Into the Wild - book
 

Has anyone here read this?

I just finished reading this story and WOW. what a story! this kid did a lot in his very short life. A friend of mine read it as well and had pinned Christopher McCandless as a liberal hippie type a “tree hugger” as he put it. I completely disagree, though I am not sure what to think about the kid. In a way I am jealous that he had the guts to do what he did.

Guts to do what? Drift aimlessly about to an ultimately accidental death. IIRC he died hundred of feet from possible rescue from eating poisonous food.

He's only memorialized becuase Krakauer wrote about him. His life didn't even fill the book, IIRC, half of it was McCandless's spiratual journey interspersed.

McCandless, struck me as a selfish, unfeeling schmuck. Honestly didnt see anything remarkable about what he had done.
A person and story I admire is Richard Proenneke "Alone in the wilderness" He moved up to Alaska, built a cabin from scratch and lived in it for 30 yrs. Living mainly off the land.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Proenneke

I read it years ago. I've got to agree with the other posters. Not much to envy about an individual that gets himself into situations he is utimately unprepared for and dies. What exactly do you learn or take from this?

That was one of the best parts of the book IMO. How Krakauer kind of put in his own experiences. You do recall correctly. He did die from eating poisonous roots. And he did die a few miles from a zip line across the river. If thats all you got from the book I an very sorry.

IMHO its way too easy to criticize him for these things.

His life didnt even fill a whole book. Nor would mine. And thats fine I do not want it to.

I guess I can relate to and admire his feelings towards society. His sense of adventure and challenge his ethics.... He got himself into many situations where he survived too.

I've read it a few times and enjoyed it each time.

I want to read that one next. That looks like a really good story.

The first 3 chapters I can see where you are coming from. I thought "here is another rich kid... wannabe Jack Kerouac" but I do not think that was the case anymore.

Is it a good book? Yeah. I read it cover to cover in one day. Really enjoyed it. Is the protagonist (McCandless) a fool? Yes. Very much so.

I think much I liked with the book had to do more with the writer. "Into Thin Air" is also a great read.

I think I see your point. People put themselves in danger every day. Race cars, skydive, all kinds of stuff. I think that foolish is subjective.

He died living his dream and there is something to be said for that IMHO.

I've read both, "Into the Wild" and "Alone In the Wilderness". The latter is the better book, although the former is a movie that will be coming out directed by Sean Penn, so we'll have to see what the hollywood "spin" will be.

Sounds like a good read.

Thx,

Joe

If you like survival books you should look into a book titled:

"The Long Walk: the True Story of a Trek to Freedom"
By: Slavomir Rawicz

I don't want to summarize it at all but I'm certain you would enjoy it.

Here is a link on amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Long-Walk-True-Story-Freedom/dp/1592289444/ref=sr_1_1/102-6938775-8302506?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1184172792&sr=1-1

A book I picked up on vacation but haven't read yet is "No End In Sight: the Rachael Scdoris Story" about the first blind musher in the Iditarod.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rachael_Scdoris

Joe, If you get the chance, you should see the DVD documentary about Proenneke. Extremely good.

http://www.dickproenneke.com/

I also read it years ago. As I recall, the kid seemed to be a self-absorbed and none-too-bright fool, which traits Krakauer was able to use to get what he wanted to say about himself and "life" into print. I read the book to the end (which is rare... I start a few books a week, and most just lose me with inanities or abject lack of interest)... and it was a good read, but I had neither empathy nor sympathy for the kid, and Krakauer seemed pretty self-absorbed as well.

I doubt I'd have been interested in meeting or speaking with the kid, and, further, I agree there are much better books (and stories) about others going off into the wild... for vastly better "reasons" than drop-out hippy wealth-guilt (IIRC).

JP