Essay On Into Thin Air

Last year, I had to undergo spinal fusion surgery because I had terrible scoliosis. A few months before the surgery, I was not anxious at all; I knew that everything would go well, and my spine would finally be realigned. However, a week before my surgery, I became incredibly worried. Most of the time before the operation, I was thinking about all of the silly, extremely unlikely mistakes the surgeons could make. Maybe they would pinch a nerve or install the rods and screws incorrectly. Perhaps the anesthesiologist would mess up the doses of medication and I would wake up in the middle of surgery. Overall, I felt uneasy and nervous about the operation. In Jon Krakauer’s nonfiction narrative, Into Thin Air, he explains how he feels quite uneasy about climbing Mount Everest. He was in a plane flying near the mountain on the way to Kathmandu when he looked out the window and saw

Throughout the book, Jon Krakauer tells about the Sherpas, including details about their religion, superstitions, and way of life. Into Thin Air also tells about the positive and negative aspects of the commercialization of Everest. Everest has become very popular, gaining business for expedition leaders such as Rob Hall and Scott Fischer. However, the commercialization makes the climb seem less impressive, which disrespects the mountain and those who climbed it first with no extra help. Many people are intrigued by Everest, so Outside Magazine sent journalist Jon Krakauer to write an article about the journey up and down the mountain. The last few chapters of the book tell the tragedy of three expeditions on May 10th, 1996. Most of the climbers ascended Everest without perishing; however, it was the descent that killed them. The story is thrilling and suspenseful, making it an excellent