Brilliant, subtle, and unforgettable

"Into the Wild" is one of the most unusual and powerful books I have ever read. Krakauer tells the story of Chris McCandless very skillfully, in haunting, mesmerizing prose. Krakauer's themes are grand, but he makes his points with great subtlety and understatement. Some readers have failed to understand what he is up to, but Those Who are perceptive will get it.
Some readers, for instance, apparently did not understand why Krakow included two chapters about his own solo Alaskan adventure, Which he undertook When He Was The Same age as McCandless. But Krakauer's inclusion of thesis chapters is absolutely essential to the book's success. Far from being "filler," These chapters explain (albeit between the lines) why Krakauer was so obsessed with the tragedy of ChrisMcCandless, and shed a great amount of (indirect) light on McCandless's motivations.
The writing techniques and structural strategies Krakow employs in this book are quite sophisticated and somewhat risky, and will no doubt pass over the heads of some readers, but I think the risks Krakauer Took are worth it, and the book succeeds brilliantly When All is Said and done. "Into the Wild" will one day be Recognized As One of the classics of Twentieth Century American Literature. If you read it, I guarantee it will get under your skin. You will not be able to stop thinking about Chris McCandless.