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Michael Finkel

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Born

in Atlanta, The United States

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http://www.MichaelFinkel.com

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MikeFinkel

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Michael Finkel is the author of "The Art Thief," "The Stranger in the Woods," and "True Story," which was adapted into a 2015 motion picture. He has reported from more than 50 countries and written for National Geographic, GQ, Rolling Stone, Esquire, Vanity Fair, The Atlantic, and The New York Times Magazine. He lives with his family in northern Utah. ...more

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Did you ever purchase that cabin for Christopher? How did the publishing The Stranger in the Woods help him monetarily or in any way at all. Have proceeds gone to him? Christopher T. Knight is a profoundly gifted individual. His nature/nurture influenced the way he interacted with his surroundings. Not all children have the opportunity to be diagnosed and helped at a young age.

Michael Finkel Hello. I answered this over on the book page, but I'll paste my response here too:

Mr. Knight is, of course, an extremely private individual, and thoug…moreHello. I answered this over on the book page, but I'll paste my response here too:

Mr. Knight is, of course, an extremely private individual, and though he agreed to accept each of my jailhouse visits (he could easily have rejected any or all of them) and respond to many of my letters, he did not want to establish any real ties to me -- or, for that matter, to virtually everyone else. I did not purchase a cabin for him. Even a gift (especially such a valuable gift) creates a relationship between two people. As does exchanging money. Mr. Knight is not profiting from this book. He said he did not want any money from me, as money is a way to bind people together. Instead, the Pine Tree Camp, a summertime program for adults and children with physical or mental challenges (and the most frequent victim of Mr. Knight's thieving raids) will be receiving donations from me.(less)

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Hi Michael, I just finished Stranger in the Woods and was very moved by it. I am interested in your description of how hermits frequently experience a "loss of self.” This seems similar to what you hear from Buddhist meditators who reach a deep point in their practice where the concept of self also begins to dissipate. Did you notice this connection and if so what do you make of it? Thanks, Ross

Michael Finkel You are correct, Ross -- the "loss of self" reported by many people seeking solitary lives, and the reports from many experienced Buddhist meditators …moreYou are correct, Ross -- the "loss of self" reported by many people seeking solitary lives, and the reports from many experienced Buddhist meditators seem very similar. I believe that that these states are, indeed, very nearly the same. During the course of my research, I've read many descriptions from both hermits and Buddhists, and the same sensations keep repeating themselves. And why not? Both hermits and meditators are exploring what Thoreau called "the private sea, the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean of one's being." And to venture out into these wild internal seas one senses a loss of self... and a gain of, it seems, incredibly deep experiences.(less)

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Michael Finkel’s books

Average rating: 3.91 · 170,654 ratings · 19,963 reviews · 15 distinct works • Similar authors

	The Stranger in the Woods: The Extraordinary Story of the Last True Hermit by Michael Finkel (Goodreads Author), Mark Bramhall (Narrator) 3.90 avg rating — 82,864 ratings — published 2017 — 48 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Art Thief 3.93 avg rating — 79,517 ratings — published 2023 — 5 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	True Story: Murder, Memoir, Mea Culpa 3.91 avg rating — 6,849 ratings — published 2005 — 45 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Here Be Monsters... 50 Days Adrift At Sea 3.66 avg rating — 361 ratings — published 2011	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Alpine Circus: A Skier's Exotic Adventures at the Snowy Edge of the World 4.28 avg rating — 47 ratings — published 1999 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Art Thief / The Stranger in the Woods by Michael Finkel (Goodreads Author) 4.80 avg rating — 5 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Der Meisterdieb by Michael Finkel (Goodreads Author), Alexandra Titze-Grabec (Translator) 3.75 avg rating — 4 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Advanced Tools and Models to Improve River Basin Management in Europe in the Context of Climate Change (Aquaterra) it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 1 rating	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Intended and Unintended Islanding of Distribution Grids it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 1 rating	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	True Story: Murder, Memoir, Mea Culpa by Michael Finkel (Goodreads Author), Unknown Author really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 1 rating	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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Michael Finkel and 4 other people liked Betsy Quammen's review of True West: Myth and Mending on the Far Side of America: "I thought it was pretty good. 😆"
Jul 26, 2025 03:13PM · see review
Michael Finkel and 4 other people liked David Quammen's review of True West: Myth and Mending on the Far Side of America: "Keen, copious, trenchant, and humane. I've read it repeatedly and my biases, if any, are declared."
Jun 09, 2025 01:11PM · see review
Michael Finkel wants to read The Ghost Lab: How Bigfoot Hunters, Mediums, and Alien Enthusiasts are Wrecking Science by Matthew Hongoltz-Hetling (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
May 12, 2025 11:24PM · like
Michael Finkel is now following Matthew Hongoltz-Hetling Author of A Libertarian Walks into a Bear: The Utopian Pl...
May 12, 2025 11:23PM · like
Michael Finkel liked a quote “I think that most of us feel like something is missing from our lives. And I wondered then if Knight's journey was to seek it. But life isn't about searching endlessly to find what's missing. It's about learning to live with the missing parts.” ...more Michael Finkel
May 06, 2025 12:00AM · like · more quotes by Michael Finkel
Michael Finkel and 1 other person liked Chloe Ivins's review of The Art Thief: "WOW. Haven't felt this way about a book in a long time. "
Apr 30, 2025 11:03PM · see review
Michael Finkel rated a book it was amazing The Rose Of Paracelsus: On Secrets & Sacraments by William Leonard Pickard	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Apr 29, 2025 11:29PM · 2 likes · like
Michael Finkel made a comment on his review of The Art Thief " Margie you have a good eye! That bat on the cover, a print by Albrecht Dürer, was nearly stolen three different times by Breitwieser, but he was alway ...more "
Apr 07, 2025 11:37PM · see review
Michael Finkel and 3 other people liked Alicia Kovac's review of The Stranger in the Woods: The Extraordinary Story of the Last True Hermit: "Loved this. All of it. Took me on a ride of emotion. Provided a lens with several perspectives. And perhaps the best part, ended beautifully."
Mar 15, 2025 10:31PM · see review
Michael Finkel rated a book it was amazing A Shining by Jon Fosse	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
I've had a reading tradition for a long time, more than 30 years, that involves reading one book by the winner of that year's Nobel Prize for literature. When Norwegian novelist Jon Fosse won in 2023, I was daunted by the size of "Septology," his bes ...more
Dec 08, 2024 09:03PM · 5 likes · like · see review

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Quotes by Michael Finkel (?)

“I think that most of us feel like something is missing from our lives. And I wondered then if Knight's journey was to seek it. But life isn't about searching endlessly to find what's missing. It's about learning to live with the missing parts.”
― Michael Finkel, The Stranger in the Woods: The Extraordinary Story of the Last True Hermit

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“Carl Jung said that only an introvert could see "the unfathomable stupidity of man”
― Michael Finkel, The Stranger in the Woods: The Extraordinary Story of the Last True Hermit

tags: carl-jung, introverts, stupidity-of-man

38 likes

“I read. That's my form of travel.”
― Michael Finkel, The Stranger in the Woods: The Extraordinary Story of the Last True Hermit

tags: reading, travel

34 likes

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Polls

Which nonfiction book would you like to read with the group during June and July? Please vote for your choice here.

When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi

45 votes, 31.3%

The Astronaut Wives Club by Lily Koppel

29 votes, 20.1%

The Black Count: Glory, Revolution, Betrayal, and the Real Count of Monte Cristo by Tom Reiss

27 votes, 18.8%

The Stranger in the Woods: The Extraordinary Story of the Last True Hermit by Michael Finkel

24 votes, 16.7%

The Hundred-Year Walk: An Armenian Odyssey by Dawn Anahid MacKeen

11 votes, 7.6%

Savage Harvest: A Tale of Cannibals, Colonialism, and Michael Rockefeller's Tragic Quest for Primitive Art by Carl Hoffman

8 votes, 5.6%

144 total votes

7 comments

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