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Staff Pick
Jon Krakauer's Into the Wild sparked controversy with its first publication. Readers were of two minds, either admonishing Christopher McCandless for his ignorance in traipsing off into the Alaskan wilderness with little firsthand knowledge of the harsh reality of it, or living vicariously through his journey and the middle finger he gave to our modern society. With a careful eye for bias, stemming from journalistic experience, Krakauer presents McCandless's story from both sides, leaving readers to decide for themselves. This bestseller and tragic story is sure to inspire and infuriate, but is well worth the read. Recommended By Alex Y., Powells.com
Synopses & Reviews
NATIONAL BESTSELLER — The mesmerizing, heartbreaking tale of an enigmatic young man who goes missing in the wild and whose story captured the world's attention.
“Terrifying…Eloquent…A heart-rending drama of human yearning.” New York Times
In April 1992 a young man from a well-to-do family hitchhiked to Alaska and walked alone Into the Wilderness north of Mt. McKinley. He had given $25,000 in savings to charity, abandoned his car and most of his possessions, burned all the cash in his wallet, and invented a new life for himself. Four months later, his decomposed body was found by a moose hunter. How Christopher Johnson McCandless came to die is the unforgettable story of Into the Wild.
Immediately after graduating from college in 1991, McCandless had roamed through the West and Southwest on a vision quest like those made by his heroes Jack London and John Muir. In the Mojave Desert he abandoned his car, stripped it of its license plates, and burned all of his cash. He would give himself a new name, Alexander Supertramp, and, unencumbered by money and belongings, he would be free to wallow in the raw, unfiltered experiences that nature presented. Craving a blank spot on the map, McCandless simply threw the maps away. Leaving behind his desperate parents and sister, he vanished Into the Wild.
Jon Krakauer constructs a clarifying prism through which he reassembles the disquieting facts of McCandless's short life. Admitting an interest that borders on obsession, he searches for the clues to the drives and desires that propelled McCandless.
When McCandless's innocent mistakes turn out to be irreversible and fatal, he becomes the stuff of tabloid headlines and is dismissed for his naiveté, pretensions, and hubris. He is said to have had a death wish but wanting to die is a very different thing from being compelled to look over the edge. Krakauer brings McCandless's uncompromising pilgrimage out of the shadows, and the peril, adversity, and renunciation sought by this enigmatic young man are illuminated with a rare understanding — and not an ounce of sentimentality. Mesmerizing, heartbreaking, Into the Wild is a tour de force. The power and luminosity of Jon Krakauer's stoytelling blaze through every page.
Review
“It may be nonfiction, but Into the Wild is a mystery of the highest order.”
Entertainment Weekly
Review
“Engrossing….with a telling eye for detail, Krakauer has captured the sad saga of a stubborn, idealistic young man.”
Los Angeles Times Book Review
Review
“A narrative of arresting force. Anyone who ever fancied wandering off to face nature on its own harsh terms should give a look. It's gripping stuff.” Washington Post
Review
“Compelling and tragic….Hard to put down.” San Francisco Chronicle
About the Author
Jon Krakauer is the author of eight books and has received an Academy Award in Literature from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. According to the award citation, Krakauer combines the tenacity and courage of the finest tradition of investigative journalism with the stylish subtlety and profound insight of the born writer.