What readers think of Into The Wild, plus links to write your own review.

Into the Wild is an essential item on the shelf of every non-fiction enthusiast. It is a story of Chris McCandless, his life, and his tragic death at the hands of the Alaskan wilderness. The author, Jon Krakauer, uses every possible technique to give light to an epic tale of adventure, risk, and peril. I recommend this book on the basis of Krakauer’s brilliant style and dedication, and a story that will leave the reader in a retrospective trance.
   For every person who has immersed themselves in nature or plans on doing so must have insight into the life of Chris McCandless. A fascinating story involving an even more compelling subject makes Into the Wild a frustratingly hard book to put down. The story gives insight into the psychology of McCandless’s life and the adventure that took it from him. Fueled by resentment and a passion to follow his own path, he fled a wealthy family and college education for life on the road. After a three-year journey through North America McCandless saved the best for last; the grand finale of a summer deep in the Alaskan bush, just a man and nature. After extensive research, references and opinions, the author documents the physical and arguable mental mistakes that led him into the bush, and prevented him from coming out.
   Although the tale itself is captivating, Jon Krakauer’s use of unambiguous style and tone reveals in full extent the enigma of Chris McCandless, and creates a premise that enables the reader come to their own conclusions. One example of Krakauer’s advanced literary style is the enthralling usage of allusions to give the reader a broader spectrum of McCandless’s personality. Although Krakauer strives to stay factual and unbiased, giving personal allusions convinces the reader of the author’s credibility and passion for the story. The tone of his writing is straightforward and slightly sympathetic, coupled with a low level of constant suspense. At the end of the story the reader is well aware that the death of McCandless and the overall complexity of his mind is still somewhat of a mystery, and is up for discussion.
   Another reason for recommending Into the Wild is how dedicated the author is in giving the reader the full story, and the different angles in which people analyze it. Extensive research is an understatement in describing Jon Krakauer’s style of approach. Unlike many non-fiction novels, it would be unnecessary for the reader to find more factual information on the story. Jon Krakauer realized that the beauty of the story is that it is up to the reader to finalize the life and death of Chris McCandless. By giving insight into all aspects of Chris’s personality, and most extensively the few years before his peril, Krakauer is solely giving the reader the complete background information for a unique, personal hypothesis.
   For all people who enjoy any type of captivating story I would highly recommend Jon Krakauer’s, Into the Wild. Through exceptional use of literary style and tone, and a truly captivating tale of tragedy and adventure, the novel exceeds expectations. The story of Chris McCandless is one that we can all relate to, and will lead any reader to re evaluate their decisions in life.

I had to read this book for a summer assignment for school and I thought it was horrible. I can't understand McCandless' motives for wanting to wander off into the wilderness all alone with no knowledge on how to survive. He seems very unintelligent to me. He had been book smart in school and very passionate about different causes so why did he feel the need to escape the real world? I also have a problem with the way the book was written. The author skips from one topic to the next. One chapter, he's died. The next, he's working at a Burger joint. After that, we tour his childhood. Then, he's dying. There is no chronological order and the flow of the story is choppy and hard to follow. I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone. Don't suffer like I had to!!!

I read this books when it was originally published and although I have ready many, many books, to this day I still vividly remember the story of this young man as if it was yesterday. I have read all 3 of Krakauer's books and find them incredibly interesting, especially since they are true stories and very informative. Like other reviwers I am not adventurous at all but I really enjoyed this book and became emotionally attached to this young man and highly recommend it.

I don't read much books.. but this book is amazing. McCandless is an unforgettable young man.

Those of us dogmushers and homesteaders from interior Alaska, who have read Jons book, have dubbed its "hero" the "Bozo in the Bus". One can go out into the wilderness, experience it, and live to tell the tale. We may not get a book written about us, but we don't get to die in some smelly, stinky metal coffin lying in our own piss and poop.
I remember passing the bus a year or so after he died, while traveling up the Stampede Trail with my dogteam. I envisaged lettering it with:"Send us your stupid, your dreamers, your vain".....

Nice writing job John! I look forward to more of your stuff.

I just happened to stumble on this book when I was looking for a book to analyze for a college psychology class. The story was very interesting to me being a true life account. There are as many mysteries as there are answers to his behaviors. I'm not an outdoors type of person but i really enjoyed the story. I would definitely recommend this to others.

This was a very engrossing book, and I've read it twice already. You know Chris was wrong to do what he did, and probably unstable, but you still understand why he did it. Maybe there's a little of Chris in a lot of us-- the romantic adventurer. Or maybe we have someone like Chris in our own families. Whatever it is, I found this very moving. Knowing upfront that he died made it even more poignant and frustrating at the same time. Excellent book, not harrowing like Into Thin Air, but almost as personal. I'll keep reading Jon Krakauer's books.

This book was very confusing and unorganized. The author jumps around the plot line. In the beginning we find out McCandless died but he keeps retelling his story throughout the whole book.