Cheryl Strayed

Cheryl Strayed is an American writer, essayist, and speaker best known for her bestselling memoir Wild, which chronicles her 1,100-mile journey on the Pacific Crest Trail undertaken after devastating personal loss. Her work often explores themes of resilience, vulnerability, grief, identity, and emotional honesty. Before her identity as “Sugar” was revealed, her anonymous advice column gained a devoted following for its fearless honesty and its ability to blend personal narrative with universal wisdom. Today, Strayed continues to write, teach, speak publicly, and advocate for emotional courage and storytelling as tools for transformation. Her work resonates with millions because she speaks from lived experience rather than theoretical distance, proving that compassion and truth have the power to save lives.