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meliaraastair's review
4.0
After completing an 8 year stint as Tennessee governor, Lamar Alexander decides what his family needs is some time off an away to get reacquainted to living without a mansion, staff, and the constant presence of state troopers. So they go to Australia for 6 months (with brief stops in Japan, Russia, China, Thailand, Paris) despite the job offers and outcry from both colleagues and his kids.
I really enjoyed this book. Now, this guy was governor before I was born, so I had no idea when I picked it up that he was a governor. However, the idea of taking six months off is really intriguing. I'm still fascinated by the idea of full-timing (also see this great journal), but just taking six months to travel would be really cool and I'm always interested to hear about others' experiences with a leap like this. It seems like people never regret their decisions to take the time with their family or the opportunity to travel. I'm hopeful Nick and I will be able to do something similar at some point too. Personally, I'm not a big fan of the whole work until you retire then you're so burnt out or potentially physically not capable of enjoying your years. Life is short. I'm all for a savings account but I don't want to waste away all my hopes and dreams and potentially never be able to do the things I hope to do in life. Experiences now while I can are important!
If you are dreaming of some travel, enjoy reading about Australia (also recommend Bill Bryson's In a Sunburned Country), or need a break with your family too - check this book out!
I'll go 8 of 10 overall and 4 of 5 for readability. I'll admit I have 0 interest in politics so that is what I liked the least about this book - although the politics don't go too deep - but it was a good read nonetheless. It was kind of interesting hearing about a political race from both a losing and winning candidate and what the transition in and out of office is like. You won't get a good sense of what you could do in Australia or what it's like traveling, really, but it was an interesting story of getting reacquainted with family after so long working hard for career and political goals.
For more reviews, check out bedroopedbookworms.wordpress.com!
I really enjoyed this book. Now, this guy was governor before I was born, so I had no idea when I picked it up that he was a governor. However, the idea of taking six months off is really intriguing. I'm still fascinated by the idea of full-timing (also see this great journal), but just taking six months to travel would be really cool and I'm always interested to hear about others' experiences with a leap like this. It seems like people never regret their decisions to take the time with their family or the opportunity to travel. I'm hopeful Nick and I will be able to do something similar at some point too. Personally, I'm not a big fan of the whole work until you retire then you're so burnt out or potentially physically not capable of enjoying your years. Life is short. I'm all for a savings account but I don't want to waste away all my hopes and dreams and potentially never be able to do the things I hope to do in life. Experiences now while I can are important!
If you are dreaming of some travel, enjoy reading about Australia (also recommend Bill Bryson's In a Sunburned Country), or need a break with your family too - check this book out!
I'll go 8 of 10 overall and 4 of 5 for readability. I'll admit I have 0 interest in politics so that is what I liked the least about this book - although the politics don't go too deep - but it was a good read nonetheless. It was kind of interesting hearing about a political race from both a losing and winning candidate and what the transition in and out of office is like. You won't get a good sense of what you could do in Australia or what it's like traveling, really, but it was an interesting story of getting reacquainted with family after so long working hard for career and political goals.
For more reviews, check out bedroopedbookworms.wordpress.com!
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