Into the Wild
by Jon Krakauer
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Book Reviews of Into the Wild
Book Review: Wild Child
Summary: 3 Stars
Jon Krakauer's books reveal his interest in people who live on the edge, pushing their frail physical resources to the extreme. "Into the Wild" is no exception. Krakauer candidly admits his fascination with the life and death of Christopher Johnson McCandless.
McCandless is an absorbing subject. Coming from a privileged background, and apparently gifted in many areas, he tosses it all aside after graduating from college to embark on the life of a vagabond, calling himself `Alex Supertramp'. When his anguished family hears about him again two years later, it is only to learn of his death from starvation in the wilderness of Alaska. This was a tragically ironic end to an idealistic young man. Before abandoning the life he knew, McCandless had magnanimously donated the remaining $24,000 in his college fund to OXFAM, a charity dedicated to fighting hunger.
The media exhaustively covered McCandless's story. Jon Krakauer himself wrote about it for `Outside' magazine. The feedback on that article was mostly excoriating, especially from native Alaskans, who deplored this attention given to a misguided, probably even mentally disturbed young man.
Krakauer's journalistic instinct, however suggested that there was more to this story than met the eye. His meticulous research turns up evidence of a multi-faceted youth, who though eccentric, was certainly sane. Alex/Chris defies easy pigeonholing; he was a charismatic loner who easily made a favorable impression on people he met. Apparently living a hippie life, he nevertheless adhered to the highest ethical values - personal dignity, no drugs, no rock and roll, no sex. What was his attraction to the wilderness? Was it the possibility of living a life unencumbered by society's rules and expectations; was it part of an intense quest for spiritual fulfillment; or was it just a pie-in-the-sky delusion of an ill-prepared boy who thought he could take on the desolate wastes of Alaska?
Jon Krakauer brings his usual intensity and thoroughness to this book as he does elsewhere. As to how Alex/Chris met his death, the author's reasoning is quite convincing. He suggests many possibilities for McCandless's vanishing act into the Wild. However, by the end of the book Christopher Johnson McCandless is as intriguingly enigmatic as he was at the beginning, perhaps even more so.
Book Review: Hero or dreamer?
Summary: 4 Stars
After Chris McCandless starved to death in the Alaskan wilderness, many Alaskan oldtimers referred to McCandless's attempt to live off the land as amateurish if not down-right stupid. His rifle wasn't big enough to bring down big game, he did not know how to preserve meat, and he relied on a field guild to determine which plants were safe to eat.
Jon Krakauer spends most of the book trying to rehabilitate McCandless's memory. He argues that not even veteran bush adventurers would have survived as long as McCandless did, that it was just bad luck that he died. He then sites his own experience trying to climb Alaska's Devil's Thumb, during which time he walked across a glacier with hidden crevasses, his only protection a ten-foot span of curtain-rod-like metal tied to his shoulders. According to Krakauer, his survival was only a matter of luck.
INTO THE WILD began as a magazine article. Krakauer doesn't really have enough material for a full-length book, so after showing us what led to McCandless's attempt to explore Stampede Trail, he compares Candles' ill-conceived adventure to that of other wilderness enthusiasts such as Henry David Thoreau, John Muir, and Everett Reuss who disappeared into southern Utah's Davis Gulch at the age of twenty. Reuss seemed to court oblivion. Once his burro stirred up a nest of wild bees, and Reuss spent three or four days just getting his eyes open. He also suffered from almost terminal poison ivy.
Although we find out quite early that McCandless did not survive, Krakauer establishes suspense by making us guess what eventually killed the boy. After all, he was only a few miles from an Alaskan highway, and the raging river that blocked his way when he first tried to leave would have been passable later that summer.
Krakauer also delves into McCandless psychological make-up. He didn't get along with his parents, especially his father, who was some kind of NASA genius. He was also incredibly stubborn and idealistic, going so far as to give away what was left of an inheritance after graduating college and burning the money he had left so he could live off the land. That said, he put his money where his mouth was, spending time in Washington DC, trying to feed the homeless. Krakauer was right. Many of are dreamers, but only a few of us try to turn them into reality.
Book Review: Where is the story?
Summary: 3 Stars
Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer is about a young mans journey which eventually leads to his death. Shortly after graduating college Christopher McCandless sets out on a journey which ultimately takes him to Alaska where he chooses to live among nature. Despite being well educated and from a well to do family he prefers a mostly solitude and lonely life. He was embarrassed by his parents success and hard earned wealth.
McCandless was infatuated with the idea of turning his back on society and living the "romantic" life of an adventurer. His goal was to flip his middle finger at society and live according to his own rules. This is okay if you have the skill set to survive. Unfortunately, he was ill prepared and paid the ultimate price. McCandless was a young, overconfident, immature, private, idealistic person who lacked common sense, proper planning and preparation. While Krakauer denies that McCandless had any mental illness I would venture to say that McCandless was not completely well. Who goes to live in a desolate wild part of Alaska without adequate training, gear and preparation? In addition, at one point he wanted to smuggle weapons into South Africa to end apartheid. These are not behaviors that well adjusted mentally stable individuals engage. Krakauer attempts to glorify and defend McCandless but I don't believe such attempts are successful.
In the end there is nothing special about McCandless which would warrant that he be glorified in any manner. He wasted a brilliant future because he was not able to fit into societal norms. He failed to properly plan his trip and instead chose to live by the seat of his pants which proved fatal. He was successful for a while but nature eventually caught up with him.
The book is well written but lacks a story that makes it special. One would expect that if you venture into such an environment as McCandless did with little training, planning, preparation and gear that you would end up dead. I'm sure this story can be repeated over and over but it would not be worthy of a book. Yes, I would recommend reading this book as long as you have an understanding of what the story is about. There is nothing heroic, romantic or admirable with McCandless's journey. If anything this book will reinforce the need to be properly trained and prepared before venturing - into the wild.
Book Review: Glorification of the Foolish
Summary: 2 Stars
I first picked up Into the Wild right after the movie came out. My logic was, of course, if the movie is so good the book must be better. Alas the book was bad enough that I avoided the movie.
Into the Wild follows Christopher McCandless, a young man with the worst case of wander lust I've heard. Unlike many, though, Christopher-- he later drops his name for Alexander Supertramp-- lacks the smarts to travel safely. First he donates all his money, much of which was actually his parents, to charity, burns all his cash, and gets stranded in his car, almost dies, and abandons it. From there on out he wanders the country by means of hitch hiking and at almost every turn gets close to killing himself. The worst part is that much of the trouble he gets into could have been easily avoided had he looked at a map or even just being prepared. Unfortunately, Alex is as stubborn as a mule and, forgive me, just as dumb. On one of his little adventures he tries to raft down to the Gulf of California on a river that doesn't actually go to the Gulf of California, in the process he, yes, nearly dies. Fancying himself a modern day Jack London Alex's final adventure, and the one that kills him, is to go into the Alaskan wild with NO knowledge of it, no map, very few clothes, no food or water, and a gun that up there is little more than a bb gun. Many say that Alex touched the lives of everyone he met, this is true, but even such noble deeds don't make up for his arrogance and down right foolishness. Krakauer doesn't agree, though, and tries his hardest to portray Alex in the most nobel sense and I tried to be sympathetic, I did, but having spent even an hour outside I knew more than Alex did.
The other major downside to Into the Wild less than enjoyable was Krakauer. It seems Krakauer fancied himself comparable to Alex when he was a young man, as such Krakauer puts several chapters of his life into the book. Not only does this disrupt the flow of the story, but the blurbs were not very interesting especially for someone trying to learn about Alex. On the upside Krakauer is a strong, fluid writer, and his style is crisp and clean. This, sadly, was about the most enjoyable thing I found about Into the Wild. I would recommend this book ONLY to show what you should NOT do and there might be something to learn from the way Alex treated others.
Book Review: Chase von, guess they have this book two places on here....
Summary: 5 Stars
This is an amazing story that touches on every emotion contained within us all! I'm hard pressed to understand why this is only the second review but this is a story that will go down as one of the most powerful, enlightening, and heart wrenching ever told! Sean Penn has from what I have seen secured his place not only as one of the greatest actors to ever live, but also one of the greatest directors to ever live!
I intend to own both the movie and the book and add them to my collection of books you just don't read once and movies you can always go back to when it becomes a necessary to be reminded of what truly matters.
Lastly, I've seen the interviews and I take my hat off to the family for being so brave as to allow what I feel having learned of it, a must story to be allowed to be told...
Not only do I believe Chris is looking down from Heaven with only pure love for his family...
Part of me feels he is looking down on us all with love as well...
With the ultimate respects to the Family, The Author, and Sean Penn and Eddie Vedder for from what I've seen, being able to bring this to life in such a way that it is completely fulfilling the ultimate beauty this story contains...
Chase Von
Also would like to share this with all involved...
~Vibrations~
The sweetest of words
Need not be uttered
To be heard
Unspoken Whispers
Are carried to
Their intended source
By Messengers
From Heaven
That is why
Loud Statements
Often are not heard
Or are vaguely
Understood
And why
Silent Truths
Delivered by the Angels
Vibrate
The Very Soul
By Chase Von
tlp
The Last Panther
All rights reserved
I share that because
I think this story will be vibrating mine
Until I too leave as well as so many others
With respect and love and light again
Chase Von
(As a poet I see so much of my own story reflected in this as well)
Your Chance to Hear The Last Panther Speak