The Moneyless Man: A Year of Freeconomic Living
- Sep 10, 2011
- 1 min read
Updated: Apr 18
★★★☆☆
Mark Boyle is a well-intentioned young man who, after a nine-year journey towards living without money, finally takes the plunge and lives cash-free for an entire year. What he gives us reads something like a series of moderately detailed blog posts beginning with the events that led up to his decision, his preparations for living without money, and, finally, how he did it (what he ate, what his days were like, etc.) from season to season. His writing style is friendly and accessible and wholly lacking in any sort of I'm-right-you're-wrong grandstanding rhetoric. He's clearly doing what he thinks is right for himself, for society, and for the planet, but he also acknowledges that his opinion is just one of many and others may be more correct than his. What's successful about the book is that he proves it's entirely possible to live without money, and even if you aren't willing to go all-in, there are certainly elements that are easy for anyone to emulate. But it's clear Boyle is no writer, and while he's able to clearly relate his year-long experiment, his practical, workmanlike style never elevates his journey into something truly inspiring. Still, there's a lot of food for thought here, and I wholly applaud the effort.
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