Into the Wild Summary

Into the wild was written by John Krakauer to spread awareness of the life and death of Christopher McCandless, a man who Krakauer believes is under acknowledged for his brave journey. Krakauer was interested in the thought process behind Chris' decision to withdraw from society to a life of traveling and solitude as well as his travels and experiences afterwards. Into the Wild delves into Chris' life and experiences, telling his story in a non linear, investigative way.

Chris came from a wealthy family, but "rebelled" against the social status and lifestyle his parents "forced" upon him. After college, Krakauer informed his parents the he planned to travel, packed up his car, and started driving across the country. Chris traveled all around the US, stopping in North Dakota, California, Arizona and other places for periods of time, never staying long enough to create firm roots, but almost always making friends. Krakauer focuses how Chris's affected that people he met and their love for him, showing that Chris was a wanderer who made profound impacts on the people he met, though he died alone in the wilderness. The book ends with the description of his last days, taking refuge in a decrepit bus abandoned in the forest, eventually dying of starvation.