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Biography & Memoir· United States

Into the Wild

by Jon Krakauer
Aggregate Editorial Score40/100
Goodreads Choice Award
Published 1996284 pagesEnglish
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About This Book

Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer is a landmark work of biography & memoir, first published in 1996. Christopher McCandless, after graduating from college, gave away his savings, abandoned his car, and hitchhiked to Alaska to live in the wilderness—and starved to death four months later. Krakauer's reconstruction of his journey is a meditation on the romance of the wild and the deadly gap between dream and reality. Themes of wilderness, freedom, youth run through the work. The book has received recognition from Goodreads Choice Award 1996.

Book Details

AuthorJon Krakauer
Published1996
Country of Origin🇺🇸 United States
LanguageEnglish
Pages284
Category✍️ Biography & Memoir
ISBN9780385486804
Editorial Score40/100
About the Category

✍️ Biography & Memoir

True accounts of real lives, told by the subject or a biographer.

Explore all Biography & Memoir books →
Country of Origin

🇺🇸 United States

This book is part of United States's rich literary tradition.

Explore books from United States →

Editorial Assessment

First published in 1996, Jon Krakauer's Into the Wild is a work of biography & memoir that has drawn sustained interest from critics and prize committees alike. Its engagement with wilderness, freedom, youth, Alaska gives the book a depth that extends well beyond its genre. Among its recognitions: Goodreads Choice Award 1996. With an editorial score of 40/100 drawn from 1 independent sources, the book occupies a well-documented position in the critical literature. Its recognition spans international prizes, "best of" lists, and academic surveys. Readers coming to Into the Wild for the first time will find a work that rewards patience. The book's handling of wilderness, freedom, youth, Alaska is layered rather than didactic, and a second reading often reveals dimensions the first pass only hinted at. Jon Krakauer's role in the literature of United States is well established. Into the Wild can be read as both a standalone achievement and as part of a broader national literary conversation about identity, history, and the possibilities of narrative form.
About this assessment: Editorial scores are aggregated from 1 independent sources including major literary prizes, critical surveys, and leading publications. Our editorial team reviews and contextualises this data. Rankings reflect critical consensus, not personal opinion or popularity metrics. Learn about our methodology.

Awards & Recognition

Goodreads Choice Award
notable · global
199615
✍️
About the Author
Jon Krakauer
United States
View Author →

Jon Krakauer is a celebrated author from United States known for influential works of biography memoir.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is Into the Wild about?

Christopher McCandless, after graduating from college, gave away his savings, abandoned his car, and hitchhiked to Alaska to live in the wilderness—and starved to death four months later. Krakauer's reconstruction of his journey is a meditation on the romance of the wild and the deadly gap between dream and reality.

Who wrote Into the Wild?

Into the Wild was written by Jon Krakauer, from United States. First published in 1996.

What awards has Into the Wild won?

Into the Wild has received the following awards and honours: Goodreads Choice Award 1996.

Is Into the Wild worth reading?

Into the Wild is a book that has earned critical recognition, with an aggregate editorial score of 15/100 on 50 Best Books, based on mentions across 1 editorial source. It is particularly recommended for readers interested in wilderness, freedom, youth.

Where can I buy Into the Wild?

You can buy Into the Wild on Amazon. Click the Buy on Amazon button above to find the best edition.

What category is Into the Wild?

Into the Wild is classified as Biography & Memoir. True accounts of real lives, told by the subject or a biographer.

What country is Into the Wild from?

Into the Wild originates from United States's literary tradition. Explore more books from United States on our country page.

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