A New Alaskan
Classic
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Into the Wild
by Jon Krakauer
Who must have this book: Anyone who has felt
the call of wilderness or the road. Any fans of Kerouac, Krakauer,
or Jenkins.
Who should have this book: Anyone really, this
is just a great book.
ISBN: 0385486804
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I
had put off reading Into the Wild for a long time. Finally
when my doctor recommended it, I decided it was time to pick up a
copy. At the used bookstore, the person standing next to me saw me
pick the book up and said, “You got to read that.” So
it must be good. So, I brought it to the cashier and she gasped, “Oh
my God, you have to read that!” By now,I knew I was holding
a special kind of book. And apparently I was the last person on earth
to read it.
This is definitely not essential reading to prepare for a trip to
Alaska, but it is great airport/in-flight reading for the trip there
and back. Once started, it is incredibly hard to put down.
Overview
This book is very unlike the last Jon Krakauer book I had read. That
book, Into Thin Air , was more of a thriller as Krakauer
describes a mountaineering tragedy on Moun Everest. This book is more
of a mystery, but with the twist that you already know when, where
and how the main character has died. For those who have not heard
the story before – In 1992 a lone man was found dead at the
end of the Stampede Trail near Denali National Park. His remains were
found in an old, abandoned bus that had been dragged into the bush
to house road construction crew years ago.
When the story hit the news wires it started a minor media blitz to
identify the unknown man. Eventually, the authorities got a lucky
break and were able to identify the man as Christopher McCandless
from Maryland. In January 1993 Outside magazine ran an article about
the incident authored by Jon Krakauer. No article had ever generated
so much reaction in the history of the magazine.
While writing the story, Krakauer found himself investigating the
death of a kindred spirit. After the article was published, he was
driven to track down the whole story and find out how an educated
young man from a rich suburb found himself starving out in the middle
of Alaskan wilderness. With some detective work, some interviews,
and some remarkably gripping writing, Krakauer solves the mystery
of who Chris McCandless was and how he ended up dying 3000 miles from
his home. Along the way, the author builds a profile of type of man
who seems to be forever drawn to the last frontier.
It’s a great read, I highly recommend it to anyone who hasn’t
read it. My copy is now dog-eared from all the times it has been loaned
out and returned.
Author
Jon Krakauer is a best-selling author best known for
Into Thin Air, a retelling of his ill-fated assent of Mount
Everest. He is an avid mountaineer and much like Christopher McCandless,
he was driven to travel and test himself. Both found themselves in
Alaska trying to live their greatest challenges.
Other books by the Author
