Jon Krakauer

Jon Krakauer is an American author of non-fiction books that explore topics such as mountaineering, wilderness, and environmental issues. He is also a journalist, adventurer, and activist. His work has popularized many of these areas, particularly mountaineering, for which he has become a figurehead. Krakauer is best known for his work Into the Wild, which details the life and death of Christopher McCandless.

Krakauer was born in 1954 in Brookline, Massachusetts to Robert and Wilhelmina Krakauer, who were Jewish immigrants from Austria. Growing up, Krakauer was an avid outdoorsman, often canoeing and mountain climbing with his friends throughout the summers in Oregon. While living in Oregon in his younger years, he experienced an early introduction to mountaineering when his Uncle Jack took him up Mount Hood at 14. Krakauer attended Hampshire College and majored in creative writing, eventually earning his Masters of Science in Journalism from the University of Oregon in 1979.

Krakauer’s work has always centered around stories that deal with outdoor activity or the environment. His early involvement with Outside magazine and his success there eventually led to him becoming a full-time writer for the publication. His freelance work for outlets such as National Geographic, Playboy and The New Yorker, continued to document his experiences in the wild. His style of writing, combining his narration with interviews from those he encountered, has become an iconic way of telling stories about wilderness and the people who stay in the outdoors.

His 1994 novel Into the Wild, tells the true story of Christopher McCandless’ two year journey across the United States and his eventual death in the Alaskan wilderness. The book was a best-seller, selling over 3 million copies, and made Christopher McCandless a central figure in American literature. Krakauer also wrote the 2006 book, Into Thin Air which followed his attempt to summit Mount Everest and the percyal effects of altitude on members of his team and nearby teams.

Krakauer has also written books, such asThree Cups of Deceit, that explore some of the world’s most contentious topics such as international aid and religion. Krakauer has worked closely with the humanitarian organization The International Rescue Committee and participated in Pulitzer-winning research and distribution of funds to those in need.

Krakauer currently resides in Seattle, Washington and is the Environmental Studies Chair and Visiting Professor at Denver University. He continues to write personal essays for The New Yorker, National Geographic, and Outside, as well as continues his mountaineering and activism endeavors around the world. His books have been translated into 28 languages, and have received numerous awards including the National Magazine Award, the National Outdoor Book Award, and the 2003 Kiriyama Prize. Krakauer’s books have received critical acclaim for their thoughtful, immersive storytelling, and have cemented him as one of the leading adventure authors in the world.