I felt the book made that point quite well. I saw the trailers for the movie, and never saw it because I felt it would do exactly what you said. For the book's

I felt the book made that point quite well. I saw the trailers for the movie, and never saw it because I felt it would do exactly what you said. For the book's author, Jon Krakauer, the story is a personal one because he himself did stuff just as dangerous when he was younger. He tells a story of solo ice climbing when he almost died. I think Krakauer is fascinated by McCandless because he could have ended up the same way, and he's grateful that he didn't. Krakauer lived and adjusted to being an adult in our society. He grew up. That's what I find tragic about McCandless and the people idolizing him, and dying trying to follow his footsteps. I think that if McCandless had lived, he would have eventually adjusted to society as well.