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Vagabonding: An Uncommon Guide to the Art of Long-Term World Travel by Rolf Potts (view source)
Revision as of 10:16, 22 September 2020
, 10:16, 22 September 2020no edit summary
{{infobox infobox1
|title= Vagabonding: An Uncommon Guide to the Art of Long-Term World Travel
|author= Rolf Potts
|buy= Maybe
|borrow= Yes
|pages=224
|publisher= Villard Books
|date= January 2003
|isbn=978-0812992182
|amazonukcover=<amazonuk>0812992180</amazonuk> |amazonusaznuk=0812992180|aznus=<amazonus>B00GG0BRZA</amazonus>
}}
If it all sounds a little bit too preachy and patronising in the most infuriatingly American way, don't give up on Potts yet: despite the fact that it's easy to form such a first impression, ''Vagabonding'' is actually better than it appears on the first glance.
Yes, it does preach a particular philosophy: minimalist attitude to material possessions and comforts, an individualistic, experiential approach to travel , a typically non-judgemental Western relativism regarding the values of other cultures. But considering that the book is clearly written for an American market, all that is probably needed. Once you get used to the ''cool dude travelling the Dharma road'' style, you will find a lot of well-grounded common sense as well as Potts' genuine ability to inspire confidence and belief in the possibility of the vagabonding venture.
The practical tips are basic, to the point of stating the obvious, so will be mainly of use only to those who have little experience of truly independent travel.
The resource lists are much more useful, but more so to those that are based in the US or Canada; the book has been written for an American market and thus only presents very few UK or European resources (e.g. VSO doesn't get mentioned in the section on volunteering and Ryanair doesn't get a mention in the cheap air travel chapter).
Potts recognises the fact that not all vagabonders are single under-30 -year -olds, and even has a little sub-section on senior vagabonding and travel with children. However, in reality , a lot of his advice still mostly applies to single and childless travellers. He deals at length with work -related issues: how to organise your work life for travel, resigning from work without burning bridges and taking sabbaticals. He says nothing about travelling as a couple (nor about leaving your partner or spouse behind) and very little about dealing with practical and emotional aspects of other family commitments. The list of resources for travelling with children is, as far as I checked, the most slapdash of them all, with a couple of Internet boards and a book or two about rich people who went on a pre-booked world tour orchestrated from a fancy pad in an affluent neighbourhood.
Still, anybody contemplating first-time vagabonding, but is a bit afraid and a bit unsure, Potts' book will reassure and encourage. Anybody more experienced will be reminded of the wonder and exhilaration of travel.
Recommended.
You might appreciate [[Baturi by Matthew Stephen]], [[Roam by Dean Starnes]] or [[Europe on a Shoestring: Big Trips on Small Budgets (Lonely Planet Shoestring Guides) by Sarah Johnstone]].
{{amazontext|amazon=0812992180}}
{{amazonUStext|amazon=B00GG0BRZA}}
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