anyone ever read this book, i had to read it for english & i thought it ended up being a really cool book, especially compared to most the crap they make us read in school.
I probably would have read a lot more in school had my instructors presented material like this. It was a fast read and very engrossing. Certainly wouldn't praise him like he's a hero, but you've gotta admire how he stuck to his beliefs. Just saw the movie last weekend. They did a pretty good job with it. Seems that it's only showing in select theaters.
I'm reading the book right now, I havnt got too far into it yet, but people tell me it's inspiering, I cant wait to read more, I look forward for seeing the film to afterwards..
Great book. I'm a fan of the Werner Herzog documentary "Grizzly Man" -- it's about a very different guy, but has a lot of the same themes of men from American suburbia trying to find meaning in their lives in the Alaskan wilderness, only to die in it. Personally, tho, I prefer Krakauer's "Into Thin Air," which is incredibly dramatic & really goes head-on at the idea of tourists treating extreme wilderness like a theme park.
Thats the best book I have ever read so far. I have read it twice already and im on my third. The movie was really cool, too.
I actually just finished this book the other day. It was really quite fantastic. Alex's/Chris's end was really so tragic. To think, if he had just found the tram he would have lived to see another day. I saw the movie awhile ago, but, as usual, preferred the book.
Into the Wild is probably one of the greatest transcendentalist books ever written. i could go on for hours about this book. i'll spare you guys for now, of course, but if anyone would like to chat about this book, or any others, let me know
I was quite impressed by the book. I was frightened to pick it up for months after I had bought it for fear that it wouldn't live up to the hype that friends and family have lent to it, but once I did pick it up I couldn't put it down for three days. Its the only book i've read in a long time to inspire some pretty awesome feelings within me, and its one of the only books I would consider reading again, and again, and again.
I'm fairly fond of Krakauer's writing, and a friend wrote a song based on the story, so I did eventually get a copy. I think the story of a young man who was really into the denial/purity trip was well told.
i must say, this is one of my favorite books. I got it one day, and in that one day i read the entire book. It took a matter of hours, but i finished it. That was the most interesting book I've read in quite sometime.
I found it to be inspiring that Alex Supertramp had the fucking balls to get up and leave the rat-race. IMO getting off the gird is talked about a lot here at Hip Forums but few have the character to do it. What shocks me about Alex is that he made several crucial mistakes. If his compassion for being a vagabond was any indication of his planning one would believe that he is still alive today. But we all know he isn't. I was very shocked that he did not research and understand more about living in the wild. Given the early state of 1990's internet he still prepared poorly. Having read a few books and having good intentions does not guarantee sucess...something he found out the hard way. The movie of his story will surly make the book and living off the grid a more popular idea for times to come. Good.
I thought it was a great book, inspiring and interesting, such a shame he didnt make it and misjudged the difficulty of the task i think, the film was also a good watch. im looking to read into thin air as well......has anyone read it, and is it as good?
Very inspiring book, the movie is good as well but people need to read the book prior to watching the film.
Into the Wild was an inspiring book indeed. Reading it has had a huge impact on my life perspective to this day and has sparked an interest in adventure that I have found irresistible. I feared ,before I read all the other responses, that it was gonna be a thread on McCandless bashing that I have seen all too much. I am happy to say that I was wrong you all have such open and interesting outlooks.
I liked the book, but definitely didn't find the idea of someone wandering off into the bush and dying to be inspiring. Yes, he stuck to most of his convictions, and yes, he actually went out and DID something, as opposed to a lot of people, but he did it very poorly. If he would have made it on his own in the wild for a couple of years and bear ate him or something, it would be different... but he didn't. He wandered into the bush to get away from everything and to live off the land, and then moved into an empty bus he found that people used as a way station? He lived there (benefiting from others efforts by taking over the bus as a home) for 113 days and died of starvation... what is inspiring about that?
Maybe the sense of adventure and freedom? Is it truly difficult for you to see why someone would find a guy like McCandless inspiring? Sounds like you're just trying to be difficult. Thousands of the masses are inspired by the acts of, in my opinion, completely insignificant people. To name a few: Brittany spears, Kanye West, Soulja Boy.
Do I find it difficult to understand why going out in the bush and starving to death is inspiring? As I said, yes... I guess if you believe the line that death is a great adventure, then yes, I could see that being inspiring to you. You want to be inspired by someone? Look at the guy in Utah LIVING in a cave on no money. Look at the people who moved to the wild north and LIVED, and are still there, LIVING. Look through the forums here at the people who instead of talking about doing something, went out and started doing it and are still ALIVE doing it... Those are the people who are inspiring. Not those who die from their silly choices...
