Into The Wild by Jon Krakauer

Into The Wild by Jon Krakauer

Rating: 5 out of 5

About the author:

Jon Krakauer has been so far my most favourite author. It is not because he writes about adventures - and, I love adventures and also, reading them. But because he lived a more adventurous life. For me, surfing, mountaineering, scuba-diving and so forth aren't adventurous enough. For me, adventures means taking on whatever it is, not going searching for troubles. It is some like camping in the woods, travelling by hithing, etc. Jon Krakauer, himself, has spent his life as a hitch hikers. After that, under the pressure of his spouse, he wrote many articles for the magazine Outdoors and many other magazines.

About the story:

It is the story of a boy, named Christopher McCandless, just done with his graduation. It is the story if his attempt to live. To experience the inexperienced. Deeply disturbed by his parents' relationship and clashes in them, he walks off on to the road. He hitchhikes all across America and finally, to Alaska, where he lives for 119 days and unfortunately, breathes his last.

He had given $25,000 in savings to charity, abandoned his car and most of his possessions, burned all the cash in his wallet, and invented a new life for himself.

En route to Alaska, he meets many people, who influence his life and are influenced by his life. The love he possessed for the wilderness is entirely wonderful.

Many critics claimed that he was so foolish - to just walk off into the wilderness without enough knowledge - and ruthless - because, he didn't think twice before abandoning his parents and sister. But when I first started reading the book, I, not at once, thought him as fool. Instead I admired the man for his courage. Not everyone can follow their dreams so obediently. After reading this book, my life, which seemed aimless till then, completely changed. I have always loved outdoors. But in a country like India, outdoors persons are treated like a nutcase. 

"Who wants to leave the comforts of a house and venture into the woods to experience life, wilderness, except for a maniac?" they say. Yeah, that seems practical enough. But free minds never ask these kind of questions to themselves. First of all, they mightn't have the answer for questions like those. Even if they had, they wouldn't care to explain others. Pursuing ones dream is not madness.

Apart from Chris's story, the author compares himself with Chris. He writes about his journey and adventures.

He also writes about the people who have ventured into the wilderness and met the same, unfortunate end like Chris's.

If someone asks me, "What is your most favourite book?" or "What is the best book you've ever read?" I would answer the next moment they asked the question, "Into the wild."

This book has changed my life. My vision about everything changed. The way I look at things in life changed. All credits to this very book, which I am now holding in my hand, writing the review.

I would recommend this book to everyone. To every single human being to read.

P.S.: After reading this book, watch the movie, 'Into The Wild'. I certify that you will weep. I did cry, afterall.