Podcast
Questions and Answers
When the chapter opens, who is the man remembering McCandless?
When the chapter opens, who is the man remembering McCandless?
Wayne Westerberg
How long has it been since McCandless's body turned up in Alaska?
How long has it been since McCandless's body turned up in Alaska?
Nearly two months
What does Westerberg recall Alex telling?
What does Westerberg recall Alex telling?
Westerberg recalls Alex telling amazing stories of his travels.
What is Westerberg's profession?
What is Westerberg's profession?
When did Westerberg pick up Alex?
When did Westerberg pick up Alex?
What made Westerberg want to take the kid under his wing?
What made Westerberg want to take the kid under his wing?
Why hadn't Alex eaten?
Why hadn't Alex eaten?
Where does McCandless tell Westerberg he is headed at this point?
Where does McCandless tell Westerberg he is headed at this point?
How long did McCandless stay with Westerberg?
How long did McCandless stay with Westerberg?
Where did Westerberg give McCandless employment?
Where did Westerberg give McCandless employment?
What did Westerberg discover about Alex at one point?
What did Westerberg discover about Alex at one point?
What did Westerberg never ask about?
What did Westerberg never ask about?
What did McCandless like about Carthage?
What did McCandless like about Carthage?
Why did McCandless leave town on Oct. 23rd?
Why did McCandless leave town on Oct. 23rd?
What did McCandless give Westerberg before he left town?
What did McCandless give Westerberg before he left town?
Where did McCandless have all his mail forwarded to?
Where did McCandless have all his mail forwarded to?
What was his father Walt's profession?
What was his father Walt's profession?
Who are McCandless's siblings?
Who are McCandless's siblings?
What publication was McCandless an editor of at Emory?
What publication was McCandless an editor of at Emory?
What was his major and GPA?
What was his major and GPA?
Why did he not accept membership in Phi Beta Kappa?
Why did he not accept membership in Phi Beta Kappa?
To what organization did McCandless donate the remaining money from his college fund?
To what organization did McCandless donate the remaining money from his college fund?
Why was Billie McCandless surprised by Chris's Mother's Day gift?
Why was Billie McCandless surprised by Chris's Mother's Day gift?
What did Billie and Walt offer to buy Chris?
What did Billie and Walt offer to buy Chris?
What are the exact words Chris tells his parents about where he will spend his upcoming summer?
What are the exact words Chris tells his parents about where he will spend his upcoming summer?
At the end of June, what did Chris mail his parents?
At the end of June, what did Chris mail his parents?
Why is this communication significant?
Why is this communication significant?
Why did Billie and Walt have no way to reach Chris at his Atlanta apartment?
Why did Billie and Walt have no way to reach Chris at his Atlanta apartment?
How long had Chris been gone by the time parents arrived in Atlanta?
How long had Chris been gone by the time parents arrived in Atlanta?
What was Chris 'emancipated from' upon his college graduation?
What was Chris 'emancipated from' upon his college graduation?
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Study Notes
McCandless and Westerberg
- Wayne Westerberg remembers Chris McCandless nearly two months after his body was found in Alaska.
- Alex, as McCandless was known, captivated Westerberg with compelling stories while sitting at the bar.
Westerberg's Background
- Westerberg is the owner of a grain elevator in Carthage, indicating his role in the local economy.
McCandless's Journey
- Westerberg picked up Alex on September 10 while driving from Cut Bank.
- A sense of vulnerability in Alex prompted Westerberg to take him under his wing.
- Alex had not eaten because he had run out of money, signaling his financial struggles.
Time with Westerberg
- McCandless spent three days with Westerberg, working at the grain elevator and becoming part of the crew.
- Westerberg discovered McCandless's real name was Chris through a tax form but never questioned the name change.
McCandless's Impressions
- Alex admired the stability and unpretentious nature of the Carthage community, reflecting his values.
Departure from Carthage
- McCandless left Carthage on October 23 due to a lack of work, as Westerberg was in jail.
- Before leaving, he gifted Westerberg a 1942 edition of Tolstoy's War and Peace.
Family Background
- Chris's father, Walt, is an aerospace engineer, and he has a younger sister named Carine, with whom he was very close.
Academic Achievements
- McCandless was an editor of The Emory Wheel and excelled in history and anthropology with a GPA of 3.72.
- He rejected membership in Phi Beta Kappa, emphasizing his belief that titles and honors were irrelevant.
Charitable Acts
- He donated his college fund to OXFAM America to aid in combating hunger, demonstrating his commitment to social issues.
Family Relations
- Billie McCandless was surprised by a Mother's Day gift from Chris, the first in over two years, as he had decided not to give or receive presents on principle.
- Walt and Billie offered to buy Chris a car and support his law school education, highlighting their efforts to support his future.
Final Communications
- Chris communicated his intention to "disappear for a while" after graduation, indicating his desire for independence.
- He mailed his final grade report to his parents in June, which became the last contact they had with him.
- Chris had already moved out of his Atlanta apartment by the time his parents attempted to reach him.
Emancipation
- Upon graduating, Chris felt liberated from his parents' world, which he viewed as stifling and excessively materialistic.
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