This narrative brims with vivid descriptions of the terrain McCandless explored. A reader could easily chart his journey with a pencil on a map of the continental United States, although some smaller or lesser-known locations might be difficult to pinpoint. The story also shifts through different time periods as Krakauer provides detailed depictions of the harsh Alaskan wilderness that McCandless struggled to survive and the icy mountainside that nearly claimed Krakauer's life in his youth. These Alaskan scenes are especially vivid, striking, and thrilling, likely because this land and the bus on the Stampede Trail, which became McCandless's home, form the mysterious core of Krakauer's haunting tale.

Descriptions of Chris's middle-class upbringing are filled with references to a bustling blended family and familiar high school and university activities. He was always a bright child, adept at making money, excelling in sports, and succeeding in nearly everything he tried. His parents, who came from modest beginnings, became affluent while raising their family in a comfortable Virginia suburb. This image of middle-class comfort contrasts sharply with a story about a teenage Chris dragging a friend into an impoverished Washington, D.C. neighborhood, armed with good intentions and a bag of hamburgers for the homeless. Even more contrasting are the depictions of his largely bohemian lifestyle on the road.

His ill-fated journey began in the Mojave Desert, where he narrowly escaped a flash flood from a sudden storm, although his beloved Datsun was left mired in the mud. His travels truly began after this incident, as he survived on the charity of others, scavenging, and rice, his reliable staple. He journeyed through the western states from Washington to California and various points in between, making stops at Lake Tahoe, the Sierra Nevada, the Pacific Crest Trail, a rustic dirt ranch in Northern California, and the Idaho Panhandle, among other places.

Concise descriptions rich with detail bring the landscape to life, and many locations are vividly portrayed through the author's detailed accounts of the people residing there. McCandless purchased an aluminum canoe in Arizona and paddled down the lower Colorado River, through a stark landscape dotted with cacti, serene desert, and glistening salt flats extending before mountains. This voyage led him to Mexico, where he nearly drowned in the turbulent waters of the Gulf of California. He later celebrated New Year's Eve there by watching the moon rise over the Great Desert. As he made his way north again, he was caught sneaking back across the U.S. border and spent a night in jail.

McCandless adopted the lifestyle of a hobo, wandering through Texas, along the Pacific Coast, and in cities such as Los Angeles and Las Vegas. He lived on the streets and despised the feeling of confinement.

His journey included honest and realistic depictions of places like Carthage, South Dakota, and the expansive Bullhead, Arizona. In Bullhead, he attempted to settle down for a while, initially camping outside the town and later squatting in a trailer. He seemed momentarily content while working at a local fast-food restaurant, but he couldn't fully conform—he only wore socks under pressure and irritated management with his laid-back hygiene.

On one occasion, McCandless visited friends at an old abandoned Navy airbase known as the "Slab." This place had transformed into a mobile freetown inhabited by a diverse group of vagabonds, all united by their nomadic lifestyles. During his time there, Chris performed an impromptu concert on a portable electric organ at a flea market, impressing the audience with his musical skills.

He even rode the rails, encountering the feared railroad security guards, and was jailed again in California for hopping a train.

Documentary biographical writing is rarely praised for its literary excellence. Into the Wild, however, possesses many narrative elements typically found in top-tier novels. Krakauer skillfully intertwines various characters and settings, giving his work a sharp authenticity and depth. This approach allows him to craft a continuous drama from the factual and statistical data that form the documentary material. His vivid and honest portrayals of the different individuals he interviews avoid cliches and add vibrancy and richness to the book.

Krakauer has made Into the Wild a much more intricate book by incorporating numerous intertexts, such as thoughtfully placed epigraphs and excerpts from the books that influenced Chris. He also includes anecdotal stories about other young adventurers whose passion for nature proved deadly. Krakauer even shares a gripping tale from his own youth, echoing the same idealism and stubborn adventurousness that defined McCandless. This complex narrative is part biography, part documentary, part autobiography, and part reflection on human nature.

Krakauer captures the details of local scenes by merging his outdoor expertise with the meticulous attention of a seasoned journalist and professional nonfiction writer. His descriptions of Alaska and other locations are both information-rich and thrillingly written. Readers gain valuable insight into the more remote parts of the world while being engrossed in a compelling story.

Krakauer states that he loves writing books because he enjoys the research process. Although he makes a living writing shorter magazine articles, he views the genre as "reductionist by nature." Writing a full-length book allows him to delve into the complex issues or details of a story that cannot be adequately covered in a shorter piece. Additionally, Krakauer is a diligent researcher who recognizes the crucial role the McCandless family played in the research and preparation of Into the Wild. He appreciates the personal sacrifices this may have entailed for McCandless's parents and siblings. Readers who explore the acknowledgments at the end of the book will gain an understanding of the magnitude of a project like this biography. They might also compare Krakauer's willingness to seek and acknowledge help with Chris McCandless's apparent disregard for any significant assistance.

In Into the Wild, author Krakauer depicts a variety of unconventional individuals with profound respect and empathy. He introduces readers to an array of transients, such as the "rubber tramps" who live out of their vehicles and make a living by selling items at flea markets and swap meets. McCandless, on the other hand, was a "leather tramp" because he abandoned his car and traveled on foot. There are few common traits among those who choose a nomadic lifestyle; they might be well-educated, disillusioned with settling down, and averse to the monotony of a nine-to-five job, or they could be simply down on their luck and without a home. McCandless encountered, and Krakauer interviewed, a diverse range of individuals, from free spirits like Jan Burres and her boyfriend to Charlie, an eccentric elderly man who allowed Chris to stay in a trailer. Many people find little appeal in a comfortable, stable life, and Krakauer's vivid portrayals bring humanity to the strangers we often overlook on the highway.

Similarly, Krakauer brings to life the experiences of seemingly ordinary individuals—those we meet briefly in small towns or on the road, such as Wayne Westerberg or Jim Gallien—in a way that makes them appear extraordinary, familiar, and comforting. It becomes evident that people living on the road or holding unglamorous jobs often possess considerable dignity, warmth, and an ability to see something special in a stranger like Chris.

The original Outside article, published in January 1993, received a flood of mail with highly polarized reactions. Many readers criticized Chris's recklessness and Krakauer's refusal to harshly judge him, while others expressed sympathy and admiration for the young man. Krakauer deserves credit for avoiding easy judgments and not imposing conclusions on his readers. Although he clearly feels a special empathy for Chris, he refrains from declaring whether Chris's choices were right or wrong, encouraging readers to form their own opinions.

A central theme in Into the Wild is Chris's estrangement from his family. Krakauer, while refraining from making judgments, depicts Chris's puzzling rejection of the parents who tried to provide him with everything they themselves lacked. He clearly illustrates the pain this rejection caused, even as he explores the other side of the story. Krakauer acknowledges that Walt deeply loved his children and wanted to offer them what he had struggled without. However, he also highlights the father's strong character and high expectations, which might have felt suffocating to his son. With utmost respect for Walt and Billie McCandless and their family, Krakauer candidly and impartially reveals the early relationship dynamics that likely contributed to Chris's alienation.

"Jon Krakauer." In Contemporary Authors, Volume 153. Edited by Terrie M. Rooney and Jennifer Gariepy. New York: Gale, 1997, p. 195. This volume offers a succinct introduction to Krakauer as a journalist and author, including concise yet informative summaries of Eiger Dreams and Into the Wild.

Krakauer, Jon. "Death of an Innocent." Outside, 28,1 (January 1993): 38. This award-winning article by Krakauer was penned shortly after McCandless's death was discovered and served as the foundation for Into the Wild.

——. Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mt. Everest Disaster. New York: Villard, 1997. Krakauer's detailed narrative of the disastrous 1996 Everest expedition includes personal anecdotes from his childhood and explores his passion for climbing and the wilderness.

McNamee, Thomas. Review. New York Times Book Review (March 3, 1996): 29. McNamee provides a summary of Krakauer's recounting of McCandless's final days, commending the author's meticulous research and writing quality while also being openly critical of McCandless's unconventional lifestyle and motivations.

Roberts, Paul. "Profile: Jon Krakauer." Outside Online Lodge (February 1996). Online. Internet. http://outside.starwave.com/disc/guest/krakauer/profile.html. This profile includes engaging biographical details along with Krakauer's reflections on his aspirations, heroes, and fears.

Weissman, Larry. "An Interview with Jon Krakauer." boldtype: an online literary magazine, issue 4 (June 1997). Online. Internet. (August 31, 1998). http://www.boldtype.com/0697/krakauer/interview.html. This interview delves into Krakauer's thoughts on writing, climbing, and his personal connections to the McCandless story and the Everest disaster.