Into the Wild

By: Jon Krakauer

Narrated by: Philip Franklin

Length: 7 hrs and 5 mins

Publisher's summary

In April 1992 a young man from a well-to-do family hitchhiked to Alaska and walked alone into the wilderness north of Mt. McKinley. His name was Christopher Johnson McCandless. He had given $25,000 in savings to charity, abandoned his car and most of his possessions, burned all the cash in his wallet, and invented a new life for himself. His body - along with a camera with five rolls of film, an SOS note, and a cryptic diary written in the back pages of a book about edible plants - was found six months later by a hunter.

©2007 Jon Krakauer (P)2007 Random House, Inc. Random House Audio, a division of Random House, Inc.

Critic reviews

"A narrative of arresting force. Anyone who ever fancied wandering off to face nature on its own harsh terms should give a look. It's gripping stuff."—Washington Post

"Compelling and tragic ... Hard to put down." —San Francisco Chronicle

"Engrossing ... with a telling eye for detail, Krakauer has captured the sad saga of a stubborn, idealistic young man."—Los Angeles Times Book Review

Loved it!

Story very believable, as a mother of two boys I was hooked! Narrator was great, couldn't put it down!

Will help understand what motivates these people

As you might expect from Jon Krakauer if you have read his works before, the book is both entertaining and thought-provoking. Once you begin the story, you want to continue listening to the end. The book is well-written, and the narrator does an excellent job of relating the saga. There is some harsh language in a few places, but it does not seem excessive.

I have never read a book on this particular subject before -- that is, what drives a person like McCandless to seek an isolated wilderness experience that is "back to the basics". At times I have also followed the urge to experience the wilderness solo, and I have had a few such minor experiences. However, the book helped me to understand the difference between "the extreme" McCandless and myself. The book identifies McCandless' primary motivators as "youthful enthusiasm" and an "enthrallment with a fantasy image of nature". I would even call it a form of "nature worship". Others (as myself) appreciate nature and love to experience its pleasures and hardships, but our experiences are tempered by reality and wisdom... not immersion in a fantasy.

Anyway, an excellent read. Recommended.

not a hero

overall solid but I definitely fall under the group who feels Chris was overall an ill person who should not be lionized.

Weird offshoot into someone else's story

chapter: Alaska. the story on watermen was totally not necessary to include. Although it was interesting it was definitely not required to add and detailed from Chris's journey

Poor McCandless

Would you try another book from Jon Krakauer and/or Philip Franklin?

I would not. Despite my love for this story, Krakauer's interjection of his own narcissistic story is a bit unsettling. It detracts from McCandless' story and only furthers the credibility of the author--as it has been scientifically refuted that his account of McCandless' death is incorrect.

The reader of the book is also boring, and he fails to preserve the spirit in which McCandless story is told; although, that could be bias because I personally feel that McCandless deserves a more jovial reader.

What other book might you compare Into the Wild to and why?

The book has no equal to my knowledge. I guess it is loosely principled off the existential authors McCandless idolized, but it is a strong, and interesting, story.

How could the performance have been better?

The reader is too monotonous. It is hard to stay in-tune with him during long stretches of the narrative.

What else would you have wanted to know about Jon Krakauer’s life?

Nothing...he pretty much told us everything.

Any additional comments?

Would not recommend as an audiobook.

definitely a book you should read in your hands

I struggled to finish this book do two character hopping from 1 chapter 2 next

inspiring and tragic

Chris seemed to be an intelligent individual with a big heart who was trying to find his way and make sense of this crazy world. He lived his life on his terms.

not my normal fare

Well narrated and a grand adventure to read about something I'm too chicken to do.

sadly interesting

this story was a weave of events, thoughts, beliefs and meanderings of a somewhat conflicted soul.
I enjoyed the weaving.

Excellent

This doesn’t include Krakauer’s latest poisoning theory. The narration is great and the story is very affecting. Part of what makes do interesting is that I understand the author’s admiration / interest but also understand the more critical views. That tension only heightened the story.

Also I was interested to learn that Chris’s upbringing was worse than described (but Krakauer agreed not to use the material at the time).