Over a year ago, I read the book Into the Wild by John Krakauer. Just recently, I saw the movie. Both were excellent, and I also really liked the soundtrack to the movie, performed entirely by Eddie Vedder. Both detail the last few years of Christopher McCandless’s life, in the early nineties. They explain how he, after graduating college, bails out of society, donating his money to charity, burning his IDs and SS card, and begins hitchhiking across the country with nothing more than what he can carry on his back. He eventually ends up going to Alaska, where he attempts to survive in the wilderness, but misidentifies a plant which is poisonous, and eats it. Eventually, he starves to death.
What do you guys think of the book and movie?
What do you think of Chris’s actions? He may have been reckless, but he believed in something, and went out there and lived it to the fullest.
Was he just a product of his upbringing? A little bit insane?
Searched for threads on this topic, didn’t find any.
I can appreciate what he was trying to do but he was a fool in how he went about it.
I agree with Jeff. He was so intent on not getting help from other people yet when he came to the bus all he did was live there. It seems to me that if he didn’t want help from others he would have burned the bus or done something else besides live there. He could have taken a map and then just not used it until he absolutely needed it.
I guess I pretty much agree with you guys. I think what he did was, for the most part, incredible. It took a lot of conviction and commitment. If I sit here and try to think about actually giving up all I own, bailing out of society and burning all my personal documents, I can really appreciate how determined this guy really was.
I definitely do agree though, that he was too reckless, and didn’t plan things out. He might’ve also overestimated his abilities.Too much action, not enough thought.
I think with a lot of people, though, the opposite is true: too much thought, not enough action. I’m one of those people.
Thanks for making this thread!!! I disagree with everyone so far.
Christopher McCandless lived his life, his way, no problem.
Too many people don’t even live their life, into their 90’s. What’s the value in that? Like filling your apartment with LOTS more crap than your neighbor, crap your family tosses out when you die.
He didn’t subscribe to the “He who dies with the most toys wins” philosophy which predominates Western society.
Who here hasn’t made regretable mistakes?
Who here has the courage to wake up from their coma, to open your own eyes, look out of your own head from your personal point of view? And live a life, fully based on that.
Who here is actually even in contact with your own personal point of view? Who here can manage to crystalize a point of view, apart from the media poison that starves us all, if we eat it? Christopher McCandless refused to eat from that newspaper spoon that poisons YOU. His soul was fully nourished.
Christopher McCandless is all of us, if we can risk it.
BillyTheMountain
I’m pretty sure I agree with you in this case, Billy, but I feel like if I were him, I might’ve spent some more time at the library before and during all his adventures. I feel like he could have been better prepared to endure survival in the wilderness.
For the moment, Billy, I’m going to assume you read the newspaper, or watch the news. Correct me if I’m wrong.
Why does the news poison me, and not you? Or are you poisoned, too? I don’t mean to sound defensive, I honestly want to hear your point of view.
I admire Chris McCandless’s actions, but I can’t say that I would be willing to completely drop out of society completely, as I feel a responsibility toward other people.
Cool!
Neither Chris McCandless nor I recommend you follow our paths, or drop out of society. Make your own path!
Chris McCandless read the newspaper too, and got his college degree. But it didn’t put him to sleep or poison him. It need not poison you, either.
I read the book, and I really wanted to see the move but I missed it in theaters 
So, when is it going to come out on DVD so I can finally watch it?
(or is it already out and I’ve been completely oblivious to it?)
It’s out. I just bought it and watched it.