Into the Wild & The Urge to Escape into Nature 

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Henry David Thoreau was "roughing it" in "the wild" while his mom and sister trekked out there to bring him food and do his laundry...

I really like your channel and so I just want to gently push back on taking a sponsorship from better help. I think Mickey atkins has a good video on why they aren’t super ethical. I know it’s hard as a small channel so I want you to have all the information to make informed choices. Really interesting video, too!

First, better help is not a great sponsor. I really like this video, and I think it pushes close to an extremely important critique of toxic independence. It's such a deeply US red herring and misunderstanding. Community, real community, is the real solution.

I can't tell you how much I needed this video essay at this time in my life! I'm physically disabled and the dream to escape into nature has never been more at the forefront of my mind and less possible for me. I've had moments of transcendence in my own backyard with my own bed footsteps away.

There’s also this bizarre dualism we imagine between “Nature” and “humanity,” as if humans, and human communities, aren’t natural. Of course, that’s what the Tolstoy and Pasternak passages you highlighted at the end tell us, but getting to a true understanding of those passages, I think, means getting beyond this dualism. This doesn’t mean we don’t critique the ethical issues that plague human communities, that divide is from one another and from the rest of nature. Rather it’s that it seems to me we must rest these critiques in the understanding that we and our communities are natural. And thus we bear responsibilities toward one another, and toward the rest of nature.

As a great man once said "If you're sad now, you might still feel sad there."

He needed to join a commune. I think he was looking for a connection with like minded people but was so alienated by the people he was around he didnt think there were places to go where people were on the same page as him. Communes and homestead communities are popping off atm. I honestly see the appeal. Living today is an endless battle, a bottomless well of consumerism and you simply cant win and so you naturally get to a point where you become exhausted

“Everywhere you go, there you are.” Beautiful encapsulation of the inherent issue with seeking extrinsic sources of happiness. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and analysis

he is a typical example of someone seeing a real problem but taking it to an unhealthy extreme

I fully admit, I used to feel that similar urge to disappear into the wilderness and forsake society... that is... until I found myself in a truly loving family. My family or origin has lots of struggle, addiction, and generational trauma wrapped up in it. I loved Chris's story when I was still living in that situation: I just thought he didn't do it well enough. But that urge has nearly gone away now that I am with my husband and have been fully adopted by his family. They are loving and genuinely care about me, and have shown me what family can be. I could never f-off into the wilderness because I would miss them, miss their company, miss their love. I am lucky - but community and love truly have made all of the difference.

I agree with the cautionary tale theory. Isolation is the opposite of what humans need. I've always seen his story as a creative, if not beautiful, suicide.

I named my dog Alexander Supertramp (Tramp) after reading this book. I was so moved by this tragic story. Not to mention the haunting and beautiful Eddie Vedder soundtrack. Tramp is 15 now and living his best life :)

I can understand why some people romanticize this book and Chris' ideals as there is this very base desire to leave the troubles of the world behind and escape into the natural world free from people and worldly constrains. However, I always found the book and movie to have an underlining feeling of sadness and loss beneath the beauty of the natural landscapes. I see Chris' story as a tragic, cautionary tale. Some Alaskan natives had constantly told Chris to turn back before the huge floods came but said Chris sadly did not heed their advice. Yes, we can find beauty, calm, and bliss in the natural world. Nature can indeed be a healing balm, and there are days where I love to take quiet nature walks alone. While nature can help heal, we still need that human interaction. It breaks my heart that Chris' adventure ended as it did, but I do hope that he did find beauty in the people he met and nature that he encountered.

I normally love your videos (the ones on Studio Ghibli were a standout for me!) but I stopped watching at the betterhelp sponsorship segment. I understand that it segues smoothly, but I'd honestly prefer to watch a raid shadow legends segment than a segment shilling for a brand that has broken public trust (and consumer legislation) multiple times. It was a really interesting introduction to into the wild though, so I'm off to find another essay on it.

take a vacation. a long one. humans can suck. but we need them. find the good ones. and realize they will make mistakes too. use your privilege and wealth (if you have it) to contribute. burning money is empty and ego driven. running away is attachment. letting go is acceptance.

I often wish to be dropped in an endless rolling field of green grass and just stay there indefinitely. Those kind of liminal spaces that people find creepy look so peaceful to me.

He was really irresponsible and reckless but to be mad at him, after all his sister revealed, IMO is like blaming a depressed person for being lazy. People in pain do dumb things, if we don't strive to understand we're all the worse for it. And I both read the book and watched the movie and not for one second I thought it was glorifying him.

He was incredibly reckless of course but wasn't that kind of the point. To live life without rules and judgement

I remember reading Into the Wild in middle school. I've always been a bit less nature-focused than my siblings, but I definitely think there is something appealing about taking time to not worry about the same things all the same time. Although, somewhat ironically, the survival driven concerns like food end up being a different version of that. I wonder if part of why that is romanticized is the more apparent reality of it, versus the more nebulous goals that are more common when living with people.

This is the best video essay channel on this site right now in my opinion, literally the best I know of or have come across, and it doesn't compute to me how you're not getting the corresponding viewership. The level of insight and thoughtfulness, mixed with a healthy realism and critical analysis of the material and topics you cover, is unmatched. Really, truly, well done!

I remember ‘Wild’ by Cheryl Strayed and being thoroughly invested to the point of saying, “Girl, I get it.”

I've gotten that urge to just "walk off into the wilderness" before too -- and I'm a child of civilization, a lover of creature comforts; I've never been camping in my life. What is that?

I've struggled with misanthropic thoughts and tendancies for a long time too. I actually watched Into the Wild because my grandmother told me I needed to watch it and she sobbed a bit when she said it. I'm not foolish enough to go out to Alaska unprepared for an extended stay though. I mostly just wanna do a two week camping trip with only the bear essentials. I have no grand delusions about being some kind of woodsy survival king out of nowhere but the desire does strike me from time to time. People are so often disappointing, you just kinda have to accept it. We disappoint ourselves too, some in big ways some in little ways but we're better about sweeping it under the rug because we don't like to see that it's there. I loved the video by the way, idk if my comment makes that obvious or not, resonated super hard. Also a good sign that my algo might be finally turning around.

It is the power of nature itself that inspires us to become more powerful.

Omggg I read Into the Wild for my Lang class’s transcendentalism unit. Krakauer is so captivating with how he writes. Reading the book feels like sitting down and having a conversation with someone. It’s remarkable.

I'll say that I understand wanting to get out of our society and experience the natural world but Chris was selfish and irresponsible. I love nature. I always have. It can truly help someone's mind and mental health. But I also respect nature and I know it is stronger than me. When I go into it I make sure that I'm prepared. Chris disregarded the advice given to him and was incredibly reckless the whole time. He should have done his research and made sure he went into the situation more prepared, but he didn't care and he truly suffered the ultimate consequences. That's the part that pisses me off the most. Not bringing a map, not knowing about the area, especially the river and alternative routes, and not listening to the driver who told him he was unprepared was all just so reckless. I agree with the locals who find him disrespectful. He didn't respect the strength of the natural world around him.

I've had similar feelings of wanting to go into nature and escape from everything. There's something so nice about not having to exist in society and be able to just be a human being. I felt that way a lot when I was super depressed for some years and was suicidal and overwhelmed with everything, I was also just starting to realize that i was transgender and was dealing with rejection from my mom who I'm really close to. Joining a 12 step program for families/friends of alcoholics (al-anon), starting my transition, and a lot of therapy have helped so much and I can see that I was romanticizing the idea of nature and that the reality wouldn't have helped me as much as getting to know who I am and healing relationships with my family. I still love nature and I think it's necessary for our wellbeing but it won't fix your inner trauma and pain. Those feelings follow you wherever you are, until you face them and begin to heal.

I wonder if Chris would do any of what he did if RU-vid existed for him lol.

He who leaves merely alters his horizons, but not himself.

Garbage in Garbage out 4:00

All roads lead home, so try make home cool. A place you want to be When I first saw this movie as a young man I thought it was the dream, now older I see that he could have gone further with more research and ability to compromise who he thought he was ❤

Awesome video, enjoyed start to finish

This is a great video. Also, your voice is super soothing. 😄

Thank you for this enlightened analysis !!!

great analysis!

Great video. great take on this story. This was my first time with your content, but I will subscribe. Thanks

That betterhelp sponsorship shows you either dont research your sponsors before pushing them to your viewers. Or you dont respect your viewers enough to care. Im sure we are all glad that internet therapy helped you. But that sponsorship has soured this video on me. And possibly this whole channel.

I understand the desire to break the chains of society’s toxic rigors. The drive to seek and live a simple life connected to the natural environment and its beauty. However filling your reading list with fiction and running into the wilderness was always going to end badly. There were plenty of books he could have grabbed that would have insured his survival far before he ever made it to that bus. He did find and read his first book on toxic plants until the bus. At the very least he could have picked up a book on Native American herbal medicine or how indigenous Alaskan tribes have survived for centuries in the same region. He wasn’t a “survivalist”, he was immature. The facts surrounding how he died what caused it, imagine being starving having food but not being able to eat because you poisoned yourself, was completely unnecessary.

The answer is (not) a hut in the woods

3:26 That sounds like self exiting behavior. Manic

I really found that video cathartic

Why would I absolutely fall in love with and then get my heart broken by Chris??? Truly though, beautiful video.

cool totoro shirt!

incredible video

Nothing wrong with going wild but you can find truth everywhere. I find truth in martial arts and playing chess. It is all there if you look around.

What is nature but man's attempt to separate itself from the rest of God's creations

Even the most determined hermit goes to town once a year for salt and gunpowder.

I needed to hear this so much. Thank you.

I wish I were a vagabond in the 80's/90's. If you tried to do that now there'd be a bunch of instagram influencers at the bus upon arrival. Too busy everywhere now.

The problem with Chris is that he wasn't prepared or skilled enough to do what he was gonna do. Had he taken a year to train with a seasoned outrdoorsman, he would've survived if not thrived. But Chris' issues really stem from his family and his alienation from them by materialism and convenience. Chris would've been better suited to live with the people he met along the way rather than die alone.

Have you read, Tracks? There is a movie on it too. The best. ❤

YOU QUOTED NERUDA😮 He is incredibly underrated as a Latino voice in the huge writing space. I as a Mexican can really appreciate you bringing the Latinx voice to this typically very Anglo space!

The true problems of humanity can only be fixed from inside the system. We can only run for so long. You gotta make a stand sometime.

Let’s go

It was good movie

Many will say (especially Alaskans) that he was just a fool on a noble quest for the meaning of being alive. And I’m one of them, I can’t condone the way he treated his journey, the wild didn’t beat him, he beat himself by rejecting humanity in favor of beautiful desolation, wether he intended it or not doesn’t matter, it _was_ a suicidal mission. ‘Truth’ isn’t worth pursuing if in the end you’ll be unable to go back to humanity with new knowledge because you died a completely avoidable death.

Mmm id saybthat being in nature truly (hard, hungry, on the edge,) you do cut out the false part and leave only the animal.

I would rather die a 1000 deaths surrounded by nature than 1 death in a hospital, i had a happy childhood, this world we have created for ourselves saddens me deeply, i never chose to be a part of this shit show, for me the ultimate goal is to get out and experience the real world, not the one we manufactured.

Burning cash instead of donating, ok I have no sympathy for this guy, annoyed me like Old lady rose throwing the blue diamond in the ocean

Eh. I dont see any reason to criticize or get annoyed at what Chris did. It was his life and he chose what he wanted to do with it. I think he was well aware of the risks and was willing to take them in order to break out of the restrictive society we live in. He did a super courageous thing in truly cutting all the ties that he knew were holding him back. Not many of us would ever have the balls to fully reject all the trappings of modern life to the extent he did. He died due to series of unfortunate and avoidable mistakes. Not because he rejected capitalism, cut ties with his family or decided to live in nature. It could have easily gone differently if he'd been a bit more prepared and knowledgeable. Of course every capitalist out there will try to use his story as some kind of proof that our society is the only way to survive. They have to protect their wealth creating machine at all costs. I have huge respect for Chris and his choices because from the age of 12 until now (40), I wanted to do the same thing. But I bottled out and got caught in society's trap and now I can't escape it. My life within society will achieve absolutely nothing except to leave behind a couple of new workers to be endlessly exploited for profit just as I have been. Every one of us is worth more than that.

don't escape the system fellas, stay enslaved.

Beautiful. Things that took me a very long time to understand myself and heal through.