About this title: Veteran shoestring traveler Potts shows how anyone armed with an independent, curious spirit can achieve the dream of extended overseas travel, once thought to be the sole province of students, counterculture dropouts, and the idle rich.
Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is described below.
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Villard Books
Date Published: 2002
ISBN-13:9780812992182ISBN:0812992180
Description: New. Brand New! Buy with confidence-your satisfaction is guaranteed at B-Logistics! Due to the large scale of our operation, we do not have access to the specific contents/condition of our items. Please note that Expedited shipping is not available at this time. read more
"Best travel book I've read to date. It took me less than 24 hours to read it because I was so drawn to (and in agreement with) Potts' philosophy on approaching travel. Excellent read...especially for Americans who still subscribe to the idea that long-term travel is only for the rich."
"Vagabonding is a nice quick read of one man's personal manifesto of the glory of the journey (or as he calls it, "the art of long-term travel"). Essentially, what is being promoted here is the worth of regular detachment from your norm to embark on soul-enriching open-ended travel.
I enjoyed much of the book, because I share the author's appreciation of the value of cultural experience for rounding out one's worldview. This is a book that endeavors to be a "travel advice book" and not a guide book, so reader beware that what you are getting is more a philosophy of travel, not how-to's and where-to's. Potts doesn't attempt to exhaustively develop all his points of advice either, he mostly throws some thoughts out there and leaves the reader to chew on them.
As sort of a critique and a window into the books content: for me most of the most helpful parts of the book were a few - of the copious amounts - of quotes he uses and the resources listed at the end of each chapter.
I give this book three stars because my impression was that it was simply an average book. It didn't wow me, but it also didn't seem like a failure. It was fine for a quick read, but certainly didn't excel in it's field of travel-lit or seem to me to be any kind of "game-changer."
Bottomline: A quick free-flow of advice on travel that features some thought-provoking nuggets of wisdom for any kind of person making any kind of journey.
Is "Vagabonding worth getting? I borrowed it from the library and was glad I did. It's worth a read if you are the target market, isn't worth the price to buy though."
"One of my favorite books ever! If you are serious about traveling this should be at the top of your list. It is not a travel guide, but provides insight on how to travel for extended periods of time in order to really understand and explore your destination. More of a philosophical look at travel, and some of the "barriers" we tell ourselves we face in regards to traveling for extended periods. Contains great excerpts from other travel writers, quotes, and some thought provoking ideas about happiness, material possessions, and money. I think writing this has made me want to read it again..."
"Why I Read this Book: Travel and exploration is an essential part of the development of a successful and fulfilled life. Rolf provides an awesome and inspirational guide.
Review:
All I can think of is travel right now. Not just travel, but moreso exploring, adventure and discovery. Where will my next adventure be? I have that excited feeling right now that only the best possibilities bring us. You know, that one we used to all feel the night before Christmas? Something like that, but for adults. My long term travel adventures have been occurring off and on for the past few years ever since spending eighteen months exploring the south of Spain, Portugal and Morocco. Since then the addiction has taken over, and Rolf Potts has fully fired me up again with Vagabonding.
When I first saw the title of this book, Vagabonding, An uncommon guide to the art of long-term world travel, I thought it was a joke, as unfortunately most people probably did. But the truth is, this should be required reading for anyone about to enter the real world after university. In fact it should be required for everyone period. Tim Ferris, author of The Four Hour Work Week, first recommeneded it to me and given my great admiration for him, Vagabonding was the next book on my list.
Excitement and inspiration are some of the words that come to mind to describe the feelings that go through the reader's body as they hear of Rolf's adventures throughout the world. Whether it was his 9-month adventure through Southern Asia, his experience hitch-hiking through Russia or simply a curious conversation he had a with a farmer in Africa (there's no doubt he has done all of these), there is something to learn from each. Some of his stories are extreme and have you reading in disbelief whereas just as many make you realize the simplicities in life that we so often let pass us by.
Travel is not something that should be reserved for one or two weeks out of the year where you blow through 10 attractions in just as many days. It is a time to go out and learn from those whom you've never come in contact. A time to get out of your comfort zone and be a stanger as you learn how others approach life. To you that might mean spending six months or a year on a beach in Thailand contemplating the "simple life", or to the more adventurous, it may mean spending a few months with nomads wandering through the Sahara. Or it could be anything in between.
The point is that travel and exploration are a fundamental part of life and development. We can only understand and learn so much from what we read, see on TV or experience in a class room. It is hard to have true compassion and understanding for life outside of your life if you never get out there. My mind was first opened on six month study abroad adventure in Spain and England. I can't tell you how close I was to not going because I thought I'd be 'missing' something back home. I'm grateful for making the right decision ever since. In fact, study and experience abroad should be a requirement in our socitey as far as I'm concerned, but that's another topic. For those in question, I have simple advice. If you are ever on the fence about going somewhere, just go. You won't regret it.
The wonderful thing is that these opportunities are available to everyone. They are are not just for the mega-rich as so many of us have been trained to believe. In fact, often times it is overabundance that causes us to lose those first-hand experiences with other cultures. As nice as a five-star hotel is in Oman, it is showing you next to nothing about the Omani culture. Quite often one or two-week long travelers, especially the wealthy, travel far and wide to experience the same nice comforts and amenities and even people as at home. Why not just save the travel time and stay home?
Part of what's so inspiring about this book is the way Rolf explains the incredible possibilities that exist for long-term travel regardless of our economic situation. Did you hear that? Please read it over again to let it sink in. Regardless of our our economic situation. He often travels on five or 10 dollars a day. How many of you could afford that? Could you imagine traveling using only your daily Starbucks budget? The next time you head out for a party-filled weekend, think of how far that $250 could go at $5/day in Indonesia. That's almost two months of pure and original exploring! So think about the the next time you tell someone (or worse off, yourself) that you don't have the money to travel. We all have the money, it's just a matter of knowing what exists and making it a priority. No excuses. And if you have happen to doubt it, Rolf is quite convincing in his first-hand accounts as well as his seemingly endless resources he provides to guide you through making it possible. Whether that means tips on the cheapest countries and towns, or how to get quick international jobs here and there to fund your way through, you'll find the advice you need.
I am saddened by the ever-growing frequency and list of excuses that so many young people have. If I had a euro or pent (or whatever currency is relevant on your next journey), for every time I heard someone say "I wish I could do what he's (or she's) doing, but...", I would spend every last day of my life traveling and exploring the world. Then again, maybe I'll do that anyway.
It is so easy to have excuses for inactivity and simply revert to the norm, especially when our institutions and generations before us tend to tell us that things like vagabonding just aren't possible. Well it's becoming clear that they are, and it is those very things that lead to truly great success. I challenge you to find someone who has experienced genuine and extreme success and fulfillment by always listening to others. That's just it. Be different. Learn from different people, places, things and experiences. After all, our life is made up of one experience to the next. Why not make them unique and wonderful? You, and the people you touch, will no doubt be better for having done it. And the wonderful thing about travel is the more you do it, the more you have to do it. If only all personal development could be like that.
Rolf has given us the inspiration, tools and stories to guide us on an endless string of journey's. We all have the resources if we want them. So this leaves us only with the important questions. Where will you be heading for the next six months, a year, or more? Who might you meet? How might your life be changed for the better?
Where ever it is, I look forward to running into you.
We guarantee every item's condition, as described on Alibris. If you are not satisfied that an item is as described, return your purchase for a refund.
rating
