One sentence summary
Cheryl Strayed’s Wild is a non-fiction memoir that documents the journey of a woman who embarks on a near-1000 mile trek along the Pacific Crest Trail as she deals with grief, confronts her mistakes, and finds redemption.
Book genre
Wild by Cheryl Strayed is a non-fiction memoir.
Main topic of the book
The main topic of the book is the transformation of Cheryl Strayed from a broken, aimless, and misguided woman into a capable, confident, and compassionate one.
Key ideas
- Grief: The death of Cheryl’s mother from cancer and her own difficult family life serves as the catalysts for Strayed’s redemption and transformation.
- Confronting mistakes: Cheryl embarks on this journey to confront the mistakes she has made in the past and to take control of her life.
- Redemption and Growth: Through the journey, Cheryl finds inner peace and redemption, ultimately becoming an independent, confident, and compassionate woman.
Main parts of the book and a short summary
- Part 1: The Trail – Cheryl sets out to hike the Pacific Crest Trail and overcomes the various challenges of her journey while confronting her past and inwardly dealing with the grief stemming from her mother’s death.
- Part 2: The People – Throughout her journey, Cheryl meets various people who give her support, guidance, and insight into her current situation. Through these interactions, Cheryl learns to empathize and accept people, regardless of their background and status.
- Part 3: The End of the Trail – Cheryl finally reaches the end of the Pacific Crest Trail and, ultimately, finds redemption and acceptance of her past.
Key takeaways
- Wild by Cheryl Strayed is an inspiring and emotional story that documents the transformation of a woman who embarks on a near-1000 mile trek along the Pacific Crest Trail.
- The story is framed around the themes of grief, confronting mistakes, and redemption and growth.
- Through facing her challenges and learning to accept her past, Cheryl ultimately finds peace and redemption.
- The book contains practical advice for readers to take from Cheryl’s journey and to apply to their own lives.
Author’s background and qualifications
Cheryl Strayed is an American author best known for her memoir, Wild. She received her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota and her MFA in creative writing from Syracuse University. She is an acclaimed novelist and essayist, and the founder and editor of Sugar, an online magazine.
Target audience
Wild is a book suitable for anyone looking for a motivating and inspiring story, and that takes insights and wisdom away from Cheryl’s journey. It is ideal for readers looking for an entertaining book with a powerful narrative.
Publisher and first publication date
Wild was first published in 2012 by Alfred A. Knopf.