Into The Wild

  Into The Wild, By Jon Krakauer, Anchor Books, pub.

Note: I apologize for the cheesey Amazon graphics displayed here.  Only place I could find a picture I was able to lift.

Okay, now that the disclaimer is done, on with the book.

"In April 1992 a young man from a well-to-do family hitchhiked to Alaska and walked alone into the wilderness north of Mt. McKinley.  His name was Christopher Johnson McCandless.  He had given $25,000 in savings to charity, abandoned his car and most of his possessions, burned all the cash in his wallet, and invented a new life for himself.  Four months later, his decomposed body was found by a moose hunter..."

I have often contemplated just running away and leaving everything complicated and distressing in my life behind and going to live on top of a mountain somewhere.  Of course, I would require a high speed internet connection and decent cable television, which shows me that I am in no way prepared to really do that. 

Chris McCandless actually did this.  He was a bright young guy with some very high ideals.  He subscribed to many of the beliefs  Thoreau espoused.  This book, written by one of my favorite writers, explores the life and tragic death of McCandless and offers a few theories as to why he came to the tragic end he did. 

I first read this when my life was in great turmoil and all I could think of was running away from everything.  It had an impact on me.  A great telling of a sad tale.

Another quote used in the book that I find profound:

  "It should not be denied...that being footloose has always exhilarated us.  It is associated in our minds with escape from history and oppression and law and irksome obligations, with absolute freedom...." 

Wallace Stenger,

The American West As Living Space

Comments

[Holly]

I really enjoyed this book and passed it on to my boyfriend. We were both perplexed and saddened by the story of Chris. What would make him just up and leave his life? Not even tell his beloved sister. He was very ill equipped to even make the journey, let alone live in the wild.

I think this boy had serious emotional issues that he needed to work through and just took the wrong path.

I recently found out the book is being made into a movie by Sean Penn. Should prove interesting!