Book Reviews of Into the Wild

Very well written by John Krakauer, although his main subject does not evoke admiration in me no matter how hard he tries. I too, am like the Alaskan residents who consider Chris McCandless a petulant spoiled child.

* * * ½* . Looks into the trip a young man foolishishly took into the Alaskan wilderness uneqipped. The book attempts to examine his actions by comparing it with other famous excursions with similar fates, and gives an explanation into the irony of his untimely demise.

I could have done without the author's personal reflections regarding his own near death experiences. Nonetheless, the book is still a deep, brooding work.

Couldn't stand finishing this book about an idiot.

This is a fascinating, heartbreaking account of one young man's attempt to survive alone in the wilds of Alaska, a grandiose dream which ultimately led to his demise. Jon Krakauer treats his subject lovingly. I lookk forward to seeing the movie now...

Mixed feeling about book. Some parts were really interesting but other parts just seemed to go off on other thoughts and other people. Also didn't like how book began giving away ending. It was interesting when they spoke about main character and his life but may times discussed other characters who were boring and uninteresting.

This book broke my heart. A young man, confused and most likely suffering from some sort of psychiatric problem, throws his life away in his search for "freedom", and not even deliberately. Circumstance alone, coupled with extreme naivete and lack of preparation, result in the loss of a sensitive boy who may have made an enormous difference in the lives of those he encountered had he lived.

After hearing so many great things about the movie, I decided to read this....it has given me much to think about....
was he simply a seeker that made a tragic choice....
or an idiot going off into the wild without proper planning and died because of it.
I will admit, even tho its been weeks since I've read his story.....it still haunts me....
maybe it always will.

I liked this book a lot. It made me want to get up and travel just like Chris McCandless did. I think he must have been a little on the crazy side though. He seemed to live on the edge with no regard for his life. Over all, I thought this book was good, now I want to see the movie.

This book wasn't as great as I had hoped or as good as Krakauers other books.

This was a fantastic book and it was an exciting read from cover to cover! I have not seen the movie based on this book, but it was a highly visual read and it was compelling. A puzzling story, and a sad one... The author also wrote a great book about Mount Everest called Into Thin Air, so I knew it would be written well.

I thought this was a great book and it read fast. Captivating....while I thought the kid was too much of a anti-establishment, it made me think about leaving my life to do the same thing and cut the bonds of life in general.

This book is intense and perplexing, but a good solid read. Perfect for a book club.

I just finished this book and it was incredible! It was almost overwhelming in the way that it makes you feel so many different things towards Chris McCandless; admiration and frustration among them. Basically, it is an interesting account of a young man who abandons his civilized life and wanders into the Alaskan wilderness. The author also does a great job at tying this story in to others who have have done something similar throughout history. Highly recommended!

I saw the movie first, which led me to the book, which paints a more concise and sympathetic picture of the main character. The descriptions of nature in this book are unbeliveably great! Almost makes you want to go "Into the Wild"! After the movie, I thought Chris was a selfish, egotistical boy. The book, softened my stance on Chris into a strong willed, adventurous, but tragically misled man. Worth a read!

I expected so much more from this book. As I read it, I kept thinking that the only reason it was written is because McCandless was from a well to-do family and could quote Thoreau. Many young men and women go on great adventures and don't make the stupid mistakes McCandless did. Many go on adventures without disowning their mother and sister. McCandless seemed to have suffered from some form of depression or other mental illness. It's a shame that so many young people are seeing him as a hero.

so good makes you want to know more about him loved loved this book!!!!

I couldn't finish it. I know they rate it very high, but I couldn't get into the story...and I knew it was going to have a sad ending.

An excellent true story, filled with suspense.

I wouldn't say this was the best book I've ever read, but it was a good read. I always like to read the book before I watch the movie.

<< Back to Book Details of " Into the Wild"