Today’s Riot Rundown is sponsored by The Stranger in the Woods: The Extraordinary Story of the Last True Hermit by Michael Finkel, new in paperback from Vintage Books.
Many people dream of escaping their life. Christopher Knight did it for 27 years. Journalist Michael Finkel draws on extensive interviews with Knight and shows how Knight lived in a secluded encampment, developing ingenious ways to store provisions and avoid freezing to death. A former alarm technician, he stealthily broke into nearby cottages for food, books, and supplies, taking only what he needed but sowing unease and fear in a community plagued by his mysterious burglaries. Since returning to the world, he has faced unique challenges—and compelled us to reexamine our assumptions about what makes a good life.