Everest Paperback – April 1, 2003

This coffee table book is a good compilation of many of the facets of the Everest story. It leaves one wanting more, so you have to get books like The Ghosts of Everest and Detectives on Everest for the Mallory and Irvine aspect. It has interesting 'side-bar' pages which deal with the Sheerpa culture/people and their particular high altitude physiology, etc. It leaves the high altitude physiology and pathology wanting for the person who has some medical experience but is accurate on the basics. One of the most interesting ones asks, "Should Everest Be Guided?" Some details aside, and being at least an Andean climber from back in the 1970's, before there were 'toilet paper trails' to follow, I think that if one is to be guided then the guide company shoould vet the candidate with climbs on other mountains of comparable conditions before they are allowed to get anywhere near Everest or any of the other 8,000 meter peaks! I bought several copies for friend gifts including non-climbers so that they at least have an idea of the incredible history of Everest which this book aptly explains. It is a good introduction for the person following the current climb of Everest by members of the Montana State University, the Mayo Clinic, and other sponsor/participants to study the geology, climate, human physiology and adaptation both of white Amer-European and local sherpa people)etc. See [...] for more on this on-going, right now - spring 2012 - expedition. It also details some of the 1996 Everest tradegy allowing one to wonder why in the hell did those people go up there under those conditions under the political-social-economic conditions that they did? Which again prompts one to buy more books on Everest's incredible volume of tales!

Terrific addition to anyone’s Everest library. Great photos, diagrams/maps, writing. It’s an old and good National Geographic book I ordered without being able to check anything out but it was carefully printed; the color is true or at least I think so!!!

The book had a stain on the cover: a hard substance. Yuk! You could also tell the cover was handled often due to the edges appearing a bit warn. The inside of the book was fine. I didn’t appreciate having a dirty book cover which indicated it was used. As far as shipping it took almost 2 weeks to get. Not good!

For someone who's lucky they can climb a step ladder, I've somehow managed to become mesmerized by the entire mountaineering experience -- a community I never even knew existed until I re-read "Into Thin Air" and then promptly dove into another three dozen or so books on the topic. This is such a spectacularly gorgeous part of the world, and there are so many books, films, YouTube videos, etc., out there, even armchair adventurers can enjoy it -- not the same as actually being there, but it's something. And not as cold.

I first read about the 1996 Everest tragedy in Jon Krakauer's "Into Thin Air" and have read other climber's takes on the events leading up the tragedy. This book is about the IMAX team, their preparations and motivations for climbing and filming Mt. Everest that year. There are stunning photos of the mountain, but the main draw for me was the behind-the-scenes stories involving climbers on the IMAX team. I have much admiration for their selfless actions during the 1996 Everest tragedy. You won't be able to put the book down!

This is a large book with spectacular photography and gripping accounts of man against mountain. I reviewed the book through my library and found it so appealing I bought a copy through Amazon. For those of us with no desire to attempt scaling the world's highest peaks there is plenty of basic information regarding the art of climbing but for me at least it was all about the stories of those that do attempt these monsters. A book you can go back over many times.

Perfect blend on knowledge to what is required to climb it, perfect pictures of everything as well as another view of what happened in the 1996 disaster..

I wish there were more photos, especially of the most notable landmarks via the South Col route. Considering how difficult it would be to haul a 48lbs IMAX camera up there, and set up the best shots, it is certainly understandable why more photos were not taken for inclusion in this book. However, I do not feel this book deserves 5 stars, without the addition of many more high resolution, color photos.

Yes, that's me, I seem to have come down with mountain fever; not any old mountain, but `the mountain`... Everest. It started about a month ago with me reading `Into Thin Air` by J Krakauer, as well as watching the Discovery Channel series `The Deadliest Climb 2`. I'm not a climber, but I've always been in awe of the challenge faced by climbers wanting to stand on the roof top of the world. I knew a reasonable amount about the subject matter, but after reading `Into...`, I found that my thirst for more information on the subject just grew.I came on to the Amazon site and typed `Everest`. Numerous titles sprung up, along with this one. I read the reviews and, for the most part, they were extremely complimentary. It seemed to me that the book would serve as a great companion to the Krakauer book. `Into Thin Air` is a personal account of a tragic expedition on Everest in '96, in that respect it's very subjective.`Everest: Mountain Without Mercy` sets out to be a supportive text to document David Breashear's Imax film project, that was set to go on the same season as the tragic events that unfolded on the mountain. So, not only does this book go into great detail about the curtailing of the film project, while Breashears and his team mounted their own valiant attempt at trying to save as many of the fated climbers from the other expeditions; It offers so much more than that, giving a large amount of factual text concerning such things as geological information on the Himalayas; cultural and religious information relating to the indigenous population; the physiological effects of climbing and high altitude on the body; information on Sherpa culture and their unique physiological make up etc.This is all supported by a number of detailed maps, and the outstanding colour photos, that really help transport you to this most desolate of outposts. The book is non judgemental as far as attributing blame for the fatalities that occurred that year. It seems that a number of oversights were made by very experienced people, with infinitely more experience of high altitude climbing than most people. The sense of community is palpable between this `climbing fraternity` as they work together in an effort to release the deadly grip of the mountain on those trapped high and exposed. There are a couple of exceptions to this community, who behave in a most `un-climber-like` manner; their attitudes and efforts juxtaposed against those of everyone else seem frankly unbelievable.All in all, this is a lovely book with a tragic tale to tell. But, as I explained earlier, there is so much more contained within its pages. Everest will always be the domain of people with monumental ambition. To summit it, even today, with all our high-tech clothing, equipment and scientific know how, you need unassailable courage and the permission of `Chomolungma` herself. This really is a first class book, I can't recommend it enough.

This item was not new. Very scuffed at edges (both book & sleeve) & had to clean cover with cloth to remove hand smudges. Disappointing & would have returned but needed it for a gift straight away. Would not buy anything from this seller again.Actual book content is incredible & I would throughly recommend.

Super!

I really like this book, it is full of stuning pictures and interesting information concerning climbing the mountain, incl. preparations, and geographical, cultural and other facts. Would be perfect as a present.

This book contains the most fantastic pictures and compelling detail. I have to confess to being hooked on the subject matter. If you are too you won't be disapointed.