After reading this book, I found myself wondering why anyone would ever want to try climbing to the top of Mt. Everest. I mean, they call the last 4,000 feet of the climb "The Death Zone". But people do. And sometimes they die. Like the twelve climbers who died in that fateful storm in May 1996. And even though I already knew the story, I still found Jon Krakauer's Into Thin Air a vividly compelling and harrowing read. And one I won't soon forget. 4 stars.
- It came in three waves with the second wave in the fall of 1918 being the deadliest.
- It didn't originate in Spain.
- It infected one in three people on earth.
- It was a global pandemic, affecting almost every country and continent. (The one big exception: Antarctica.)
- Scientists figure it killed upwards of 50-100 million people; in contrast, 17 million died in World War I.
Pale Rider: The Spanish Flu of 1918 and How It Changed the World by Laura Spinney is both interesting and informative. I liked the mix of science and history throughout this book, as well as Spinney's conversational narrative style. Plus, the chapters are short, which is always a bonus. 3.5 stars.
"Gentlemen, I'm going to fly."
--Wilbur Wright
While I haven't quite finished this one--I'm on page 178 and have about 100 pages still to go--I'm quite liking it. Wilbur and Orville Wright, two of "the workingest boys" ever, are such fascinating figures; I love how David McCullough has made them come alive in this biography. What they accomplished through their own hard work and determination is truly amazing. 4.5 stars.
Happy Reading!
Walking the Amazon by Ed Stafford
Live Long And... by William Shatner
I'd Rather Be Reading by Anne Bogel
Ten Tea Parties: Patriotic Protests That History Forgot by Joseph Cummins
Valley Forge by Bob Drury and Tom Clavin
I read Into Thin Air a long time ago, probably right after it came out. Such a compelling read. Seriously made me wonder (as you did) why people choose to attempt that climb. However, it takes all kinds and the journey in the book was just 'wow!'.
ReplyDeleteIt is definitely a 'wow' book! :)
DeleteI'm interested in Pale Rider--the Spanish Flu has interested me for many years, but I mostly read about it in fiction. Time to find out more. :)
ReplyDeleteI find the Spanish Flu interesting, too. There's another book by Gina Kolata about the 1918 flu that also sounds very good.
DeleteYeah I have no need or desire to climb Everest lol. To each their own I guess, although I bet that book IS fascinating.
ReplyDeleteThat Spanish flu pandemic- wow. One in three on Earth! That is terrifying.
Both books were chilling in their own way. I wouldn't want to experience either one in my own life. :)
DeleteI read Into Thin Air years ago and it terrified me! I can't understand either why anyone would want to do it, knowing the death rate is so high.
ReplyDeleteAnd if you die on Everest they leave your body up there! Which kind of freaks me out.
DeleteI had no idea the Spanish flu affected so many people! One in three people on earth? So scary!
ReplyDeleteRight? And it killed 3x as many people as WWI! But because it happened at the end of the war I think people have kind of forgotten about its impact. I thought it was a very interesting book.
DeleteHave not read Into Thin Air but I did read Into rhe Wild also by Jon Krakauer. It tells the true story of Christopher McCandless who at age 24 went into the wilds of Alaska and died four months later. Hifghly recommend the book.
ReplyDeleteGood to know. Thanks! I'll add it to my nonfiction reading list for next year. :D
DeleteYou described INTO THIN AIR perfectly. It's a book I found utterly fascinating and one that has stuck with me.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I don't think I'll soon forget that bookish journey.
DeleteI'm glad you enjoyed Into Thin Air. I thought it really gave me an idea what climbing Everest was like. It got me interested in reading about other mountain disasters and I've read a lot about Everest and K2 since then.
ReplyDeleteIt's fascinating to read about places like Everest and K2. And Antarctica, too. They're such extreme environments. I'm drawn to books about them...probably because I know I'll never go there in real life. :)
DeleteI bought a copy of Into Thin Air this year. I'm looking forward to reading it.
ReplyDeleteIt's good. I think you'll enjoy it.
DeleteNonfiction November always reminds me of all the great nonfiction I haven't read yet! Somehow I haven't read anything by David McCullough yet; maybe I should start with The Wright Brothers.
ReplyDeleteI hadn't ever read anything by McCullough either. And I love The Wright Brothers. It's my favorite nonfiction read of the year. :)
DeleteI rarely read non-fiction, but I think I'd go for crime themed books if I did. The Wright Bros book would be the one I'd pick up from this pile so I'm happy to hear you enjoyed it. Congrats on finishing 7 non-fiction books, Lark! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Rachel. And The Wright Brothers is a really great read! :)
DeleteI keep meaning to pick up Into Thin Air! It sounds like such an intense read!
ReplyDeleteIt is intense, especially at the end! :)
DeleteWell done! I accidentally first read "Five facts you may or may not know about the Spanish Flu" as "Five facts you may or may not know about the Spanish Inquisition" and immediately thought of Monty Python.
ReplyDeleteI only read one NF book in November. But it was the Anne Bogen book you reviewed recently, I'd Rather Be Reading. It was really cute and at 160 pages, it took me no time at all!
Thanks, Ruthiella! (And it might have been a funnier post if it had been about the Spanish Inquisition. ;D) And I'm glad you liked the Anne Bogel. It is a fast, fun read.
DeleteAll three books are on my TBR list—I know I would find Into Thin Air much as you did, head-shakingly compelling!
ReplyDeleteOne in three for the Spanish flu—that’s almost incomprehensible.
These are all great reads. Hope you get a chance to read them. :)
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