It's been at least 2 years since I've read this work of art but I felt the need to review regardless.
This book has to be one of my all-time, well loved favorites. I remember being blown away the first time I read it. I often found myself searching for pen and paper to inscribe particularly powerful passages, and there were a hell of a lot. While the movie is actually one of the better novel-adaptations I've seen, it still cannot compete. There is so much that this book conveys that a movie just CAN'T.
I really felt at times that it was pure poetry; the idyllic scenes, the revelations, just the simple tale of this one man who felt more in-tune with nature than with his fellow man. The fact that this man felt he could abandon all ties to civilized life. It is truly inspiring and often had me wanting to get up and set off on my own adventure.
Perhaps this novel doesn't convey the finality and loose-end tying of fictitious work but that's what you get sometimes when the story you are reading is based on reality. Especially given that almost all elements of this book are derived from his family or those who came across him during his adventure; therefore, secondhand. But still.
I'm not the type to give away key points but there were a few choice parts that floored me. Some of it is tragic, all of it is inspiring.
One of my favorite reads and I would recommend this to anyone and everyone.

Each chapter in this book starts with 2-3 pages of description, usually geographical, and then goes into the human story. It is as if these two parts were written by two totally different writers. The descriptive sections are extremely wordy, convoluted, with lots of unnecessarily complicated vocabulary. The writing feels rather self-consciously clever. But, once the chapter gets into the human story, a description of people and the main character, it becomes clear, concise and honest, without the previously irritating indulgences. The human story is quite interesting, and well thought out.

I first found out about this story after hearing that Eddie Vedder had done the sountrack for the movie. I had the movie but I hadn't watched it or even knew what it was about. But being a big Pearl Jam fan, the chance to hear some of Eddie Vedder's solo work pushed me to watch it. It blew my mind. I couldn't get over Chris McCandless' passionate search for something more in life and the movie quickly became a favourite.

After reading the book I felt even more attached to the story. Jon Krakauer truly takes you with him on the road to understanding what Chris McCandless was trying to do. You begin to understand what Chris was trying to find on his journey across the United States and in Alaska and realize it was more than just getting away from society. The book was written so well and although the story jumps around it still moves and keeps you engaged the entire time. This story is not one you quickly forget.

Read the book, watch the movie and listen to the soundtrack. You will not be dissapointed!

I really connected with this book, I couldn't put it down once I started reading it. The relationships Chris Mccandless formed while on his wandering journey struck me as beautiful. The accounts from people who had met him along his way were touching, even though they had only known him for a short time you could tell that he left a lasting impression with them. That is how I feel after finishing the book.
The author pieced together information gathered from personal accounts as well as from Chris' belongings to draw reasonable conclusions about his untimely death. The author is up front about his feelings towards Mccandless but they do not get in the way of giving an accurate account of Chris' adventures. There are two chapters where the author talks of his own Alaskan adventure as a 23 year old in the '70s, however, which I felt, although relevant, it took me out of the story he was actually trying to tell.
Overall it was a great read, although melancholic. Definitely a recommendation.

The author jumps all over the place and uses 3-4 different names for the boy

Into the Wild is a true account of Christopher McCandless's foolhardy pilgrimage to his death in the wilderness of Alaska. Although he was clearly suffering from hubris, this passionate idealist was on a mission to understand himself and his connection to nature, in his solo journey under the alias Alex Supertramp. There is no shortage of irony in this tragedy, as this young man who once had a dream of putting an end to world hunger, and even donated all of his savings to this cause, died of starvation. It should also be noted that for McCandless, his trip into the wild was an exercise in freedom, a sort of protest of society in a world full of rules and boundaries, only to come to his end "trapped in the wild." There are many critics who accuse him of willful ignorance and arrogance in underestimating the fierceness of the Alaskan bush, and his ability to handle it with his limited experience. Although partly true, how many of us could say that we would survive even half of the experiences that he courageously conquered, all in the interest of pursuing his dreams? In the end, along with countless others that he encountered in his travels, I am inspired by his story, and I will take with me his final realization after months of solitude, that "happiness isn't real unless it's shared."

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As would be expected, even better than the hollywood production! A book worth reading and one that is sure to induce ones sense of wonder.

Christopher McCandless was the bright kid who excelled in his academics and sports, who came from a well to-do and seemingly loving family. Somehow he gave up his life (permanently or not, did he even plan it in the first place?), donated his scholarship fund to charity and left for the wild. What drove him to this?

Jon Krakauer traces Christopher "Alex Supertramp" McCandless's trail, providing evidences and assumptions as to this fateful journey, first into the south and then to the cold Alaskan frontier. The book may appear to be heavy on the details (i.e. locations, survival techniques, history), but their relevancy and effortless incorporation into the storyline add interesting information. Krakauer makes you identify with McCandless's motivation in embarking on this adventure, pushes you to ponder and question, while feeling a rising feeling of joy (over his new-found freedom), frustration (over his stubbornness), pity and sadness (over his solitude and tragic death).

The opening page has a self-taken photograph of McCandless, back against the abandoned Fairbanks bus, looking hollow in the cheeks but smiling from ear to ear. He was clearly contented for most parts, as per his diary notes. To a point, seeing more pictures and reading the story, I felt everyone had the need to venture into the wild, at least once in our lifetime (with more adequate support).

The author tells the story of this young man very well and intersperses it with stories of other comparable young men who have ventured into the wild. I saw the movie and had to get the book and it did not disappoint me at all. Highly recommended!

Hmm, I'm not even really sure what I want to say. He was brave and very stubborn. But like most of us, we have goals to accomplish, some far too extravagant, but most attainable. Most people were too quick to judge him through Krakauer's article, he could have survived, and I think that he just started to panic too much after he tried to cross the river again that he became careless, I suppose you could say, as to what he food he could scrounge from his surroundings. He could've made it. Bringing to light Chris' demise and others like him will hopefully educate others that plan to go into the wild

i guess I was expecting more of a story from the subjects perspective but that was not possible as no one knew what happened to him. So the trail is rather boring and redundant with interviews with people who had contact with him but they all had the same thing to say, and little was know what really was going through his head. I found it unsatisfying and could not finish it, hope the movie was better.

I thought this was a great, well written book. At times you think Mccandless was a brilliant man, other times you think wow how ridiculous. If only he had a map....Great read though, I could not put it down!

I really enjoyed this book. To start with the author admits at the beginning he tried to remain impartial but there are bits within the book that his biased shows. At the very beginning he stated this. That encouraged me to read the book more than the story itself. The story is powerful and very emotional. For me there were times that I felt Chris McCandles was brave and someone who dared embrace his dreams. Other times I was very frustrated with Chris. Joh Krakauer also compares Chris to other people whom have taken similar journeys. Very well written. I strongly urge anyone who likes true stories to read this one.