This is really not a kind of book you would wish to devour at once, but rather to read it slowly, to ponder about every chapter you've read for itself, because every of them gives something unique to think about.This is a story about McCandless, true, but it is also about all those dreamers all over the world that share(d) his thoughts if not determination. It is also about us - because through all that reflection about McCandless and his short-lived dream, it is simply unavoidable to have some thoughts about ourselves, about our priorities and our dreams.It doesn't really matter what we think of McCandless - was he really an awesome man you would like to have known personally, or some self-absorbed, overconfident boy whose limitless stubborness costed him at last dearly - because, as Krakauer says from his own experience, he is just one of those boys who tried to literally pursue their dreams, but just didn't have enough luck to outlive them. What really matters is -- I believe -- what are we going to learn from McCandless's (and Krakauer's) experience? How his principles, his ideas and his mistakes are going to reflect on us?I am what some people tend to say to me down-to-earth dreamer - I pursue those I can realistically achieve without much loss to anybody but to myself. So, I approved McCandless's want to follow his wanderlust, but didn't approve his selfishness regarding his family, lack of common sense and prudence, and insatiable will to listen and learn only what was convenient to him to know. I am ready to adapt to the situation I am in, he wasn't really. I tend sometimes to do something rush and foolish, but he was what I would say really impulsive. But - that is also something about me I wouldn't otherwise give some valuable thought over, hadn't I read the book. Didn't expect that the book about someone else would lead to so much self-interrogation and introspective.
