Book Review: Into The Wild

Into the Wild, by Jon Krakauer, is about a young man, Chris McCandless, who goes into the wilderness of Alaska to live off the land. Tragically, Chris dies a few months into his odyssey. I'm not quite sure what compelled me to pick up this book, but when I read the following passage from a letter Chris wrote to a friend, I felt as tho it explained why I have such a strong desire to travel:

"So many people live within unhappy circumstances and yet will not take the initiative to change their situation because they are conditioned to a life of security, conformity, and conservatism, all of which may appear to give one peace of mind, but in reality nothing is more damaging to the adventurous spirit within a man than a secure future. The very basic core of a man's living spirit is his passion for adventure. The joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences, and hence there is no greater joy than have an endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a new and different sun. ... Don't settle down and sit in one place. Move around, be nomadic, make each day a new horizon."

It may not hold true for everyone, but it certainly is for me. My apparent attempt at settling down really is nothing more than an attempt investing wisely so as to allow me to travel in the future. That's not to say that I am entirely like Chris. Pick up the book to find out more about him. There is also a movie out based on the book if you prefer. I haven't seen it but would like to. The book is pretty easy reading though.