The stranger in the woods
"For readers of Jon Krakauer and The Lost City of Z, a remarkable tale of survival and solitude--the true story of a man who lived alone in a tent in the Maine woods, never talking to another person and surviving by stealing supplies from nearby cabins for twenty-seven years. In 1986, twenty-year-old Christopher Knight left his home in Massachusetts, drove to Maine, and disappeared into the woods. 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 in winter, he had survived by his wits and courage, developing ingenious ways to store food and water, to avoid freezing to death. He broke into nearby cottages for food, clothes, 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 the why and how of his secluded life--as well as the challenges he has faced returning to the world. A riveting 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"--Publisher description.
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What Hacker News says
- This immediately reminds me of a book I read a year ago about a man who walked off into the woods of Maine in 1986 and lived as a hermit for 27 years [1]
[1] “Stranger in the Woods” by Michael Finkel: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30687200
- Speaking of hermits ... it's a great time to read the excellent book about the "North Pond Hermit" (in Maine, the US state)—The Stranger in the Woods[1].
I learnt about it when I was in Denver, CO, last year at an outstanding independent bookstore, Tattered Cover[2] (don't miss it when you're in Denver; it's a calm, spacious, and a gorgeous bookstore with an equally outstanding selection of books and a passionate staff). One of the staff members urged me to read the book; I'm glad she did!
[1] https://www.michaelfinkel.com/the-stranger-in-the-woods/
[2] https://www.tatteredcover.com/detailed-history-tattered-cove...
- It certainly is possible, people do it all the time, in various countries. Most of the time we call them "homeless", but also there are people who literally set up camp in the forest then stay there, it isn't unheard of.
The book "The Stranger in the Woods" is one such case, about a man who lived in the woods for 27 years by himself.
That said, it isn't easy, and it's harder in some countries than others, but I'd still say it's possible in many countries today, YMMV.
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- Stranger in the Woods https://amzn.to/3LCroAy
