Into the Wild

Rating:
Summary: enlightening, inspirational, powerful, gripping, thoughtful
Review: I thought that this book said so much about the world today. There have been plenty of times in my lifetime that I have felt something similiar at least to what Chris felt. A feeling of getting away, of getting lost in wilderness...After reading this book I found myself talking to others finding out what they thought about a man that wandered into the woods without the complete knowledge of the wildness he was walking into. Hardly anyone saw what I saw...I see a person that was pushed there from society, meaning his parents, school, conforming, intellegence, feelings, mysticism, and freedom...this was not an ignorant person who just picked up his life and left one day...I believe that Chris had been waiting for the moment of freedom his whole life. Instead of disappointing his family, friends, or whoever else was watching him with hawk eyes...he accomplished the minimum of what he was willing to do (doing the best he could) and then it was time to explore...I admire Chris for doing what he did...I wish that he would have left more notes behind about his feelings, his beliefs, his philosophies of life but I belive that this is a man that reached Euphoria and died happier then most.

Rating:
Summary: An excellent book.
Review: "Into the Wild" was particulary affecting for me. I bought this book at EMS for no reason in particular, but Chris McCandless's story resembled things that I have thought about and McCandless grew up less than a fourth of a mile from where I did (I did not know him). I am also the outdoor type and this book was scarily like my life. One of the bests books I've ever read.

Rating:
Summary: A beautiful account
Review: When you can imagine and find simularities between your own life, and that of someone else's, then you know that a Rosetta Stone has been cast, not only in the language of our own personal experiences, but in the human factor of our culture.

Rating:
Summary: A gripping storyline albeit with unsubstantial information.
Review: Jon has, in this instance made a pretty much successful attempt at deducing and analyzing the events that led to the death of Chris McCandless. However, the information collected is not entirely persuasive, and the reader will often be led into wondering if such an event actually took place. It may be hard to convince the reader regarding certain aspects of the deduction, especially with such a weak argument and insufficient evidences. However, this is a commendable effort as at times, it brought out the fears and uncertainties of McCandless, making many of us being able to identify with his insecurities and passion to "go into the wild". Perhaps it will take some people of certain irrationality to truly comprehend what McCandless might be thinking about. This is another obstacle for the author as he had some difficulty in making readers accept his perception of what really happened. One thing to note is that the author often strays too far from the story and instead of reading about one person, we seemed to have read through all the biographies of other people, including himself. This should not be encouraged as it draws away the attention that ought to be focused on the main storyline. Hence, it gave the reader a feeling that the story is scattered and disorganised. And the sequence of events are often jumbled up and unclarified, leaving a feeling of dissatisfaction after the read. Still, the book is unable to shed any light as to what really happened to Chris McCandless.

Rating:
Summary: Krakauer brings meaning to this tragedy
Review: "Into the Wild" is a true story about a young man (Chris McCandless) who leaves friends and family behind in an attempt to sustain himself without the help of anyone else. Krakauer does an excellent job of unravelling the mystery of what drove Chris (and other young men) to such extreme behavoir. Chris was only doing what he was trained to do by his parents: to not need anyone else. He came from an extremely unnurturing household where the mother only gained 8 lbs at birth and both parents worked 14 hours a day. Chris was incredibly bright and he was trying to understand this world...to find some meaning in his life. But he was poisoned in childhood to think he could live without nurturing relationships, just as he was poisoned in the wild by the potato seeds which prohibited his body from taking in nutrition. He tried to come back, though, he learned on his journey that he did need people. It is a great tragedy because he had so much to offer society. Perhaps his death is an offering of sorts...that a childhood devoid of nurturing and love is as toxic as eating wild potato seeds. Krakauer's thoughtful analysis brings some meaning to this tragic death for all of us who can understand why Chris had to make this journey. For those who can't understand, I hope you don't have children

Rating:
Summary: Absolutely compelling reading
Review: I happen to think that Krakauer has a wonderful writing style evidenced in this and in Into Thin Air. I am only surprised at 2 comments which showed up in some of the negative reviews. First is that, at a modest 207 pages, the book could have been shorter! I thought it was by no means too short and everything that was in the book added to the whole. Second, I sensed that some people felt that experiences like Chris' are so commonplace that they're hardly worth mentioning. If so, I haven't read a whole lot of accounts like this one. I would unreservedly recommend this book to anyone

Rating:
Summary: A major disappointment
Review: This is a story about the bungled life of a self-absorbed adolescent who during his twenty-four years seems to have contributed little other than causing pain to his family and friends. The author, however, who seems to be cut from the same cloth, apparently appreciates the Supertramps misadventures. Save for the peculiar circumstances of McCandless' demise, this is an all too familiar story of the irresponsible escapades of (some of) today's youth. The "story " could have been told in twenty pages. Don't waste your time

Rating:
Summary: Too much needless history
Review: I found this story compelling yet like "Into Thin Air", Krakauer strays from the story to tell of other "explorers" who mirror Chris and other climbers who mirror the Hall expedition. Don't get me wrong, these two works are a definite addition to any outdoor enthusiasts library. I consider myself an avid outdoorsman and could relate to both Chris and Jon in both their adventures (thanks to Jon's writing). I would still prefer Krakauer to focus on the story more and not stray to other accounts, although I understand it is sometimes needed. Thanks for the great read!!

Rating:
Summary: Captivating is an understatement!
Review: Krakauer does a tremendous job of tracking one of the lost souls that modern society paradoxically condones yet envies, disregards yet investigates. In a society where modern day stressors seem to dictate our every move, people like Chris McCandless, who have the courage to ignore the pressure and follow their spirits, should be emulated. McCandless touched many lives while he roamed. Through Krakauer's book, he continues to do so

Rating:
Summary: A vivid character study of a vivid character.
Review: Last night I finished reading Jon Krakauer's "Into the Wild" and I am still thinking about it this morning. The story of Chris McCandless is one that most people can relate to in some way. Who among us has not had the urge, while driving to work, to just keep on driving, past the office, and into parts unknown? While reading this book, I found myself vacillating between condemnation of Chris McCandless' sometimes cavalier treatment of his family, and sheer envy of his courage to live his life as he wanted to. The idea of living in the wild is undeniably appealing, but the responsibilities of life often pull us back into 'civilization'. Readers will find this book enthralling. Jon Krakauer has done a fine job of researching and presents the story in a detailed manner. He also presents both the positives and negatives of Chris McCandless' actions. If there is one negative about this book, it is that Krakauer injected a little too much of his own story. His tale of mountain climbing in Alaska as a youth, while interesting, jarred the narrative of McCandless' story. This negative aside, I recommend this book because of it's main character. Chris McCandless, despite anything the reader may feel about the writing of this book, really leaps off of the page. I wish I had known him.