Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer (1997)

If survival was the goal of McCandless then he failed because he did NOT survive. His name shouldn't even be in the same sentence with Thoreau or Emerson because he did not commune with nature to get to the meaning and spirituallity of nature as those great writers did. To compare him to them is ignorant. According to the author, all he wrote about was food. Maybe he was an anorexic looking for a way to encourage himself to eat. Since no one knows what motivated him to take off half cocked into the wilderness unprepared and ignoring advise, this explanation is as good as any. I'm wondering why a good writer like Krakauer wasted his talent on such a person when there are great people in the world who go unnoticed and would be well worth writing about.

I loved this book, and I think it is a book everyone should read. Society has emplanted a certain way of life for all Americans - Into the Wild proves that we don't all have to give into society's way. Yes, death shows it's face in the book, however death is just a way of life. Christopher McCandless lived the way he wanted to before he died. Into the Wild is an inspiration, moving piece of work that forces the reader to look at the way they live their life. I highly recommend!!!

i love buying books on ebay because as a college student i dont have money but ebay found a way to make there stuff cheaper and not complicated.i love ebay but one thing i dont like is the shipping cost which is sometimes a bit to much

I bought the book after seeing the movie as a gift for my
19 year old son who was shipping out to sea for 2 months.
The movie was sad but excellent and I hoped that
when my son read it he could see that this young man
had serious mental health issues and needed help.
Still...what an amazing adventure it must have been.

I loved the book, but liked the movie better because of the visual components that are ALASKA. If you saw the movie and you were really interested in his life, then I suggest reading the book because it fills in a lot of holes that the movie left out.

After reading the review of the movie, of the same name, I knew I wanted to read it. I always enjoyed reading stories of Alaska, from the time of my youth, with "Call of the Wild"

If you liked the movie but want to know more, this book will satisfy. Very well done history on a seemingly normal young man's yearning to get away from 'normal', try new things, and find his personal boundaries. Unfortunately, in this case, Alexander SuperTramp learned too late that he had gone too far.

i usually like the books better than the movie, but in this case i prefered the movie. The book was more like a documentary instead of a story and kept flitting back and forth from subject to subject. I think some pictures would have been an added plus, oh hiimself, family members, scenes where the bus was, but on the whole i enjoyed the book.

An amazing story and was taken on quite a journey. Did not really see the reason to read about the author's journeys in this book. I'm sure there were a lot more people that had contact with McCandless, and there's got to be a story there as well. The tragedy in all this was he was not prepared in many ways to survive in the world he was born. The choice to be alone cost him his lefe and left a trail of tears for his family and for many that met him on the road.

An amazing story, very touching!! If your looking for a "find yourself" kind of book this sure is one, at least in my opinion. Young "Alex" McCandless was on a trip to find himself and hopefully he did. In any manner of reading this is a must.

It is as if SOME PEOPLE were Born, with ADVENTURE in their SOUL.

This Book Correlated, and brought together all, the Loose Ends, that the MOVIE, could not. I was Thouroughly Pulled in, Learning from Wayne Westerburgh, that Chris's stories of his Travels, RIVETED people there, in South Dakota, when he sat at the Bar. His Stories Interested So MANY people... His Life seemed so Rich with Courage, & Mystery!!!

And This Book goes on to tell about John Waterman, and Rossellini, and
Carl Mcunn, who felt th Call of The Wild, and had similar FATES. It is as if these Wonderfull Souls, were just BORN to do these things, were Bound and made SECRET PROMISES to themselves from an age that even THEY don't remember. I find it Romantic, Fullfilling, and Heartbreaking, but much THE BETTER, for Having READ it.

This is a story I keep thinking about. I can't seem to shake it and small things during my daily routines take me back to Chris. I have a young son (13 yrs.old) and we are very close. I have always looked forward to the day he will go out on his own to find his version of the meaning of life. However, this story has such a sad under tone about the relationship of child/parent that I now worry instead of look forward to this day. I have truly changed the way I think about my son's future and our relationship as a result of reading this book. His independence, choices and dreams of the future are what is important.

My book was shipped right away, and it was in great shape. I will most certainly order again. Very fast, very professional. Thank you..

When i first read the book, I felt conflicted about young Chris. One part of me was saying, "Oh, Chris...if only you were more well prepared, you could have lived to see the legacy you left." Another part of me as a parent was saying, "You ungrateful SOB! Leaving your family like that to suffer and worry about you!"

But all in all, as i read the book, I felt his wanderlust in his journal excerpts and the author's words, and i finally got the message... Find your own bus. Maybe not the Fairbanks 142, but whatever goal you have in life; make it your own Fairbanks 142 and GO AFTER IT!

I really enjoyed this book and had trouble putting it down. I felt the author did a wonderful job exploring the "why" of this story, and bringing in the history of this type of exploration in America. It brings to light many interesting ideas for those of us who idealize nature and adventure...a great and tragic story.

See the movie, buy the soundtrack.....take in the culture. Its an amazing way to see life, and consider your own. Book is written through tales and experiences, all true or based on true accounts of real people loves. An inspiring book about truly living one's life to the fullest, and loving nature.

Krakauer's original 1993 article in Outside Magazine was the first full length piece on the life and death of Chris McCandless. The book expands on the article and our knowledge of Chris's life and how it impacted his choices.

He interweaves events with the unique attributes of the the mind/soul/body of this tragically driven young man and how this collided with society and, ultimately, the hard facts of surviving in the Alaskan woods. He does not play psychologist or judge. He lets you decide. Therefore if you invest your time and thoughts into this book you will find it compelling.

Krakauer is a wilderness writer who is also very well read in the classics. His lead quotes from other authors (including those who inspired Chris McCandless and whose works were found with his remains) tie in thoughtfully & beautifully with each chapter. His own writing is at times strongly poetic without tipping over into mawkishness. He takes us back in time to similiar young Americans who met their deaths answering the call of the wild and tell their strangely riveting stories.

By all means read this book, preferably before you see the movie. The movie, as movies do, tends to hype certain things, invent others, and overall lacks the depth and resonant beauty of the book.

I purchased a book from this seller, the book came in great condition and I am currently enjoying it, but It came a little longer then I thought, I ordered two books at the same time and this book came in about a week and a half in comparison to the other book which came in just a few days.

This book was chosen by my book club. It's not a book I would have chosen myself, but I did enjoy it. I'd seen a story on McCandless on CBS' Sunday Morning some time ago so I was familiar with the story - or so I thought. It was interesting to get more information about him. So much has been speculated about his motivation for what he did. And although the book does not have definitive answers, it did prompt me to reflect on my own motives for choices I have made.
The book club members' opinions on the book (and on McCandless)were clearly divided. Some didn't like the book or the young man. They were highly critical of his choices. Others, like myself, saw a bit of themselves at that age, or maybe someone they knew. Either way a provocative story that will, at the least, provide many opportunities for discussion.

Krakauer does a good job of telling the story of McCandless. Although he is no Hemmingway, he led a very similar life to McCandless and it shows in his writing. I admire both Krakauer and McCandless for actually doing the kind of things that I used to dream of when I was younger. Recommended Reading!!!

A great and very poignant read. Highly recommend reading this book and Jon Krakauer again does a great job of writing.

Thank you very much for sending the book. Not only did I really like the book but it was sent to me very quickly in the condidtion stated. I really like the fast service and would buy from this seller again.

I was a great book, with a great story, and I would recomend it to anyone that wants a guick good read.

Krakauer's "Into the Wild" is a breakdown of the life of a young boy from Emory preceding his romp into the Alaskan wilderness. The book makes you wonder whether you too would have done the same things Chris, the protagonist, did; I often have thoughts of disappearing off into the wilderness just like I've seen the books and the movies; survive off of as little as possible and discover how wonderful nature and life really is in its simplest, yet most complex and pure form...come on, Man v. Wild eh? Great show.

Was it suicide...did he know that he was going to die...did he realize he had made a big mistake by not bringing a map? There are too many questions that one asks because the boy is so normal; from a middle-class family, and well educated...like any other college bound kid.

This book is definitely worth your time.

I bought this book due to the authors' other book, "Into Thin Air". And he does not disappoint in either. This book is a very thought provoking, dramatic story of a young man who seems to be struggling to find identity within himself and wanting to find peace internally and externally in this complicated world, as "Alex SuperTramp" seems to see it. I recommend this book!