Not marking my spoilers as I believe most people know the basic story. If you don't, proceed with caution!

I liked this book okay - it is probably my least favorite Krakauer book, but I think that was because my feelings about it were tainted by the main character. McCandless was soooooo frustrating. He went about the free spirit/return to the wild thing all wrong. He refused help and destroyed his resources with the belief that that was what was required to survive on your own. No! Be prepared! Learn basic skills! Accept free help! All of those things would have still allowed him to be a vagabond and he might still be alive today.

Also frustrating is the fact that I hear some people idolizing McCandless. They want to be like him, they think he approached getting away from it all in a wise fashion, they martyr him (maybe not realizing that it was his own ineptitude that caused his death??).

Please read this as a cautionary tale, not as a guidebook for escaping life and responsibilities. If you do, I am sorry to say, you may meet the same fate.

Chris McCandless didn't want to prove anything to anyone; he just wanted to be free and live as he saw fit. So far, from the image of the bohemian and thoughtless teenager, Jon Krakauer portrays him to us as an intelligent and obstinate young man with remarkable capacities to unite around him. He leaves those who have met him during his travels this feeling of great sociability, which contrasts significantly with the need for solitude that he regularly showed, a little the desire to owe nothing to anyone and find the solutions to his problems.
When he leaves his family at a young age after high school, he goes from odd jobs to odd jobs, squats where the wind carries him, and fate brings him down. He must have had a lucky star because his meetings always seem benevolent, and this is perhaps one of the elements that will encourage him to push his adventures even further. His thirst for self-sufficiency will guide him to Alaska in a desert, where he will spend several months with the fatal outcome we know.
The author breaks stereotypes and does a real investigation work by understanding this young man's personality, who wishes to break with modern life. Far from judgment and bias, he analyzes the situation by comparing it to other life paths similar to Chris McCandless's. It also seems that his death is still a little enigmatic because many news sites on the subject are always looking for genuine reasons.
That's a genuine interest in this book, which brings us back tirelessly to the harsh reality of life outside civilization.

Into the Wild is an expression of warning in terms of what can happen by the decisions people make. A domino effect of one’s choices can change so many people’s lives, but ultimately if one is on a path to ultimate freedom there may only be one option to truly release humanity into a world that is entirely their own, death but at the cost of ending up alone, changing lives he will never know.

What an emotional rollercoaster! I went from curiosity to confusion to not caring to being mad to ultimately feeling bad. I don't want to give away any spoilers to those that don't know the whole tale, but it's definitely more complex than meets the eye.

The comparisons to other cases was a nice touch, but I feel like the author talking about his own exploits came off as bragging. As the author stated, nobody cared at the time and I can honestly say nobody still cares. That was a long section that should have been cut as it offers no value whatsoever. It's sold to the reader as a 'trust me, I know how it is' type of deal.

The part about the parents gave me a good sense of closure. No matter their history, they are his parents afterall. The relationship with the sister was barely touched upon and is very suspect when you consider she wrote a book about him. In this book it's claimed she's focused on "making her first million", so it's kind of obvious her brother's story is just a cash grab for her.

A great discussion piece that I very much enjoyed.

Emozioni a caldo....
Karakauer mi ha portato con lui nel viaggio alla ricerca dei passi di Chris.
Posti meravigliosi che, molto probabilmente, rivedrò solo nei documentari...
Il fascino di questi territori ha esercitato su Chris ( e molti altri citati nel libro) un'attrazione "fatale". C'è stato un momento in cui tutto diceva" se sei sano di mente non farai mai un viaggio simile"...e forse é vero.
Anche Chris era un ragazzo "particolare", insicuro e con una rabbia interiore che forse, alla fine di questo reportage, sembra essere stata sconfitta, sciolta come la neve del grande nord.
Karakauer controbilancia il tutto dando spazio anche a tutte quelle voci che danno Chris come uno stupido arrogante, un impreparato incosciente e che, alla sua giovane età, ha buttato la sua vita.
Da madre capisco il dolore causato da questo ragazzo alla sua famiglia...come può una mamma stare due anni senza sapere dove sia, come stia sua figlio? Ma dall'altra capisco il bisogno che ha un ragazzo di trovare se stesso, staccare da tutto (anche se in un modo un po' troppo estremo) e da tutti.
Intraprendere un viaggio alla ricerca di se, di quel qualcosa che ti manca.
Chris ha avuto coraggio, un po' di incoscienza e un'immensa sfortuna!!!
Se fosse giunto prima alla conclusione che "LA FELICITÀ È REALE SOLO SE CONDOVISA" ........
Il finale è da lacrima, il viaggio di questi genitori, il voler vedere dove il loro ragazzo ha vissuto per 113 giorni, dove il suo sguardo si è posato e dove i suoi pensieri volavano e dove, alla fine, ha incontrato la morte. Un finale doloroso, ma al tempo stesso rincuorante.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️,5

The article written by J. Krakauer was totally enlarged to make this, an obsessive journalistic account of an obsession. I am sure that the core of it is included in this 200 pg book somewhere (the anecdote: young incompetent kid dies out in the wilderness); it should be short and sweet, however it is exhaustively stretched out (obviously to capitalize on the popular story) to include stories of the own writer himself as a kid (conceited!) plus brief accounts by people who met the young mentally ill man. Also, there's a long (but interesting) section which includes tales of other intrepid nonconformist isolationists. Why couldn't this kid just learn his lesson on moderation? Had this dude been into heroin instead, the results would have been strikingly similar (minus, of course, the book).

I just realy loved it , I have so much honor for chris Mccandless and the writer did an amazing job at telling this man his story, I just have the urge to keep rereading this book , I loved it just so much , I know that most people have an very strong opnion on this but I just loved how the writer did this with the dairy of chris and the underlined sentences in his favourite books of him and what other people thought of him and the people he met al long the way , it is just realy sad that he didn't make it. This book deserves 5 stars

I am left pondering how Chris/ALex left such an impression on everyone he met however briefly. His life may have been short, however, he stirred some to action and others he inspired to think more deeply on life. He determined to venture to Alaska to live according to his ideals and ultimately surrendered his life to the wild. He will not be forgotten.

The true story of what is known about the life, death and journey of the young college graduate Chris McCandless as he leaves the security of his family and hitchhikes across the country and into the Alaskan wilderness to find (in my opinion) himself and the true meaning of life and happiness. Unfortunately, he is unprepared for life in the wild and is believed to have died of starvation in August, 1992 only four months into his Alaskan adventure.

A good portion of the book tells of Jon Krakauer's own experiences as well as other explorer's of the past rationalizing why McCandless took this path in life.

A good mystery to discuss at book clubs.

Ein junger, gebildeter Mann aus wohlhabenden Verhältnisse verlässt nach seinem Collegeabschluss seine Heimat auf nimmer Wiedersehen und (noch schlimmer) Wiederhören und versucht sich von den Lasten der Zivilisation zu befreien. Gibt Wagen, Geld und gute Ratschläge auf und wird zu einem Hobo. Klingt wie eine moderne Version vom Leben eines Taugenichts, denn letztlich wird ihm seine Naivität zum Verhängnis und statt mit und von der Wildnis in Alaska zu leben, wird im die Unkenntnis über die Natur zum Verhängnis, und er verhungert.

Fast schon einwenig zu melodramatisch, wenn es Fiktion wäre. Aber nun ist dies Chris McCandless mit 24 Jahren im Jahr 1992 genauso passiert. Nachdem der Journalist Krakauer in einem Outdoor-Magazin kurz darauf über diesen tragischen Tod berichtet, überschlagen sich die Leserbriefe in der Redaktion. Die Einen halten den selbst ernannten Aussteiger für einen der größten Abenteuerer, für die Anderen ist er ein blauäugiger Spinner. Im darauffolgenden Jahr begibt sich Krakauer auf Spurensuche, beginnend von der Kindheit in Virginia, bis zum Auszug nach Kalifornien, wo Chris einige Leute kennenlernt, die sich für den redegewandten, höflichen jungen Mann begeistern, ein Stück seines Weges ihn begleiten und sich dann ihn erinnern, als die Todesnachricht durch die Presse geht. Von Chris selbst gibt es nur wenige Briefe, Postkarten und kurze Tagebucheinträge. Ansonsten schafft es der Autor, ein ziemlich detailliertes Bild auf der Grundlage seiner Gespräche mit Weggefährten von McCandless zu zeichnen.

Interessant sind vor allem zwei Kapitel, die von Krakauers eigenen Ambitionen im Extrembergsport als junger Mann berichten. Auch der Autor setzte sich der Todesgefahr aus, als er im Alleingang einen schier unbezwingbaren Berg in Alaska bei Schnee- und Eisregen bestieg. Krakauer will Verständnis gewinnen bei seiner Leserschaft für sein und McCandless' Verhalten gegenüber der Todesgefahr, doch dieser Vergleich hinkt, denn Krakauer war sehr wohl gut vorbereitet und ausgestattet bei seinem Alleingang. McCandless ist dagegen ein Träumer, dessen Ehrgeiz jegliche Warnhinweis der lokalen Bevölkerung überdeckte. Obwohl das Buch hervorragend aufgebaut und geschrieben ist, bleibt somit ein übler Nachgeschmack bei mir haften aufgrund der Ignoranz der beschriebenen Hauptfigur. Insbesondere der Rückblick auf seine Eltern, die er über Jahre im Ungewissen ließ, wo er sich auf der Welt befand, stieß mich vollkommen ab. Wahrscheinlich weil ich einen Sohn im gleichen Alter habe, der sich auch nur sporadisch bei seinen Eltern meldet, nachdem er ausgezogen ist. Nichts, was die Eltern McCandless angetan haben mit ihrer Erziehung, rechtfertigt sein selbstverliebtes Verhalten. Im Buch wird er immer wieder als unterhaltsamer und geselliger Mensch beschrieben. Das steht aber im Widerspruch zu seinem Narzissmus, der es ihm noch nicht mal ermöglichte, seiner geliebten Schwester oder engeren Freunde zu erzählen, wie es ihm ging und wo er sich befindet.

Fazit: Eine gute Aufarbeitung eines tragischen Falls von Selbstüberschätzung. Leider kann dieses Buch eventuell jungen Menschen als Inspiration für einen eigenen Ausstieg dienen. Hier ist der Autor zu sehr selbst vom Fernweh, der rauen Natur und dem Extremsport fasziniert, um dies ausreichend kritisch zu würdigen. Daher gibt es einen Stern Abzug. Das Buch hat mich bewegt. Auf jeden Fall ist es sehr lesenswert.

"A opinião prevalecente no Alasca defendia que McCandless não passava de mais um miúdo inexperiente, sonhador e irresponsável que se aventurou na floresta à espera de encontrar respostas para todos os seus problemas e que em vez disso apenas se deparou com mosquitos e uma morte solitária. Ao longo dos anos, dúzias de marginais têm penetrado no Alasca para nunca mais voltar. Poucos permaneceram na memória colectiva do estado."

Já conhecia a história de Chris McCandless, já que não permaneceu apenas na memória do 49.° estado americano. No entanto, é sempre impressionante seguir os passos do jovem até aos seus momentos finais. Neste livro há testemunhos das pessoas que o conheceram e lhe deram boleia, trabalho, dormida. Vidas que ele tocou.

Faz-me sempre impressão vidas que acabam demasiado cedo, - Chris só tinha 24 anos -, pois penso no tanto que ainda teriam para andar neste vasto mundo. Mais impressão me faz que tenha sido de uma forma desnecessária, mas, como diz o senhor Ken Sleight, que investigou o desaparecimento de outro jovem no Alasca:

"- Everett era estranho - informa Sleight. - Um bocado diferente. Mas ele e McCandless pelo menos tentaram seguir o sonho que tinham. Isso é que era admirável neles. Tentaram. Não há muitos que o façam."