What do you think?
Rate this book
Back to the wild
La storia del protagonista di Into The Wild raccontata finalmente attraverso i suoi occhi e le sue parole: esce per la prima volta in Italia la raccolta di fotografie, cartoline e scritti di Chris McCandless/Alex Supertramp in edizione limitata di 1500 copie.
http://www.nobordersmagazine.org/back...
http://www.nobordersmagazine.org/back...
274 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2011
23 people are currently reading
1790 people want to read
About the author
Christopher McCandless
1 book161 followersChristopher Johnson McCandless was an American hitch-hiker who adopted the name Alexander Supertramp and hiked into the Alaskan wilderness in April 1992 with little food and equipment, hoping to live simply for a time in solitude. He believed in a life of simple-living and self-sufficiency and so he went on voyage of spiritual discovery.
Shortly after graduation, he gave the remaining money from his education fund to Oxfam. The cheque written by Chris on 15th May 1990, totalled $24000. He then left quietly from home to begin his escapade and adopted the name Alexander Supertramp of which he got from the book The Autobiography of a Super-Tramp by William H. Davies from 1908. When asked by someone where his family were, he would say that he no longer had a family.
He travelled through various states of America in his car (which he left after it was caught in a flash flood) and by train, hiking, canoeing and of course walking. The challenge to himself was to travel with the least amount of belongings as possible and as little money as possible. He had no map and no agenda, just the will to travel.
His dream was the Alaskan adventure and he would tell this to those he met along the way. Some people he worked for on odd jobs would try to convince him to stay and some would insist on giving him supplies to help with the journey.
He seldom accepted.
He reached his final destination on April 28, 1992 in Fairbanks Alaska.
Four months later he perished from starvation and was found in an abandoned old Fairbanks City Transit Bus numbered 142 which was located on the Stampede Trail. He weighed only 67lbs.
Shortly after graduation, he gave the remaining money from his education fund to Oxfam. The cheque written by Chris on 15th May 1990, totalled $24000. He then left quietly from home to begin his escapade and adopted the name Alexander Supertramp of which he got from the book The Autobiography of a Super-Tramp by William H. Davies from 1908. When asked by someone where his family were, he would say that he no longer had a family.
He travelled through various states of America in his car (which he left after it was caught in a flash flood) and by train, hiking, canoeing and of course walking. The challenge to himself was to travel with the least amount of belongings as possible and as little money as possible. He had no map and no agenda, just the will to travel.
His dream was the Alaskan adventure and he would tell this to those he met along the way. Some people he worked for on odd jobs would try to convince him to stay and some would insist on giving him supplies to help with the journey.
He seldom accepted.
He reached his final destination on April 28, 1992 in Fairbanks Alaska.
Four months later he perished from starvation and was found in an abandoned old Fairbanks City Transit Bus numbered 142 which was located on the Stampede Trail. He weighed only 67lbs.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
March 10, 2017
Chris' parents wrote this book and you shouldn't support it with your $$$. Chris' siblings are upset by how it defames their brother. The younger sister Carine harshly criticized and warned people against it. Below this review I've pasted her message. To summarize, she says Walt and Billie wrote this book to save face after Into the Wild exposed their abusive parenting and dysfunctional home life that in part motivated Chris to embark on his solo journey.
In that book, as you likely remember, Walt is deceptive, controlling, emotionally abusive, and physically violent towards his children and wife, Billie, who acted less like a supportive mother and more like a helpless bystander, doing nothing to remove or protect her children from the abuse. Remembering this, Back to the Wild reads as awfully embarrassing as you watch the parents continue to willfully misunderstand Chris, his principles, and the motivations behind his journey. One of his central values was a devoted adherence to truth, but ironically the book opens with a baldfaced lie: "We can only speculate why a young man, right after college graduation, would set out on the open road. Why did he choose to sever communication with his family."
Ha! Pride, lack of insight, and the inability to self-reflect: your building blocks of narcissism. Gee whiz Billie, can you even begin to comprehend the concept of someone physically removing themselves from a harmful situation? Why no, Walter dearest, the mere thought sends me into a tizzy of confusion, as does the idea of a young person travelling, soul-searching, distancing themselves from their parents, and trying new experiences! Indubitably, Billie, and certainly not my son, heavens no!--for I was a beacon of familial love and respect!...
--
Chris' fans admire his ideals and his independence and determination. ITW was so moving and left these fans hungry for deeper insights into Chris' mind, similar empathetic considerations on his journey, and more thoughtful writing on his overall history. You won't find that here; instead you'll get an uninspired final product that smells of painfully unaddressed cognitive dissonance, selfishness, and facade. What a disservice to fans to write a book from behind the mental wall you've constructed to protect yourself from facing painful truths about your mistakes. "Way to miss the point" sums up my reaction while reading this. It's ill-conceived along the same lines as a diehard game-hunter and carnivore writing an animal welfare advocacy book.
So yeah, I mad. If you appreciate Chris, don't purchase this book. I think that's what he would want. If you're searching for more books on Chris, read Carines's book, The Wild Truth, which delves into the McCandless home life.
Oh yeah, here's Carine's message about Back to the Wild (taken from
here).
"I respect the charitable work my parents perform in Chris's name and hope it has had a positive effect on their lives as well as those they help. One such effort is the new “Back To The Wild” book they are publishing of his photographs. I do not wish to hinder the success of this project. I do feel the need to state that none of Chris’s siblings were involved in the creation of it. In my opinion it lacks an essential balance to be a true testament to Chris and his journey. It is a simple fact that other than Walt and Billie, no member of his memorial foundation has any personal knowledge of the true environment Chris grew up in. I do want to recognize that my parents adjusted the "Early Years" content on this site. They also removed what they had originally planned to include as a similar section in the book. Having seen it online, I informed them that it was extremely upsetting to my siblings and myself because we felt it was defamatory and unfair to Chris.
(UPDATE - Unfortunately my parents have released a new version of their book "Back to The Wild", actually claiming Chris as the author in the i-books listing - a testament to itself that this is truly an "un-real" version of Chris's life story. The first page of this book begins with the following intro..."We can only speculate why a young man, right after college graduation, would set out on the open road. Why did he choose to sever communication with his family?"..... Of course, my parents know why. How sad that this book that claims to be the life work of someone that stood for TRUTH above all else, actually begins with a lie.
Furthermore, the "Early Years" section has been reinstalled, providing misleading information and a false sense of the childhood that made Chris who he was. I am saddened that my parents have learned nothing from his death, that they hide behind the guise of a foundation and use his name to try to erase their own mistakes and rewrite our family history. I am disappointed in the people that assist them in doing this, while proclaiming their intent to honor Chris they have achieved just the opposite. His brothers and sisters will continue to speak the truth. We stand behind Chris and his true story.)
[...]
I worked as a consultant on both the book and movie. It was difficult to define that delicate line between supporting Chris with an honest accounting of the childhood that led him to the decisions he made, while not causing further pain to my family. I asked that Jon Krakauer not write about specific occurrences and he respected that request. Sean Penn continued that trust in the making of the film. Due to the editing of my narrative in the film, I regret that there is one portion that mistakenly implies that we did not know our brothers and sisters growing up. Sean Penn and I discussed this at length. With obvious time constraints in mind, he correctly decided that to completely and honestly explain how our two families overlapped would seem to sensationalize the family drama and cause more pain to my parents. Unfortunately, rather than respect or appreciate these submissions, I feel that my parents are attempting to take advantage of vague portrayals of our history with their efforts to create a new one. To imply things were different than they were goes against Chris and everything he stood for. Their written position that they were "dedicated" to making sure there was "seamless interaction" between our two families is a stark contrast to the painful events that were woven into our childhood.
Walt & Billie began their relationship when she was working as his secretary at Hughes Aircraft. Marcia was pregnant with Shelly at the time. Three years later, Shannon was born to Marcia just 3 months before Billie gave birth to Chris, then Quinn was born between Chris and me. Marcia was eventually able to divorce Walt and he married Billie when I was 4 and Chris was 7. After Chris and I learned of this, we always felt guilty that our father’s other children and wife felt abandoned. Still, to this day, Marcia and all of her children regard us with love and respect rather than the products of a painful affair. I state these facts not to condemn my parents, but to shed light on Chris’s true mindset. From the time we were small children, still unaware of how children come to be, I remember Chris being consistently told through our mother’s tears that the family struggles began with his birth, when she became “stuck” with our dad. Chris carried this unfounded guilt with him until the wisdom that comes with age resulted in feelings of betrayal and eventually anger. This mislaid blame was never rescinded, only ignored. Seeing no alternative but to completely remove himself from the pain he could not manage, Chris had just cause to leave in the way that he did. For him it was a matter of survival. He overcame adversity to live a positive and beautiful existence on this earth. His brothers and sisters understand and respect that.
[...]
I am grateful that Chris and his story have touched so many lives in a positive way. It is a beautiful legacy and well deserved. Although remarkably intelligent and confident, Chris was also quite modest. It would surprise him to have had such an effect on so many people all over the world.
With sincerity, I thank you for reading my thoughts."
In that book, as you likely remember, Walt is deceptive, controlling, emotionally abusive, and physically violent towards his children and wife, Billie, who acted less like a supportive mother and more like a helpless bystander, doing nothing to remove or protect her children from the abuse. Remembering this, Back to the Wild reads as awfully embarrassing as you watch the parents continue to willfully misunderstand Chris, his principles, and the motivations behind his journey. One of his central values was a devoted adherence to truth, but ironically the book opens with a baldfaced lie: "We can only speculate why a young man, right after college graduation, would set out on the open road. Why did he choose to sever communication with his family."
Ha! Pride, lack of insight, and the inability to self-reflect: your building blocks of narcissism. Gee whiz Billie, can you even begin to comprehend the concept of someone physically removing themselves from a harmful situation? Why no, Walter dearest, the mere thought sends me into a tizzy of confusion, as does the idea of a young person travelling, soul-searching, distancing themselves from their parents, and trying new experiences! Indubitably, Billie, and certainly not my son, heavens no!--for I was a beacon of familial love and respect!...
--
Chris' fans admire his ideals and his independence and determination. ITW was so moving and left these fans hungry for deeper insights into Chris' mind, similar empathetic considerations on his journey, and more thoughtful writing on his overall history. You won't find that here; instead you'll get an uninspired final product that smells of painfully unaddressed cognitive dissonance, selfishness, and facade. What a disservice to fans to write a book from behind the mental wall you've constructed to protect yourself from facing painful truths about your mistakes. "Way to miss the point" sums up my reaction while reading this. It's ill-conceived along the same lines as a diehard game-hunter and carnivore writing an animal welfare advocacy book.
So yeah, I mad. If you appreciate Chris, don't purchase this book. I think that's what he would want. If you're searching for more books on Chris, read Carines's book, The Wild Truth, which delves into the McCandless home life.
Oh yeah, here's Carine's message about Back to the Wild (taken from
here).
"I respect the charitable work my parents perform in Chris's name and hope it has had a positive effect on their lives as well as those they help. One such effort is the new “Back To The Wild” book they are publishing of his photographs. I do not wish to hinder the success of this project. I do feel the need to state that none of Chris’s siblings were involved in the creation of it. In my opinion it lacks an essential balance to be a true testament to Chris and his journey. It is a simple fact that other than Walt and Billie, no member of his memorial foundation has any personal knowledge of the true environment Chris grew up in. I do want to recognize that my parents adjusted the "Early Years" content on this site. They also removed what they had originally planned to include as a similar section in the book. Having seen it online, I informed them that it was extremely upsetting to my siblings and myself because we felt it was defamatory and unfair to Chris.
(UPDATE - Unfortunately my parents have released a new version of their book "Back to The Wild", actually claiming Chris as the author in the i-books listing - a testament to itself that this is truly an "un-real" version of Chris's life story. The first page of this book begins with the following intro..."We can only speculate why a young man, right after college graduation, would set out on the open road. Why did he choose to sever communication with his family?"..... Of course, my parents know why. How sad that this book that claims to be the life work of someone that stood for TRUTH above all else, actually begins with a lie.
Furthermore, the "Early Years" section has been reinstalled, providing misleading information and a false sense of the childhood that made Chris who he was. I am saddened that my parents have learned nothing from his death, that they hide behind the guise of a foundation and use his name to try to erase their own mistakes and rewrite our family history. I am disappointed in the people that assist them in doing this, while proclaiming their intent to honor Chris they have achieved just the opposite. His brothers and sisters will continue to speak the truth. We stand behind Chris and his true story.)
[...]
I worked as a consultant on both the book and movie. It was difficult to define that delicate line between supporting Chris with an honest accounting of the childhood that led him to the decisions he made, while not causing further pain to my family. I asked that Jon Krakauer not write about specific occurrences and he respected that request. Sean Penn continued that trust in the making of the film. Due to the editing of my narrative in the film, I regret that there is one portion that mistakenly implies that we did not know our brothers and sisters growing up. Sean Penn and I discussed this at length. With obvious time constraints in mind, he correctly decided that to completely and honestly explain how our two families overlapped would seem to sensationalize the family drama and cause more pain to my parents. Unfortunately, rather than respect or appreciate these submissions, I feel that my parents are attempting to take advantage of vague portrayals of our history with their efforts to create a new one. To imply things were different than they were goes against Chris and everything he stood for. Their written position that they were "dedicated" to making sure there was "seamless interaction" between our two families is a stark contrast to the painful events that were woven into our childhood.
Walt & Billie began their relationship when she was working as his secretary at Hughes Aircraft. Marcia was pregnant with Shelly at the time. Three years later, Shannon was born to Marcia just 3 months before Billie gave birth to Chris, then Quinn was born between Chris and me. Marcia was eventually able to divorce Walt and he married Billie when I was 4 and Chris was 7. After Chris and I learned of this, we always felt guilty that our father’s other children and wife felt abandoned. Still, to this day, Marcia and all of her children regard us with love and respect rather than the products of a painful affair. I state these facts not to condemn my parents, but to shed light on Chris’s true mindset. From the time we were small children, still unaware of how children come to be, I remember Chris being consistently told through our mother’s tears that the family struggles began with his birth, when she became “stuck” with our dad. Chris carried this unfounded guilt with him until the wisdom that comes with age resulted in feelings of betrayal and eventually anger. This mislaid blame was never rescinded, only ignored. Seeing no alternative but to completely remove himself from the pain he could not manage, Chris had just cause to leave in the way that he did. For him it was a matter of survival. He overcame adversity to live a positive and beautiful existence on this earth. His brothers and sisters understand and respect that.
[...]
I am grateful that Chris and his story have touched so many lives in a positive way. It is a beautiful legacy and well deserved. Although remarkably intelligent and confident, Chris was also quite modest. It would surprise him to have had such an effect on so many people all over the world.
With sincerity, I thank you for reading my thoughts."
December 4, 2017
NOT written by Christopher McCandless, but by his self-serving parents. If you want the real story about Chris McCandless, read "The Wild Truth" by his sister Carine McCandless. That book is the truth, while sadly, this one is fiction, as evidenced by the fact that his siblings had nothing to do with it.
When I first read "Into The Wild" I distinctly remember thinking..."There is something that has been left out. We are not getting the full story." When the movie came out, the puzzle pieces fell into place, and it all made sense. Part of what Chris was doing was escaping, or in his words, "divorcing" his parents. He had good reason. The hypocrisy of his life with his abusive, alcoholic father, who refused to take care of his "other" family, was intolerable for Chris, who valued above all else....truth.
Unfortunately, even after his death, his parents have refused to tell the truth. If they had, I would have supported this book 100%, but it's a really bad read, particularly when they constantly "assume" what he was thinking and feeling on his epic journey. Had they been at all interested in their son, and his value for the truth, this would have been a very different book, but it would require them to admit the truth about themselves, something that they have continue to deny. But then again, abusive alcoholics rarely tell the truth, and try to justify (however transparently deceptive) their actions.
Chris' own words, (in the forms of letters to his sister in her book) show exactly what his motivations were, and Carine's book is crucial to the understanding of Chris and what he was trying to do. This book is just garbage, by a father who despite the truth being told by several members of his family, continues to lie about his son. He really should be ashamed.
When I first read "Into The Wild" I distinctly remember thinking..."There is something that has been left out. We are not getting the full story." When the movie came out, the puzzle pieces fell into place, and it all made sense. Part of what Chris was doing was escaping, or in his words, "divorcing" his parents. He had good reason. The hypocrisy of his life with his abusive, alcoholic father, who refused to take care of his "other" family, was intolerable for Chris, who valued above all else....truth.
Unfortunately, even after his death, his parents have refused to tell the truth. If they had, I would have supported this book 100%, but it's a really bad read, particularly when they constantly "assume" what he was thinking and feeling on his epic journey. Had they been at all interested in their son, and his value for the truth, this would have been a very different book, but it would require them to admit the truth about themselves, something that they have continue to deny. But then again, abusive alcoholics rarely tell the truth, and try to justify (however transparently deceptive) their actions.
Chris' own words, (in the forms of letters to his sister in her book) show exactly what his motivations were, and Carine's book is crucial to the understanding of Chris and what he was trying to do. This book is just garbage, by a father who despite the truth being told by several members of his family, continues to lie about his son. He really should be ashamed.
February 24, 2013
If the McCandless family had just reproduced Chris's photos, letters and journals with the odd explanatory note, this would have been a wonderful book. Instead, they guess what Chris was thinking and feeling, and it rings very false and patronizing.
June 13, 2013
The pictures make it worth buying. The captions make you wonder why you bought it.
December 7, 2019
I didn't read it as it's written by his aweful parents that try to profit from his death and clear their name after being exposed as mentally and physically abusing their kids. They even use their dead sons name as the writer! God aweful creatures! Read the book by his sister if you want a true account of his life and not just lies.
September 26, 2013
I'll preface this review by saying that Into the Wild is one of my all time favorite books and I find Christopher McCandless to be a huge inspiration. So, naturally I was elated when I saw this book.
My excitement was partially diminished when I got the book in my hands and begin to read through and look at the photographs. I loved the photos, they were beautiful and helped to see these sights through Chris' eyes. I did not like the captions and "insights" added by his family. They tried to guess how Chris felt at the time the photos were taken and explain why he was capturing that particular moment. It just didn't feel sincere. I would have preferred to just have the pictures and journal entries.
I recommend this book to those who find Christopher McCandless' story especially touching and are able to get past the phoned in captions and insights. I don't recommend this book to someone who isn't familiar with his story, since I don't think it captures his true thoughts or feelings quite right. (Although I suppose no one can truly do that, but you get my point.)
My excitement was partially diminished when I got the book in my hands and begin to read through and look at the photographs. I loved the photos, they were beautiful and helped to see these sights through Chris' eyes. I did not like the captions and "insights" added by his family. They tried to guess how Chris felt at the time the photos were taken and explain why he was capturing that particular moment. It just didn't feel sincere. I would have preferred to just have the pictures and journal entries.
I recommend this book to those who find Christopher McCandless' story especially touching and are able to get past the phoned in captions and insights. I don't recommend this book to someone who isn't familiar with his story, since I don't think it captures his true thoughts or feelings quite right. (Although I suppose no one can truly do that, but you get my point.)
March 29, 2018
Other than the photos, there is not an ounce of Chris McCandless present in this book - only his parents’ desperation to profit off of his journey. Listing him as the author, and the unnecessary commentary on the photos truly shows how out of touch they are. Don’t waste your time.
April 11, 2014
Mi è arrivato ieri e l'ho divorato in un giorno. Un piccolo tesoro che contiene le foto, gli appunti, i disegni di Chris McCandless, la cui vicenda ha ispirato il libro "Nelle terre estreme" di John Krakauer e il film "In to the wild" di Sean Penn. Nella sue breve vita Chris McCandless è stato un viaggiatore "assoluto" che, con il trasporto dei vent'anni, si è spinto sempre più avanti nella ricerca dell'essenza e della purezza del viaggio, che è diventata ricerca di sè e di qualcosa di imponderabile. Ci sono le ultime foto che Chris si è scattato quando aveva ormai compreso che non sarebbe più riiuscito a tornare dall'Alaska più isolata a cui era giunto, e c'è il suo manifesto, inciso su una tavola di compensato e ritrovato nel bus abbandonato che è stato il suo ultimo riparo:
"Da due anni cammina per il mondo.
Niente telefono, niente piscina, niente animali, niente sigarette.
Libertà definitiva.
Un estremista.
Un viaggiatore esteta la cui dimora è
La strada.
Fuggito da Atlanta.
Non dovrai ritornare, perchè
"L'Ovest è il Meglio".
E ora, dopo due anni di vagabondaggio
Arriva l'ultima e più grande avventura.
Il culmine della battaglia per sconfiggere la parte meno autentica di sè.
E concludere vittoriosamente la battaglia spirituale!
Dieci giorni e dieci notti di treni merci ed autostop
Lo portanto fino al grande e bianco nord
Non più avvelenato dalla civiltà
Fugge, cammina da solo sulla terra
Per smarrirsi
Nelle terre selvagge"
Quella di Chris è una storia grandiosa e tragica, e questo libro la racconta in maniera essenziale e perfetta.
"Da due anni cammina per il mondo.
Niente telefono, niente piscina, niente animali, niente sigarette.
Libertà definitiva.
Un estremista.
Un viaggiatore esteta la cui dimora è
La strada.
Fuggito da Atlanta.
Non dovrai ritornare, perchè
"L'Ovest è il Meglio".
E ora, dopo due anni di vagabondaggio
Arriva l'ultima e più grande avventura.
Il culmine della battaglia per sconfiggere la parte meno autentica di sè.
E concludere vittoriosamente la battaglia spirituale!
Dieci giorni e dieci notti di treni merci ed autostop
Lo portanto fino al grande e bianco nord
Non più avvelenato dalla civiltà
Fugge, cammina da solo sulla terra
Per smarrirsi
Nelle terre selvagge"
Quella di Chris è una storia grandiosa e tragica, e questo libro la racconta in maniera essenziale e perfetta.
August 14, 2012
It was interesting to see the pictures, postcards and letters of Christopher, but the commentary of the editor(s) was too suppositional. This being said it might be illustrative of the disconnect between the editors and Christopher.
June 28, 2011
It was neat to see the actual photographs Chris McCandless took of his two year journey around the western U.S. I find myself reading Into the Wild at least once a year.
September 26, 2019
So I bought this book on an impulse after browsing at a bookstore. Then I opened Goodreads and noticed that many people had given it 1 star. I was wondering if I did a mistake by purchasing it looking at the reviews. So most of the reviews say that the parents don’t realize their mistake or that the sisters don’t agree with the contents of this book blah blah.
But guess what - it doesn’t matter. Whether the foundation setup by the parents is just a hoax to make money or whether his parents are evil people, it has nothing to do with the contents of this book. I am glad I got myself a copy because this book has original photographs, letters and journal entries written by Chris. At the bottom of each photograph, there is a brief note which says where and when the photo was clicked. And a caption which is mostly guesswork of what he might be doing or feeling when it was clicked. If you don’t agree with the caption, it’s fine. It definitely isn’t worth giving this book 1 star. Also there are introductory notes at the beginning of each section. Again, you can skip it and you don’t really have to read it. I am glad I read and saw the southwest through Chris’s eyes before his unfortunate death. Read it if you loved the book “Into the wild”.
But guess what - it doesn’t matter. Whether the foundation setup by the parents is just a hoax to make money or whether his parents are evil people, it has nothing to do with the contents of this book. I am glad I got myself a copy because this book has original photographs, letters and journal entries written by Chris. At the bottom of each photograph, there is a brief note which says where and when the photo was clicked. And a caption which is mostly guesswork of what he might be doing or feeling when it was clicked. If you don’t agree with the caption, it’s fine. It definitely isn’t worth giving this book 1 star. Also there are introductory notes at the beginning of each section. Again, you can skip it and you don’t really have to read it. I am glad I read and saw the southwest through Chris’s eyes before his unfortunate death. Read it if you loved the book “Into the wild”.
January 21, 2013
This book was compiled by the family of Christopher Johnson McCandless. It contains an introduction by Jon Krakauer, author of Into the Wild. The book is a collection of photographs that Chris took during his two year trek across the U.S. (mainly the western states), down into Mexico, and ending in Alaska along the Stampede Trail.
The book also has images of postcards and letters Chris wrote to those he met along the way, mainly Jan Burres (and Bob), Wayne Westerberg, and Russell Fritz (a.k.a. Ron Franz in the film Into the Wild). These letters/postcards provide nice insight into Chris's thoughts about his travels, and one in particular to Russell Fritz where Chris details his feelings about society, change, human relations, etc.
The book is an excellent companion to Krakauer's national bestseller Into the Wild. If you have ever had even the slightest interest in the Chris McCandless (a.k.a Alexander Supertramp) story, you will want this book.
The photography, while obviously not professional is quite nice. The book also contains a fold out picture of the actual "biography belt" (those of you who have read Krakauer's book or seen Sean Penn's film will know what I'm talking about). The only "negative" to this book, and it's really not a very big deal, are the captions that are written about each trek and pic in the book. Granted, these narratives are not what Chris was feeling or any writings he actually wrote himself, and, they do take a few liberties with the photography and ideas; regardless they do not detract that much to the pictures, letters, postcards, and actual writings of Chris.
Overall, this book is awesome. It tells a wonderful story about a young man who is trying to find his own way in the world without losing his soul to society and, what Chris calls, the false assurances that trap human beings in the framework of society. Here is a nice record of a wanderer who can teach us all how to live simpler lives. As I read through this book I found myself tracking my own life during the exact dates Chris was on the road—from July 4th 1990 to August 18th 1992, and realizing that in those two short years, Chris lived a fuller life than most people live in 80 years.
The book also has images of postcards and letters Chris wrote to those he met along the way, mainly Jan Burres (and Bob), Wayne Westerberg, and Russell Fritz (a.k.a. Ron Franz in the film Into the Wild). These letters/postcards provide nice insight into Chris's thoughts about his travels, and one in particular to Russell Fritz where Chris details his feelings about society, change, human relations, etc.
The book is an excellent companion to Krakauer's national bestseller Into the Wild. If you have ever had even the slightest interest in the Chris McCandless (a.k.a Alexander Supertramp) story, you will want this book.
The photography, while obviously not professional is quite nice. The book also contains a fold out picture of the actual "biography belt" (those of you who have read Krakauer's book or seen Sean Penn's film will know what I'm talking about). The only "negative" to this book, and it's really not a very big deal, are the captions that are written about each trek and pic in the book. Granted, these narratives are not what Chris was feeling or any writings he actually wrote himself, and, they do take a few liberties with the photography and ideas; regardless they do not detract that much to the pictures, letters, postcards, and actual writings of Chris.
Overall, this book is awesome. It tells a wonderful story about a young man who is trying to find his own way in the world without losing his soul to society and, what Chris calls, the false assurances that trap human beings in the framework of society. Here is a nice record of a wanderer who can teach us all how to live simpler lives. As I read through this book I found myself tracking my own life during the exact dates Chris was on the road—from July 4th 1990 to August 18th 1992, and realizing that in those two short years, Chris lived a fuller life than most people live in 80 years.
June 29, 2011
Incredible collection of Chris's photos and writings! A must-read for INTO THE WILD/McCandless fans =)
August 26, 2011
I would love to travel where his foot steps had gone! Greatest book ever...
January 22, 2026
So many of us were taken by the story of Chris McCandless. Whether reading the book, watching the movie, or actually walking out to the bus when it was still in the wilderness.
This book is based on photographs found on Chris’ cameras that show his journey from Detrital Wash where he ditched his car, his canoe journey to Mexico, his travel to South Dakota for work and eventually his time in Alaska.
I liked seeing his photographs as they complement the overall story. This is a story that resists closure, which is probably why the fascination with it continues.
This book is based on photographs found on Chris’ cameras that show his journey from Detrital Wash where he ditched his car, his canoe journey to Mexico, his travel to South Dakota for work and eventually his time in Alaska.
I liked seeing his photographs as they complement the overall story. This is a story that resists closure, which is probably why the fascination with it continues.
January 15, 2014
If you like the movie Into the Wild, I highly suggest you read not only this book, but also the book the movie was based on, also titled "Into the Wild." Both really give you a more in-depth look into the amazing story of Christopher McCandless, aka Alexander Supertramp.
December 11, 2018
I fell in love with the book "Into the Wild" while I was in college. The city of Carthage, where Chris spent the majority of his time in SD, was right outside my college town of Madison, SD. My friend, Cody Cosgrove, and I went up to the Carthage bar and got Into the Wild shirts along with our french fries, ha. Once the film was made I sort of visually attached the story to the characters from the movie, so it was really nice to see Chris's photographs of what actually happened.
One of my biggest impressions was how all the characters (maybe it was mainly the low quality photos) seemed a lot more gritty and real. Seeing Jan's husband selling knifes at the slab city flea market with a confederate flag on their cheap van instilled that impression. I realized a lot of what made Chris so interesting is how he embraced those communities and created these amazing and lasting relationships without judging people in any way.
Another fascinating element to Chris was how quickly he gained people's trust. I love how he "politely" asks a guy in a hot springs if he can hitch a ride with him and is turned down because of the companies policy on no hitch-hiking. Shortly after the guy says he'll make an exception and get him to the next town, once they get there he takes him all the way to Fairbanks and then runs him around on a few errands. Incredible, he must of been a blast to have been around.
One of my biggest impressions was how all the characters (maybe it was mainly the low quality photos) seemed a lot more gritty and real. Seeing Jan's husband selling knifes at the slab city flea market with a confederate flag on their cheap van instilled that impression. I realized a lot of what made Chris so interesting is how he embraced those communities and created these amazing and lasting relationships without judging people in any way.
Another fascinating element to Chris was how quickly he gained people's trust. I love how he "politely" asks a guy in a hot springs if he can hitch a ride with him and is turned down because of the companies policy on no hitch-hiking. Shortly after the guy says he'll make an exception and get him to the next town, once they get there he takes him all the way to Fairbanks and then runs him around on a few errands. Incredible, he must of been a blast to have been around.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 6, 2025
Well, I finished that with warp speed. Once I started, I had a hard time putting it down. I read until late at night, and first thing in the morning. I was awestruck. This book is, essentially, Chris' diary. It's the photos and writings he crafted while on his journey. After reading "Into the Wild" by Jon Krakauer, I was only a little satiated. My mind wanted more detail and intimacy into Chris' adventure. After doing a little research, I came across this book and couldn't get it in my hands fast enough. My library didn't carry it, but the Minnesota library system did so I requested it. This will be a book that I buy for my personal library.
"Into the Wild" poised so many thoughts and questions in my mind. It intensified the dreamier side of me. It brought on cravings, too, to know what Chris was going through on his journey... what he was seeing... what he was feeling. The photos in this book allowed me to travel right alongside Chris, and it cured my itch of wonder. I especially loved the photos he took on the days of my birth in 1990. It was a rush, knowing some of what he was doing, at the time I was being born. That's so wild to me! But I also got to see his beloved Alaska, and his beloved "West." I've added new destinations to my bucket list, thanks to this book. I also feel closer to Chris than I ever have. I still am not sure why I am so taken by his story, but I am. Every part of me wants to know more. But I feel much more satisfied after devouring this book.
"Into the Wild" poised so many thoughts and questions in my mind. It intensified the dreamier side of me. It brought on cravings, too, to know what Chris was going through on his journey... what he was seeing... what he was feeling. The photos in this book allowed me to travel right alongside Chris, and it cured my itch of wonder. I especially loved the photos he took on the days of my birth in 1990. It was a rush, knowing some of what he was doing, at the time I was being born. That's so wild to me! But I also got to see his beloved Alaska, and his beloved "West." I've added new destinations to my bucket list, thanks to this book. I also feel closer to Chris than I ever have. I still am not sure why I am so taken by his story, but I am. Every part of me wants to know more. But I feel much more satisfied after devouring this book.
January 7, 2022
Book 8 of 2022
A begrudging 3*.
This book is worth reading if you're a little wrapped up in the Chris McCandless story like I became after a summer trip to the Fairbanks area.
100% fascinating to look through the pictures as a photo diary of Chris/Alex's sojourn.
Having seen Chris's siblings' statements and knowing from the movie and Carine's follow up book about the very traumatic circumstances that Chris and Carine and sometimes their half siblings endured, I was regularly irked with the commentary that went with the pictures that felt very much like it was implied that the writer/s had chatted with Chris to get his reflection after his time in the wilderness, going so far as to list this book as authored by him...... Um.
So, I found a middle ground, got the book via inter library loan, but very intentionally chose not to consume this work in a way that will provide a financial benefit to the McCandless parents.
A begrudging 3*.
This book is worth reading if you're a little wrapped up in the Chris McCandless story like I became after a summer trip to the Fairbanks area.
100% fascinating to look through the pictures as a photo diary of Chris/Alex's sojourn.
Having seen Chris's siblings' statements and knowing from the movie and Carine's follow up book about the very traumatic circumstances that Chris and Carine and sometimes their half siblings endured, I was regularly irked with the commentary that went with the pictures that felt very much like it was implied that the writer/s had chatted with Chris to get his reflection after his time in the wilderness, going so far as to list this book as authored by him...... Um.
So, I found a middle ground, got the book via inter library loan, but very intentionally chose not to consume this work in a way that will provide a financial benefit to the McCandless parents.
May 7, 2017
A great visual book of the found pictures and some correspondence of Alex S.T. I doesn't clarify the story any more than Into the wild, but the pics and what Alex chose to photograph is interesting. There is some controversy over the reason for the book as well as the foundation that proceeds go to, but coupled with his sisters story, we basically see the whole family has issues and the multiple stories (Chris', his sisters and the spin in this one from his parents) show the depth of trouble and whose spin emphasizes what.
July 11, 2021
I wish this book had more of Chris's original writings like letters and the full journal entries from his journal snapshot album which were alluded to and excerpted in "Into the Wild." In terms of writings, there's not much more beyond what was already included in "Into the Wild." Still, I'm very glad to have gained more of an insight into Chris through his photographs and letter to Russ and grateful to his family for making them available to the public. Perhaps eventually they may decide to release more.
June 22, 2017
Recommended to people who are interested in this story. The book is a little difficult to come by as it's distributed through one website only, but for people interested in the pictures Christopher McCandless took, it is well worth the purchase. As other reviewers have already mentioned, the text in the captions for the pictures is sometimes difficult to bear, but if you can ignore that, it is an interesting book about the journeys of Alexander Supertramp.
January 18, 2026
You can tell his parents wrote this. They still don’t get him, and they don’t try to. I hope wherever he is right now, he’s found a way to forgive them.
I wish I could have pirated this book (I received it as a Christmas gift). It would have been more in Chris’s spirit than the sentiment behind all the sly, judgmental quips that line these pages.
-1 star for Billie & Walt’s BS. The 4 stars are for Chris.
I wish I could have pirated this book (I received it as a Christmas gift). It would have been more in Chris’s spirit than the sentiment behind all the sly, judgmental quips that line these pages.
-1 star for Billie & Walt’s BS. The 4 stars are for Chris.
March 27, 2024
The simple cost of this book seems to go against who he was. Even on ebay, the cost of this book is so jacked up. Ridiculous. Greed. It seems to carry on such a legacy of his, sell them for a dollar. Hand them out for free or by donations, so everyone may have access to the knowledge of his memory. Some never SEE. Some never learn. Just, wow.
March 29, 2025
A unique read. What an interesting life he led and the photos make his story come to life. The postcards and letters bring a personal touch to his vagabond lifestyle. I may never be a leather tramp in real life but through this book I lived one from the comfort of my reading chair. Chris would have approved of the chair mention.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 25, 2020
Excellent, so sad, you know the story, this just gives you more of Christopher's words, writing, photos, and makes it even more real, poignant, hopeless. A trip full of hope and courage and good intentions, gone wrong at the end. But he thanks God for his good life....so what else could we want?
March 3, 2024
Shameful money grab by really messed up parents of Chris. I got the book via ILL through my library. Some of the photos were interesting but added nothing to my perception of a haunting and tragic story.
February 4, 2018
Four stars for the pictures, which were stunning, but only three stars for the captions, which were wholly unnecessary. RIP Chris.
March 25, 2019
Loved the Photographs! Looking at the photos and reading about where he was and what he was doing almost everyday made you feel like you were taking the trip with him!
January 17, 2020
Quick read- so good/interesting
Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews