The Stranger in the Woods: The Extraordinary Story of the Last True Hermit
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 Journal
In 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.
In 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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Community Reviews
Interesting and philosophical book about being alone for a time. I read this for my book club and it seems it will produce a lot of really interesting conversation. There's an excellent reading list at the end, though I wish it had been an easy-to-view list instead of hidden in text so I could easily check off the books.
Quick but super interesting read about a very unique man who lives the prime of his life as a hermit in the Maine woods sans electricity and in complete isolation.
This was fairly interesting. A true story of a Maine hermit who dropped out of his life at the age of 20. He lived within earshot of civilization for 27 years, living on stolen food and property. He may have been either bi-polar or on the spectrum. It was sad, in that he was never even reported as missing by his family. With that cold fact, you wonder what kind of home environment he grew up in. He escaped to nature, as he certainly had no nurture. Hard to rate this book without feeling it’s a rating on another’s life. But it all seemed to be a colossal waste of time. Surely God meant for him a life of meaning and fellowship. Not this.
This book was incredible, although at times it was a little slow to get through. What an amazing story!
"Solitude increased my perception. But here's the tricky thing: when I applied by increased perception to myself, I lost my identity. There was no audience, no one to perform for. There was no need to define myself. I became irrelevant."
"It is possible that Knight believed he was one of the few sane people left. He was confounded by the idea that passing the prime of your life in a cubicle, spending hours a day at a computer, in exchange for money, was considered acceptable, but relaxing in a tent in the woods was disturbed. Observing the trees was indolent; cutting them down was enterprising. What did Knight do for a living? He lived for a living."
"It is possible that Knight believed he was one of the few sane people left. He was confounded by the idea that passing the prime of your life in a cubicle, spending hours a day at a computer, in exchange for money, was considered acceptable, but relaxing in a tent in the woods was disturbed. Observing the trees was indolent; cutting them down was enterprising. What did Knight do for a living? He lived for a living."
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