Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mount Everest Disaster

Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 1997

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Before You Read

Summary

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapters 1-5

Chapters 6-10

Chapters 11-15

Chapters 16-Epilogue

Key Figures

Themes

Index of Terms

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Tools

Discussion Questions

Essay Topics

How is Sandy Pittman characterized as the epitome of the commercialization of Everest? Do you see her as a villain? Do you feel empathy for her?

How does Krakauer use foreshadowing in the opening chapters to hint at the later tragedy?

Rob Hall is characterized as meticulous and cautious. How do his errors on Everest illustrate Krakauer’s point that “on Everest it is the nature of systems to break down with a vengeance?” (287).