Themes of a boy going off on an adventure alone to a new place, wandering, self discovery, perseverance, etc. The main character develops mastery of the environment, and distinct advantages in harsh settings. Potentially grounded in some sort of observations about humanity and how we think and relate to the natural world or in finding peace. Love exotic settings like the desert of the alchemist, post apocalyptic or space settings like The Expanse.
Books: Siddhartha, The Count of Monte Cristo, Mans Search for Meaning, Cats Cradle, My Year of Rest and Relaxation.
Other media: the Arya Stark plotline from Game of Thrones, Ford backstory from Westworld, The Great Gatsby, many of the characters from Lost like Linus and Locke
Games: Fallout, Stray, Stardew, Terraria
I wanted to add that I was surprised to find I hated Walden. Thoreau came across as a narcissistic jerk to me, like he felt his lifestyle made him superior to others. I couldn’t shake the image of him as some old man yelling at clouds that blamed society for all his own problems, yet he actually craved their validation to such an extent he had to tell everyone how he had life figured out so much better than they did.
I’d prefer the book find the best in people.
by RafaAltes