[Svaneska]

Into the wild


Into the Wild, written by Jon Krakauer and published in 1996, is a bestselling non-fiction book about the thrilling adventures and unbelievable travels of Christopher McCandless. This engrossing book is based on a real and unforgettable story that happened in the U.S.A.

The writer got to know/heard about Chris when he was found dead in the middle of the Alaskan wilderness in 1992 without any personal identification, except for his travel diary. Krakauer was interested in the tragic fate of Chris, which particularly reminded him of his own life experience.

That is why the author spent three long years to find out more about this young man and his compelling reasons for leaving his family and modern society.

Jon Krakauer presents us with the most important moments from Chris’s life. Moreover, the author touches on many themes that crosses/touches everyone’s lives and discussesthe general condition of youth, other than just McCandless’s individual situation and decisions.

Christopher McCandless was 22 years old when he graduated from college in Boston in 1990. He came from a well-to-do/wealthy family but he didn’t like his parents for their endless quarrels and hunger for success and money. Due to their work, his parents didn’t pay much attention to him or his younger sister. So he devoted most of his free time to reading adventurous books/adventure stories about fearless Jack London and John Muir. He also loved Russian writers such as Tolstoy and Dostoevsky who described the romantic and idealistic life of their heroes in the wilderness, far away/removed from consumer society.

Chris wanted to encounter this unlimited freedom, he left without saying goodbye to his family and went to live like a tramp. He tried to get free of modern society, its inventions, and advantages. He donated $25,000 (his savings for further studies) to charity, burnt all his cash, abandoned his car and most of his possessions. He changed his name and called himself Alexander Supertramp. His parents noticed/realised they had made a terrible mistake, and they tried to find him with the aid of the police but they weren’t successful. During Chris’s travels, he met new friends and learnt how to survive in the countryside. He hitchhiked across the U.S.A. to Alaska.

In Alaska, Chris lived in an abandoned bus in the middle of nowhere. After three months, he broke his leg and couldn’t collect/gather any berries or browse/hunt. Finally, he starved to death due to sustained injuries and unsuitable hunting equipment; he had/possessed only a small-bore rifle with which he couldn’t kill reindeer or moose.

In my opinion, this book is well worth reading because it makes you think about yourself, and makes you consider what is most important for you: a family, money, or perhaps something else, it might even change your life. At least, you can recharge your batteries and enjoy Alaska’s scenery.


thank you for your review . . . it sounds a very interesting read!