Krakauer Fever

Title: Into the Wild
Author: Jon Krakauer
Publisher: Doubleday
Publication Year: 1996
Rating: B+

Into the Wild is yet another compelling work by author Jon Krakauer. He follows the journey of a young man who – after graduating from college – gives up his family ties and life of privilege to travel the country. He eventually ends up in the Alaskan bush, pushing himself to the limit by venturing with only a ten-pound bag of rice and few other provisions.

The story is an incredible one, but it was hard for me personally to relate to Chris McCandless. Through much of the account I was constantly irritated by his disregard of his family and his self-absorbed attitude. He studied sociology in school and was particularly interested in apartheid and the atrocities occurring in South Africa. But instead of his studies of less fortunate societies making him thankful of what he had, they made him resentful. I couldn’t help but feel McCandless was naïve and immature in many respects, although I can relate to wanting to let go of society’s stronghold on our lives and expectations, and venturing off into nature to find out more about ones self.

It wasn’t until the end of Krakauer’s account that I truly became emotionally involved in McCandless’ story. Although he ventured into the Alaskan wilderness with little knowledge of how to survive, he did quite well for several months. It was a series of unfortunate decisions that led to his demise. And it was a lonely, heartbreaking death.

Despite my feelings about McCandless, Krakauer again uses his brilliant journalist instincts combined with his rare honesty and sincerity to reconstruct McCandless’ journey. His unique way of incorporating his own thoughts and experiences in his books gives his writing depth and makes them relatable. He touches the adventurous spirit in his readers, no matter if they’ve climbed mountains or have ventured no farther than their own backyards.