TOW #20 - IRB: Section One of Into the Wild

I imagine that for the author of a biography, one of the greatest difficulties must be in keeping his or her own personal bias, opinions, and feelings from skewing or distorting the factual story and portrayal of the biography’s subject. Luckily for anyone planning to read Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer, he addresses this issue head-on in an author’s note at the beginning of the book by stating, “I won't claim to be an impartial biographer. McCandless's strange tale struck a personal note that made a dispassionate rendering of the tragedy impossible. Through most of the book, I have tried—and largely succeeded, I think—to minimize my authorial presence.” Krakauer continues by warning the reader that parts of McCandless’s narrative will be briefly interrupted by pieces of a story from Krakauer’s own childhood. 

In that way, Krakauer has made this biography different from any other I have ever read, especially the one I recently completed about Malcolm X. In this biography, the author actually talks about similar personal experiences and emotions relative to the main story being told. I find this technique particularly effective in this biography due to the fact that it helps make McCandless’s strange behavior a little more understandable. Additionally, while they are both told in narrative styles, Into the Wild takes it to the next level, as compared to Malcolm X, by incorporating direct quotes from McCandless, as well as those who helped him along his journey. Additionally, the biography includes documents created by McCandless, several of which can be found in every chapter thus far. Other than that, in terms of style, Krakauer sticks to a third-person point of view acting as a narrator which merely contributes to the general vibe I have from the book so far, in terms of it coming off as a story that was somehow simply made up. I often find it necessary to remind myself that the story I am reading is that of someone who actually lived through such experiences. 

I have genuinely enjoyed what I have read so far and am excited to soon finish the book. By incorporating direct quotes, primary documents, and pieces of his own personal anecdote, Krakauer has thus far made an already intriguing yet mysterious story understandable and interesting.