Michael Finkel

This presentation by Michael Finkel, accompanied by slides and video, focuses on the subject of Finkel's newest book, The Stranger in the Woods. The book shares the story of a highly intelligent man named Christopher Knight who fled the world at age 20 and lived completely alone in the forest of Maine for nearly three decades.

The presentation tells the incredible story of Mr. Knight, while also discussing, more broadly, the subject of solitude. Why are most people afraid to be alone? What did Chris Knight, and other hermits throughout history, learn from being alone? Why do so many religious, philosophical, and scientific breakthroughs come from people who have spent significant periods of time alone? What does it feel like to be alone for decade after decade?

The talk answers all of these questions, and notes that, while our modern society seems set up to avoid loneliness at all costs, dozens of studies around the world have shown that spending time alone makes a person calmer, healthier, and smarter.

Finkel will also speak about the survival aspect of this story -- how Knight was able to live through 27 brutal Maine winters without even lighting one fire. (He was afraid that smoke would give his campsite away.) How can a man go 27 years without seeing a doctor? How did he deal with wild animals? Prevent his drinking water from freezing? Not die in the Great Ice Storm of 1998? It seems impossible, but Knight explained it all.

Michael Finkel will discuss what Knight learned during his immense solitude -- he is one most secluded known people in all of human history -- and what advice he has for the rest of us, advice that could profoundly affect the way that we all live our lives.