Bio4

Contributor: Gabriel P.
 * //The Last Season// by Phil Jackson **

A year of ups downs and everything in between sums up the year Phil Jackson had in the NBA coaching the Lakers. The goal in the book //The Last Season// was to win a national championship. This goal was not reached, yet each and every one of the Lakers players learned a lifetime of knowledge in a single season. In one season in the NBA, coach Phil Jackson used wisdom and some unorthodox methods, including “meditation,” to keep his players focused on a championship which they fell short of by one game. Phil treated each of his players with such professionalism, who wouldn’t want to play for him? He created a bond throughout the team; they were one big family. The team fought adversity with patience, calmness, and professionalism. In the final stage of the season when losing in the championship Phil Jackson remained positive and encouraged all his players. Jackson was even upbeat when the Lakers fired him after his loss in the championship, which takes extreme discipline. Distance from the game did not hold Phil back from keeping his bond with former players .Any one of his players could call and talk to him at anytime. This is a story of perseverance and hard work.

**//King James: Believe the Hype //****by Ryan Jones ** Contributor: Joe B.

It’s one thing to go from playing college basketball to a successful career to the NBA, but how about going to the NBA straight out of high school? The Ryan Jones book, //King James: Believe the Hype//, tels the tale of a star high school basketball player working his way from rags to riches. This story highlights the life of Lebron James, “a six-foot-eight gift from the basketball heavens”. James began his career playing on an AAU team with his best friends, coached by his mentor and father figure, Dru Joyce. The story continues on to explain the struggles of Lebron James in making his way up to the big stage, from the jersey scandal to the Hummer. James was invited to the most exclusive basketbaall camps during his high school career, including the coveted Five Star Basketball Camp. Could James survive these competitive camps merely as an underclassman facing highly skilled juniors and seniors? The answer is yes. James dribbled, drove, and dunked over these prestigous camps on the nation’s brightest high school basketball stars including Carmelo Anthony. During the high school season, James led the St. Vincent-Mary’s varsity team to four state championships, winning three of them. This 2005 selection is an epic tale of a young boy with nothing dunking his way to the NBA. It show that with hard work, anything is possible. It also helps being six-foot-eight and a freak athelete.

Contributer: Julia G.
 * //Girl, Interrupted// by Susana Kaysen **

Growing up is tough, but growing up as a mentally insane person is even worse. In the powerful, yet emotional book Girl, Interrupted, Susana Kaysen describes how, at eighteen years old, she was admitted to a hospital for the insane. After numerous years of failing to fit in at school and eventually attempting suicide, Kaysen is wheeled off to McLean Hospital. While residing in McLean, Kaysen meets a series of exceptional people who influence her life greatly. Lisa, a friend and diagnosed schizophrenic, was one among many of those remarkable people. She and Lisa, though very close, were not an ordinary set of friends. Instead of comforting each other after getting in a fight with their parents, Lisa and Kaysen would reassure one another after having, yet another, nervous breakdown. “I can’t think of [Lisa] without smiling,” she admits. Kaysen expertly worded each paragraph so as to be relatable to all her readers, rather than confuse them with her unusual perspective on life. Eventually, Kaysen works her way through history and brings the focus of the book back to present time, the actual period in which she was writing her book. She gives an enthralling description of traveling back to her time at McLean Hospital, recalling all of the suppressed memories that affected her entire outlook of her admittance to the hospital for the insane. This story is an intimate narrative of how even when she was declared mad, Kaysen was able to overcome her challenges and move on to become an established writer and remarkable woman.

**//Where Men Win Glory //**** by Jon Krakauer ** Contributor: Alexa E.

The devastating act of terrorism on September 11, 2001, hit this country hard. It impacted people nationwide, but one patriot was in the spotlight: Pat Tillman. Many know the outline of this football-star-turned-Army Ranger’s life, but Jon Krakauer describes the full story with tremendous details in his book, //Where Men Win Glory//. After 9/11, Tillman made a decision that many people could not wrap their heads around, a decision that would make him a national symbol for patriotism and the war on terror. He turned down a multimillion-dollar contract with the Arizona Cardinals to enlist as an Army ranger. Krakauer walks the reader through Tillman’s thought process while he was deciding to join the military. This builds a foundation and makes the decision more understandable and admirable. Pat Tillman’s life, from his childhood until his death on April 22, 2004, is dissected in //Where Men Win Glory//. Krakauer seamlessly strings together interviews with Tillman’s family and friends, along with his thorough research into both the war and Tillman’s life. As the book goes on, Krakauer presents details of Tillman’s death. He describes the Army’s initial false report that Tillman was killed in battle by enemy fire, while in truth he was unfortunately killed by friendly fire. The book becomes an examination of the United States government’s role in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan leading up to the cover-up about the truth of Pat Tillman’s death. Krakauer scrutinizes this secrecy and exposes every juicy detail. He wants Tillman to be remembered as the hero he was, and not as a fabricated symbol of nationalism made up by the government and the Army who did “the wrong thing” and tried to cover up an unfortunate part of war. //Where Men Win Glory// honors an American hero.

**//Where Men Win Glory //****by Jon Krakauer ** Contributor: Nicole P.

Aristotle once said, “We make war, so that we may live in peace.” This was untrue for Pat Tillman and his family. Jon Krakauer tells the story of Pat Tillman’s extraordinary life, and his untimely death in his book //Where Men Win Glory.// It is a heart-warming tale of a common day hero. “It quickly became apparent” that Pat “possessed extraordinary talent” in athletics. His astonishing athletic ability led his to be a star on the football, and earned him a contract with the Arizona Cardinals. But after 9/11, Tillman’s moral values brought him to the decision to give up his comfortable lifestyle to join the Army Rangers, only to have his life ended early by friendly fire in Afghanistan. Krakauer’s book unravels the elaborate cover ups the Army and government put in place to hide the truth of Tillman’s death. //Where Men Win Glory,//the truth that everyone deserves to know is uncovered, and the magnificent life of Pat Tillman is shared with the world. José Narosky once said, “In war, there are no unwounded soldiers.” Krakauer’s book demonstrates the truth of this statement, but also illustrates that war leaves soldier’s families wounded as well as the men and women fighting overseas. //Where Men Win Glory// heartbreaking expression of the pain of war, and the great lengths the government will go to in order to hide the sufferings from it.

Contributor: Emily C.
 * //Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer//**

The Earth is a beautiful and mysterious place with its forests, mountains, rivers, and other wonders. People try to create bonds with nature by exploring and creating a sense of dependence. This can be accomplished in simple ways including hiking and camping. However, some people go to extremes in order to develop this relationship. Mountaineering has formed intense bonds between humans and nature for almost a century. Jon Krakauer took the ultimate journey in trying to become one with nature when he attempted to ascend Mount Everest in 1996. The expedition led him to understand Mother Nature’s violent side when a terrible blizzard hit during his team’s summit attempt. “The Everest expedition had rocked my life to its core,” stated Krakauer. Each life of each participant on the trip was either drastically changed or lost. People look back on the infamous date and try to understand whether the tragedy was fate or caused by a series of unfortunate events and mistakes. In the story, Into Thin Air, by Jon Krakauer, the expedition is examined and recounted. The book is put together with information from Krakauer as well as interviews from survivors of the disaster, which leads to a vivid memoir of the disastrous occasion. Readers will continue to be haunted by the story even after the final pages have been turned. Could those lives have been saved, or was the disaster unavoidable?

**//<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Into Thin Air //****<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">by Jon Krakauer ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Contributor: Morgan C.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">They say “practice makes perfect”, but even the most experienced climbers could not have been prepared for this disaster. In the book //Into Thin Air// Jon Krakauer achieved his goal of climbing Mt. Everest, but was one of few to survive. On May 10, 1997, a disaster occurred that no one could have guessed. A large storm and gusting winds hit the mountain, causing numerous fatalities to the expeditions descending from the top. The storm caused several climbers to be lost that day, and also left some in bad conditions that would continue to get worse. In the end, “twelve people died that season”. As for the few survivors, some still curse that day, but others, like Jon Krakauer, felt that the truth needed to be told about that unforgettable trip up the most treacherous mountain known to man. That is why he wrote this book after his article in //Outside// magazine was published. The story tells about his personal experiences as well as the experiences of some of the other climbers. He met people from all over the country who had the same goal as he did: to reach the top of Mt. Everest. Krakaeur made a small number of friends, and became close to one climber in particular. Sadly, the storm killed the only man he trusted in the whole expedition, and left him confused and scared. That season was full of tragedies, and good men and women were lost. Jon Krakauer wrote this book to tell their stories and to express his condolences to the families and friends of the climbers who lost their lives.

**//<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Into Thin Air //****<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">by Jon Krakauer ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Contributor: Lindsey D.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Climbing Mount Everest is a dangerous, often fatal expedition, but that does not stop hundreds of people from attempting it every year. Among the people who have challenged the highest mountain in the world is Jon Krakauer, an accomplished author who in 1996 was asked to participate in an expedition to Everest and to write an article for //Outside// magazine. He tells the story of his team’s catastrophic climb in his book //Into Thin Air.// Climbing Mount Everest was a childhood dream of Krakauer’s, so when given the opportunity, he jumped on it. A renowned guide named Rob Hall led Krakauer and his team through the treacherous challenges of Everest. Departing on a thought to be perfect day, “none of them imagined that a horrible ordeal was drawing near.” They faced many obstacles including a diminishing oxygen supply, high altitude sickness, frostbite, and a deadly storm. Fortunately, Krakauer managed to make it to the summit and back down. Would the rest of his team accomplish the ascent? Would they overcome the wicked storm approaching? All Krakauer could do was hope. Originally, he was only supposed to write an article about his experience, but he published this book in 1997 because he felt there was much left unsaid. The book reveals the tragic details of the 1996 expedition. This suspenseful story reinforces Mount Everest’s threats and mourns the group’s most lethal regrets.

**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">//Into Thin Air// by Jon Krakauer **
Contributor: Matt G.

On the border of Nepal and Tibet, there stands a massive mountain named Mount Everest, which has taken the lives of many. Jon Krakauer and his teammates plan to travel //Into Thin Air// and conquer the elusive summit of Everest. Jon Krakauer is a journalist that is hired to write a story about Everest for the magazine that he works for. He joins an Everest expedition led by a company named Adventure Consultants. His teammates consist of strangers; however his guides are experienced and have excellent reputations. Nonetheless, mistakes are made as the team makes their way through the treacherous terrain of Mount Everest. The high altitude begins to set in as Jon “noticed that it was becoming harder and harder to think clearly.” Members of similar expeditions fell victim to HAPE, High Altitude Pulmonary Edema, and before they even reached their Camp 4, their highest camp on the mountain, people are dying. Despite the errors, both Jon and the majority of his group make it to Camp 4. After a period of rest at Camp 4, the team led by Adventure Consultants headed toward the summit. The extreme altitude causes numerous lapses in judgment, which creates problems in the future. Suddenly, a storm strikes the summit of Everest, and it makes Rob Hall, owner of Adventure Consultants, and a number of his clients stranded near the summit. However, Jon manages to reach the summit and descend to Camp 4 safely by the beginning of the storm. Did the extremely experienced climber, Rob Hall, and the other clients return safely? This book is an action-packed story that offers an interesting perspective on how disaster can strike at any moment and how many little mistakes can create big trouble.

Contributor: Kyle H.
 * //Into Thin Air//** **by Jon Krakauer**

Mount Everest stands at 29,028 feet and is the highest point on earth. Few dare to even attempt climbing to the tip of the world. Jon Krakauer, author of //Into Thin Air,// is one of two in his expedition who made it to the top and back safely. Krakauer’s world renowned guide, Rob Hall, was one of the twelve who lost their life in attempt of climbing Everest in the summer of 1996. To this day it stands as the deadliest season in history. Krakauer climbed his first mountain at the age of nine with his father and that’s when he becamed hooked on mountain climbing. Krakauer left home after he got the call form //Outside Magazine// to be a journalist during the expedition. He started his journey with little climbing experience but grew to be one of the strongest in his group. Getting to the top was the least of his worries; climbing down was when disaster struck. When Andy Harris mistakenly turned Krakauer’s oxygen all the way up instead of off, he quickly ran out and began to panic. That was the start of many disaster that occurred on May 10, 1996. Krakauer states, “And everyone was on the brink of physical collapse.” It was the will to live that got Krakauer down and home safely. It is a thrilling adventure story and keeps the reader wanting more.

Contributor: Josh C.
 * //Into Thin Air// by Jon Krakauer**

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">As children, most people dream of becoming famous. When Jon Krakauer was young, he dreamt of climbing the most terrifying piece of earth ever, Mount Everest. In his book, // Into Thin Air //, he tells the story of when his dream came true. The only problem was, however, that by the end of it, the climb had become a nightmare. When Jon was invited to go on the climb, he begged his boss to take on the task as a job assignment and then write about the journey. When he was allowed to go, he was amazed. His childhood dream could finally be achieved. But he soon learned that he should have been terrified. As he said in his book, “There were many, many fine reasons not to go, but attempting to climb Everest is an intrinsically irrational act-a triumph of desire over sensibility.” His team was one of three teams that chose to ascend the mountain on May 10, 1996. Their ascent was just as smoothly as planned, besides the fact that some of them ignored the turn around time: as they made their way down, few noticed the storm about to strike. After some of the more experienced and faster climbers made it back to camp, the storm stranded many other team members on the mountain. It became a risky race to rescue them in time. The climb took a toll on everyone. After the grueling weather conditions, some of the survivors came home with more than just a mental scar. This book leaves the reader with a vicarious experience of a treacherous climb, which makes one ponder whether the fame and satisfaction are worth it.

//**The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson**// Contributor: Alex L.

// The Devil in the White City // is an enthralling ride that Erik Larson takes readers through, concerning the lives of two different people making two different livings in Chicago during the 19th century. On one side of the coin lies Daniel Burnham, a respected architect and the chief architect of the World’s Columbian Exposition, also known as the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair. The fair, a great technological feat, totaling over 600 acres of wonders, including one of the first widespread uses of electrical lights and the very first Ferris Wheel. It was considered a place of magic, dubbed “The White City,” luring in over 27 million visitors. But, on the opposite side, stood a man who was feeding off its allure. Doctor H.H. Holmes, one of America’s first serial killers, used the magic of the fair to ensnare his victims and lead them to their death. This was achieved by the creation of his three-block-long hotel for “visitors to the World’s Columbian Exposition,” which was fitted with a sound-proof vault, a gas chamber, and a crematorium. This hotel was the place of death for the majority of his victims, which are theorized to total anywhere from nine to two-hundred and fifty. The allure of the fair was not the only way that Holmes captured his victims, as Holmes had a charismatic magic of his own, allowing him to gain the victim’s trust, right up until the moment that he killed them. Overall, Larson’s thrill ride is one that gives us insight into two different minds: one of a brilliant architect, and one of a dangerous killer.

Contributor: Jake W.
 * //Stephen Hawking: A Biography//** **by Kristine Larsen**

From black holes, gravity, and thermodynamics, to Lou Gehrig, Stephen William Hawking has been in the face of opposition throughout the course of his life. Diagnosed with ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis), more commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, at the age of 21, Hawking never permitted illness to interfere in his quest for knowledge and unification of the universe. //Stephen Hawking: A Biograohy//, written by Kristine Larsen is a thoughtful account of the hardships Stephen Hawking fought through to become the outstanding physicist people know him to be. Having starred in an episode of //Star Trek: The Next Generation//, “playing a holographic version of himself,” Hawking proved his ability to act alongside his astonishing knowledge of the universe. Taking the physics world by storm, Hawking discovered in 1974 that black holes radiate, proving that they do, in fact, have temperatures. Since it takes two to tango, along with this newly discovered “Hawking radiation,” Hawking and a couple of his partners made a connection that the “four laws of black hole mechanics. . . were actually laws of black hole thermodynamics in disguise.” These monumental revelations shot his career as a physicist into motion. Using his persistence and popularity as factors of influence, Hawking has greatly contributed to the improvement of the rights of disabled persons. Continuing to observe and question the universe well into his sixties, Stephen William Hawking has created a wealth of knowledge and accomplishments that boast his knack for physics. The gravitational pull of this celestial story will leave readers hungry for Hawking.