the stranger in the woods essay

The Stranger in the Woods: The Extraordinary Story of the Last True Hermit

Introduction

Welcome to a journey through the serene and mysterious pages of “The Stranger in the Woods: The Extraordinary Story of the Last True Hermit” by Michael Finkel. 🌲📚 This book takes us deep into the heart of Maine’s dense forests, where Christopher Knight, also known as the North Pond Hermit, lived in solitude for 27 years, completely detached from modern society.

Michael Finkel, an accomplished journalist and author, brings us this intriguing story that blurs the lines between solitude and society, raising profound questions about the nature of happiness and the place of individuality in our world. 🌍✨ Published in 2017, this non-fiction work is a blend of biography , social analysis, and a meditation on the allure of solitude and the difficulties of reintegration into society.

Genre-wise, the book sits comfortably at the intersection of biography , true crime (considering the means Knight survived by), and philosophical inquiry. Finkel’s narrative not only chronicles the life of the hermit but also explores the societal boundaries that define our understanding of a fulfilling life.

So, if you’re ready for an expedition into the depths of human solitude and resilience, “The Stranger in the Woods” is your beckoning path into the unknown. Let’s dive in! 🚶‍♂️🌲

Plot Summary

“The Stranger in the Woods: The Extraordinary Story of the Last True Hermit” by Michael Finkel presents a captivating journey into the life of Christopher Knight, who at the age of 20, decided to walk away from society and lived in solitude for nearly three decades in the Maine woods.

Exposition — The book opens with the mysterious existence of Christopher Knight, known to the locals around North Pond, Maine, as the elusive figure behind a series of minor thefts. For years, food, books, and equipment vanished with no trace, leading to local legends about a ghost or an unseen hermit.

Rising Action — Michael Finkel, intrigued by Knight’s story after his arrest in 2013, begins corresponding with him while he is in jail. Through these letters and interviews, Finkel pieces together Knight’s life, exploring his decision to leave society, his survival tactics, and the philosophical and practical aspects of his hermitage. Knight reveals his meticulous methods for surviving the harsh Maine winters, his moral dilemmas over stealing supplies, and his profound reflections on solitude and happiness.

Climax — The climax occurs with Knight’s capture after 27 years of successful evasion. A silent alarm at the Pine Tree Camp, set specifically due to ongoing thefts, finally catches him during one of his rare break-ins. His arrest shocks the local community and captivates the media, bringing an end to the legend of the North Pond Hermit.

Falling Action — After his capture, Knight faces the legal and social consequences of his decades-long hermitage. The process of reintegrating into society, dealing with his newfound notoriety, and the legal proceedings for his thefts represent the book’s falling action . Finkel delves into the challenges Knight faces, from the overwhelming nature of modern society to the public’s fascination with his story .

Resolution — The book concludes with Knight’s attempt to find a balance between his need for solitude and the inevitable requirements of living within society. While he never expresses regret for his time in the woods, he acknowledges the complexities of his return to a world vastly changed. The resolution leaves readers contemplating the value of solitude, the nature of happiness, and the societal constructs that define our lives.

Finkel’s detailed narrative provides a nuanced exploration of Knight’s life, offering insights into the profound solitude that defined the hermit’s existence and the societal reflection his story prompts.

Character Analysis

“The Stranger in the Woods: The Extraordinary Story of the Last True Hermit” is a narrative that orbits primarily around one enigmatic figure, Christopher Knight, with secondary characters that intersect with his life during and after his hermitage. Here’s a deep dive into the main character and the impact of his interactions:

Christopher Knight — Knight is the protagonist , whose life takes a dramatic turn when he decides to live in isolation at the age of 20. His character is marked by introspection, self-sufficiency, and a profound sense of disconnection from the social constructs of the world. Despite his crimes of theft to sustain his solitary life, readers might find themselves empathizing with his quest for peace and understanding his critiques of modern society. Throughout the book, Knight exhibits a complex mix of intelligence, survival skills, and philosophical insights, making him a fascinating study of a person choosing a path less traveled by.

Michael Finkel — Finkel serves both as the author and a character in his narrative . His fascination with Knight’s story prompts him to seek out the hermit, initiating a series of interviews that form the backbone of the book. Finkel’s character is driven by curiosity and a sense of kinship with Knight’s discomfort with societal norms. Through his interactions with Knight, Finkel explores themes of solitude, happiness, and the meaning of connection.

Local Community and Law Enforcement — The people living near North Pond and the law enforcement officers involved in Knight’s case represent society’s perspective . They provide insights into the impact of Knight’s actions on the community, ranging from the violations felt by his thefts to the curiosity and sometimes admiration for his ability to live in the wilderness. Their reactions to Knight’s lifestyle and choices add depth to the narrative , challenging readers to consider the boundaries of societal norms and individual freedom.

Through these characters, Finkel navigates the complexities of solitude, societal judgment, and the human need for connection, making “The Stranger in the Woods” a compelling study of the human condition.

Themes and Symbols

“The Stranger in the Woods: The Extraordinary Story of the Last True Hermit” by Michael Finkel is rich with themes and symbols that delve deep into human nature, society, and the concept of solitude. Here’s an exploration of the major ones:

Solitude vs. Society — The stark contrast between solitude and society is at the heart of Knight’s story . His deliberate choice to live apart from society for nearly three decades raises questions about the value of solitude in a world that highly values social connections. This theme examines what it means to be truly alone, the peace and challenges it brings, and its impact on one’s sense of self and happiness.

The Concept of Freedom — Knight’s story challenges traditional notions of freedom. His isolation in the woods represents a physical and metaphorical detachment from societal norms and expectations, suggesting that true freedom may require sacrificing conventional comforts and connections. This theme invites readers to consider the price of freedom and the forms it can take.

The Nature of Happiness — What makes us truly happy? Knight’s simple, solitary life prompts a reflection on the nature of happiness and how it is often pursued within the context of societal standards. This theme explores whether happiness is a universal concept or if it varies drastically from one individual to another.

Survival and Self-Sufficiency — Knight’s ability to survive harsh winters and maintain a secluded life for decades highlights themes of survival and self-sufficiency. These elements underscore the human capacity to adapt and thrive in extreme conditions, questioning the extent to which modern conveniences are necessary for a fulfilling life.

Theft as a Moral Dilemma — The necessity of theft for Knight’s survival presents a complex moral dilemma . It symbolizes the conflict between his need for solitude and the impact of his actions on others, exploring the grey areas of morality when it comes to survival.

The Woods as a Symbol — The woods, where Knight chooses to live his life of solitude, are a powerful symbol of both freedom and isolation. They represent a refuge from society, a place of peace and self-discovery, but also a barrier to the outside world, emphasizing the thin line between solitude and loneliness.

These themes and symbols weave through Knight’s story , inviting readers to ponder profound questions about life, happiness, and the essence of human connection. Finkel’s narrative skillfully brings these elements to the fore, making “The Stranger in the Woods” a thought-provoking exploration of the human spirit.

Style and Tone

“The Stranger in the Woods: The Extraordinary Story of the Last True Hermit” by Michael Finkel is characterized by a narrative style that is both engaging and introspective, marked by a tone that oscillates between empathetic, contemplative, and occasionally humorous. The way Finkel tells Christopher Knight’s story reflects a deep respect and fascination for the hermit’s life choices, while also considering the broader implications of his solitude on societal norms and individual happiness. Here are key elements of Finkel’s writing style and tone :

• Empathetic and Curious — Finkel approaches Knight’s story with a deep sense of empathy and curiosity. He seeks to understand the motivations behind Knight’s decision to live in isolation and portrays his subject with dignity, avoiding sensationalism.
• Reflective and Philosophical — The narrative often delves into reflective and philosophical territories, prompting readers to ponder the nature of solitude, freedom, and happiness. Finkel interweaves his own musings with Knight’s story , creating a layered exploration of human existence.
• Detailed and Descriptive — Finkel’s attention to detail brings the Maine woods to life, allowing readers to visualize Knight’s hidden camp and feel the harshness of the seasons. This descriptiveness enhances the immersive experience of the narrative .
• Clear and Concise — Despite the complexity of the themes discussed, Finkel’s writing is accessible, with a clear and concise style that makes the book engaging for a wide audience . He distills intricate concepts into understandable insights, making the narrative both informative and thought-provoking.
• Balanced Perspective — Finkel maintains a balanced perspective throughout, presenting Knight’s story without judgment. He explores the moral and ethical dimensions of Knight’s hermitage and the consequences of his thefts, offering a nuanced view of the hermit’s life.
• Use of Interviews and First-hand Accounts — The narrative is enriched by direct quotes from Knight, law enforcement officials, and members of the local community affected by the hermit’s actions. These first-hand accounts provide authenticity and depth to the story .
• Humor and Irony — Occasionally, Finkel employs humor and irony to lighten the narrative or to highlight the absurdities of certain situations, such as the paradoxes of seeking solitude in a world that relentlessly seeks to connect.

Finkel’s writing style and tone play a crucial role in how “The Stranger in the Woods” is received by readers. It allows the audience to deeply connect with Knight’s extraordinary story , offering insights into the human condition that are both profound and accessible.

Literary Devices used in The Stranger in the Woods: The Extraordinary Story of the Last True Hermit

Michael Finkel’s storytelling in “The Stranger in the Woods” is enhanced by his adept use of literary devices that bring depth and nuance to Christopher Knight’s remarkable story . Here are the top 10 literary devices Finkel employs:

• Metaphor — Finkel frequently uses metaphors to draw comparisons between Knight’s solitude and broader concepts, such as likening Knight’s disappearance into the woods to a drop of water being absorbed by the earth. This device enriches the narrative by creating vivid images in the reader’s mind.
• Imagery — Through detailed descriptions of the Maine wilderness, Finkel paints a vivid picture of the setting where Knight lived in isolation. This imagery allows readers to visualize the harsh yet beautiful environment that was Knight’s home for 27 years.
• Simile — Finkel uses similes to make comparisons that illuminate Knight’s experiences and emotions. For example, he compares the silence of the woods to “a blank canvas,” suggesting the purity and potential of Knight’s secluded life.
• Personification — The author personifies the forest and elements within it, giving life to Knight’s surroundings and emphasizing the deep connection between the hermit and his natural habitat.
• Irony — There’s a notable irony in Knight’s quest for solitude leading to his infamy and connection with others through the media and legal system. Finkel skillfully highlights this irony, underscoring the complexities of Knight’s desires versus the outcomes.
• Symbolism — Objects and actions in the book often carry symbolic weight, such as the books Knight steals to read, which symbolize his continued quest for knowledge and connection to the world he left behind.
• Foreshadowing — Finkel uses foreshadowing to hint at future developments in Knight’s story , creating suspense and keeping the reader engaged. This technique is evident in early mentions of the increasing security measures taken by the local community.
• Flashback — The narrative employs flashbacks to Knight’s life before his disappearance, providing background and depth to his character . These glimpses into the past help explain Knight’s motivations and the drastic choice he made.
• Anecdotes — Finkel incorporates anecdotes from people who encountered Knight or were affected by his thefts. These stories add layers to the narrative , showcasing the broader impact of Knight’s hermitage on the community.
• Alliteration — While less prevalent than other devices, Finkel occasionally uses alliteration to add a poetic quality to his prose , enhancing the readability and rhythm of the narrative .

Each of these literary devices contributes to the richness of Finkel’s storytelling, allowing readers to gain a deeper understanding of Christopher Knight’s extraordinary journey into solitude.

Literary Devices Examples

Let’s explore examples and explanations for each of the top 10 literary devices used in “The Stranger in the Woods: The Extraordinary Story of the Last True Hermit” by Michael Finkel.

Personification

Foreshadowing

Alliteration

These examples illustrate how Michael Finkel employs literary devices to deepen the narrative of “The Stranger in the Woods,” allowing readers to engage more fully with Christopher Knight’s extraordinary story .

The Stranger in the Woods: The Extraordinary Story of the Last True Hermit – FAQs

What is the main theme of The Stranger in the Woods? The main theme revolves around solitude and its impact on human psychology and society. It explores the balance between the need for solitude and the inherent social nature of humans, as well as the definition of happiness and fulfillment outside societal norms.

Who is Christopher Knight, and why is he significant? Christopher Knight, also known as the North Pond Hermit, lived in isolation in the Maine woods for 27 years without human contact. His story is significant because it challenges modern society’s perceptions of happiness, solitude, and the necessity of social interaction.

How did Michael Finkel come to write about Christopher Knight? Michael Finkel became fascinated with Knight’s story after reading about his capture in the news. Finkel reached out to Knight while he was in jail, which led to a series of interviews and the development of their unique relationship. This connection formed the basis of the book.

Did Christopher Knight ever explain why he chose to live in isolation? Yes, throughout the book, Knight expresses a deep-seated desire for solitude, stating that he felt more comfortable alone and was never truly satisfied with societal norms and interactions. However, he never provided a single, clear reason for his choice, suggesting a complex interplay of personal inclinations and disillusionment with society.

How did Christopher Knight survive for 27 years in the woods? Knight survived through a combination of meticulous planning, survival skills, and thefts from nearby homes and camps. He stole food, books, and supplies necessary for survival, carefully avoiding detection for nearly three decades.

What were the legal and societal consequences faced by Knight after his arrest? After his arrest, Knight faced multiple charges related to his thefts. Legally, he was required to pay restitution, serve a jail sentence, and complete a community service. Societally, he became a subject of fascination and debate, with some viewing him as a folk hero and others as a common thief.

How does the book address the moral implications of Knight’s thefts? The book explores the moral dilemmas of Knight’s survival strategy, balancing his need for solitude and self-sufficiency against the impact of his thefts on the local community. Finkel presents a nuanced view, allowing readers to ponder the complexities of Knight’s actions without providing definitive judgments.

Has Christopher Knight re-integrated into society since his arrest? The book details Knight’s struggles with reintegration, highlighting the challenges he faces in adjusting to a society that has changed significantly during his time in isolation. While he makes some progress, the book leaves open the question of whether he will ever fully adapt to a conventional social life.

This quiz is designed to test comprehension and understanding of the key aspects of “The Stranger in the Woods: The Extraordinary Story of the Last True Hermit” by Michael Finkel, focusing on Christopher Knight’s motivations, survival methods, the book’s themes, and literary devices used.

In this exercise, you’ll be presented with a paragraph from “The Stranger in the Woods: The Extraordinary Story of the Last True Hermit” by Michael Finkel. Your task is to identify and explain the literary devices used in the excerpt. After attempting the exercise, scroll down to check your answers.

Paragraph for analysis:

“In the heart of the Maine woods, the trees whispered secrets of the wild to anyone patient enough to listen. Knight moved through the forest with the silence of a shadow, his presence barely disturbing the natural order. The moon was his lantern, the stars his guide, and the cold streams his source of sustenance. He was not just living in the wilderness; he was a part of it, a ghostly figure that even the animals seemed to accept as one of their own.”

• Personification: The trees are described as “whispering secrets,” attributing human-like qualities to them and enhancing the mystical connection between Knight and the forest.
• Simile: Knight moving “with the silence of a shadow” compares his stealth to the quietness of a shadow, emphasizing his seamless integration into the wilderness.
• Metaphor: Describing Knight as “a ghostly figure” metaphorically suggests his elusive, almost supernatural presence in the woods, highlighting his profound connection with nature.
• Imagery: The vivid descriptions of the moon, stars, and cold streams create a rich sensory experience, allowing readers to visualize the scene and feel the closeness of Knight’s relationship with his environment.

This exercise aims to deepen your understanding of how literary devices contribute to the narrative’s richness and depth, offering insights into Christopher Knight’s life and the author’s skill in portraying it.

• study guides
• lesson plans
• homework help

The Stranger in the Woods Summary & Study Guide

The Stranger in the Woods Summary & Study Guide Description

The following version of this book was used to create the guide: Finkel, Michael. The Stranger in the Woods: The Extraordinary Story of the Last True Hermit. Knopf, 2017. Hardcover.

Michael Finkel’s non-fiction book is divided into 28 chapters. It describes the life of Christopher Knight who disappeared into the woods of Maine in 1986 at the age of 20. He survived for 27 years through his ingenuity, discipline and material goods he has stolen from nearby cabins in over 1,000 burglaries. In all that time, Knight had one verbal interaction with other people. The book details the experience of Christopher Knight’s capture, how he survived and lived in the woods, and his life after his arrest.

The book reads like an extended feature in simple yet compelling language. Finkel shifts point of view depending on the perspective of the narrative. He ranges from third person point of view to first person point of view to a third person omniscient point of view.

The book opens with Knight, approximately 47 years old, leaving his campsite near the end of winter in 2013 to steal food from nearby cabins. He is near starvation after surviving the winter with what he stole the previous fall. This is how he has survived for the past 27 years. He moves through the woods with incredible precision and skill, managing to leave no footprints and to dodge security lights. When he opens the freezer at Pine Tree Camp, a recently installed alarm is triggered.

Terry Hughes, a Maine Game Warden who has known about Knight’s presence for nearly two decades, has had the alarm installed at Pine Tree Camp. He’s woken by the alarm in the middle of the night. As he gathers his gear to capture Knight, he alerts Diane Vance, a Maine State Trooper who has also been aware of the hermit for two decades.

Hughes apprehends Knight as he’s coming out of Pine Tree. Knight drops his backpack of stolen food and offers no resistance. Vance arrives to make the arrest. Once Knight begins to talk, she is amazed at his willingness to tell the truth.

Finkel introduces the cabin owners’ perspectives. Some have been victims of multiple robberies, others, a couple of robberies. Permanent residents were never robbed. All refer to Knight as the hermit. Reactions vary from thinking the hermit was harmless, to feeling violated and robbed of not only material items, but peace of mind.

The author proceeds through the seven months of Knights’ jail-time before he has a court appearance. Finkel describes the media circus around the capture of the Maine hermit and his own fascination with Knight. Interspersed with Knight’s history and details of how Knight survived, the author recounts his contact with Knight through letters and eventually through personal interviews.

Finkel broadens his scope of examination by talking with experts about personality disorders, the history of solitude in our society, and the scientific need for human contact. Along with the theme of outlier, Finkel explores the definition of insanity, questioning if it is insane to want to escape an insane society.

Near the end of the book, Finkel describes Knight’s trial and sentence which includes one more week in jail, and a year of probation that includes weekly check-ins, psychological counseling, and a $2000 fine.

Finkel describes how Knight returns home to live with his mother, is given a job by his brother, and becomes a model parolee. Finkel encounters Knight one more time at his home, where he sees that Knight is not doing well even though all those around him think he’s adjusting. He talks about death and his experiences of seeing ‘the Lady of the Woods’ one winter when he was close to starvation.

In the last chapter Finkel describes how he panics after realizing Knight might kill himself. Finkel approaches him, Knight refuses further contact. Finkel is left with tracking down Knights’ progress through acquaintances he’s met. Finkel ponders what Knight’s life would have been like if he had never been captured, musing that if there had been no record of him, it could have been a life of pure perfection.

Read more from the Study Guide

FOLLOW BOOKRAGS:

The Stranger in the Woods: The Extraordinary Story of the Last True Hermit

Michael finkel , mark bramhall  ( narrator ).

5 pages, Audio CD

First published March 7, 2017

About the author

Michael Finkel

Ratings & reviews.

What do you think? Rate this book Write a Review

Friends & Following

Community reviews.

“I’d simply shown up--I don’t think any other journalist had, and he knew I lived far away. It would have been rude of him, he felt, to refuse my visit, so he’d accepted it, and then was rude to my face.”

“Urgently important that you leave me alone. Show me respect by leaving me alone. Please. If you appear I will call police. Leave me alone. Please.”

Another decade elapsed. The break-ins at Pine Tree increased with both frequency and quantity of goods stolen. By this point, a quarter century in, the whole thing was absurd. There was the Loch Ness Monster, the Himalayan yeti, and the North Pond hermit.

It's possible that Knight believed he was one of the few sane people left. He was confounded by the idea that passing the prime of your life in a cubicle, spending hours a day at a computer, in exchange for money, was considered acceptable, but relaxing in a tent in the woods was disturbed. Observing the trees was indolent; cutting them down was enterprising. What did Knight do for a living? He lived for a living.

"It's better to be tough than strong, better to be clever than intelligent ... I was tough and clever." — Christopher Knight

“People earnestly say to me here, 'Mr Knight, we have cellphones now, and you're going to really enjoy them.' That's their enticement for me to rejoin society. 'You're going to love it,' they say. I have no desire. And what about a text message? Isn't that just using a telephone as a telegraph? We're going backwards.” ― Michael Finkel, The Stranger in the Woods: The Extraordinary Story of the Last True Hermit”

"The dividing line between himself and the forest, Knight said, seemed to dissolve. His isolation felt more like a communion. 'My desires dropped away. I didn’t long for anything. I didn’t even have a name. To put it romantically, I was completely free'...This loss of self was precisely what Knight experienced in the forest. In public, one always wears a social mask, a presentation to the world. Even when you’re alone and look in a mirror, you’re acting, which is one reason Knight never kept a mirror in his camp. He let go of all artifice; he became no one and everyone."

“...sometime in the 1990s, he encountered a hiker walking in the woods. “What did you say?” asks Vance. “I said, 'Hi,'” Knight replies. Other than that single syllable, he insists, he had not spoken with or touched another human being, until this evening, for twenty-seven years.”

Join the discussion

Can't find what you're looking for.

• ADMIN AREA MY BOOKSHELF MY DASHBOARD MY PROFILE SIGN OUT SIGN IN

THE STRANGER IN THE WOODS

by Michael Finkel ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 7, 2017

A thoughtful, honest, and poignant portrait.

A journalist’s account of a Massachusetts man who went deep into the Maine woods to live a life of solitude and self-sufficiency.

While scanning the news online, Finkel ( True Story: Murder, Memoir, Mea Culpa , 2005) came across the story of Christopher Knight. Police officers had arrested Knight for burglary, but when they questioned him further, they discovered that their suspect had been living alone in the wild for 27 years. Fascinated, the author sought out the “North Pond hermit” to learn why he had turned his back on society and understand the challenges he now faced with reintegration. Knight’s boyhood and adolescence had been ordinary; his most outstanding traits were his shyness and penchant for solitude. Then, when he was 20, he suddenly quit his job. Without saying a word to friends or family, he went on a road trip that eventually led him to the shores of Moosehead Lake in Maine. There, he parked his car and, carrying only a backpack and a tent, “stepped into the trees and walked away.” Knight built a shelter deep in the woods, where he camped outdoors even during the bitterest of Maine winters. He broke into nearby cottages, where he stole only what he needed to survive, including food, clothing, and magazines. His burglaries—for which he admitted feeling “ashamed”—frightened residents at first. However, over time, many became used to his “visits” and even tried to leave out supplies for him to take. Through interviews conducted with the elusive Knight and those who knew him, Finkel creates a sympathetic portrait of a gentle yet quietly troubled man who willingly chose a Spartan existence in nature as a way to find the peace and freedom that eluded him in society. The narrative that emerges from Finkel’s compassionate research not only probes the nature of the relationship between the individual and society, but also ponders the meaning of happiness and fulfillment in the modern world.

Pub Date: March 7, 2017

ISBN: 978-1-4711-5197-2

Page Count: 224

Publisher: Knopf

Review Posted Online: Dec. 25, 2016

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2017

BIOGRAPHY & MEMOIR | GENERAL BIOGRAPHY & MEMOIR

Share your opinion of this book

More by Michael Finkel

BOOK REVIEW

by Michael Finkel

INTO THE WILD

by Jon Krakauer ‧ RELEASE DATE: Jan. 1, 1996

A wonderful page-turner written with humility, immediacy, and great style. Nothing came cheap and easy to McCandless, nor...

The excruciating story of a young man on a quest for knowledge and experience, a search that eventually cooked his goose, told with the flair of a seasoned investigative reporter by Outside magazine contributing editor Krakauer (Eiger Dreams, 1990). 

Chris McCandless loved the road, the unadorned life, the Tolstoyan call to asceticism. After graduating college, he took off on another of his long destinationless journeys, this time cutting all contact with his family and changing his name to Alex Supertramp. He was a gent of strong opinions, and he shared them with those he met: "You must lose your inclination for monotonous security and adopt a helter-skelter style of life''; "be nomadic.'' Ultimately, in 1992, his terms got him into mortal trouble when he ran up against something—the Alaskan wild—that didn't give a hoot about Supertramp's worldview; his decomposed corpse was found 16 weeks after he entered the bush. Many people felt McCandless was just a hubris-laden jerk with a death wish (he had discarded his map before going into the wild and brought no food but a bag of rice). Krakauer thought not. Admitting an interest that bordered on obsession, he dug deep into McCandless's life. He found a willful, reckless, moody boyhood; an ugly little secret that sundered the relationship between father and son; a moral absolutism that agitated the young man's soul and drove him to extremes; but he was no more a nutcase than other pilgrims. Writing in supple, electric prose, Krakauer tries to make sense of McCandless (while scrupulously avoiding off-the-rack psychoanalysis): his risky behavior and the rites associated with it, his asceticism, his love of wide open spaces, the flights of his soul.

Pub Date: Jan. 1, 1996

ISBN: 0-679-42850-X

Page Count: 320

Publisher: Villard

Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 1995

GENERAL BIOGRAPHY & MEMOIR | BIOGRAPHY & MEMOIR

More by Jon Krakauer

by Jon Krakauer

More About This Book

SEEN & HEARD

THE PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS

From mean streets to wall street.

by Chris Gardner with Quincy Troupe ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 1, 2006

Well-told and admonitory.

Young-rags-to-mature-riches memoir by broker and motivational speaker Gardner.

Born and raised in the Milwaukee ghetto, the author pulled himself up from considerable disadvantage. He was fatherless, and his adored mother wasn’t always around; once, as a child, he spied her at a family funeral accompanied by a prison guard. When beautiful, evanescent Moms was there, Chris also had to deal with Freddie “I ain’t your goddamn daddy!” Triplett, one of the meanest stepfathers in recent literature. Chris did “the dozens” with the homies, boosted a bit and in the course of youthful adventure was raped. His heroes were Miles Davis, James Brown and Muhammad Ali. Meanwhile, at the behest of Moms, he developed a fondness for reading. He joined the Navy and became a medic (preparing badass Marines for proctology), and a proficient lab technician. Moving up in San Francisco, married and then divorced, he sold medical supplies. He was recruited as a trainee at Dean Witter just around the time he became a homeless single father. All his belongings in a shopping cart, Gardner sometimes slept with his young son at the office (apparently undiscovered by the night cleaning crew). The two also frequently bedded down in a public restroom. After Gardner’s talents were finally appreciated by the firm of Bear Stearns, his American Dream became real. He got the cool duds, hot car and fine ladies so coveted from afar back in the day. He even had a meeting with Nelson Mandela. Through it all, he remained a prideful parent. His own no-daddy blues are gone now.

Pub Date: June 1, 2006

ISBN: 0-06-074486-3

Publisher: Amistad/HarperCollins

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2006

GENERAL BIOGRAPHY & MEMOIR | BIOGRAPHY & MEMOIR | BUSINESS

• Discover Books Fiction Thriller & Suspense Mystery & Detective Romance Science Fiction & Fantasy Nonfiction Biography & Memoir Teens & Young Adult Children's
• News & Features Bestsellers Book Lists Profiles Perspectives Awards Seen & Heard Book to Screen Kirkus TV videos In the News
• Kirkus Prize Winners & Finalists About the Kirkus Prize Kirkus Prize Judges
• Magazine Current Issue All Issues Manage My Subscription Subscribe
• Writers’ Center Hire a Professional Book Editor Get Your Book Reviewed Advertise Your Book Launch a Pro Connect Author Page Learn About The Book Industry
• More Kirkus Diversity Collections Kirkus Pro Connect My Account/Login
• About Kirkus History Our Team Contest FAQ Press Center Info For Publishers
• Privacy Policy
• Terms & Conditions
• Reprints, Permission & Excerpting Policy

© Copyright 2024 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Popular in this Genre

Hey there, book lover.

We’re glad you found a book that interests you!

Please select an existing bookshelf

Create a new bookshelf.

We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!

Please sign up to continue.

It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!

Already have an account? Log in.

Trouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.

Almost there!

• Industry Professional

Welcome Back!

Sign in using your Kirkus account

Contact us: 1-800-316-9361 or email [email protected].

Don’t fret. We’ll find you.

Magazine Subscribers ( How to Find Your Reader Number )

If You’ve Purchased Author Services

Don’t have an account yet? Sign Up.

Advertisement

Supported by

Books of The Times

‘The Stranger in the Woods’ for 27 Years: Maine’s ‘North Pond Hermit’

By Jennifer Senior

• March 16, 2017
• Share full article

THE STRANGER IN THE WOODS The Extraordinary Story of the Last True Hermit By Michael Finkel 203 pages. Knopf. $25.95.

From the point of view of the game warden who caught him in 2013, Christopher Thomas Knight, 47, looked nothing like a fellow who’d spent 27 years alone in the Maine woods. He was clean-shaven. He wore nerd glasses. His clothes were tidy and did not reek.

More baffling still, this spook of a man, who had successfully evaded four law-enforcement agencies and become the stuff of murmured folklore — he was known locally as the “ North Pond hermit ” — set up camp in a community full of vacation cabins, the nearest one just three minutes away. He could hear hikers hiking and canoeists canoeing. Had he owned a cellphone, he would have gotten reception.

Michael Finkel’s “The Stranger in the Woods: The Extraordinary Story of the Last True Hermit,” an account of Knight’s self-imposed exile from civilization, started as a phenomenally popular magazine article in GQ . This expanded version will no doubt have the same mass appeal. It’s campfire-friendly and thermos-ready, easily drained in one warm, rummy slug. It also raises a variety of profound questions — about the role of solitude, about the value of suffering, about the diversity of human needs.

What Knight didn’t need, clearly, was other people. They depleted and confused him. Nor was he seduced by busyness. Living in the woods amounted to a kind of self-erasure, an obliteration of time and identity. “What did he do for a living?” Finkel asks. “He lived for a living.” The Chinese have a name for it: wu wei. Non-doing.

I’ll confess that a small part of me was haunted by a different sort of question, which was whether Knight was telling the authorities the whole truth. I am not alone in my skepticism. Finkel writes that roughly 80 percent of the North Pond summer residents he spoke to couldn’t believe Knight had survived for decades in a crude shelter of his own making — not when the winter temperatures could fall to 20 degrees below zero, not when the summer mosquitoes were so vicious they would raise a sky’s worth of constellations on your skin.

We are having trouble retrieving the article content.

Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.

Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and  log into  your Times account, or  subscribe  for all of The Times.

Thank you for your patience while we verify access.

Already a subscriber?  Log in .

Want all of The Times?  Subscribe .

The Stranger in the Woods

48 pages • 1 hour read

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapters 1-6

Chapters 7-11

Chapters 12-13

Chapters 14-16

Chapters 17-20

Chapters 21-24

Chapters 25-28

Key Figures

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Discussion Questions

Hermitage as a Romantic Ideal

The North Pond residents and media affix the label of “hermit” unto Knight, giving him the romantic appeal of someone abandoning the arbitrary demands of society and devoting himself to personal interests. This includes Finkel, who reports on isolated communities and enjoys solitary running and hiking as personal hobbies.

Finkel discusses a broad range of hermit-like figures that include famous authors, artists, scientists, and philosophers who can achieve historic advances despite their introversion. Great religions both East and West have their origins in people who achieve a spiritual awakening while in isolation, and people like Tenzin Palmo and Knight seem to access serenity by abandoning all other ties. Finkel’s research unearths tidbits that readers may not know, such as the house hermit fad of the Middle Ages. Meanwhile, Japanese hikikomori and the Hermitary website demonstrate how the lifestyle has adapted to modern times.

Related Titles

By Michael Finkel

The Art Thief

Featured Collections

Action & Adventure

View Collection

Inspiring Biographies