Every time the word sabbatical appeared in the book, I replaced it with the word, life. A couple of my favorite parts talked about life, if you only had six months to live, what would you do? The authors sliced the answer into three parts: 1) Things that must positively get accomplished before departing, 2) Things you would like to get done and 3) Parts of your lifestyle that need to halted immediately.
The authors talked about BOOB Challenges…they just didn’t know it, yet…”Happiness and personal growth go up, when we push ourselves to the level of discomfort.” This is why The Ren Men try new things every week to push ourselves, learn something new, and perhaps have a little fun along the way.
The ‘menu of fantasies’ (sabbatical trips) list was huge. The three that interested me the most were: Insight Mediation Society, Europe Through the Back Door Inc. and Wilderness Travel. None of the aforementioned fantasies, have I tried. The one flaw of the list is, since the book was written in 1996, no websites were listed. I’m sure the sabbaticals can easily be found on the internet, it might take a little more searching.
The last portion of the book dissected exactly how to tell your boss you will be leaving, how to make plans for your work, how to plans for your personal life, and how to make a plan for your sabbatical. A ton of factual and helpful tips and hints shine through in the fantastic case studies. Three case studies fill the last pages of the book. I love reading stories of life-altering decisions and people living for the now, that is what lifestyle design is all about.
The Film Club: A Memoir **This book is not for most people. Indeed I am not sure why I found it as intriguing as I did. It is full of profanity and irresponsible, immature behavior, yet strikes a very tasty chord much like the salt that is required for great fudge. I breezed through it in two nights and as I have not yet posted a book review… here is my first, if not my best.
Rarely do I find myself attracted to a book of this style or theme, though upon reflection, I do seem to read one or two of them each year.
The back of the book jacket reads:
“When David Gilmour’s fifteen year old son Jesse started flunking every subject at school, his father offered an unconventional deal : Jesse could drop out – not work, not pay rent – but there was a catch. He had to watch three movies a week of his father’s choosing. And so week by week, side by side, father and son watched the world’s best (and occasionally worst) films – and talked about movies and life. Then, as the Film Club moved toward its bittersweet but inevitable end, Jesse made a decision that would surprise even his father….”
…and for me this book is not at all about the “decision” it hypes, but rather about the specialness that was found in the “misfortune” of his son’s latter years of adolescence. Almost without exception, you will never find a parent so willing to be vulnerable to the unknown and attempt unconventional methods to guide and assist their child to adulthood in the manner in which Gilmore embraces throughout this book.
For me, the power of this tale is in the relationship that is formed between father and son when all cultural pretenses are lifted and replaced with genuine conversation and time spent with one another, the later of the two being the successful fuel of conversation and therefore connection.
If you find yourself open to an artsy perspective on the power of lifestyle design as it relates to complete freedom within adolescence, then this is a powerful read. If however, you are more in search of bricks and mortar testimonials or powerful tested techniques to increase your monthly passive income then I would suggest you leave this to your more sentimental or feel good counterparts.
I rate this book a 3.5 out of 5. (But filter this book through the cultural/spiritual/family strainer and not through the down to earth/practical/tactical business filter.)
For me, the weakness of this book is in its architecture, it is character heavy and thin of plot. If you love movies like The Royal Tenenbaums you will love this book, if on the other hand, you like movies with a great story like Dances with Wolves then this is not your book.
For me, the strength of the book is in the clear demonstration of the power of time. So few parents afford themselves, or take, the dedicated undistracted time this author committed to his son in the most crucial of developmental years. For me, this adds fuel to my desire to architect a life that allows me the freedom to concentrate my future days to undivided dedication to my sons. Won’t you join me in this quest?
Randy Komisar wrote The Monk and the Riddle: The Art of Creating a Life While Making a Living. I read this book in no time, and I’m not a fast reader. I am particular about books, I enjoy larger print and small pages, as long as I can continually turn the pages, I read much faster and will stay involved with the book, this book met both criteria. I will lose focus and stop reading with tiny print books (high-maintenance, I know).
Onto the actual book review, my favorite chapter is chapter 9 ‘The Gamble’. A few quotes from the book include “When all is said, the journey is the reward” and “Today’s movers and shakers may be reduced…at best to the canvas.”
The world will continue to turn no matter what, you only go around once, so why not enjoy everyday of your life? How many of the Ren Menions know the name of their great-great-great grandfather’s name? It’s crazy to think how many people do not know. I don’t…but he had a huge impact on my life, without him and my great-great-great grandmother = no me.
I would consider myself a tourist, not a world traveler by any stretch of the imagination. I would love to become a world traveler and Vagabonding was one of the first books written to show you how to become a long-term traveler. Tim Ferriss is a life hacker and recommends this book, so I had to give it the once over.
Vagabonding was a light easy read. I recommend it to anyone looking to take the next step in a nomadic lifestyle/long-term traveler. Potts suggests many websites (some are not up-to-date) and great books. I picked up six more books to read that Potts highlighted.
Every time the word sabbatical appeared in the book, I replaced it with the word, life. A couple of my favorite parts talked about life, if you only had six months to live, what would you do? The authors sliced the answer into three parts: 1) Things that must positively get accomplished before departing, 2) Things you would like to get done and 3) Parts of your lifestyle that need to halted immediately.
(2002) has become a must read for first time travelers. Rolf, in many ways, has become the face of modern backpacking.