This book tells the true story of Chris McCandless, a young man that gives away all of his money and possessions, cuts his ties with his family, and heads into the Alaskan bush to deeply commune with nature. McCandless was never heard from again – his starved remains were discovered in the wild several months after his Alaskan trek began. This was a fascinating read for me, so far removed from anything I’ve experienced or even dreamed of. Admittedly, I am a materialistic person, far more attached to my comfortable lifestyle than I’d like to be. “Roughing it”, in my terms, is driving to a campsite, setting up our tent, inflating our queen-size air mattress, cooking a well-rounded meal over our gas campstove, and brushing my teeth at the nearby bathroom facilities. The thought of heading into unknown territory for an indefinite amount of time with nothing more than what I could carry on my back seems impossible. This glimpse into what “living off the land” really means is intriguing. Could I make it in the wild? Probably (and by probably, I mean definitely) not. Looks like I’ll continue to satisfy my nature-cravings with Sunday strolls in the park…