| Into the Wild |  | Author: Jon Krakauer
Category: Book
Buy New: $22.95
Rating:  1193 reviews
Media: Library Binding
Edition: Reprint
Pages: 207
ISBN: 1435285735
Dewey Decimal Number: 917.98045
EAN: 9781435285736
ASIN: 1435285735
Publication Date: May 22, 2008
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Not yet published
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Amazon.com
What would possess a gifted young man recently graduated from college to literally walk away from his life? Noted outdoor writer and mountaineer Jon Krakauer tackles that question in his reporting on Chris McCandless, whose emaciated body was found in an abandoned bus in the Alaskan wilderness in 1992. Described by friends and relatives as smart, literate, compassionate, and funny, did McCandless simply read too much Thoreau and Jack London and lose sight of the dangers of heading into the wilderness alone? Krakauer, whose own adventures have taken him to the perilous heights of Everest, provides some answers by exploring the pull the outdoors, seductive yet often dangerous, has had on his own life.
Product Description
This is the haunting story of 22-year-old Chris McCandless, who walked into the Alaskan wilderness in the spring of 1992 and whose body--along with a camera with five rolls of film, an SOS note, and a cryptic diary written in the back pages of a book about edible plants--was found six months later by a hunter. Simultaneous hardcover release from Villard. 2 cassettes.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 1188 more reviews...
 Great Story and the movie was good too August 28, 2008
I loved the detailed pieces of the puzzle that Krakauer assembled. I did not particularly like his story "into thin air", but I loved "into the wild". I also liked the movie too. In the end, I thought Krakauer left a favorable testimonial to the kid. He rambled and lived as he wanted. He may not have meant to die, but he should not have had any regrets. Contrary to what many people tell me, I do not find this to be a sad or depressing story and I do not feel that he should be considered to have wasted his life.
A sad story August 20, 2008
This book left me feeling very sad, and my heart aches for his family. Many young people do foolish things like Alex did. Some survive (like the author), and some don't. I enjoyed the insight the author provided through his research. I thought he did a good job collecting information from people who had crossed paths with Alex. I still don't understand what compelled him to such an extreme lifestyle.
Chase von, guess they have this book two places on here.... August 18, 2008
This is an amazing story that touches on every emotion contained within us all! I'm hard pressed to understand why this is only the second review but this is a story that will go down as one of the most powerful, enlightening, and heart wrenching ever told! Sean Penn has from what I have seen secured his place not only as one of the greatest actors to ever live, but also one of the greatest directors to ever live!
I intend to own both the movie and the book and add them to my collection of books you just don't read once and movies you can always go back to when it becomes a necessary to be reminded of what truly matters.
Lastly, I've seen the interviews and I take my hat off to the family for being so brave as to allow what I feel having learned of it, a must story to be allowed to be told...
Not only do I believe Chris is looking down from Heaven with only pure love for his family...
Part of me feels he is looking down on us all with love as well...
With the ultimate respects to the Family, The Author, and Sean Penn and Eddie Vedder for from what I've seen, being able to bring this to life in such a way that it is completely fulfilling the ultimate beauty this story contains...
Chase Von
Also would like to share this with all involved...
~Vibrations~
The sweetest of words
Need not be uttered
To be heard
Unspoken Whispers
Are carried to
Their intended source
By Messengers
From Heaven
That is why
Loud Statements
Often are not heard
Or are vaguely
Understood
And why
Silent Truths
Delivered by the Angels
Vibrate
The Very Soul
By Chase Von
tlp
The Last Panther
All rights reserved
I share that because
I think this story will be vibrating mine
Until I too leave as well as so many others
With respect and love and light again
Chase Von
(As a poet I see so much of my own story reflected in this as well)
Your Chance to Hear The Last Panther Speak
A mystery and tragedy told well August 17, 2008
Into the wild is a story of a young man searhing for more out of life. He goes on a journey into the depths of Alaska but doesn't live to tell his tale.
Krakauer decides it's his job to tell McCandless' story on his behalf. With only a journal and a few eye witnesses Krakauer pieces together McCandless trip from beginning to end. He even writes himself into the story eplaining his own mountain climbing trip to the Devils Thumb. He uses so much description that you feel yourself walking on thin ice, fearing that at any moment you could fall to your death.
McCandless and Krakauer share many things in common for example they both went into the wild searching for answers but on Krakauer's voyage he didn't receive any of them. Another similarity they shared is their screwed up relationship with their fathers.
Throughout McCandless pilgrimage he touched the lives of many people he met along the way. And they all had their side of the story to tell. They made had their doubts and opinions to why McCandless left in the first place but it never stopped them for keeping a special place in their hearts for him.
The story is such a tragic one and while reading this book I admit I shed a few tears but no matter how hard it became to read about this unfortunate tale I just couldn't put it down. Every chapter Krakauer left you wanting more. I just had to know how it ended from the moment I started reading. We can all relate to this book because I think we all have a little bit of McCandless in us. No matter how we feel about the choices McCandless made we all have to confess this if probaly one of the best nonfiction books ever written and I must congratulate Krakauer for being able to pull it off so well. Thats why it deserves five stars.
A Character Study Disguised as a Bestseller August 16, 2008
"Into the Wild" is an engrossing read...it grabs and keeps your attention, traces an interesting story arc and covers a unique subject matter. That being said, the real draw and merit of this book is the character study enmeshed in the broader story.
Krakauer's strong storytelling skills, his subject matter expertise and his in-depth reporting on the story of Chris McCandless combine to weave an engaging...and disturbing...tale. This tale addresses the "what" part of McCandless's journey into the wild, but it is the "why" part of the journey that really makes this book interesting.
In addressing the question of "why"...why would McCandless do what he did...Krakauer draws on a number of other like stories to build an interesting and introspective character study.
As with another book written by this author, Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mt. Everest Disaster, Krakauer's own persona looms large. In the case of "Into the Wild," I found Krakauer brought his own experiences too far into the center of the character study aspect of this book. That being said, the author's perspective is interesting and relevant, just too front-and-center when compared to the other personalities paralleled over the course of the book.
All in all, this is a good book and I recommend it to readers interested in a general entertaining and informative book, as well as to readers with an interest in a good character study.
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