Wild was first published in 2012. Strayed had already published a novel, numerous essays, and was the author of the successful advice column "Dear Sugar"; however, the extreme success of the memoir drastically altered her career. Wild was an immediate success as it broke No. 1 on the New York Times bestseller list and was the first pick for Oprah Winfrey’s revived book club. Since its publication, the memoir has been translated into more than 40 languages.
In 2014, Wild was adapted into a film of the same name, directed by Jean-Marc Vallée with a screenplay written by Nick Hornby. The film starred Reese Witherspoon and Laura Dern. It was ultimately nominated for two Academy Awards: Best Actress in a Leading Role and Best Actress in a Supporting Role.