Reviews tagging 'Alcoholism'

The Stranger in the Woods: The Extraordinary Story of the Last True Hermit by Michael Finkel

4 reviews

bethsreading's review against another edition

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4.5

My friend had been recommending this one to me for a long time, and I understand why. The book is written by journalist Michael Finkel as he interviews and explores the life of the most dedicated ‘hermit’ in modern times. One day, Christopher Knight leaves his job, gets in his car, and drives until he reaches his home town; once there, he abandons his car in the woods, explores until he finds the perfect camp, and remains there for 27 years, only leaving to steal food for survival from nearby cabins. Until one day, when he is finally caught and arrested. It beautiful and fascinating meditation on loneliness, contentment, and craving solitude in an overwhelmingly social society. 

I really enjoyed the balance between biography and history in this book. I felt like the historical and philosophical musings genuinely enriched my ability to empathise and understand Christopher Knight. His story, both heartwarming and sad, is one I will be thinking about for a long time to come. 

My only issue with the book was its brief but important look at autism. I do believe Finkel did do his best to research autism and give a fair understanding of it, as well as how it could apply to Knight, but I did not find his final depiction to be very accurate. Though I do recognise that this was published in 2017, and research and understanding about neurodivergence has changed a lot since then.  I also felt that at some points, Finkel pushed the boundaries when it came to respecting Knight’s wishes to be left alone. 

I do still wholeheartedly recommend this book and am very glad I read it.   
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bootsmom3's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional funny informative mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

5.0

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minniepauline's review against another edition

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4.25

This is a fascinating story. Two fascinating stories. There’s Christopher Knight, obviously. And there’s the author himself, and his need to pursue Knight’s story, to the point of what many would call harassment. But what becomes clear is that the two men see something in one another that they recognize. 

This book has given me a lot of food for thought.
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lilmollyjo0301's review against another edition

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3.0

The book itself is great, and it's an interesting story, but I cannot get past how even after Knight told him several times to leave him alone after he left prison, he kept showing up and consistently trampling over his boundaries. Also the hard left turn into ableism in terms of Knight's potential autism??? 
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