Jon Krakauer

Jon Krakauer has published 13 books across 2 series. The recommended reading order starts with Eiger Dreams: Ventures Among Men and Mountains (1997).
Jon Krakauer is an American writer, journalist, and mountaineer known for his non-fiction books about outdoor adventures and investigative journalism. He received an Academy Award in Literature from the American Academy of Arts and Letters in 1999. The award citation noted his combination of journalistic tenacity and writerly insight, highlighting how his account of an ascent of Mount Everest prompted a reevaluation of climbing and its commercialization. His work on the life and death of Christopher McCandless, who perished in the Alaskan wilderness, was cited for its deep exploration of nature's allure and its powerful effects on the young and curious.
Raised in Oregon, Krakauer was introduced to mountaineering by his father at a young age. These experiences directly informed his book Into Thin Air, detailing his ascent of Mount Everest. He also authored Into the Wild, which was adapted into a film directed by Sean Penn. His investigative journalism work began in 2003.
Shelf & Shadows
Order of Essays
- Tags---DescriptionFrom the author of Into the Wild and Missoula, a collection of the investigative journalism that defined Jon Krakauer's career. These essays, first published in magazines like The New Yorker and Outside, explore extreme environments and human endurance. Krakauer takes readers to an otherworldly cave in New Mexico used by NASA to study Mars, to the summit of Mt. Everest, and to the slopes of Mt. Ranier. The pieces also delve into the work of mountaineer Fred Becky and the final days of surfer Mark Foo. Krakauer's passion for nature and search for truth unite these extraordinary accounts.Publication date2018LanguageEnglishPublisherRandom House Audio
- Tags---DescriptionJon Krakauer, author of Into the Wild, presents a collection of his singular investigative journalism, revealing a relentless search for truth and a deep passion for nature. These essays transport readers from the otherworldly depths of a New Mexico cave, used by NASA to study Mars, to the dizzying heights of Mt. Everest, and the imposing slopes of Mt. Ranier. Krakauer's work explores avalanches, wilderness therapy programs, and the final moments of legendary surfer Mark Foo, demonstrating why he is considered one of the finest investigative journalists of our time. The pieces are gathered here for the first time, taking us from the Gates of the Arctic in Alaska to the meticulous cataloging of unclimbed routes by Fred Becky. This collection delves into the extraordinary corners of the natural world and human endeavor. Krakauer’s unflinching gaze examines extreme environments and the individuals who challenge them, drawing readers into the heart of each compelling story. The essays are unified by his distinctive voice and his unwavering pursuit of understanding, forcing contemplation on the very edge of experience.Publication date2018LanguageEnglishPublisherRandom House Audio
- Tags---DescriptionThe earth trembles beneath Mount Rainier. Jon Krakauer, known for his unflinching accounts of nature's raw power and humanity's limits, brings together a collection of his most compelling investigative journalism. From the treacherous slopes of Mount Everest to the otherworldly depths of a New Mexico cave used by NASA, Krakauer explores the fringes of human experience. He delves into the lives of those who push boundaries, from mountaineers to surfers, all united by a profound connection to the natural world and an unyielding pursuit of truth. These essays, first appearing in the pages of The New Yorker, Outside, and Rolling Stone, reveal why Krakauer is considered one of our finest investigative journalists.Publication date2018LanguageEnglishPublisherRandom House Audio
- Tags---DescriptionJon Krakauer, author of Into the Wild and Missoula, presents a collection of his most compelling investigative journalism. From the otherworldly depths of a New Mexico cave used by NASA to study Mars, to the perilous heights of Mount Everest, Krakauer delves into extraordinary events and individuals. He uncovers the secrets of unclimbed mountaineering routes and the final moments of a legendary surfer, all united by a profound passion for nature and an unyielding pursuit of truth. These powerful essays, first published in The New Yorker, Outside, and Rolling Stone, explore a volcano in Washington state and the remote wilderness of Alaska. Krakauer’s singular reporting takes readers to the edge of human experience and the wild places of the Earth. How does a relentless search for truth lead to such profound and often dangerous discoveries?Publication date2018LanguageEnglishPublisherRandom House Audio
- Tags---DescriptionThe humid air of the rainforest hangs heavy, a place where the earth breathes and life teems in a thousand shades of green. From this dense, vibrant world to the unforgiving, icy peaks of Mt. Everest, Jon Krakauer explores the edges of human endeavor and the raw power of nature. His classic essays, first published in the pages of The New Yorker, Outside, Smithsonian, and Rolling Stone, now collected for the first time, reveal the singular investigative journalism that defined his career. Krakauer takes readers from the otherworldly depths of a New Mexico cave, a landscape so alien it's used by NASA to study Mars, to the dramatic slopes of Mt. Rainier. He delves into the stark realities of a wilderness therapy program for teens and examines the cataloged dreams of Fred Becky, who charted the planet's greatest unclimbed routes. The collection culminates with the final days of legendary surfer Mark Foo, a testament to the author's passion for the natural world and his relentless pursuit of truth. These extraordinary articles, unified by Krakauer's keen eye and unyielding spirit, invite you to witness moments of profound challenge and discovery.Publication date2018LanguageEnglishPublisherRandom House Audio
Order of Non-Fiction Books
- DescriptionJon Krakauer has himself battled solo madness scaling Alaska's Devils Thumb, a struggle that forged his understanding of the obsessive drive that compels some to seek the world's highest, most dangerous peaks. In this collection of his finest essays, he turns his keen eye and open heart toward the mountaineering experience, offering portraits of individuals pushed to their absolute limits. Meet Adrian, the Romanian determined to be the first to solo Denali, or John Gill, who conquers house-sized boulders that make alpine climbs seem easy. Krakauer explores the lives of daredevils, athletes, and misfits who stretch the possible, from the terrifying white-out on Mount McKinley to the chilling reality of K2's deadly summer. These are stories of driven lives, sudden deaths, and incredible victories, revealing the strange, sometimes maniacal obsession with summits that sets these climbers apart.Publication dateMay 19, 1997Amazon rating4.4/5Print length186LanguageEnglishPublisherAnchor
- Tagsbiographymysterynon-fictionDescriptionIn April 1992, Christopher Johnson McCandless, a young man from a well-to-do family, gave away $25,000, abandoned his car and possessions, and burned his cash before walking alone into the Alaskan wilderness. Four months later, his decomposed body was found. How he came to die is the unforgettable story of Into the Wild. McCandless, who reinvented himself as Alexander Supertramp, had embarked on a vision quest after graduating college, seeking raw, unfiltered experiences in nature. He craved a blank spot on the map, discarding his possessions and leaving behind his family. Jon Krakauer delves into McCandless's life, exploring the allure of the wilderness, the drive for high-risk activities, and the complex bonds between fathers and sons. When McCandless's innocent mistakes proved fatal, he was dismissed for his naiveté. Krakauer illuminates this enigmatic young man's pilgrimage with rare understanding, revealing the peril and renunciation he sought. What compelled McCandless to vanish into the wild?Publication dateFebruary 1, 1997Amazon rating4.4/5Print length240LanguageEnglishPublisherAnchor Books
- DescriptionWhen Jon Krakauer reached the summit of Mt. Everest in the early afternoon of May 10, 1996, he hadn't slept in fifty-seven hours and was reeling from oxygen depletion. As he turned to begin the long descent from 29,028 feet, twenty other climbers were still pushing toward the top, unaware that a furious storm was about to engulf them. Six hours later, in 70-knot winds and blinding snow, Krakauer collapsed in his tent, freezing and hallucinating, but safe. The next morning, he learned that six of his fellow climbers hadn't made it back, and five would be dead by the time the storm passed. Krakauer, on assignment for Outside Magazine to report on the mountain's commercialization, had joined an expedition led by Rob Hall, a highly respected guide. Close by was another team guided by Scott Fischer, a climber known for his legendary strength. Neither Hall nor Fischer survived the rogue storm that struck that day. Krakauer examines what compels people to throw caution to the wind and subject themselves to such risk. Written with emotional clarity and unimpeachable reporting, his eyewitness account of the deadliest season in Everest's history is a singular achievement. This harrowing narrative takes the reader step by precarious step from Kathmandu to the summit, detailing how a combination of hubris, terrible judgment, and bad luck fell prey to the mountain’s unpredictable violence.Publication dateOctober 19, 1999Amazon rating4.6/5Print length332LanguageEnglishPublisherVintage
- Tagsnon-fictioncrimemysteryDescriptionRon and Dan Lafferty insist they received a commandment from God to kill a blameless woman and her baby girl. From the author of Into the Wild and Into Thin Air, this investigative work takes readers inside America’s isolated Mormon Fundamentalist communities, where renegade leaders answer only to God and some 40,000 people still practice polygamy. Beginning with a meticulously researched account of this appalling double murder, Krakauer constructs a multi-layered, bone-chilling narrative of messianic delusion, savage violence, and unyielding faith, uncovering a shadowy offshoot of America’s fastest growing religion and raising provocative questions about the nature of religious belief.Publication dateJune 8, 2004Amazon rating4.4/5Print length432LanguageEnglishPublisherVintage
- DescriptionPat Tillman was a star. A million-dollar NFL contract waited. Then al-Qaeda attacked. Driven by patriotism, he walked away from it all to join Special Operations. A year later, he was dead, killed on a desolate hillside near the Pakistan border. News shocked America. But the truth was hidden. A ranger in Tillman’s own platoon fired the fatal shots. The US Army aggressively maneuvered to conceal this fact. For five weeks, they kept the truth from his wife, his family, and the public. President Bush invoked Tillman’s name to promote his administration’s foreign policy. Jon Krakauer reveals how the highest levels of the US army and government deliberately deceived an entire country. Where Men Win Glory exposes shattering truths about men and war.Publication dateSeptember 15, 2009Amazon rating4.5/5Print length416LanguageEnglishPublisherDoubleday
- DescriptionGreg Mortenson built a global reputation as a selfless humanitarian and children’s crusader, even earning a Nobel Peace Prize nomination. He is known for his campaign to open schools for girls in Pakistan and Afghanistan. But as Jon Krakauer demonstrates in this extensively researched book, Mortenson is not all that he appears to be. Based on interviews with former employees and board members, Three Cups of Deceit uncovers multiple layers of deception behind Mortenson’s public image. Was his crusade truly inspired by the villagers who nursed him back to health after he became lost on K2? Has his charity built all the schools he has claimed? This book is a plea for the truth and a tragic tale of good intentions gone wrong.Publication dateJuly 1, 2011Amazon rating4.2/5Print length128LanguageEnglishPublisherAnchor
- DescriptionBetween January 2008 and May 2012, hundreds of students reported sexual assaults to the Missoula police. Few of the cases were properly handled by the university or local authorities. In this, Missoula is typical. Jon Krakauer investigates a spate of campus rapes that occurred in this college town. Taking Missoula as a case study for a crime prevalent throughout the nation, Krakauer documents the experiences of five victims: their fear and self-doubt in the aftermath; the skepticism directed at them by police, prosecutors, and the public; their bravery in pushing forward and what it cost them. These stories cut through abstract debate to demonstrate that these women are victims of a terrible crime, deserving of fairness from our justice system. Rigorously researched, Missoula stands as an essential account.Publication dateApril 21, 2015Amazon rating4.2/5Print length384LanguageEnglishPublisherDoubleday
- DescriptionJon Krakauer is a standard-bearer of modern journalism, and these ten essays prove it. His work takes readers from a horrifying avalanche on Mount Everest to a volcano poised to obliterate Seattle. He explores a wilderness teen-therapy program run by apparent sadists and an otherworldly cave in New Mexico studied by NASA. Krakauer also delves into the notebook of Fred Beckey, who catalogued the planet's greatest unclimbed mountaineering routes, and the last days of surfer Mark Foo. Originally published in The New Yorker, Outside, and Smithsonian, these rigorously researched, vividly written pieces demonstrate Krakauer’s ambivalent love for unruly landscapes and his relentless search for truth.Publication dateOctober 29, 2019Amazon rating4.4/5Print length192LanguageEnglishPublisherVintage
Frequently Asked Questions about Jon Krakauer
Jon Krakauer's books are generally not part of a series and can be read in any order. However, if you are interested in his non-fiction works, reading them chronologically by publication date might offer a sense of his developing themes and interests. For example, starting with Eiger Dreams from 1997, followed by Into the Wild and Into Thin Air, and then moving to his later works like Under the Banner of Heaven, allows readers to see the progression of his investigative approach and focus on individuals facing extreme circumstances.
A good starting point for Jon Krakauer's work is Into Thin Air. This book details his own experience climbing Mount Everest and the disaster that unfolded. It showcases his ability to blend personal narrative with meticulous reporting. Alternatively, Into the Wild offers a compelling exploration of a young man's journey into the Alaskan wilderness, raising questions about society and self-reliance. Both books represent key aspects of his writing style and thematic concerns.
No, Jon Krakauer's books do not need to be read in a specific order. His non-fiction works are largely standalone narratives, each focusing on a different subject, event, or individual. While some thematic connections might emerge across his bibliography, such as explorations of human endurance, risk-taking, and the darker aspects of belief systems, each book presents a complete story and can be understood independently of the others.
Jon Krakauer primarily writes standalone non-fiction books. He does not write series or novels in the traditional sense. His works delve into specific events, individuals, or phenomena, offering in-depth accounts and investigations. While he has published essays that might be grouped, these are also typically focused on distinct topics and do not form a continuous narrative arc across multiple books.
Jon Krakauer has written more than ten books. His bibliography includes titles such as Eiger Dreams, Into the Wild, Into Thin Air, Under the Banner of Heaven, and Where Men Win Glory. He has also published several essay collections. The exact number can vary depending on how collections and individual essays are counted, but his significant body of non-fiction work spans several decades.
The first book Jon Krakauer published was Eiger Dreams: Ventures Among Men and Mountains, released in 1997. This collection of essays and accounts explores various climbing expeditions and the individuals involved in mountaineering. It established his early focus on the world of extreme outdoor pursuits and the psychology of those who engage in them, setting the stage for his later, more widely known works.
Based on the provided information, the most recent books by Jon Krakauer are from the Order of Essays collection in 2018, including After the Fall, Gates of the Arctic, Living Under The Volcano, Loving Them to Death, and Mark Foo's Last Ride. These essays appear to be individual pieces published together in a collection rather than a single, longer narrative work published recently.
Jon Krakauer writes non-fiction books that primarily fall into categories of adventure, mountaineering, and investigative journalism. His work often focuses on individuals who push the boundaries of human experience, particularly in extreme environments or within intense subcultures. Themes such as risk, obsession, faith, and the consequences of conviction are frequently explored in his writing.
Jocko Willink
Coming soon
Cassandra King
Coming soon
Danica McKellar
Coming soon
We verified the reading order for Jon Krakauer's books by cross-referencing official publication dates, ISBN databases, and publisher catalogs.
Last verified: July 2026
Shelf & Shadows. (…). “Jon Krakauer Books in Order.” Retrieved …, from https://www.shelfandshadows.com/authors/jon-krakauer



















