BootsnAll Travel Community

Has anyone on this board read this book, by John Krakeur?? I read it about a year ago, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was so bittersweet, but joyful, and it invoked a rather fearful emotion in me, because I could *totally* relate to the guy in the book. Not that I would ever head out on a trek like he did, but rather I could relate to why he felt compelled to do it...

Just thought I'd create a post on this book, because the book is about a guy like many of the people on this board -- idealistic, ambitious, true to himself, following his passions...

Lynn

Read it about two months ago. It was such a quick read (an afternoon for me) but it gave me so many things to think about. It especially made me contemplate the reasons for why I travel and do what I do, and whether or not I can justify the urges that live inside of me. I really liked how Krakauer wrote in the inquisitive journalist style and was objective in his reasonings for why Alex did what he did.

What did make me mad is that he died in the end, sort of makes you think.

I think I'm going to spell out Saint Paul in my profile, so it matches with the rest of all of yours.

I loved Krakauer's objectivity as well; you could tell he was really trying to get at the essence of Alex -- and he didn't [often] push his own assumptions out there, but rather laid out the facts and let us draw our own conclusions. The worst part was reading the journal entries, though...you could almost feel the pain he was in, and just how tragic it was.

Yeah, as far as the death goes...it's true that Alex made a few 'little' mistakes that could have prevented it completely -- but it's also true that no matter how intelligent a person is, he will have errors in judgement from time to time, and he's not going to be on top of everything at every single moment in his life. I KNOW something like that could happen to me; not the same circumstance, but just the 'little mistakes' thing, blowing into something entirely unforseen. It does make you think.

Lynn

I loved this book. Growing up, I always wanted to run away into the woods and live off the land. It was very interesting to hear about someone my age who actually did it - and failed. Really, just a good book for any post-college graduate with a lot of ambition and no direction...

After I read Into the Wild, I went right back to the library and checked out (a boyhood favorite) Gary Paulsen's Hatchet. I needed some reassurance (albeit fictional) that I can still pull it off someday!

Jon Krakauer has written some great adventure books! Haven't yet read one that I didn't like.

Krakauer is excellent. I read this book quickly too..it was impossible to put down. Really good stuff.

I like Under The Banner of Heaven better. But I'm weird like that.

I read Into the Wild a few years ago.
It's well-written and certainly kept my interest throughout. But since I've never had a desire to try to make it all by myself while roughing in in the wild I couldn't relate to Alex on a personal level like others of you have commented.

I'm currently half way through Krakauers Under the Banner of Heaven and think it's very good. And of course Into Thin Air was mesmerizing!