The Man Who Quit Money
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In the autumn of 2000, Daniel Suelo deposited his worldly wealth -- all thirty dollars of it -- in a phone booth. He has lived without money ever since. And he has never felt so free, or so much at peace. In this Walden for the twenty-first century, author Mark Sundeen tells the amazing story of how one man learned to live, sanely and happily, without earning, receiving, or spending a single cent. Yet he manages to fulfill amply not only the basic human needs -- for shelter, food, and warmth -- but, to an enviable degree, the universal desires for companionship, purpose, and spiritual engagement. By retracing the surprising path and guiding philosophy that led Suelo from an idealistic childhood through youthful disillusionment to his radical reinvention of "the good life," The Man Who Quit Money makes us question the decsions we all make -- by default or by design -- about how we live. And it inspires us to imagine how we might live better. - Back cover.
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I can understand why this book seems preachy to some - Daniel Suelo's lifestyle is very confronting; it goes against what many modern folks think is the definition of success: A fat bank balance, property all over the place, and a fancy title at a corporate job. At times, his ideas and opinions about modern life seem too far out and airy-fairy for the average cubicle dweller who has bills to pay; his ideals are far too removed from modern-day realities for many to grasp.
Still, Suelo asks you to consider another idea of success: To live free of the pressures of conformity, the expectations of others and the desire to hoard things - be it money or fancy cars - to feel that you've made it.
Instead, he lives life with a deep respect for nature, daring to risk society's censure, disapproval and hatred so that he can life the life he wants. If anything, this book teaches us that we shouldn't be afraid of having no money as the Earth can provide you enough. It also teaches us that happiness is a matter of perspective, and there's another way to succeed in life besides accumulating money and stuff.
Inspiring.
