Helpful Score: 3
Sundeen writes in a way that captures your interest. I kept telling myself "only one more chapter" but couldn't stop reading. His telling of this tale about Suelo is not so much a biography (although it is that) as a travelogue of the life and experience of Suelo. There are no straight paths here from point A to point B, they wind around and branch off (much like the life that Suelo has lived). Sundeen liberally sprinkles the life story of Suelo with the history of Moab Utah and other places he's been to, interesting facts about the flora of fauna of the desert, examples of others who have or have tried to live as Suelo does, interviews with those who have come in contact with Suelo, bits of Americana, and thoughts from various philosophers, religious figures, psychologists, ecologists, transcendentalists, etc. He weaves a rich tale to show us the humble but abundant life of Suelo, a man who with joy, love, spirituality, and bravery chooses to live an authentic life in the midst of too-inauthentic American capitalist culture.
Helpful Score: 3
I think most anyone in pursuit of an authentic life will appreciate this book and admire Daniel for living his truth!
Helpful Score: 1
A thought-provoking read, whether you have ever pondered pulling a Thoreau to get away from modern civilzation or simply criss-crossing the country like Peace Pilgrim on a mission. The book won't outline exactly how one can live large on zero dollars, because it's different for everyone, but it certainly shares many tips and pieces of wisdom that those of us who've wondered about bucking the system have gleaned over the years. (Hey, if you're really interested, you can always read up on the dozens of groups whose names are dropped throughout this text!)
While I must admit I was initially annoyed to discover that Suelo's decision to "drop out" of society was prompted by fundamentalist religious zeal, Sundeen's exploration of this provided an interesting perspective. Playing the role of Devil's Advocate, he pokes the same holes in Suelo's philosophy that any cynic would, then builds the man back up again, bit by bit. For me, the best part was when Suelo travels to Bangkok in search of the holy men he has been envisioning as ideal practitioners of moneyless living, only to find that the Buddhists and sadhus are just as corrupt in their money-chasing ways as we Westerners. The lesson, brought to him by no less than the Dalai Lama? "Every culture and every religion teaches truth... Most of you are looking for something other than where you're at. I'd recommend that most of you go back to your own cultures, learn your own wisdom, your own traditions."
Religious fundamentalism, then, isn't the problem. It's the fact that people literally do not live their own beliefs--whatever they may be.
What, I wonder, would the world look like if we all truly lived as we believed?
While I must admit I was initially annoyed to discover that Suelo's decision to "drop out" of society was prompted by fundamentalist religious zeal, Sundeen's exploration of this provided an interesting perspective. Playing the role of Devil's Advocate, he pokes the same holes in Suelo's philosophy that any cynic would, then builds the man back up again, bit by bit. For me, the best part was when Suelo travels to Bangkok in search of the holy men he has been envisioning as ideal practitioners of moneyless living, only to find that the Buddhists and sadhus are just as corrupt in their money-chasing ways as we Westerners. The lesson, brought to him by no less than the Dalai Lama? "Every culture and every religion teaches truth... Most of you are looking for something other than where you're at. I'd recommend that most of you go back to your own cultures, learn your own wisdom, your own traditions."
Religious fundamentalism, then, isn't the problem. It's the fact that people literally do not live their own beliefs--whatever they may be.
What, I wonder, would the world look like if we all truly lived as we believed?
