This summer, I read Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer. Examining the summer reading list, I quickly brushed aside the fiction books filled with vampires, aliens, and superhumans: I was drawn to this novel because I was looking for a story I could learn from. I wanted to read something real. This book tells the story of Chris McCandless, a youth fresh out of college who in 1992 left everything behind to take up a simple life of hitchhiking and hunting in the Alaskan wilderness. He donated his money to a charity, abandoned his car and most of his possessions, and ceased contact with his family. Ill prepared, he then went to “walk into the wild”—completely alone. Four months later, he was found dead in an abandoned bus on the Stampede Trail. By accounts of people Chris came in contact with, Krakauer evaluates the young man’s life, from his family life at home, to the international adventures he went on beforehand and journal entries, in order to learn more about his mysterious death. Some believe Chris was a cocky, overconfident boy with little respect for nature, but Krakauer introduces an opposing idea and leaves you to interpret the situation.

This book is certainly not just about Chris McCandless. Through interviews, it tells the stories of countless other individuals that Chris influenced on his journey. Reading these interviews, I really got an idea of what kind of a person Chris was, and became attached to the friends, family members, and even the drivers that picked him up as a hitchhiker; he truly touched many. Into the Wild also explores other stories similar to McCandless’ of young men dropping everything to live in the wilderness and put their lives in danger, including one about the author himself.

            Into the Wild is well written. It is clear that Krakauer did his research very thoroughly on Chris McCandless’ journey to get the facts right. I imagine this was very difficult and took many years because Chris did not have a lot of contact with anyone; he virtually disappeared and changed his name for two years. Krakauer shares many of the same experiences with McCandles and so he is well suited to write about McCandles’ story. Krakauer also compares and contrasts McCandless’ story to other young mens’ adventures. He laces the stories together well to create one thrilling novel.

This book reminds me of numerous television shows that I have seen or am currently watching. Man vs. Wild is a show about a man that goes out into the wilderness and shows you how to survive, something McCandless did not succeed at. Another show, The Colony, investigates the emotions and psychological effect of a group of people that have to survive together and rebuild after a disaster. This book also reminds me of the book, My Side of the Mountain, a fictional book about a younger boy that, like Chris, leaves his home to go live in the wild and learn about nature. I can connect with McCandless in one passage of the book where Krakauer describes Chris’s love of running, something most people don’t understand. Like Chris, I am on the cross country team and determined to run.

I enjoyed this book. Chris’s thoughts in his journal entries were interesting because they questioned civilization and life. He had very strict habits and beliefs. I think McCandless is a very strange character, and that only made him more interesting. He wanted to be alone and yet he seemed to enjoy the company of many. Throughout the story, as a reader you feel distanced from him. It prompts you to want to learn more. I really loved reading about the stories of the somewhat random people that Chris met along his journey; the friends he made out of complete strangers. Their lives were enjoyable to read about and sometimes I felt that the book was more about them than McCandless himself.

I come away from this book with a greater respect for nature and especially food. Chris donated all his money to OXFAM, an organization that helps worldwide hunger. He lived in the wild on very little food, eventually succumbing to starvation. He tried not to waste any food, and punished himself severely when he did. I think Chris respected nature. Being materialistic and owning lots of possessions when you put it in perspective sometimes just seems meaningless and silly. I won’t be walking off into the Alaskan wilderness anytime soon, but Chris McCandless’ journey was inspirational. I recommend this book to anyone that enjoys adventure and questioning of society.