Reviews

Adventures in Opting Out: A Field Guide to Leading an Intentional Life by Cait Flanders

lizvukovic's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful inspiring reflective fast-paced

3.75

suetrav's review against another edition

2.0

Nothing really new here in terms of "opting out" or living an "alternate lifestyle". There were a few bits of wisdom that I highlighted but that is it. Not really relevant to me at this point of my life (government employee, 30 years into my pension). Likely would have been more relevant to my younger (20's) self.

elizabethmae's review against another edition

informative lighthearted fast-paced

4.0

tacosrgr8's review against another edition

4.0

I really enjoyed this book. It was a perfect guidestone to my current life.

cnbesler's review against another edition

hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective medium-paced

5.0

So great!! Practical, inspiring and relatable. I will be reading this book again in 6 months for sure. 

askiddo's review against another edition

2.0

I thought this book had an interesting premise, but it dragged too much, and I just found the stories repetitive and not personal enough for me to feel connected to.

hollyfromthebigsky's review against another edition

inspiring lighthearted

3.0

I'm a fan of Cait Flanders but this book was "meh" for me. I appreciate her use of hiking as metaphor but a lot of those pages felt generic...I had hoped to read more of her personal journey, more memoir and less self-help. Maybe that's on me for not reading the blurb closely. Definitely would recommend as a book to raise ideas and get you thinking especially if you're looking at your first big "opt out" but I ended up skimming a good bit of it. (Note: I also could see this appealing more to the under 30 crowd). 

phenixsnow's review against another edition

3.0

This book is hard to categorize its part self help, part memoir part travelogue. The author focuses on the idea of it being okay to "opt out", choose to live some aspect of your life in a way that's different than others expectations, if it doesn't hurt you or other people. She talks some about her own opt out of having a permanent residence and deciding to travel around Europe for a time but also interviews others who have had their own opt out. She uses a hiking analagy throughout.

I overall liked it. But it felt repetitive at times and I found myself wishing she had sat on this for another 6 months so she'd have more material about her own travels. She just hadn't been traveling very long when she mentions that her deadline for finishing the book is approaching. Even though it ties together fine at times it felt like she repeated stuff to fill a word count.

I listened to the audio and it went by fast.

kickpleat's review against another edition

2.0

Ugh, this was a slog. So much repetition that this would have been a much better post on medium than a book. Lots of hiking analogies if that's your thing.

openbookheartmind's review against another edition

3.0

Overall: simple wisdom, lots of hiking metaphors

This was a nice read about living in alignment with your values, trying and failing, getting out of your comfort zone, and adventuring in uncharted territory. It was a little vague and bland at times; I think I would have enjoyed more specific examples from the author’s life. I did like it overall but her “Year of Less” book I would recommend over this one.

Notable quote: “we are so plugged into our lives that we end up completely disconnected from ourselves”