The Stranger in the Woods: The Extraordinary Story of the Last True Hermit
by Michael Finkel
4 stars
Finkel writes about Christopher Knight, a man who chose to seclude himself in the wilderness of Maine for 27 years. Weaving together stories of Knight’s experiences in the wilderness – fact checking along the way – and philosophical questions of the human condition, this short narrative nonfiction packs a punch. Knight was not forthcoming with details about his life, which forces Finkel to flesh out the story. Knight led a unique existence, committing over 1000 break-ins and subsisting on stolen goods, but Finkel is careful not to glorify it. Overall a wonderful story that delves deeper into the thought process that leads to this sort of outcome.
Read-alikes
Into the Wild by John Krakauer
A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail by Bill Bryson
