Into the Wild, written by John Krakauer, tells of a young man named Chris McCandless who abandoned his college degree and all his worldly possessions in favor of a primitive, transitory life in the wild nature. Krakauer first told Chris' story in an article in Outside Magazine, but went on to write an in-depth, life-spanning book in hopes of explaining what drove him to venture into the wilderness alone. McCandless's story soon became a national phenomenon, and many people wondered why a “young man from a wealthy East Coast family [would] hitchhike to Alaska” (Krakauer i). Chris comes from a wealthy family and has parents who tried to create a desirable life for him and his sister. As Chris grows up, he becomes more and more disturbed by society's ideals and the control they have over everyday life. He made a point of despising his parents and the lifestyle they lived. This sense of unhappiness continues to grow until Chris graduates from college and decides to leave everything behind for the Alaskan wilderness. Knowing very little about how to survive in the wilderness, Chris sets out on his adventure in a state of naivety. It is obvious that he possessed monumental potential that was wasted on romantic ideals and a lack of wisdom. Christopher McCandless is a unique and talented young man, but his selfish and ultimately complacent attitude towards life and his successes led to his death. To some, Chris is seen as a hero, a young man who succeeded in every challenge he faced. In Chris' mind, he was his own greatest hero, “he was Alexander Supertramp, master of his own destiny” (23). In reality, McCandless was inexperienced and is not a hero nor does he deserve the wild praise he has... middle of paper ......opher McCandless is a unique and talented young man, but his selfishness and, ultimately, l complacent attitude towards life and its successes led to his death. Chris has monumental ambitions that had the potential to be rolled into something big, but weren't leveraged properly. Throughout the book Krakauer paints a chilling picture of how harmful choices can be. If Chris had been better prepared for his journey, there was a good chance he would have made it out alive. If Chris had lived, he would not have been famous, but simply criticized for his poor choices and selfish behavior that had a profound impact on those close to him. Chris is not a hero, nor should he be considered one. His actions were admired by others, but spontaneous and naive actions do not constitute a hero. Work cited Krakauer, Jon. In the wild nature. New York: Anchor Books, 1997. Print.