I'm almost done reading this book and I am posting it here because it has very much good information about solitude. The author researched it well. The subject spent 27 years living and hiding in the Maine woods and survived by being a thief. A conscientious one at that.

Many people dismiss reading this book because of the thieving and the fear he induced for the people who had summer cabins around the North Pond. Well I'm assuming those are mainly people who never go solo. I'm not dismissing what he did to survive but think of it like this - picture a large pool that has leaves and dead bugs littering the surface. Most people wouldn't swim in that pool. But if you dive under the surface there's a whole other world to explore. This book really gets into the details and psychology of this guy. I found it fascinating. It's good winter reading for sure.

He was finally caught in 2013 and I don't know how he lives right now but I had this thought. He could raise a lot of money to pay back those cabin owners that he stole from by writing a book and sending all proceeds to them. Just an idea.

Sorry just can't wrap my head around this. He's no solo as as pertaining to canoe/camping/wilderness soloing. He relied on close proximity to homes and people and spent much time observing them. A criminal voyeur is the best I can attribute to him. He lived by preying on people, no solo wilderness fellow. I find nothing redeeming about the character.

butthead

I get where you’re coming from. This is a look into who he is and why he did this. He is not without feeling very guilty and sad about what he did. It’s a fascinating character study.

It is what it is. A sly, calculating fox in the hen house.
My understanding of conscientious is "upright, honest, just, scrupulous, honorable means"--which is likely how all those cabin owners he stole from went about living their lives, earning their wages and invested their savings to buy stuff they wanted.
Intellectualizing and depth of detailed, phycological understanding make for good storytelling but don't let it muddy the waters of perception.

There’s two parts. The obvious wrong moral part of him stealing from cabin owners. The other part is his experience living in 4 seasons of central Maine. Below zero for long stretches and never once making a fire in 27 years. Speaking one word (hi) during his only interaction in 27 years. While the snow was on the ground he never left his camp. If that’s not solo I don’t know what you would call it. Why would he suffer like this? Why would he risk dying every winter?

You guys are seeing the dirty leaves and dead bugs on the pool water and scoffing. Some people like myself like to dive in and see what’s under the debris.

I listened to a very long in depth Podcast featuring the author before his book was complete. It was an interesting narrative. It is obvious that the "hermit" was off-kilter, fairly deep on the spectrum with a brain wired different than most. Its understandable that people are offended by his choices but that does not make his story uninteresting or irrelevant.

If you don't have time for the book, give this audio story a listen. Might give a bit more insight to the strangeness of Chris Knight.

Pretty lengthy thread and discussion on this topic from earlier this year. I don't think anyone was making the guy out to be a hero, but to survive in the wild for 27 years - alone - with only the barest of necessities is pretty incredible.

Jackfish: " I don't think anyone was making the guy out to be a hero, "

Actually there was one poster who said they were in love with guys like this, which I find even more fascinating, for example Ted Bundy had more women chasing him after he was caught than the rest of us have had our entire lives. This always happens when they catch a notorius criminal and if you notice criminals usually have devoted girl friends.

thegildedgopher: "What can I say, I enjoy a good outlaw story and often fall in love with flawed characters. It was a fascinating read about a man doing something many have only daydreamed "

Gotta say for myself, I have never dreamed of living my life by stealing from other people and I am quite sure the vast majority of other people do not either

in addition I've passed on some women who although I was physically attracted to, their messed up heads I just din't want to deal with, so no, flawed characters do not appeal to me.

Banksiana: It is obvious that the "hermit" was off-kilter, fairly deep on the spectrum with a brain wired different than most. Its understandable that people are offended by his choices but that does not make his story uninteresting or irrelevant.

Give this audio story a listen. Might give a bit more insight to the strangeness of Chris Knight."

Everyone assumes one's choices come from the same starting point without understanding the many different brain disorders and childhood experiences. Not everyone starts life with the same set of cards. Pass judgement if you like, but a little empathy and understanding of the human condition can go a long way. The book sounds interesting and worth the read.

hobbydog: "

Banksiana: It is obvious that the "hermit" was off-kilter, fairly deep on the spectrum with a brain wired different than most. Its understandable that people are offended by his choices but that does not make his story uninteresting or irrelevant.

Give this audio story a listen. Might give a bit more insight to the strangeness of Chris Knight."

Everyone assumes one's choices come from the same starting point without understanding the many different brain disorders and childhood experiences. Not everyone starts life with the same set of cards. Pass judgement if you like, but a little empathy and understanding of the human condition can go a long way. The book sounds interesting and worth the read. "

After reading it, he never gives a reason for suddenly going off in the woods alone. He was 20 years old and abandoned a one year old car he had bought.

I would love to know the troubles he had with society and his childhood. He comes from a fairly strange family. They were not social at all. I have to wonder what kind of family dynamic was going on. Chris was the youngest of five boys. He has a younger sister with severe autism I believe. The sister is who he was closest with.

Very interesting character study. Thanks for suggesting it TomT.

hobbydog: "

Banksiana: It is obvious that the "hermit" was off-kilter, fairly deep on the spectrum with a brain wired different than most. Its understandable that people are offended by his choices but that does not make his story uninteresting or irrelevant.

Give this audio story a listen. Might give a bit more insight to the strangeness of Chris Knight."

Everyone assumes one's choices come from the same starting point without understanding the many different brain disorders and childhood experiences. Not everyone starts life with the same set of cards. Pass judgement if you like, but a little empathy and understanding of the human condition can go a long way. The book sounds interesting and worth the read. "

Hey Hobbydog those are excellent words.

Imagine having social anxiety to the point of only being happy/content when you are alone and do it like that for 27 years. His brain is definitely wired differently. I truly feel sorry for the guy and hope he's getting the help he needs.

I read the book. I feel like I'm a pretty compassionate person by and large. More along the line of snowflake than not, if you will. But man, I came away from this with a different perspective. I imagined having my little mokki constantly robbed and broken into. Unwanted human approach is a constant on the mind when in the woods. I know he was sorry and all. But I just don't feel this compassion or even interest in this pathology that sustained years and years of burglary for survival. Guess that's why I treat four-legged or winged patients instead. I felt a little the same about the Into the Wild story, especially the poaching and rotting of the moose.

jillpine: "
I read the book. I feel like I'm a pretty compassionate person by and large. More along the line of snowflake than not, if you will. But man, I came away from this with a different perspective. I imagined having my little mokki constantly robbed and broken into. Unwanted human approach is a constant on the mind when in the woods. I know he was sorry and all. But I just don't feel this compassion or even interest in this pathology that sustained years and years of burglary for survival. Guess that's why I treat four-legged or winged patients instead. I felt a little the same about the Into the Wild story, especially the poaching and rotting of the moose. "

It would be good if a book was written about the people who lived on the lakes. I know for years they all thought it was one of them. If I owned a cabin there at that time I would be pretty freaked out too. I'd definitely set traps.