#11 in Nature & environment
The Stranger in the Woods
- 225
- Pages
- about 4 h
- Reading time
- NYT bestseller · 4 weeks on the list, peaked at #9
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Our view
“The Stranger in the Woods” tells, with careful research, the fascinating story of a man who spent twenty-seven years alone in the Maine forest. Christopher Knight camped through brutal winters and survived by breaking into nearby cottages for food and supplies, until an arrest ended his solitude. Michael Finkel got the reluctant Knight to talk, and writes thoughtfully about why someone would walk away from other people. At 225 pages it is a compact book.
The view of the BookRank editors, written from readers’ ratings and comments. It does not affect the score or the book’s place in a ranking.
About the book
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. 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.
Where the score comes from
The sources average 7.7 across 156 ratings — not yet many, so the reader vote carries 51% of the weight and the rest pulls toward the Nature & environment average of 8.1. That is how 7.9 comes out.
| Source | Average | Ratings | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hardcover | 7.7 | 156 | 100% |
Frequently asked
How long is The Stranger in the Woods?
It has 225 pages — shorter than 100% of the ranked books in Nature & environment.
In this book
Themes this book shares with others — each leads to the best books on it.
If you liked this
Same shelf — Nature & environment — with scores between 7.8 and 8.1, closest to this book.
