The Stranger in the Woods: The Extraordinary Story of the Last True Hermit - Michael Finkel ------------------ 4 Stars

 The Stranger in the Woods: The Extraordinary Story of the Last True Hermit is a really great title. I find the idea of hermits fascinating, and once I heard a little about this story, a Maine man who lived in the woods by himself for twenty-seven years, I felt I had to give it a try. The book was not a disappointment.

As noted, this book is about a Maine man, who, at 20, decided he wanted to live in the woods of Maine. He did not have a real plan nor a willingness do die; rather, he felt disconnected and uncomfortable in modern society and was seeking relief. As he was arrested 27 years later for stealing food, his adventure came to an end and his story became public. The author, who had a deep interest in his story since it was first publicized, eventually began corresponding with the hermit and eventually interviewed him numerous times. Based on those letters, interviews, and conversations with others, wrote this story.

While not long, this book moves at a nice pace and is an enjoyable read. The author has a simple but engaging style that appropriately moves the reader along while filling in many questions about the past and current status of the main character. I find the later chapters, which focus more on the psyche of this person, to be the most interesting. As he goes deeper into the reasons the hermit made this choice many years ago, the reader quickly becomes aware of the deep longing he has to remain in the woods and how comfortable he is in that setting. As the reader learns more about the hermit's current status and some of the challenges facing the author as he gets closer to this individual, I couldn't help by sympathize with both of their situations. In addition, many philosophical and existential questions are raised in the last parts of the book. These questions do not have easy answers and seemed to be perfectly placed as a great juxtaposition to so much of the prior novel (which is much more focused on the "what/how" and not the "why".)

While there was nothing I particularly disliked about this book, I also found the story-telling often perfunctory. Some of it was slightly repetitive and not as engaging as other parts. That may be in part because of the difficulty of the subject matter - the story of the prior 27 years in the woods lacks excitement (the hermit only said one word to another human during that entire time).

If nothing else, this book is a fascinating look at a true recluse and hermit (although that term is debated about its appropriateness in this case - read the book to figure out why). As a person who values nature and understands the allure, I found this book engaging, and the quest to understand his motivations, fulfilling.