Symbolism, Imagery, Allegory
Setting
Would you believe us if we said that the setting of book about Mount Everest was… wait for it… Mount Everest? Since you're presumably waiting for your brain to reassemble after being so epicall...
What's Up With the Title?
Into Thin Air is a play on words that illustrates a few key facts about the 1996 Everest disaster.Most obviously, it's a play off the phrase "disappear into thin air." That's pretty much what happe...
What's Up With the Ending?
So that's… a little dark.To be honest, Krakauer seems a little bummed that he survived. Mostly he feels a sense of guilt, both for not being able to do more to help his friends (Andy Harris, espe...
Tough-o-Meter
This is a nonfiction book written by a journalist, so don't expect anything too fancy or confusing—clear storytelling is kind of Krakauer's thing. That said, he gives us a lot of insight into the...