Eiger Dreams: Ventures Among Men and Mountains

How to do justice to a writer like Krakauer....well, he's such a good writer that I feel any review I write would suffer compared to the source. Nevertheless, here I go.

This is Krakauer's first book. It's a collection of his previously published articles on mountaineering (save the last one about Devil's Thumb which was written for the book.) What a gread read too whether you are an afficionado of the sport or, like me, you've never seen a pair of crampons in your life (by the way, those are a set of spikes climbers strap to their boots to support themselves and prevent slipping on icy slopes.) Some of the famous peaks that make an appearance here include K2, Mt McKinley, and the titular Eiger. Throughout you will read about some of the eccentric personalities in the international climbing community, personal triumph and inspiration, offshoots like bouldering and waterfall climbing, and horrific tragedy.

If you read Into Thin Air, you'll be surprised at how funny this book is. Krakauer displays a wry, self-deprecating wit in several of these stories-something the somber subject matter of the latter book didn't permit. The last one, about his decision to solo the Devil's Thumb in Alaska in his early twenties is hysterical.

Anyone who can make a story about being tentbound or the inventor of the perfect ice axe riveting deserves attention. If you are on the fence, just go ahead and get this book. It's definitely worth it.

Like Shakespeare, who portrays the historic, tragic, and comic in human life, Jon Krakauer has an expansive understanding of human nature which he unfolds in his essays reflecting upon mountaineering. The concrete and gripping details of his essays tell us more about the people who climb than about climbing, and yet, as various and comprehensive as these essays are, the core reason why a person would pursue such a passion remains a mystery. Detailed exploration, restless curiosity, scintillating use of language, deft sense of drama -- hmm -- an American bard has appeared in the world of non-fiction.

This book had a good variety of mountain climbing stories. Some I thought were way better than others. It's the perfect book for the mountain climber in the family.

Jon has, in deatail described the mt Everest disaster. it has moved me and made me think about the presousness of life when it hangs in the balanc

"Justifying idiocy" I thought when I first read about ice climbing. As the mother of two boys I am always trying to figure out the WHY of male behavior. Krakauer has given me more insight into the male facination with extreme sports than any other source. He goes beyond mere descriptons of the thrill to examine the WHY. JK provides a peek into the male psyche for those of us fortunate enough not to posses one. Some of the adventures beg credulity - too much hypoxia Jon? But I'd give this book 4 pitons up.