ABOUT THE EVENT
Books on Tap, Phoenixville Public Library’s book discussion group for twenty- and thirty-somethings, will meet next on Tuesday, January 30, 7:00 PM, at Bistro on Bridge, 210 Bridge Street, Phoenixville. They will discuss The Stranger in the Woods: The Extraordinary Story of the Last True Hermit by Michael Finkel.
For readers of Jon Krakauer and The Lost City of Z, this New York Times Bestseller is a remarkable tale of survival and solitude–the true story of a man who lived alone in a tent in the Maine woods, never talking to another person and surviving by stealing supplies from nearby cabins for twenty-seven years. In 1986, twenty-year-old Christopher Knight left his home in Massachusetts, drove to Maine, and disappeared into the woods. 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 in winter, he had survived by his wits and courage, developing ingenious ways to store food and water, to avoid freezing to death. He broke into nearby cottages for food, clothes, 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 the why and how of his secluded life–as well as the challenges he has faced returning to the world. A riveting 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.
A copy of the book may be reserved at the Library or online at www.ccls.org. This event is free and open to the public. Reservations not required. Food and drink not included but will be available for purchase. For more information, e-mail Christine Shaffer at shaffer.m.christine@gmail.com.
610-933-3013 x132
