Honestly, this is the first can't-put-it-down, stay-up-all-night nonfiction book I've ever read.

I know nothing about mountaineering, and only read this because I listened to Scary Interesting's YouTube video on this same disaster. Krakauer was a very able writer, evoking the sights, sounds, and emotions of his Mount Everest experience with striking language. He alternated between giving us historical and cultural context on Everest's history, background on the lives of his fellow climbers, and the actual play-by-play of what happened in a way that was effective at keeping my interest razor-sharp.

I learned a lot about the effects of high altitude on the human body, which are apparently MANY and BAD. Far too similar to being in outer space. Before, I had no desire to ever climb Everest and I have even less now, if that's even possible. Something else that stuck with me was the way he described the storm that caused this disaster as not even an unusual weather event.

Overall, I absolutely recommend this book if the content at all interests you.