Distance runners spend weeks or months training for that one moment, the moment they will move toward the finish line. Crossing the finish line only takes a fraction of a second, but the impact is significant. People often wonder why, why spend so much time training for that moment? Well for me it's simple. The feeling I feel when I cross the finish line is the only one I've ever felt; it's a unique combination of pride, pain, relief and an indescribable sense of accomplishment. After reading In Thin Air, I realized how climbing a mountain is actually similar to running a race. Mountain climbers, just like runners, spend months training for those few glorious minutes at the top. Climbing Everest is an achievement that only a limited number of people can say they have achieved. Despite statistics showing that most fail or die in the attempt, every year numerous people are drawn to the mountain and truly believe they can be part of that elite group. In the spring of 1996, Jon Krakauer, a journalist for the adventure magazine Outside and an avid climber himself, was offered the opportunity to climb Everest. The original offer was to join a team of Adventure Consultants led by Rob Hall, a respected and well-known guide, go up to base camp and then write a story about the commercialization that had seeped into this incredibly risky but addictive sport. Without much hesitation Krakauer accepted the offer but not only to go to base camp; he wanted the best. The expedition began as planned, but an unexpected storm on the day of the climb turned this expedition into the most devastating expedition of all time. Krakauer was changed forever; an article on the mercantilism surrounding the mountain would no longer be enough. In the... middle of the paper... mistakes that cost human lives. Krakauer needs confirmation that his feelings are valid. Into Thin Air is a gripping story of human triumph and catastrophic tragedy. It was written to provide insights and perspectives, but for many it raised more questions than answers. The words will likely impact readers in a variety of different ways; some will be shocked and moved to react, others will cry for the lives lost and want to help the families they left behind, some will be horrified by how commercialized this natural wonder of our world has become, and still others simply left simply entertained by the history. Regardless of the impact on any individual reader, it can be said unequivocally that it is a story of survival and painful endings. Into Thin Air is captivating and will keep any reader engaged. You must read this book!