Into the WildInto the Wild
Score Modern
What it's about
In April 1992, a twenty-four-year-old from the Washington, D.C., suburbs named Chris McCandless walked into the Alaska wilderness with a small rifle and a ten-pound bag of rice. Four months later, his body was found by a moose hunter. Jon Krakauer tells how he came to die, and why.
Why it's worth reading
It's one of the most widely read works of nonfiction about wilderness and adventure.
You'll love it if you liked
Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mount Everest Disaster
Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail
A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian TrailGood to know
It became a 2007 film. Readers debate whether McCandless was brave or reckless.
By the numbers
- Readers38 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller35 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #251 of the 290 memoirs and biographies we rank
- #1208 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #2228 of the 2,816 books we rank
Reads as
True story, Adventurous
More by Jon Krakauer
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Quick answers
Is Into the Wild worth reading?
Yes. It's one of the most widely read works of nonfiction about wilderness and adventure. It ranks #2,228 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 61.5 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Into the Wild about?
In April 1992, a twenty-four-year-old from the Washington, D.C., suburbs named Chris McCandless walked into the Alaska wilderness with a small rifle and a ten-pound bag of rice. Four months later, his body was found by a moose hunter. Jon Krakauer tells how he came to die, and why.
How long does it take to read Into the Wild?
About 6 hours (228 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Into the Wild?
If you liked it, try Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mount Everest Disaster by Jon Krakauer, Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed or A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail by Bill Bryson.