I read this entire book in one sitting; it was really good! It was especially readable for a “biography,” and it really gave the whole story (and the movie, which I’d already seen) more insight and solemnity.
newbestfriends:breakhabits:rileymaureen:
“…I think you really should make a radical change in your lifestyle and begin to boldly do things which you may previously never have thought of doing, or been too hesitant to attempt. 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 to have an endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a new and different sun. If you want to get more out of life… you must lose your inclination for a monotonous security and adopt a helter-skelter style of life that will at first appear to you to be crazy. But once you become accustomed to such a life you will see its full meaning and its incredible beauty. And so… in short… get out… and hit the road. I guarantee you will be very glad you did… Don’t settle down and sit in one place. Move around, be nomadic, make each day a new horizon. You are going to live a long time… and it would be a shame if you did not take the opportunity to revolutionize your life and move into an entirely new realm of experience.
You are wrong if you think Joy emanates only or principally from human relationships… It is in everything and anything we might experience. We just have to have the courage to turn against our habitual lifestyle and engage in an unconventional living.
My point is that you do not need me or anyone else around to bring this new kind of light in your life. It is simply waiting out there for you to grasp it, and all you have to do is reach for it. The only person you are fighting is yourself and you stubbornness to engage in new circumstances.
You will see things and meet people and there is much to learn from them. And you must do it economy style, no motels, do your own cooking, as a general rule spend as little money as possible and you will enjoy it much more immensely… Don’t hesitate or allow yourself to make excuses. Just get out and do it. Just get out and do it. You will be very, very glad that you did.”
-Chris ‘Alex’ McCandless
I finally saw this, and I liked it a lot. The storyline was great of course, since it’s based on a true story. I really liked Emile Hirsch too! He’s a great actor, and I realized that he was in Milk as well.
I’ve got the book around here somewhere, I’m going to have to read it now.
I’d give Into the Wild a 7/10
