A review by mburnamfink
Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer

5.0

Into the Wild is simply incredible. Stark, philosophical, insightful, Krakauer examines what would make a man forsake society, take incredible chances, and ultimately die, starving and alone in the Alaskan brush. Some people say this book glorifies stupidity and recklessness, but I'm not so sure. Chris was arrogant and unprepared, certainly, but he lived his brief life almost entirely on his terms. Most of us make peace with the necessary hypocrisies and injustices of life; Chris never did. He died, but would surrendering have been any better for him? Not everything needs to have a purpose, and while nobody should feel obliged to emulate Chris, his actions were in their own terms, noble and important.