Into the Wild Review by Morgan Schell

Morgan Schell
Into the Wild Jon Krakauer
203
*****

Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer is a book that takes the reader on a journey through the wilderness of deserts, oceans, and the unforgiving tundra of Alaska; it follows the life and journeys of a young vagabond named Chris McCandless, introducing you to the many different people he meets along the way. Starting with his affluent childhood Chris is always different, maybe a little weird but mostly a kid who has a call to the wild. As he grows up he begins to take more and more adventures that become surprisingly reckless, possibly trying to run away from the lies that his father had built the family on, or the calling he has to be different and to live on his own. 

What makes this book unique is that Chris McCandless has such a wondrous story to follow. It is so enjoyable to read of his follies and his forthcomings, and all through the perspective of the people that he meets along the way. The way that Krakauer writes the book is in an elongated PEA format where he pulls from many different texts, but also from his personal stories, for example his climbing of God’s Thumb. While reading some chapters it was easy to wonder how Krakauer was going to relate if back to Chris but it always did. Another key way that Krakauer grabs the attention of readers is staring every chapter with a quote or an excerpt that is a foreshadowing in what the chapter holds. “It may, after all, be a bad habit of creative talents to invest themselves in pathological extremes that yield remarkable insights but no durable way of life for those who cannot translate their psychic wounds into significant art or thought.” Theodore Rosak “In the Search of the Miraculous”. 

It’s not easy to forget some of the characters and people that are portrayed in Chris’ life, one of the best parts of the book is when Chris meets an old man by the name of Franz who becomes a friend and father figure for him. The impact he makes on the old man life is one that is incredible to even get a glimpse of. 
I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for an interesting read based on the life of a very interesting man and his story. People who are looking to relate with and to ride along with the ebbs and flows of Chris’ life and the lives of the people that he meets would be perfect candidates to read Into the Wild.