Humans are social creatures. By working together, we’ve covered the planet with human civilization at the expense of every other species. What happens, then, when a single human decides to leave all others behind, and ignore the very characteristic that has made us such a (other species) smashing success? In The Stranger in the Woods: The Extraordinary Story of the Last True Hermit, Michael Finkel takes on the most difficult interview prospect in modern times. At the age of 20, Christopher Knight drove his truck into the dense woods of Maine, abandoned it when it ran out of gas, then walked until he found a spot he deemed safe (he was right about that), where he lived for some 28 years without ever talking to or being seen by another human.
In less than 200 pages, Finkel pulls off a similarly miraculous feat. We get to know Christopher Knight, and (to a degree) Michael Finkel, and immerse in a reading experience that takes the reader just outside the borders of human. Finkel writes and structures Knight’s story with incredible skill. From the first pages, it proves to be an action-packed, page-turning deep dive into Knight’s life before, during and after his 28 years alone. Finkel’s use of chronology is ingenious and original. It plays a big part in giving the book a fast pace. He lets himself into the narrative where necessary, as he looks into the philosophy and realities of isolation, from Stoicism to neuroscience, from criminals held in isolation to religious hermits of past and, yes, online groups for hermits. (Not a lot of chat room action.)
The Stranger in the Woods is almost minimalist in style, and uses this to maximize the power of Finkel’s insight into Knight’s character. We want to like Knight, a lot, but he’s quite stubborn about being rather unlikable. Finkel’s on both sides of this question as well, but he manages this while maintaining a straightforward narrative. Who is Chris Knight? Who is Michael Finkel? The divided answers to these questions, and Finkel’s smart, terse prose, manage to stir up real, powerful emotions in the reader, as you find yourself with another question: Who am I?
Michael Finkel was kind enough to give me an hour of his holiday, while his wife, his dog and the Cowboys (he explains this in the interview) were prepping for celebrations. Here’s a link, heat up some mulled wine, download, or sidle up and enjoy your family while you listen below.
Narrative Species 