Customer Reviews

Into the Wild

5 star:		(328)
4 star:		(257)
3 star:		(105)
2 star:		(51)
1 star:		(37)

 

 

Last Christmas I gave this book to my father. I thought he might enjoy the adventures of Alex (though you know from the start his life will end badly), and thought if things went well I might use this to try to explain to him why it is that I spend all my extra money on travel and why I do illogical things in pursuit of my dreams. His reaction, though, was nothing but frustration with Alex's "idiocy."

The difference between my response to the book - that Chris/Alex lived an extreme form of the longing I and many others feel - and my father's response is the same gulf that this story seeks to bridge. Jon Krakauer, who has also sacrificed a great deal and risked his life in pursuit of his dreams, clearly feels some sympathy for Alex's wild decisions. But the result of Alex's tramping is his own death and the heartbreak that ensues, which seems to outweigh any selfish satisfaction Alex may have received from his experiences.

When people create great art or invent something remarkable, society celebrates their achievements in spite of any collateral damage. But Alex is an example of someone whose idealism was far greater than his accomplishments. The art he left behind in his notebooks is unremarkable, and the few friends he made in his travels have not been catalysts for improvement in the world. His one success (or failure) was that he was able to unbind himself from his expected, normal life and give himself wholly to his ideals. So many of us secretly wish that we had the courage to do something similar, and this book forces us to confront that desire. Is the pursuit of a dream a worthwhile end, in and of itself?

There are no clear answers, in this book or in life, but the question is worth asking, no matter whether you see Alex as someone to be admired or throttled.

I've enjoyed all of Jon Krakauer's books, but found this one surprising in its accomplishment of taking what on the surface seems a cut and dried story (foolish idealist from urban environment pursues wilderness adventure completely unprepared and perishes kilometres from civilization), and provides a completely reasonable and unexpected account of the facts and of the character behind the story.

Saw the movie by accident, found the book. Every word kept me intersted, well written, looked up places mention. Young fellow was very adventures and should make all of us get out and explore even if is our neighbour hoods. Made me add Alaska to bucket list to visit. Wrote some of his quotes down.

I bought this for my granddaughter. She loved the movie and says the book is wonderful. I haven't read it myself but I intend to.

I was disappointed in this book. It was as much about other people's misadventures, including the author's. There was very little about the key character's experiences in Alaska, despite what the title of the book insinuates.

I had read "Into Thin Air" and it is one of my favorite books so was looking forward to reading this book as well. Really disappointed however. I just couldn't get interested in this book at all. I didn't care what happened to the guy.

A rich kid with all the advantages rebels against that and claims he wants to survive on his own. However, he runs into a lot of people along the way that help him constantly. I couldn't feel sympathy at all. Right till the end.

I saw this movie and, although it was disturbing, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I decided to read the book when I came across it recently in a second hand store, to compare the book with the movie. All in all the movie pretty much follows the book. The book gives you a bit more insight on possibly why this seemingly smart young man would do what he did. Both the book and the movie still left you wondering why. I too thought the section about the author's personal climbing experience kind of threw the book off but it was still interesting. I have also read "Into Thin Air" and also saw that movie and enjoyed both of those. This author is good and I hope to read more books he might write in the future.

I loved how this book was an eplenation of how things can go wrong and the wild is wild!!

I thoroughly enjoyed this well-written book, but still can't make up my mind about what to think about Christopher McCandless himself. He is not really too young to forgive him all the blunders he made and all the contradictions in his views. I'm only sorry that he did not live through this to learn his lesson. I'm looking forward to read the next book by Krakauer, "Into This Air". I love his style of writing and the richness of his vocabulary.

I read this book before I saw the movie...and of course got a much better appreciation for the story because of that. The first half of the book is primarily focused on Chris's journey as well as his Alaskan adventure, while the second half has more interviews from family members and friends. I really enjoyed how Jon personalized the story by adding in one of his own adventures...showing readers how he completely understood how Chris felt. I loved this book, and the end made me cry.