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hewlettelaine's review against another edition
4.0
I absolutely loved this book. It asks interesting questions about the relationship between humans and nature, the impact of technology use and production on the world and on individuals and about what the purpose of living is. Highly recommend!
secretlybatman4's review
adventurous
challenging
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
3.5
leapylees's review against another edition
2.0
I had mixed feelings about Boyle's previous book, 'The Moneyless Man' but thought the premise of a living without technology for a year was interesting, so I gave this 1.5 stars rounded up.
I found Boyle's account quite smug, narcissistic, arrogant and preachy (and privileged - he chose this lifestyle that he could have stepped away from at any time). The book itself was disjointed and repetitive. Ironically given the point of the book, it may have been better as a blog or newspaper column... it didn't flow and felt like such a missed opportunity to explore the challenges of living for a year without technology.
I found Boyle's account quite smug, narcissistic, arrogant and preachy (and privileged - he chose this lifestyle that he could have stepped away from at any time). The book itself was disjointed and repetitive. Ironically given the point of the book, it may have been better as a blog or newspaper column... it didn't flow and felt like such a missed opportunity to explore the challenges of living for a year without technology.
admacg's review
3.0
The premise of this book is that Mark Boyle has given up electricity and modern living to live in a small cabin somewhere in the west of Ireland. He details how he survives, how he works the land and how he manages to exist without equipment which would certainly make his life easier. There's a lot to admire and of course it made me examine my own life and how dependent I am on modern technology. I got the impression sometimes that Mark would prefer to have been as a stag or a deer, and some of his thoughts on how man has contributed to his own demise were certainly persuasive and depressing. Where the book fell down for me was that I didn't find the writing style engaging enough, there were times when I drifted of. But definitely an interesting book and a fascinating approach to modern living.
hillersg7's review
4.0
This is a beautiful writing, a good read and a challenging read. Challenging because the choices that Mark has made in the way he lives now without technology are bold and make much intrinsic sense as we look at the way we are damaging this fragile earth and our own health and well-being. Still - much easier to look from afar about someone else's choices and to feel that it would be impossible to go the same way. Time to ponder further - maybe this lockdown time will inspire me and others to make some longer lasting changes. Thank you, Mark for sharing your story.
kalkie's review
3.0
This is an interesting read about a man who decides to live off grid. Following on from his adventures of living without money (“The Moneyless Man”) he buys a plot of land in Ireland and sets about building a cabin without running water or electricity to move away from the industrialisation of the modern world.
It is with no hint of irony he says he purchased the land with the proceeds of the book he wrote about living without money. And this is where the whole concept starts to fall down. Not many people can afford to buy a plot of land in Ireland in the first place. To buy it with the proceeds of a book about living without money just seems somewhat ironic. Surely if he really wanted to live without money he’d have given the proceeds away?
Towards the end he separates from his girlfriend and I can’t say I was hugely surprised. He comes across as a bit of an arse (to put it politely). While his aim to live without the influence of the industrial world are interesting he doesn’t quite succeed and admits ending up using a computer to write his book (about living off the grid).
Don’t get me wrong. I think the concept is admirable. But it’s of limited value. He still relies on other people with cars to give him lifts via hitchhiking places. He is essentially a single man with no responsibilities. Throw a couple of children into the mix and it may not be so easy to live entirely off the grid. It would also be interesting to know what he would do if he fell ill - would he go to the hospital and seek the benefits of industrialisation? Or would be refuse?
There are limitations to this kind of lifestyle and ultimately not everyone has the means to buy a plot of land and fall off the grid. But it’s an interesting book all the same.
It is with no hint of irony he says he purchased the land with the proceeds of the book he wrote about living without money. And this is where the whole concept starts to fall down. Not many people can afford to buy a plot of land in Ireland in the first place. To buy it with the proceeds of a book about living without money just seems somewhat ironic. Surely if he really wanted to live without money he’d have given the proceeds away?
Towards the end he separates from his girlfriend and I can’t say I was hugely surprised. He comes across as a bit of an arse (to put it politely). While his aim to live without the influence of the industrial world are interesting he doesn’t quite succeed and admits ending up using a computer to write his book (about living off the grid).
Don’t get me wrong. I think the concept is admirable. But it’s of limited value. He still relies on other people with cars to give him lifts via hitchhiking places. He is essentially a single man with no responsibilities. Throw a couple of children into the mix and it may not be so easy to live entirely off the grid. It would also be interesting to know what he would do if he fell ill - would he go to the hospital and seek the benefits of industrialisation? Or would be refuse?
There are limitations to this kind of lifestyle and ultimately not everyone has the means to buy a plot of land and fall off the grid. But it’s an interesting book all the same.