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

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!