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

Many people dream of escaping modern life, but most will never act on it. This is the remarkable true story of a man who lived alone in the woods of Maine for 27 years, making this dream a reality--not out of anger at the world, but simply because he preferred to live on his own. A New York Times bestseller In 1986, a shy and intelligent twenty-year-old named Christopher Knight left his home in Massachusetts, drove to Maine, and disappeared into the forest. He would not have a conversation with another human being until nearly three decades later, when he was arrested for stealing food. Living in a tent even through brutal winters, he had survived by his wits and courage, developing ingenious ways to store edibles and water, and to avoid freezing to death. He broke into nearby cottages for food, clothing, reading material, and other provisions, taking only what he needed but terrifying a community never able to solve the mysterious burglaries. Based on extensive interviews with Knight himself, this is a vividly detailed account of his secluded life--why did he leave? what did he learn?--as well as the challenges he has faced since returning to the world. It is a gripping story of survival that asks fundamental questions about solitude, community, and what makes a good life, and a deeply moving portrait of a man who was determined to live his own way, and succeeded. Editorial Reviews Michael Finkel's The Stranger in the Woods: The Extraordinary Story of the Last True Hermit...started as a phenomenally popular magazine article in GQ. This expanded version will no doubt have the same mass appeal. It's campfire-friendly and thermos-ready, easily drained in one warm, rummy slug. It also raises a variety of profound questions-about the role of solitude, about the value of suffering, about the diversity of human needs...The Stranger in the Woods is involving and well-told; it certainly casts its spell. - The New York Times - Jennifer Senior 10/24/2016 On a summer morning in 1986, 20-year-old Christopher Knight didn't show up for his job installing alarm systems in Waltham, Mass. Nearly three decades passed before he reappeared and revealed he'd spent most of that time camping in the woods of central Maine. In this fascinating account of Knight's renunciation of humanity, Finkel (True Story: Murder, Memoir, Mea Culpa) struggles to comprehend the impulses that led Knight to court death by hypothermia even though his family home was less than an hour's drive away. To survive, Knight relentlessly pilfered supplies from vacation houses around his campsite, infuriating and terrifying homeowners and baffling a generation of cops. Finally apprehended during one of his raids, the Hermit of North Pond battled depression and contemplated suicide as he was forced to rejoin society. Drawn by the details that followed Knight's arrest, Finkel reached out to him through letters and visits. Despite frequent rebuffs, enough of a relationship developed for Finkel to broadly outline Knight's wilderness solitude. A fellow outdoorsman, Finkel places Knight in the long tradition of hermits, a category that has been admired and distrusted over the centuries. Yet even as Finkel immerses himself in Knight's life--researching hermits, consulting psychologists, even camping at Knight's hideaway--his subject's motivations remain obscure, leaving the book somehow incomplete. The book doesn't penetrate the mystery of Knight's renunciation, but the questions it raises remain deeply compelling. (Mar.) - Publishers Weekly 11/15/2016 Journalist and memoirist Finkel (True Story) presents the strangely fascinating tale of modern-day hermit Christopher Knight, who spent 27 years living in a hidden tent in the frigid central Maine woods. In 1986, then 20-year-old Knight disappeared. He was not seen again until 2013, when he was arrested for theft. Knight later admitted to stealing food and other supplies frequently from frustrated locals, who dealt with years of repeated break-ins. Through interviews and other reporting with Knight and area residents, Finkel examines the solitary life story and unusual survival strategies of the mysterious figure known locally as the North Pond Hermit. Perhaps fittingly, this unsettling and thought-provoking work raises far more questions than answers. Finkel delves into thorny issues such as Knight's potential mental state, the truth of his claims (which are disputed by locals), and the deeper meaning of solitude, individuality, and personal freedom. The resulting tale is gripping but often unverifiable; readers will have to judge for themselves the veracity and ethics of both Knight's story and Finkel's reporting of it. VERDICT With inevitable comparisons to Jon Krakauer's Into the Wild, this book will appeal to recreational readers interested in outdoor adventure, survival stories, or escaping the mainstream.--Ingrid Levin, Salve Regina Univ. Lib., Newport, RI - Library Journal 06/01/2017 Christopher Knight lived for 27 years in the woods of Maine with almost no human interaction, surviving by pilfering food and supplies. Opening with the account of how Knight was captured by an ex-marine after stealing from a local camp, this book begins on an exciting note, though the pace slows as Finkel weaves in research about the science of isolation along with an exploration of the philosophical and nature writing that might lead someone like Knight to seek seclusion. An extension of Finkel's 2014 GQ article The Strange & Curious Tale of the Last True Hermit, this title goes into detail about the lengths to which Knight went in order to stay alive. Teens who are drawn to survival stories will appreciate reading about the harsh conditions Knight faced, including freezing weather, isolation, and lack of food, and the problem-solving skills on which he had to rely. This introspective look at the hermit life throughout time focuses on the ethical issues involved in one man's attempt to break free of society. VERDICT Hand this volume to mature and thoughtful teens who love Jon Krakauer's Into the Wild or are interested in philosophy, science, or nature.--Carrie Shaurette, Dwight-Englewood School, Englewood, NJ - School Library Journal A meditation on solitude, wildness and survival. --The Wall Street Journal Astonishing. . . . An absorbing exploration of solitude and man's eroding relationship with the natural world. --The Atlantic Campfire-friendly and thermos-ready, easily drained in one warm, rummy slug. It also raises a variety of profound questions--about the role of solitude, about the value of suffering, about the diversity of human needs. --The New York Times [A] fascinating story. . . . Finkel manages to pry powerful words from the man who may hold the world title for silent retreat. --San Francisco Chronicle Reveals, in vivid detail, how Christopher Knight escaped society more completely than most anybody else in human history. --Outside [An] intriguing account of Knight's capture and confessions. --USA Today A story that takes the two primary human relationships--to nature and to one another--and deftly upends our assumptions about both. This was a breathtaking book to read and many weeks later I am still thinking about the implications for our society and--by extension--for my own life. --Sebastian Junger, author of Tribe: On Homecoming and Belonging As strong as Finkel's storytelling instincts and prose are, his greatest feat in writing The Stranger in the Woods is the journalistic diligence and humanity he brought to Knight. . . . Through Finkel, Knight is able to speak up with his own voice at last. --Paste [Knight's] story will speak to anyone who has ever walked through the wilderness and considered, even for a moment, whether ever to leave. --Field & Stream Moving and haunting. . . . A beautifully rendered, carefully researched story. --PopMatters Riveting. . . . A stunning look inside at the life and inner thoughts of one of our era's most confounding characters. --Bangor Daily News Thought-provoking and enduring . . . Will leave readers thinking deeply about modern society, the search for meaning, and the impact of solitude. Finkel is a skilled storyteller. --Portland Press Herald (Maine) I was drawn through these pages in a single sitting--their pull is true and magnetic. . . . [Knight's] tale becomes universal thanks to the expert care of Finkel's writing. . . The Stranger in the Woods is, ultimately, a meditation on the pains of social obligation and the longing toward retreat that resides in us all. --Michael Harris, The Globe and Mail (Toronto) Michael Finkel has done something magical with this profound book . . . [His] investigation runs deep, summoning . . . the human history of our own attempts to find meaning in a noisy world. --Michael Paterniti, author of Driving Mr. Albert: A Trip Across America with Einstein's Brain Chris Knight is an American original . . . I burned through this haunting tale in one rapt sitting. --John Vaillant, author of The Golden Spruce: A True Story of Myth, Madness, and Greed - From the Publisher A fascinating story, great writing, and strong narration come together in this audiobook. In 2013 Christopher Knight was arrested after breaking into yet another camp in Maine. Investigators soon learned he was a hermit who had been living in the area since 1986 and whose exploits were known to many. Through research and narrative, the author tells a story about a type of person few of us understand. And Mark Bramhall really brings it alive. He narrates in a straightforward, clear voice from the author's perspective, but when he quotes Knight, he uses a spot-on Maine accent with nary a misstep. As a result, listeners can easily imagine themselves in the Maine woods, where Knight lived for almost 30 years. M.B. AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine - APRIL 2017 - AudioFile