edition shows readers what this tragic climb looked like and potentially provides closure for Krakauer and his detractors. "I have no doubt that Boukreev's intentions were good on summit day," writes Krakauer in a postscript dated August 1998. "What disturbs me, though, was Boukreev's refusal to acknowledge the possibility that he made even a single poor decision. Never did he indicate that perhaps it wasn't the best choice to climb without gas or go down ahead of his clients." As usual, Krakauer supports his points with dogged research and a good dose of humility. But rather than continue the heated discourse that has raged since Into Thin Air's denouncement of the guide Boukreev, Krakauer's tone is conciliatory; he points most of his criticism at G. Weston DeWalt, who co-authored The Climb, Boukreev's version of events. And in a touching conclusion, Krakauer recounts his last conversation with the late Boukreev, in which the two weathered climbers agreed to disagree about certain points. Krakauer had great hopes to patch things up with Boukreev, but the Russian later died in an avalanche on another Himalayan peak, Annapurna I. Krakauer further buries the ice axe by donating his share of royalties from sales of The Illustrated Edition to the Everest '96 Memorial Fund, which aids various environmental and humanitarian charities. -- Rob McDonald, 67, Biography, 758890, Artists, Architects & Photographers, 268064, British Royalty, 659896, Business & Finance, 267972, Children's & Young Adult, 759266, Essays, Journals & Letters, 268003, Film, Television & Music, 268077, Gay & Lesbian, 268021, Historical, 268039, Holocaust, 759214, Medical, Legal & Social Sciences, 267954, Novelists, Poets & Playwrights, 268041, Political, 268063, Reference, 758858, Religious, 758860, Science, Mathematics & Technology, 268075, Social & Health Issues, 268084, Sport, 758864, Theatre & Performance Art, 680833011, Tragic Life Stories, 759224, True Crime, 758862, War & Espionage, 268083, Women, 1025612, Subjects, 266239, Books, 10193721, Mountaineering History & Biography, 10193701, Climbing & Mountaineering, 55, Sports, Hobbies & Games, 1025612, Subjects, 266239, Books<

1998, ISBN: 0676584020

Hardcover, [EAN: 9780676584028], Villard Books, Villard Books, Book, [PU: Villard Books], 1998-12-01, Villard Books, Into Thin Air is a riveting first-hand account of a catastrophic exped… Altro …

Hardcover, [EAN: 9780676584028], Villard Books, Villard Books, Book, [PU: Villard Books], 1998-12-01, Villard Books, Into Thin Air is a riveting first-hand account of a catastrophic expedition up Mount Everest. In March 1996, Outside magazine sent veteran journalist and seasoned climber Jon Krakauer on an expedition led by celebrated Everest guide Rob Hall. Despite the expertise of Hall and the other leaders, by the end of summit day eight people were dead. Krakauer's book is at once the story of the ill-fated adventure and an analysis of the factors leading up to its tragic end. Written within months of the events it chronicles, Into Thin Air clearly evokes the majestic Everest landscape. As the journey up the mountain progresses, Krakauer puts it in context by recalling the triumphs and perils of other Everest trips throughout history. The author's own anguish over what happened on the mountain is palpable as he leads readers to ponder timeless questions., 67, Biography, 758890, Artists, Architects & Photographers, 268064, British Royalty, 659896, Business & Finance, 267972, Children's & Young Adult, 759266, Essays, Journals & Letters, 268003, Film, Television & Music, 268077, Gay & Lesbian, 268021, Historical, 268039, Holocaust, 759214, Medical, Legal & Social Sciences, 267954, Novelists, Poets & Playwrights, 268041, Political, 268063, Reference, 758858, Religious, 758860, Science, Mathematics & Technology, 268075, Social & Health Issues, 268084, Sport, 758864, Theatre & Performance Art, 680833011, Tragic Life Stories, 759224, True Crime, 758862, War & Espionage, 268083, Women, 1025612, Subjects, 266239, Books, 10193721, Mountaineering History & Biography, 10193701, Climbing & Mountaineering, 55, Sports, Hobbies & Games, 1025612, Subjects, 266239, Books<

1998, ISBN: 0676584020

Hardcover, [EAN: 9780676584028], Villard Books, Villard Books, Book, [PU: Villard Books], 1998-12-01, Villard Books, Into Thin Air is a riveting first-hand account of a catastrophic exped… Altro …

Hardcover, [EAN: 9780676584028], Villard Books, Villard Books, Book, [PU: Villard Books], 1998-12-01, Villard Books, Into Thin Air is a riveting first-hand account of a catastrophic expedition up Mount Everest. In March 1996, Outside magazine sent veteran journalist and seasoned climber Jon Krakauer on an expedition led by celebrated Everest guide Rob Hall. Despite the expertise of Hall and the other leaders, by the end of summit day eight people were dead. Krakauer's book is at once the story of the ill-fated adventure and an analysis of the factors leading up to its tragic end. Written within months of the events it chronicles, Into Thin Air clearly evokes the majestic Everest landscape. As the journey up the mountain progresses, Krakauer puts it in context by recalling the triumphs and perils of other Everest trips throughout history. The author's own anguish over what happened on the mountain is palpable as he leads readers to ponder timeless questions., 67, Biography, 758890, Artists, Architects & Photographers, 268064, British Royalty, 659896, Business & Finance, 267972, Children's & Young Adult, 759266, Essays, Journals & Letters, 268003, Film, Television & Music, 268077, Gay & Lesbian, 268021, Historical, 268039, Holocaust, 759214, Medical, Legal & Social Sciences, 267954, Novelists, Poets & Playwrights, 268041, Political, 268063, Reference, 758858, Religious, 758860, Science, Mathematics & Technology, 268075, Social & Health Issues, 268084, Sport, 758864, Theatre & Performance Art, 680833011, Tragic Life Stories, 759224, True Crime, 758862, War & Espionage, 268083, Women, 1025612, Subjects, 266239, Books, 10193721, Mountaineering History & Biography, 10193701, Climbing & Mountaineering, 55, Sports, Hobbies & Games, 1025612, Subjects, 266239, Books<