"Vagabonding" by Rolf Potts

My friend cautioned me while handing me this book, 'this is the most dangerous book I've ever read.' Right he was. This book's purpose is to demonstrate the realistic possibility of living a semi-transient life. Not necessarily a "leaf blowing in the wind" type of lifestyle but a lifestyle that enables one to travel about, live in, or explore any part of the world in a more satisfying way. Potts would say that the way most people travel is based in a tourism mindset. Tourists travel to see sights and get a taste of a distinct part of the world. Potts stresses the value of 'vagabonding' instead. His definition of vagabonding is traveling in style that is slow, freeing, and fully immersive. He demonstrates, through his own experiences and the anecdotes of others, how some of the most affecting travel experiences happen off the 'tourism beaten path' and are sometimes more influenced by interactions with other people, whether they be natives of where you are or other like minded travelers. After demonstrating the higher value of these experiences, Potts lays out the most likely scenario in which to encounter them. Through saving money and taking long periods of time off from work or finding employment on the road, a person is better enabled to get to know people from others walks of life, find jaw dropping sites of beauty, take in moments of sheer and utter inspiration and discover great things about yourself in the process. "Vagabonding" inspires a lifestyle then lays out a clear cut game plan that can be used to achieve it. This book is very dangerous for anyone who feels like they should stay in one place and only allow themselves short periods of time for worldly experiences. It is also a book I would recommend to any and everyone.