Into the Wild book review

Top 3 Quotes

Unlike Muir and Thoreau, McCandless went into the wilderness not primarily to ponder nature or the world at large but, rather, to explore the inner country of his own soul…an extended stay in the wilderness inevitably directs one’s attention outward as much as inward, and it is impossible to live off the land without developing both a subtle understanding of, and a strong emotional bond with, that land and all it holds. pg 183

It is easy, when you are young, to believe that what you desire is no less than what you deserve, to assume that if you want something badly enough, it is your God-given right to have it. When I decided to go to Alaska that April…I was a raw youth who mistook passion for insight and acted according to an obscure, gap-ridden logic. I thought climbing the Devils Thumb would fix all that was wrong with my life. In the end, of course, it changed almost nothing. But I came to appreciate that mountains make poor receptacles for dreams. And I lived to tell my tale. pg 155

Regarding these monks: “The papar risked their lives…not in the pursuit of wealth or personal glory or to claim new lands in the the name of any dsesopot. These remarkable voyages were…undertaken chiefly from the wish to find lonely places, where these anchorites might dwell in peace, undisturbed by the turmoil and temptations of the world” When the first handful of Norwegians showed upon the shores of Iceland in the ninth century, the papr decided the country had become too crowded- even though it was still all but uninhabited. the monks’ response twas to climb into their curraghs and row off toward Greenland. They were drawn across the storm-racked ocean, drawn west past the edge of the known world, by nothing more than a hunger of the spirit, a y earning of such queer intensity that it beggars the modern imagination

3 Sentence Summary

1. The author tells the story of Chris McCandless through weaving journal entries, stories from people who’ve encountered him during his expedition, and through the literary books that Chris himself may have found inspiration from.
2. A story of exploring life’s meaning in the wilderness and why it matters
3. An thorough explanation of the ripple effect of grief and love that one death can have an impact on.

Author’s Purpose

To use this tragedy as a backdrop, while mirroring his own experiences in the nature, to explain the power of nature, our relationship with it, and ultimately why it has such a poetic draw to not just people like Chris McCandless but also John Muir, and Everett Ruess.

To me it’s another story about trauma, and ones tragic journey in trying to heal from it, and ending up costing his life.

Important Ideas

_“Perhaps strength doesn’t reside in having never been broken, but in the courage required to grow strong in the broken places.”- Kristen Jongen, Growing Wings [[Quotes]]

• After doing some research myself and hearing Carine McCandless talk about her experience with domestic violence and the “hidden truth” behind why Chris did what he did, it’s important to recognize that it’s not a story of someone suffering from mental health, but rather someone trying to heal form it
• The nature can heal, but it is also cruel. It takes just as it gives.

Personal Revelation

• I hate that all these stories all relate to some kind of trauma as sometimes I don’t want more confirmation bias around some kind of trauma response as the basis of a lot of these stories I hear (including my own) but it continues to validate why it’s so important to do this spiritual work.
• Only until we address this underlying issue, can we truly begin to realize that we are actually helping someone truly become the best version of themself.

Future Plans

• His courage is inspiring, and I’m reminded how much I also crave for a proximity closer to nature.
• I want to be able to have adventures where I understand this inexplicable beauty that draws people like Chris, and what they were able to learn through venturing these lands.