Into the Wild

A friend recommended this book to me, stating that it would make me want to take off "into the wild" myself. When I read the intro I thought "Yeah, right! This guy dies!" but my friend was right on. The book is very inspiring, and does make you realize we are capable of so much more than we think, and also crave an adventure-of-a-lifetime of your own...

Into the Wild

This true story is about a adventurous young man named Christopher McCandless who takes to the road after graduating university. He lives a minimalist lifestyle roaming the Western states leading up to his decision to venture to Alaska wilderness for the big-time adventure that ultimately leads to his untimely death.

The author, Jon Krakauer uses a collaboration of interviews with friends and families and McCandless' journal writing to give his interpretation of the events leading up to this young man's unfortunate death. Krakauer also provides backgrounds of other not-so fortunate adventurers who also have disappeared or died in an attempt to give the reader an understanding of what makes someone venture into wilderness to live off the land when most of us would think it is craziness.

Intrigued by the book jacket but by the end of the story felt totally bewildered for two reasons; by the way of Krakauer's writing style and because of McCandless actions. Preferably when reading non-fiction I like it to be told in sequence of events which I felt was not the case for this book. I felt that by the end of the book that much of the last years of this young man's life could not be documented properly because of his sometimes reclusive lifestyle hence why my feelings of bewilderment as we will never really understand what drives people to alienate themselves and in this case take the risks the can cost a life. It is thought provoking but in my opinion very dry at times because of the gaps the author needed to fill it to make it book.

3.5 stars. Into the Wild tells the story of Chris McCandless, a 24-year old whose body was found in the wilderness of Alaska in 1992. Chris had disappeared from his family's lives two years earlier. Krakauer tells McCandless's story, not only of the missing two years (pieced together by a journal, postcards, and interviews with people Chris had met during that time), as well as Chris's life story. Krakauer also compares Chris's life and adventures with other people who had similarly tried to live in the wild, and also with his own life.

Very good book. I thought Krakauer did a good job of trying to explain what would have possessed Chris to do what he did. I did find that I wasn't quite as interested in the stories of some of the other people Krakauer compared Chris to (though I found Krakauer's own story quite interesting), but that was only a very small part of the book.

When I finished reading this book I found that I had enjoyed it but not to any great extreme. I was very interested in the main character Chris and what he went through but found that this book went off on too many tangents that I wasn't interested in as much as the story of Chris. There were stories about other people who have had similar experiences (including the author) but I felt as if this was 'filler'. Would have enjoyed this book more if it just focused on the main character. I recently watched the movie and found it much more gripping and would recommend the movie over the book. Not a bad book at all, just not as focused as the movie was on the main story.

I have read many (many!!!) books and this one, I can honestly say, this is my favorite to date. It is not only a novel about a young man, Chris McCandless, who yearns for solitude and freedom from modern society. This in itself would be an interesting read. The author, Jon Krakauer goes above and beyond a mere biography in order to explore the thought process and ideals of this young man. There is so much depth involved in this novel that a person can't help but ponder about life (Chris' life; as well as their own) as they read. I highly recommend Into the Wild, especially to the youth in this world who may be searching for the meaning of life and their place within it. This novel may just inspire you (hopefully not to become a vagabond but to help you discover your potential). P.S. Phone you parents. I also recommend this novel to the parents of today's youth so that you may better understand the reason behind your children's need for *freedom* and *solitude* and, perhaps, to understand why your children don't phone as much as you would like them to.

There really isn't anything to say about this book other then: wow. What an amazing story about one souls wandering and need for something else in his life. The true search for ones true self. It was heart wrentching but no other novel I've ever read had EVER brought me closer to the true heart of a person I've never known or heard about. I think that anyone who takes the time to read through that young mans tragic tale will find that it hits somewhere near home, no matter how old you are. We can all see a piece of ourselves in Chris McCandless, whether it be his gentle nature, or his need for something deeper in his life, or just a love for that which is around us.
I loved this novel and think that anyone looking for a great read should check this out, you will not regret it. It's one of the greatest books out there, hands down.

INTO THE WILD is an account of a young man who hitchhiked to Alaska and walked alone into the wilderness. Four months later, his decomposed body was found by a moose hunter… It is a captivating and compelling read; you'll probably read it in one or two sittings. Jon Krakauer paints a sympathetic portrait, at times identifying with the young man, spending a chapter discussing his own less tragic adventurous pursuits.

What I find remarkable here is not so much this particular narrative, but how pervasive this narrative is. If a man is only as manly as his last "masculine act" then this is a gospel of masculinity. The narrative depicts a romance with the wild, the striving for independence, an adventure in the land of hope and freedom, a life less ordinary, the road less chosen - whichever cliché fits. The main character is capable but naïve, brilliant but in his own world.

Two things struck me about this book. First, McCandless is critical of the "plastic people" that he encounters, a work and at school. The irony of this observation is that he becomes disposable himself, throwing himself away into the woods. As Krakauer notes, this was not his intention… but it is the consequence of thinking that living in the wild is like summer camp. "Same story: idealistic, energetic young guys who overestimated themselves, underestimated the country, and ended up in trouble… Such willful ignorance… amounts to disrespect for the land…" (Nick Jans qtd in Krakauer, 71, 72). Second, Krakauer is puzzled by a paradox in the life of McCandless: his contempt for urban life and its ills and his ability to excel as an entrepreneur, one of the reasons he makes such a powerful impact on people. Krakauer leaves this question open… but I think he misses a rather obvious point: counter-cultural attitudes are entrepreneurial. This narrative, although exclusively dealing with young men recklessly romping through the wild, has a remarkable parallel with the well established links between religious revivalism and entrepreneurship.

That being said, the narrative is heart-rending. It is difficult not to identify in some way with the restlessness of the young man and his ideals.

The three recommendations have to do with a potential explanation as to why young men are drawn "into the wild" and how this relates to the entrepreneurial spirit.

Don't miss this tragic story of a young man's obsession with his personal journey to self-awareness. A must have - before you see the upcoming movie.

From the moment I picked this book up I could not put it down, I didn't even buy it for myself in the first place. Jon Krakauer finds a way to write about these harrowing tales with such beauty, while at the same time informing you of just how dangerous what is going on is. I was amazed at Chris' sense of adventure and his want to live free and with hardly anything to his name. This book is a quick read, you won't want to stop reading, Krakauer writes with such great knowledge and warning. Amazing book, has anyone seen the movie?

A must read for anyone looking for adventure, The story of Alexander supertramp makes you realize just how invincible we can all feel in our youth.

The book Into The Wild by Jon Krakauer is one of the greatest books I have ever read. It is a tragic story that is brought to life through the eloquent writing of Krakauer. The autor tells the story beautifuly and objectively, allow the reader to draw their own conclusions. The story comes alive on the page. I would recommend this book, as well as any other of Jon Krakauer's. It is a glimps into the heart and soul of a young idealistic man. Put it on your top ten list of the best books of all time. A must read!

After reading "Into the Wild" by Jon Krakauer I was left wondering what path Chris McCandless' life would have taken if he had survived in Alaska. Would he return home to his parents to repair the deep emotional rift that existed between them? Or, would he decide to continue his travels? It's a terrible shame that somebody with a great zest for life and discovery perished the way he did....

if one has had any questions about the validity of the western consumer culture or entertained thoughts of leaving it all for the escape and freedom that is believed to exist in the uninhabited areas of the earth, then this book is spooky. krakauer reveals our perceptions of this young man's decisions in his search for his own understanding of mccandless. i highly recommend this book.

To go and follow a dream… To go and become one with nature… Why try and explain why.

Highly recommended reading that can't help but make some of us wonder how we survived the exhilaration and adventures of youth that sometimes brought us to edge of survival itself.

A McCandless Gene?

Although the story itself is quite interesting, I was disappointed by a few factors:

1. It discusses various pictures that McCandless had taken during various treks into the wild and these are never shown. A picture section would have been nice.

2. On the cover of the book it states that McCandless had $25,000 in savings which he gave to charity, whereas in the body of the book the amount is $24,000. Nitpicky? Maybe, but really, what is the amount?

3. Walt installs a brass plaque memorial inside the bus - but what does it say? The author doesn't tell us.

and 4. The price of the book - a little steep in my opinion.

Even though these points may seem trivial, they made me feel somewhat "ripped off" when I finished the book. I enjoyed reading about this extraordinary man's life - but I would have enjoyed it a whole lot more if it weren't for the above points.

Simply put, this is the only book I feel confident in recomending to all. Whether you are a traveler at heart or just someone who has brief notions of escape from a fast paced world. Into The Wild should be in everyone's collection.

One of the greatest books that tries to unvail the quest for self-discovery. I read this book twice, back to back in an attempt to understand Chris McCandless' deep and sincere yearning of life. A wonderfull novel, recomended to everyone.

Good things do come in small packages (however sombre the subject matter). Krakauer retraces the last few months in the life of Christopher Johnson McCandless, an intelligent young man from an affluent U.S. suburb who wanders alone into the Alaskan wilderness. This thought-provoking account is enriched by picturesque quotations from Leo Tolstoy and Henry David Thoreau. Though McCandless's reasons for abandoning society may be unclear, Krakauer manages to provide considerable insight into his possible motives. A journey to the great outdoors - as well as a trek to the very heart and soul of a very stubborn and idealistic young man.

This is Krakauer's book written before he achieved international success with his subsequent account of the Everest disaster, Into Thin Air. This is a very well written, tragic story of a young man who sets off on a nomadic adventure that cocts him his life. Christopher McCandless graduates from college and gives all his money away to live a simple life. He wanders the U.S. for two years and ends up trekking into the interior of Alaska where he eventually dies of starvation. This story is partly autobiographical as Krakauer strongly identifies with McCandless. Krakauer challenged mountains and McCandless the wild. McCandless loved books and I enjoyed exploring some of his favourite works, including Henry David Thoreau, Tolstoy and Pasternak, which are identified in this book. In the end, a great story of self-discovery.