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Reviews
The Stranger in the Woods: The Extraordinary Story of the Last True Hermit by Michael Finkel
rebeccalisamarie's review against another edition
4.0
While this book was gripping and entertaining, the author's insistence on protruding into the subject's life when repeatedly asked not to made me feel uneasy and as though I shouldn't be reading his words.
kaelynputnam's review
4.0
Fascinating, inspiring, difficult, etc. I felt a wide range of emotions while reading this book. Regardless, it will make you think!
chantelbrenna's review against another edition
5.0
This was so good. Christopher Knight’s story is interesting enough all on its own, but Finkel’s framing adds a lot to the story.
skychaos's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts
mattpenford's review against another edition
3.0
I greatly enjoyed the story of Chris Knight, who is unquestionably remarkable and interesting. I personally wish there was more about his survival, more of his stories and events from his time in the forest. I realize that Chris seems to made the decision to stay private, which is completely fair to do. That being said, it resulted in what felt like a 20 page loop of repetition. I think I could have read the first 20 pages and the last 20 and learned the same amount about Chris.
bookish_emily's review
4.0
The Stranger in the Woods is the fascinating true story of a man who one day simply abandoned everything from his life and began living in the Maine woods. He then went on to survive in the woods for over 25 years without any human contact, reemerging only when he was finally caught by the police after more than two decades of stealing supplies from the community near his camp. Journalist Michael Finkel was able to get the man, Christopher Knight, to open up a little about his experience, although Knight remained very averse to human contact. This story is an intriguing portrait of survival and the variations in human behavior. The narrative is written in a logical, compelling style that draws the reader through the book. At times one can forget this work is nonfiction!
readingonmountains's review against another edition
5.0
Devoured this audiobook in a single day, couldn’t stop listening to this fascinating true story about Christopher Knight, a 20 year old man who walked into the woods and lived a solitary life as a hermit for 27 years. I enjoyed listening to the author’s recounts of his interviews with Knight, portraying him as a very likeable person (to me) who heartbreakingly doesn’t belong in our world.
I can see a parallel with the story of Christopher McCandliss (into the Wild, by Jon Krakauer) and on a personal note, a parallel to a family member of mine. This book gave me an insight to hermits and solitaries. What happens to those who just don’t fit into our society?
“Silence, it appears, is not the opposite of sound. It is another world altogether literally offering a deeper level of thought, a journey to the bedrock of the self”
I can see a parallel with the story of Christopher McCandliss (into the Wild, by Jon Krakauer) and on a personal note, a parallel to a family member of mine. This book gave me an insight to hermits and solitaries. What happens to those who just don’t fit into our society?
“Silence, it appears, is not the opposite of sound. It is another world altogether literally offering a deeper level of thought, a journey to the bedrock of the self”