Eiger Dreams: Ventures Among Men and Mountains

Name: Eiger Dreams: Ventures Among Men and Mountains
SKU: 22553
Availability: InStock

4.4 | 2,185 ratings

Price: 13.78

Last update: 01-01-2025

Top reviews from the United States

Maria

I LOVED IT!

Reviewed in the United States on July 10, 2011

This book is fantastic, engrossing, funny and very interesting. I haven't stopped raving about it to friends and family, since I finished reading it a couple of days ago. I actually read it in little more than a day. I consider myself a fan of Mr. Krakauer and have thoroughly enjoyed all of them. I love his writing style, his humor and his great command of the English language and other languages. I am happy to know both French and Latin as well and like the dosing of these languages that he also weaves into his writing. Both Into Thin Air and Into the Wild are two of my favorites books and have also purchased them to give as gifts to some of my friends.

I like the way that Mr. Krakauer transports his readers to the places he visits, with rich and full descriptions of the surrounding areas and the magnificence of the mountains he has climbed. I live in Colorado and can attest to the beauty of the Rocky Mountains here and the beautiful canyons we have. Mr. Krakauer is a great story-teller that keeps the reader interested and engrossed in the adventures he describes. While I still haven't made my peace with the young protagonist of Into the Wild, I thoroughly enjoyed the book and the story Jon Krakauer tells.

I wholeheartedly recommend Eiger Dreams to climbing and non-climbing enthusiasts - and those who just enjoy a great adventure in a beautiful setting, told in a straight forward, but humorous way. When anyone asks me about who my favorite authors are, the name of Jon Krakauer always comes to mind and I am quickly and happy to say that I am one of his most ardent fans.

Alison

Climbing Tasters

Reviewed in the United States on July 8, 2010

This book is a collection of articles written and previously published by Jon Krakauer (with one chapter a joint written one) and it's worth noting that most of it isn't actually about the Eiger. Each chapter takes a different element of perspective of the different types of climbing or the personalities in climbing and each gives a superb taster, whetting the appetite for more climbing literature.

If you've already read other climbing books there may be some repetition here but for new climbing reader this is a great introduction into the culture and legends of mountaineering and climbing. I really enjoyed it but it is ripe for an update having been written in the late 1980s and it frequently refers to things that should be happening just as the book/article was written. A second edition would be great to tie up these loose ends.

I'm not a climber (it's far too scary for me) but I love reading about the adventures of others. Definitely a collection rather than a progressive story it's still very readable, very interesting and very enjoyable. Recommended.

Indira Seshadri

Marvelous read!

Reviewed in the United States on January 6, 2024

Completely fascinating book. Mountaineering, ice climbing, canyoneering, frozen water fall, climbing, glacier flying…these are light years away from anything I do, yet this book and the writing is gripping. Especially enjoyed the authors solo climb in Alaska and the descriptions of the Eigerwand and Mont Blanc, and strangely the description of tent life as you wait for the weather to turn for a summit attempt. It’s a trip in geography, adventure culture around the world and into the minds of people who attempt thing I could never imagine.

NicholasH

Great read

Reviewed in the United States on September 23, 2023

Great storytelling. Great adventures

Duane Schneider

Great Book on Iffy Subject

Reviewed in the United States on May 7, 2021

No, "Eiger Dreams" isn't as good as "Into Thin Air," but you have to keep in mind what this book is: a collection of articles written by Krakauer for magazines like "Outside" and "Smithsonian." He's writing over a period of years for an audience that is more specialized and likely pro-climbing. He covers some interesting settings: the Himalayas, K2, Yosemite, Alaska, and the canyons of Arizona, and he describes some interesting people, such as the two Brit brothers who spent as much time fighting, drinking, and womanizing as they did climbing. In fact, climbing appears to attract "characters": a lot of long-haired anti-establishment types. In his twenties, Krakauer counted himself among this set, and his personal essay about quitting his framing job in Colorado and going to Alaska to climb the Devil's Thumb is particularly compelling. I say you need some perspective in reading "Eiger Dreams" because it's so pro-climbing. This is Krakauer's background. Behind this, there's constant mention of the dangers, but they are largely glossed over until the late pieces about K2 and Denali and how many people were dying trying to climb them. There's a paragraph or so where Krakauer pays lip service to this danger and questions the ethics of a sport where the injury and death count seems to rise every year. But, like I said, not really the focus of these articles, and what climbing buffs would want to be constantly reminded while they're reading about their sport of horrible frostbite, amputations, and deaths from falls and avalanches? I am not a climbing enthusiast. While I found "Eiger Dreams" consistently engaging and well-written, I found myself second-guessing the decisions of the climbers, even those engaged in "exploration." What's the point of summiting a huge mountain at great personal expense and risk? This isn't true Lewis and Clark style exploration, of potential use to future generations. No one's going to settle on the high, icy slopes of Everest. These are just the selfish goals of people with big egos and maybe too much money. We establish police forces, suicide hotlines, seat belts, and a hundred other things to protect people from themselves, yet we allow climbers to do whatever they want on high, icy, unsafe terrain. This is my personal belief, and it's perhaps a testament to "Eiger Dreams" and particularly to Krakauer's skill as a writer that I appreciated the book even though it did nothing to change my opinion of climbing as idiotic and self-indulgent.

Best Sellers in

Mother of God: An Extraordinary Journey into the Uncharted Tributaries of the Western Amazon

4.6 1340

19.65

Jamaican Patois: Get Past Ya Mon and Speak Jamaican Fi Real

4.7 104

13.08

Ghost Rider: Travels on the Healing Road

4.6 4335

26.21

Round Here and Over Yonder: A Front Porch Travel Guide by Two Progressive Hillbillies (Yes, That’s a Thing.)

4.7 118

17.32

Barbarian Days: A Surfing Life

4.5 10174

26.21

My Own Magic: A Reappearing Act

4.4 602

22.04

Your Table Is Ready: Tales of a New York City Maître D'

4.2 2420

17.71

Travels with Charley in Search of America

4.5 9422

13.78