Into the Wild in Around the World in 80 Books

Dec 20, 2016 Ryan rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: nonfiction, 2016

I know two things for sure:

1 - McCandless was a bright spirit who could have an indelible effect on people he met for even a fleeting moment. That this many people remembered their encounters with him and cared so deeply about him is a testament to how tender hearted he was. Krakauer is amongst those whose life McCandless impressed upon, even though they never met.

2 - McCandless was a moron who didn't need to die where and how he did. This story should go down as a cautionary tale. Want to be at ...more

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Nov 10, 2015 Travellinckx rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction

Personally, I don't like the character of Chris McCandless. He was an angry young man, angry because the world is not turning the way he thought it should. The anger that blinded him to choose the most extreme choice for his life, in the name of freedom. He despised the society. He wanted to be free of civilization. He got what he wanted and he learned a great deal of the consequences. The way I see it, he is just an arrogant rich kid, a narcissistic young man who was very sure of himself, self- ...more

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Aug 13, 2009 Madeleine rated it liked it

Shelves: nonfiction, northwest

this entire book about alaska and he actually catches and as far as i can tell FIELD DRESSES a moose and yet krakauer can't bring himself to use the phrase "field dress a moose?!" gah. different era i suppose...calls for a revised edition. ...more

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Nov 20, 2019 superawesomekt rated it liked it

Shelves: audiobook, alaska

This is my first Krakauer and I can see why he is popular, however, I had heard that he has his own lens/agenda he pushes toward and I can see that this is true. He is determined to see McCandless as mirroring his own experiences, and so he gathers the evidence to support that narrative. It's possibly true, but I think it even more likely that McCandless had mental health issues, which Krakauer dismisses without any caveats. ...more

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Jun 30, 2007 Cortney rated it really liked it

I read this book as a recommendation from a friend, and I'm glad I did. I probably would not have ever picked it up on my own, but if nothing else, it makes you think about things--life, society, survival, the decisions we make and the judgements we make. I don't remember all the details, but I do remember feeling like it challenged me a bit, and feeling like it was a bit of a let down at the end... ...more

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