[Overpaid Slacker]

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