Jon Krakauer’s adventurous, morally driven, and action-packed non-fiction has captivated many Colorado College students since “Into the Wild” first inspired them in high school. Some students go so far as to say that the book changed their lives, inspiring them to live simply and in pursuit of adventure. The cult-like following that Krakauer has accumulated during his career is attributed to his simple, Hemingway-esque, action-driven prose. After releasing “Under the Banner of Heaven,” Krakauer seemed to take a departure from his earlier work, using his journalistic strength to uncover truths about one of America’s darkest crimes. His recent book, “Missoula: Rape and the Justice System in a College Town,” was another departure from his usual tales of outdoor adventure and has been received somewhat controversially.
The book is an exploration of college rape at the University of Montana between 2010 and 2012, including an investigation of 80 sexual assault cases in Missoula during this time period. Krakauer explores the attitude of “boys will be boys” after he interviews several detectives and police officers about their opinions on these issues. Krakauer cites that the police chief sent out an article to female students following an alleged rape, claiming that research has shown that 45 percent of rape accusations are false. Krakauer debunks this claim through interviews with scholars, demonstrating that this number is closer to eight percent.
Krakauer interacts with a few specific cases of alleged rape in the town, including the rape of Cecilia Johnson, a controversial case because her alleged offender is a member of the college’s football team. With rape and sexual assault on campuses gaining attention in the national media and here at CC, Krakauer’s book is an interesting look into a truly controversial topic. As a reader, you find yourself hoping that he will come to a shocking discovery in an interview with one of these women and hopefully gain justice for the many women who have been the victims of these crimes.
Much of the book, however, is told through the lens of court transcripts and recordings of interviews rather than interviews with the women or alleged offenders themselves. Krakauer does not paint a picture of what it is like to be a student at the University of Montana or the social factors that undoubtedly contribute to these crimes and allegations. For this reason, Krakauer’s book and opinions feel rather forced. He seems to gather his own views from cold legal proceedings rather than interactions he has experienced with students or victims themselves. With college rape becoming so prominent in the national media, a book that sheds light on the victims stories as told from those involved would have provided a more moving and empowering lens into this issue.
With that being said, Krakauer’s book is still successful at bringing to light an issue that is sweeping national headlines. From the perspective of college students, the book is an important view into the status of sexual assault on a campus other than their own. While the book is a far leap from the emotional character portrait of Christopher McCandless, it is an interesting piece of journalism that is an intriguing commentary on contemporary issues facing our generation.