With both a novel and movie, Chris McCandless's story is perhaps one of the most famous-or infamous- tales of transcendentalism. With quotes from McCandless's journal and Tolstoy and Thoreau cited as a some of his greatest influences, author Jon Krakauer delves into McCandless's journey. Part of the book's synopsis reads:

"Immediately after graduating from college in 1991, McCandless had roamed through the West and Southwest on a vision quest like those made by his heroes Jack London and John Muir. In the Mojave Desert he abandoned his car, stripped it of its license plates, and burned all of his cash. He would give himself a new name, Alexander Supertramp, and, unencumbered by money and belongings, he would be free to wallow in the raw, unfiltered experiences that nature presented. Craving a blank spot on the map, McCandless simply threw the maps away. Leaving behind his desperate parents and sister, he vanished into the wild.[...]

When McCandless's innocent mistakes turn out to be irreversible and fatal, he becomes the stuff of tabloid headlines and is dismissed for his naiveté, pretensions, and hubris. He is said to have had a death wish but wanting to die is a very different thing from being compelled to look over the edge. Krakauer brings McCandless's uncompromising pilgrimage out of the shadows, and the peril, adversity, and renunciation sought by this enigmatic young man are illuminated with a rare understanding--and not an ounce of sentimentality. Mesmerizing, heartbreaking, Into the Wild is a tour de force." 

Learn more about the novel here. 

Cheryl Strayed's biography-turned-film Wild features the West Coast's very own Pacific Crest Trail as Strayed embarks on a journey to take a break from the heavy events of her life. In her journey, she learns more about herself, the world at large, and what she has yet to learn. The book's synopsis reads: 

"At twenty-two, Cheryl Strayed thought she had lost everything. In the wake of her mother’s death, her family scattered and her own marriage was soon destroyed. Four years later, with nothing more to lose, she made the most impulsive decision of her life. With no experience or training, driven only by blind will, she would hike more than a thousand miles of the Pacific Crest Trail from the Mojave Desert through California and Oregon to Washington State—and she would do it alone. Told with suspense and style, sparkling with warmth and humor, Wild powerfully captures the terrors and pleasures of one young woman forging ahead against all odds on a journey that maddened, strengthened, and ultimately healed her. " 

Learn more about the novel here. 

Timothy Treadwell went into the wild to live amongst grizzly bears, claiming to feel more kinship with them than anyone from the human world. He filmed his time in Alaska, which was later taken up by Werner Herzog, director and producer of the film about Treadwell's life, Grizzly Man. A synopsis for the film, drafted by Sujit R. Varma, reads: 

"A docudrama that centers on amateur grizzly bear expert Timothy Treadwell. He periodically journeyed to Alaska to study and live with the bears. He was killed, along with his girlfriend, Amie Huguenard, by a rogue bear in October 2003. The films explores Treadwell's compassionate life as he found solace among these endangered animals." 

Learn more about the film here.