What is the real definition of the American Dream?

The term was first used by James Truslow Adams in his book The Epic of America which was written in 1931. He states: "The American Dream is "that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement.(http://lcweb2.loc.gov/learn/lessons/97/dream/thedream.html) Still, it might means something different to somebody else. Immigrants for example, most of them come to America in search of freedom; whether its political or religious. I can relate because my family and I moved to the U.S because of political issues that our country was facing.Everyone see the American dream in a different way. I think it all depends on how you look at life. To me the American Dream means to be successful in everything i do and enjoy a happy life with my loved ones.
Some people say that the American Dream has become the pursuit of material success. People are force to work more hours to live a fancy life(like having different customize cars, owe houses as big as a mansion and even having their own business).But then they have less time to enjoy their success since they have to keep working in order to maintain the fancy life that they chasing. Yet others look toward the American Dream with less focus on financial success and focus more on living a simple, fulling life; which is the case of Chris McCandles, the main character of Into the Wild-the book that we are currently reading-.
In this novel Chris is a college graduate who decided that its time he break free from his parent. He didn't like to be told what to do and had a different prospective on life from his parents. He was a non conformist and he wanted to be free in his own way. Chris was influenced a lot by Jack London,Mark Twin, Henry David Thoreau, and Leo Tolstoy writing.-They had a different view of society and were more in touch with nature.- Jack London was his favorite ever since childhood. He read and reread his books: The Call of the Wild, White Fang, To Built a fire", An Odyssey of the North".(page 44)I think that's what influenced him to start his own journey that he called the "Alaskan Odyssey, where he planned to go to Alaska and lived off the wild.
When i first started reading this book, i thought Chris was crazy and stupid for making such decision and was responsible for his death. I'm pretty sure most college student will feel the same way. Its hard enough to get financial support to pay for college and to throw it all away like that at the end of your studies will not only be a waste of money but time also. But as i got further into the book, i realized what drove Chris to live the life that he chose. Life meant more to him then just being successful financially and having a degree. It was more about enjoying new experiences and taking chances. Chris went a little to far though. I can understand that he didn't like the way society was and wanted to be free from his parents but he didn't had to go in the wilderness unprepared as he did. He should of known that he wouldn't be able to survive in the cold without proper clothing and essential gear to feed himself. What was he thinking?
I don't think I will be able to give up everything and just go into the wilderness and take chances like Chris did but i do admire his courage and the way that he look at life.