The Stranger in the Woods
Books | Nature / Ecosystems & Habitats / Forests & Rainforests
3.8
(677)
Michael Finkel
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The remarkable true story of a man who lived alone in the woods of Maine for 27 years, making this dream a reality—not out of anger at the world, but simply because he preferred to live on his own.“A meditation on solitude, wildness and survival.” —The Wall Street JournalIn 1986, a shy and intelligent twenty-year-old named Christopher Knight left his home in Massachusetts, drove to Maine, and disappeared into the forest. He would not have a conversation with another human being until nearly three decades later, when he was arrested for stealing food. Living in a tent even through brutal winters, he had survived by his wits and courage, developing ingenious ways to store edibles and water, and to avoid freezing to death. He broke into nearby cottages for food, clothing, reading material, and other provisions, taking only what he needed but terrifying a community never able to solve the mysterious burglaries. Based on extensive interviews with Knight himself, this is a vividly detailed account of his secluded life—why did he leave? what did he learn?—as well as the challenges he has faced since returning to the world. It is a gripping story of survival that asks fundamental questions about solitude, community, and what makes a good life, and a deeply moving portrait of a man who was determined to live his own way, and succeeded.
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Author
Michael Finkel
Pages
224
Publisher
Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group
Published Date
2017-03-07
ISBN
1101875690 9781101875698
Ratings
Google: 5
Community ReviewsSee all
"Thanks to the author intertwining his own story, this book was saved. Christopher Knight is an unusual character to be sure. Not likeable, kind of arrogant, clearly not seeing himself and his actions/their affects fully (in one moment that became very clear, when he admonished the author for leaving his family to do other things, yet he left his family wondering for over 20 years what happened to him). It’s an interesting read: 1. Because you don’t get to talk to hermits, ever! And hearing what he chose to share dispelled some of the romantic hermit imagery out there that they are wise and generous with their wisdom, and 2. Because it’s a common knee jerk reaction when extremely overwhelmed to think “if only I could disappear into the woods” about it and we see that avoidance is not glamorous and full of different stresses and things to overwhelm a human. Short and sweet, pretty okay!"
C
CaitVD
"Young man opts out of society for 27 years. Lives remotely in a Maine forest & steals necessary supplies to survive. Really intriguing, a little sad, well worth reading."
Anne G
"[4.5☆]"
Lars
"All I can say is this one really struck a cord with me. I can on some level, understand what Chris is going through. <br/><br/>I feel detached from a lot of people in my generation, we're just not the same. I am an introvert, and the thought of a social situation gives me instant anxiety. I can get over stimulated when I'm at work, a concert, or anywhere with large crowds, or even driving to a new location for the first time. I've come across a lot of nasty people, so 9 times out of 10, I've learned to just keep my mouth shut. I'm afraid to even make eye contact sometimes."
tactical_booknerd
"What a fascinating story! I initially picked this since my partner and I were spending hours driving through Maine, including the area this was set, but I became very invested in the “why” of it all. The research was impeccable, and the story was intriguing. <br/><br/>All in all, I felt like the initial question was how does one decide to become a hermit? But I came away with a lot more to talk about beyond that, and I highly recommend this as a expansion of the mind."
A P
Allie Peduto
"7/5"
Khawlah Usmani
"Fascinating read. CK seems to be a bit romanticized if not by the author than by the public at large. As interesting as the tale of this hermit was my own internal reaction to it as I moved through it."
P G
Paul Garcia
"Good book, it was an interesting read being autistic and all. I just thought the author was a litttttle creepy by the end. I agree with chris go back to your family"
Kingston
""Stranger in the Woods" by Michael Finkel is has the title says a man named Christopher Knight living in complete isolation in the woods since 1986. <br/><br/>I would give "Stranger in the Woods" by Michael Finkel a two-star review because, 1; the idea is interesting but I had major problems with half of this book."
L
Lillyanna
"Great story of a man im not sure if I admire or am put off by. Chris knight’s story is not one to mimic but definitely one to enjoy from the outside perspective. "
Luke Burns