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Michael Finkel

Goodreads Author

Born

in Atlanta, The United States

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http://www.MichaelFinkel.com

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MikeFinkel

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November 2015

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Michael Finkel is the author of "The Art Thief," "The Stranger in the Woods" and "True Story," which was adapted into a 2015 motion picture. He has reported from more than 50 countries and written for National Geographic, GQ, Rolling Stone, Esquire, Vanity Fair, The Atlantic, and The New York Times Magazine. He lives with his family in northern Utah and southern France. ...more

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Did you ever purchase that cabin for Christopher? How did the publishing The Stranger in the Woods help him monetarily or in any way at all. Have proceeds gone to him? Christopher T. Knight is a profoundly gifted individual. His nature/nurture influenced the way he interacted with his surroundings. Not all children have the opportunity to be diagnosed and helped at a young age.

Michael Finkel Hello. I answered this over on the book page, but I'll paste my response here too:

Mr. Knight is, of course, an extremely private individual, and thoug…moreHello. I answered this over on the book page, but I'll paste my response here too:

Mr. Knight is, of course, an extremely private individual, and though he agreed to accept each of my jailhouse visits (he could easily have rejected any or all of them) and respond to many of my letters, he did not want to establish any real ties to me -- or, for that matter, to virtually everyone else. I did not purchase a cabin for him. Even a gift (especially such a valuable gift) creates a relationship between two people. As does exchanging money. Mr. Knight is not profiting from this book. He said he did not want any money from me, as money is a way to bind people together. Instead, the Pine Tree Camp, a summertime program for adults and children with physical or mental challenges (and the most frequent victim of Mr. Knight's thieving raids) will be receiving donations from me.(less)

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Hi Michael, I just finished Stranger in the Woods and was very moved by it. I am interested in your description of how hermits frequently experience a "loss of self.” This seems similar to what you hear from Buddhist meditators who reach a deep point in their practice where the concept of self also begins to dissipate. Did you notice this connection and if so what do you make of it? Thanks, Ross

Michael Finkel You are correct, Ross -- the "loss of self" reported by many people seeking solitary lives, and the reports from many experienced Buddhist meditators …moreYou are correct, Ross -- the "loss of self" reported by many people seeking solitary lives, and the reports from many experienced Buddhist meditators seem very similar. I believe that that these states are, indeed, very nearly the same. During the course of my research, I've read many descriptions from both hermits and Buddhists, and the same sensations keep repeating themselves. And why not? Both hermits and meditators are exploring what Thoreau called "the private sea, the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean of one's being." And to venture out into these wild internal seas one senses a loss of self... and a gain of, it seems, incredibly deep experiences.(less)

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Michael Finkel’s books

Average rating: 3.9 · 84,389 ratings · 9,616 reviews · 10 distinct works • Similar authors

	The Stranger in the Woods: The Extraordinary Story of the Last True Hermit by Michael Finkel (Goodreads Author), Mark Bramhall (Narrator) 3.89 avg rating — 71,230 ratings — published 2017 — 49 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Art Thief 4.05 avg rating — 6,308 ratings — published 2023 — 13 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	True Story: Murder, Memoir, Mea Culpa 3.88 avg rating — 5,513 ratings — published 2005 — 46 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Best American Nonrequired Reading 2002 by Dave Eggers (Editor), Michael Cart (Series Editor), Sam Lipsyte (Goodreads Author) (Contributor) 3.81 avg rating — 989 ratings — published 2002 — 7 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Here Be Monsters... 50 Days Adrift At Sea 3.61 avg rating — 304 ratings — published 2011	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Best American Travel Writing 2001 by Paul Theroux (Editor), Russell Banks, Marcel Theroux 3.84 avg rating — 175 ratings — 7 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Alpine Circus: A Skier's Exotic Adventures at the Snowy Edge of the World 4.31 avg rating — 36 ratings — published 1999 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Penguin Random House Audio Story Sampler 2017 by Elan Mastai (Goodreads Author), Michael Finkel (Goodreads Author), Ariel Levy 2.78 avg rating — 9 ratings — published 2017	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	A Country Bookshelf Reader by David Abrams (Goodreads Author), Marjane Ambler (Goodreads Author), John Barsness liked it 3.00 avg rating — 2 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	National Geographic. 125 Aniversario. Los nuevos exploradores. by Peter Gwin, James Camron, Mark Thiessen (Fotografías) really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 1 rating — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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Michael Finkel has read The Art Thief by Michael Finkel (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Dear Goodreaders: Though "The Art Thief" is a short book (just over 200 pages), I worked on the project for more than 11 years, trying to make sure that everything in this wild and unpredictable tale is true - and also, to the best of my abilities, e ...more
Jul 07, 2023 09:03PM · 97 likes · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Art Thief by Michael Finkel. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Art Thief by Michael Finkel <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Michael Finkel is now following Ann Patchett Author of The Dutch House
Jul 07, 2023 08:41PM · like
Michael Finkel is now following Jenny Lawson's reviews
Jun 13, 2023 06:42AM · like
Michael Finkel answered a question about The Art Thief: Does anyone know when this book comes out? I've read (and re-read) The Stranger in the Woods and True Story several times. I need a fresh "Finkel read"! Thank you for your readership! "The Art Thief" will be published on June 27, 2023.
Apr 07, 2023 10:03AM · 1 like · like
Michael Finkel liked Romany Arrowsmith's review of The Stranger in the Woods: The Extraordinary Story of the Last True Hermit: "POETRY OF DEPARTURES by Philip Larkin Sometimes you hear, fifth-hand, As epitaph: He chucked up everything And just cleared off, And always the voice will sound Certain you approve This audacious, purifying, Elemental move. And they are right, I think. We all h" Read more of this review »
Jan 24, 2022 02:22PM · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Stranger in the Woods by Michael Finkel. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Stranger in the Woods by Michael Finkel <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">

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Quotes by Michael Finkel (?)

“I think that most of us feel like something is missing from our lives. And I wondered then if Knight's journey was to seek it. But life isn't about searching endlessly to find what's missing. It's about learning to live with the missing parts.”
― Michael Finkel, The Stranger in the Woods: The Extraordinary Story of the Last True Hermit

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“Carl Jung said that only an introvert could see "the unfathomable stupidity of man”
― Michael Finkel, The Stranger in the Woods: The Extraordinary Story of the Last True Hermit

tags: carl-jung, introverts, stupidity-of-man

35 likes

“I read. That's my form of travel.”
― Michael Finkel, The Stranger in the Woods: The Extraordinary Story of the Last True Hermit

tags: reading, travel

32 likes

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Polls

Which nonfiction book would you like to read with the group during June and July? Please vote for your choice here.

When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi

46 votes, 31.7%

The Astronaut Wives Club by Lily Koppel

29 votes, 20.0%

The Black Count: Glory, Revolution, Betrayal, and the Real Count of Monte Cristo by Tom Reiss

27 votes, 18.6%

The Stranger in the Woods: The Extraordinary Story of the Last True Hermit by Michael Finkel

24 votes, 16.6%

The Hundred-Year Walk: An Armenian Odyssey by Dawn Anahid MacKeen

11 votes, 7.6%

Savage Harvest: A Tale of Cannibals, Colonialism, and Michael Rockefeller's Tragic Quest for Primitive Art by Carl Hoffman

8 votes, 5.5%

145 total votes

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