Everest : Mountain Without Mercy by Broughton Coburn
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Book Reviews of Everest : Mountain Without Mercy
Book Review: The details make this more satisfying than "Into Thin Air"
Summary: 5 Stars
Although this book does not have the emotional punch of Jon Krakauer's "Into Thin Air", ultimately I found it to be more satisfying mainly due to the amount of detail and the incredible photography. Without a doubt, this is a more complete accounting of the events which occurred during the May 1996 climbing season on Everest. I enjoyed the sections on Everest history, geology, cartography, Sherpa culture and religion, climbing techniques, high-altitude physiology, etc. All this detail may be annoying to some readers - this book is a serious read. Most importantly, I consider the recounting of the Rob Hall & Scott Fischer team disasters to be more objective and credible. Jon Krakauer's telling of the story is more gripping, but it is also tainted by guilt and blame due to his intimacy with the events. I recommend reading both books together - Krakauer's for the emotion, and this one other for the detail, photos, and objectivity. I can't wait to see the IMAX movie.Book Review: Takes you right to the Himalayas.
Summary: 5 Stars
I don't know where I was in May 1996 that I missed out on this real life story. This book did an excellent job of recapturing the events of that month on Everest. I was transported back as if the events were happening real time. The pictures really took me there (well as close as I'll most likely ever get). I was taken in by the majesty as well as the tragedy of this story and those who lost their lives to Everest and to their insatiable desire to reach the summit. As opposed to Krakauer's book, Into Thin Air (which I read after being so enthralled with this book) I enjoyed this more impartial view and factual account of all the factors surrounding a decision to attempt a summit bid to the top of the world. After reading this book I can understand a person's desire to climb the summit but cement my own desire to climb no higher that 10 or 11,000 feet. I also enjoyed learning about the filming of an IMAX presentation. An excellent and enjoyable read.Book Review: A good coffee table book
Summary: 5 Stars
The story of the IMAX team on Everest in the year of the tragedy in 1996. A large format coffee table style book with plenty of pictures and more text than a typical coffee table book. The book is beautifully bound. The cover and paper is top quality. The text covers about half on the actual expedition, and about half on the life, customs, and beliefs of the Sherpas. This book isn't just about the tragedy. It concerns itself more with the Sherpas. Some of the technical aspects of filming at high altitude was covered as well as effects of high altitude mountaineering on the human body. If you are looking for different viewpoints on the tragedy, this book doesn't really throw any more light on the subject. If you're interested in Sherpa culture, high altitude mountaineering, and a beautiful coffee table book, this is it.Book Review: Quite Simply, The Best
Summary: 5 Stars
Reading "Into Thin Air" and "The Climb" gave me a feel for the tragedy that was Everest in 1996. But something was missing. I never felt that I understood what the mountain was truly like. It was not until I opened this spectacular book that I got a sense of the real Everest. The large format of this book, and the amazing color photos will thrill any fan of Everest. The story of the IMAX expedition, while exciting, becomes secondary to the story of the mountain itself. I loved the way other articles were interspersed among the chapters. I enjoyed reading Hillary's reflections; the stories of the Sherpa people and their culture; the geologic history of the Himalaya. If you are, like me, a Mt. Everest "groupie," opening this book is as close as you'll get to being there.Book Review: Felt like I was there
Summary: 5 Stars
Having hiked to the Everest Base Camp some years back, the book was a journey down memory lane. While I did like the book Into Thin Air too, what a difference can the glossy pictures and the good print make. The description of the route in the book backed up with pictures made my experience almost first hand. While capturing some of the events that somehow relate to the main story, like Tenzing and Hillary's climb in 1953, they are limited to the extent where the reader never loses track of the central plot. Also, it moves very quickly.
Particularly interesting was to read how Beck Weathers rose up from his icy grave and made it back to summit camp. I also liked the analysis of the tragedy - there were serveral points made but the author did not attempt to make any judgement.