Kraukauer describes a little background and what happened to McCandless in the years leading up to his early death from starvation and toxicity in the wilds of Alaska. For comparison’s sake, he includes information on others who have met similar disasters. The author does a good job of presenting both the opinions of folks who thought that the young protagonist was ignorant & ill-equipped, as well as arguing how risky lifestyles are typical of young men, who generally see themselves as immortal. He includes a memoir-type chapter about his own attempts to solo climb ‘The Thumb’, that shows his own similarities to McCandless’ driven nature.
Overall, the book is a fast, interesting and easy read, though of a serious and tragic nature. ( )

I enjoyed watching the film, a rarity for me, so when this came up on a Kindle deal for 99p i didn't hesitate.

After watching the film i was of the mind that Chris McCandless was a total idiot, as apparently were most of the people who heard the basic story of his demise.   But was it fair on him to be portrayed in that way?   I wanted to know a bit more.

Jon was the reporter who first brought this story to the world in an article he was asked to write for 'Outdoor Magazine'.   But he knew he hadn't done the story justice in the time constraints that he'd had to get that article written, so he went back over the whole story and wrote this book.

And this book really does put things into context.   One thing the film doesn't cover is the childhood that Chris and his sister suffered under a domineering, controlling, and oft times abusive, father who demanded excellence all the time, and when Chris found out the truth about his father's excellence -- how Chris and his sister came to be born -- i think something really snapped inside him.   He just wanted to be free of everything his father represented, to get as far away from it as possible -- and having been bought up by a father like that who i had to escape from at 15 years old into my own wilderness, i can't blame Chris whatsoever for being like he was and doing what he did, in fact, i totally understand.

As to the writing, this story is incredibly well thought out and presented and really does put a lot of Chris' behaviour and attitude into a much broader perspective than a film could ever hope to get to.

So if you have watched the film then please don't just stop with that view of Chris, i don't think that's fair.   Take a little while, read this book and get to see a much wider picture of Chris McCandless. ( )

¿Por qué un joven que acababa de graduarse decide cortar todos los lazos con su familia y perderse en una región inhóspita? En abril de 1992, Chris McCandless, de 24 años, se internó solo y apenas equipado en tierras de Alaska. Había regalado todo su dinero y abandonado su coche, y soñaba con una vida en estado salvaje. Cuatro meses más tarde, unos cazadores encontraron su cuerpo sin vida. Su historia, difundida en un reportaje de Jon Krakauer, suscitó una agitada polémica, para unos, era un intrépido idealista; para otros, un loco y un ingenuo sin el menor conocimiento de la naturaleza. Antes de desaparecer, Chris McCandless escribió a un amigo: «No eches raíces, no te establezcas. Cambia a menudo de lugar, lleva una vida nómada... No necesitas tener a alguien contigo para traer una nueva luz a tu vida. Está ahí fuera, sencillamente.» El 18 de enero de 2008 se estrenó en España la película basada en este libro, dirigida por Sean Penn.

Fascinating story of Chris McCandless, who gave up his possessions and hitchhiked across the country until finally making it to Alaska, where he starved to death in the wilderness.

Partly inspiring, partly tragic. Certainly an interesting book that both makes me appreciate nature, and want to explore the world, but at the same time, appreciate the relationships I have, and the creature comforts of this world. ( )

4.5 ( )