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Vagabonding: An Uncommon Guide to the Art of Long-Term World Travel Paperback – December 24, 2002

by Rolf Potts (Author), Timothy Ferriss (Foreword)

4,040 ratings

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INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER • With a new foreword by Tim Ferriss • “Vagabonding easily remains in my top-10 list of life-changing books. Why? Because one incredible trip, especially a long-term trip, can change your life forever. And Vagabonding teaches you how to travel (and think), not just for one trip, but for the rest of your life.”—Tim Ferriss, from the foreword

There’s nothing like vagabonding: taking time off from your normal life—from six weeks to four months to two years—to discover and experience the world on your own terms. In this one-of-a-kind handbook, veteran travel writer Rolf Potts explains how anyone armed with an independent spirit can achieve the dream of extended overseas travel. Now completely revised and updated, Vagabonding is an accessible and inspiring guide to

• financing your travel time
• determining your destination
• adjusting to life on the road
• working and volunteering overseas
• handling travel adversity
• re-assimilating back into ordinary life

Updated for our ever-changing world, Vagabonding is an indispensable guide for the modern traveler.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Veteran vagabond Potts regales readers with his mantra: anyone with an adventurous spirit can achieve the feat of taking extended time off from work to experience the world. In 11 short chapters that follow the same structure, Potts tells how to negotiate time off from work, prepare for travel, and get the most out of your time on the road. Each chapter contains a profile of a famous proponent of vagabonding (e.g., Thoreau, Annie Dillard), quotes from everyday people with extensive travel experience, and a tip sheet of print and online sources for practical travel advice on topics such as airline tickets and accommodations as well as safety concerns. Alternately warning readers about using drugs in foreign countries and entertaining them with anecdotes from exotic ports of call, Potts gives a thorough recounting of his outlook on traveling. This book seems squarely aimed at twenty- and thirtysomethings; anyone with decidedly nonvagabond accoutrements (e.g., children or career ambition) might be more skeptical of Potts' philosophy. For those with a bad case of wanderlust. Joanne Wilkinson
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

“The book is a meditation on the joys of hitting the road. . . . It’s also a primer for those with a case of pent-up wanderlust seeking to live the dream.”—USA Today

“I couldn’t put this book down. It’s a whole different ethic of travel. . . . [Rolf Potts’s] practical advice might just convince you to enjoy that open-ended trip of a lifetime.”—Rick Steves

“Potts wants us to wander, to explore, to embrace the unknown, and, finally, to take our own damn time about it. I think this is the most sensible book of travel-related advice ever written.”—Tim Cahill, founding editor of Outside

“A crucial reference for any budget wanderer.”—Time

“Potts has synthesized more than six years’ worth of road experiences into an unusual travel guide that’s much more than a how-to manual for open-ended journeys. With wit, insight and flair, he has created an inspiring philosophical handbook about living life as an adventure. . . . Vagabonding is an inspiring read for anyone who has ever contemplated taking an extended break.”—The Globe and Mail

“Vagabonding [is] chock-full of tips and first-person accounts about how to journey frugally and well.”—National Geographic Traveler

“Potts makes a valuable contribution to our thinking, not only about travel, but about life and work. And he leaves us with a prescription for making our lives more meaningful and more fun.”—The Boston Globe

“Vagabonding packs a serious philosophical punch and has a cult-like following among independent travelers. I’m warning you, though: This book may well inspire you to quit your job, sell the house and leave on an extended adventure.”—The Oregonian

“Recommended reading.”—The Washington Post

“For those who just want to enjoy the journey, Rolf Potts’ Vagabonding combines practical tips for getting happily lost with a genuine love for life on the road.”—Toronto Star

“In Vagabonding, Potts lays out an easy-tofollow yet philosophically deep approach to achieving the travel dreams so many of us assume we have neither the time or money for.”—Philadelphia Weekly

“Vagabonding is one of the best books out there to think about travel in a whole new way. Rather than going to places for just a few days and cramming in seeing all the sights, it suggests that if we can we should spend weeks or months rather than days in a place. That way we can get to know the culture and people or even become part of it.”—Business Insider

About the Author

Rolf Potts is the author of Vagabonding and Marco Polo Didn’t Go There. He has reported from more than sixty countries for the likes of National Geographic Traveler, The New Yorker, Slate, Outside, The New York Times Magazine, Believer, The Guardian, Sports Illustrated, National Public Radio, and the Travel Channel. Though he rarely stays in one place for more than a few weeks or months, Potts feels somewhat at home in Bangkok, Cairo, Pusan, New York, New Orleans, and North Central Kansas, where he keeps a small farmhouse on thirty acres near his family. Each July he can be found in France, where he is the summer writer-in-residence and program director at the Paris American Academy.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Chapter 1

From this hour I ordain myself loos'd of limits and imaginary lines, Going where I list, my own master total and absolute, Listening to others, considering well what they say, Pausing, searching, receiving, contemplating, Gently, but with undeniable will divesting myself of the holds that would hold me.

-Walt Whitman, "Song of the Open Road"

Declare Your Independence

Of all the outrageous throwaway lines one hears in movies, there is one that stands out for me. It doesn't come from a madcap comedy, an esoteric science-fiction flick, or a special-effects-laden action thriller. It comes from Oliver Stone's Wall Street, when the Charlie Sheen character - a promising big shot in the stock market - is telling his girlfriend about his dreams.

"I think if I can make a bundle of cash before I'm thirty and get out of this racket," he says, "I'll be able to ride my motorcycle across China."

When I first saw this scene on video a few years ago, I nearly fell out of my seat in astonishment. After all, Charlie Sheen or anyone else could work for eight months as a toilet cleaner and have enough money to ride a motorcycle across China. Even if they didn't yet have their own motorcycle, another couple months of scrubbing toilets would earn them enough to buy one when they got to China.

The thing is, most Americans probably wouldn't find this movie scene odd. For some reason, we see long-term travel to faraway lands as a recurring dream or an exotic temptation, but not something that applies to the here and now. Instead?out of our insane duty to fear, fashion, and monthly payments on things we don't really need - we quarantine our travels to short, frenzied bursts. In this way, as we throw our wealth at an abstract notion called "lifestyle," travel becomes just another accessory -a smooth-edged, encapsulated experience that we purchase the same way we buy clothing and furniture.

Not long ago, I read that nearly a quarter of a million short-term monastery- and convent-based vacations had been booked and sold by tour agents in the year 2000. Spiritual enclaves from Greece to Tibet were turning into hot tourist draws, and travel pundits attributed this "solace boom" to the fact that "busy overachievers are seeking a simpler life."

What nobody bothered to point out, of course, is that purchasing a package vacation to find a simpler life is kind of like using a mirror to see what you look like when you aren't looking into the mirror. All that is really sold is the romantic notion of a simpler life, and - just as no amount of turning your head or flicking your eyes will allow you to unselfconsciously see yourself in the looking glass - no combination of one-week or ten-day vacations will truly take you away from the life you lead at home.

Ultimately, this shotgun wedding of time and money has a way of keeping us in a holding pattern. The more we associate experience with cash value, the more we think that money is what we need to live. And the more we associate money with life, the more we convince ourselves that we're too poor to buy our freedom. With this kind of mind-set, it's no wonder so many Americans think extended overseas travel is the exclusive realm of students, counterculture dropouts, and the idle rich.

In reality, long-term travel has nothing to do with demographics - age, ideology, income - and everything to do with personal outlook. Long-term travel isn't about being a college student; it's about being a student of daily life. Long-term travel isn't an act of rebellion against society; it's an act of common sense within society. Long-term travel doesn't require a massive "bundle of cash"; it requires only that we walk through the world in a more deliberate way.

This deliberate way of walking through the world has always been intrinsic to the time-honored, quietly available travel tradition known as "vagabonding."

Vagabonding involves taking an extended time-out from your normal life?six weeks, four months, two years?to travel the world on your own terms.

But beyond travel, vagabonding is an outlook on life. Vagabonding is about using the prosperity and possibility of the information age to increase your personal options instead of your personal possessions. Vagabonding is about looking for adventure in normal life, and normal life within adventure. Vagabonding is an attitude?a friendly interest in people, places, and things that makes a person an explorer in the truest, most vivid sense of the word.

Vagabonding is not a lifestyle, nor is it a trend. It's just an uncommon way of looking at life - a value adjustment from which action naturally follows. And, as much as anything, vagabonding is about time - our only real commodity - and how we choose to use it.

Sierra Club founder John Muir (an ur-vagabonder if there ever was one) used to express amazement at the well-heeled travelers who would visit Yosemite only to rush away after a few hours of sightseeing. Muir called these folks the "time-poor" - people who were so obsessed with tending their material wealth and social standing that they couldn't spare the time to truly experience the splendor of California's Sierra wilderness. One of Muir's Yosemite visitors in the summer of 1871 was Ralph Waldo Emerson, who gushed upon seeing the sequoias, "It's a wonder that we can see these trees and not wonder more." When Emerson scurried off a couple hours later, however, Muir speculated wryly about whether the famous transcendentalist had really seen the trees in the first place.

Nearly a century later, naturalist Edwin Way Teale used Muir's example to lament the frenetic pace of modern society. "Freedom as John Muir knew it," he wrote in his 1956 book Autumn Across America, "with its wealth of time, its unregimented days, its latitude of choice . . . such freedom seems more rare, more difficult to attain, more remote with each new generation."

But Teale's lament for the deterioration of personal freedom was just as hollow a generalization in 1956 as it is now. As John Muir was well aware, vagabonding has never been regulated by the fickle public definition of lifestyle. Rather, it has always been a private choice within a society that is constantly urging us to do otherwise.

This is a book about living that choice.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ 0812992180
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Villard Books
Publication date ‏ : ‎ December 24, 2002
Edition ‏ : ‎ First Edition
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Print length ‏ : ‎ 240 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9780812992182
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0812992182
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 6.2 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.23 x 0.51 x 8 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #39,474 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #14 in Travel Writing Reference
- #27 in General Travel Reference
- #32 in Travelogues & Travel Essays

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Rolf Potts

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Rolf Potts is the author of five books, including Vagabonding (Villard Books, 2003), and The Vagabond's Way (Ballantine Books, 2022). His adventures have taken him to six continents, and he has reported from more than sixty countries for National Geographic Traveler, The New Yorker, Slate, Outside, The New York Times Magazine, The Believer, Sports Illustrated, and the Travel Channel. His stories have appeared in numerous literary anthologies, and more than twenty of his essays have been selected as “Notable Mentions” in The Best American Essays, The Best American Non-Required Reading, and The Best American Travel Writing. He is based in north-central Kansas, where he keeps a small farmhouse on thirty acres with his wife, Kansas-born actress Kristen Bush.

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Customers find this travel guide insightful and well-written, describing it as a favorite book that's worth every penny. The book serves as an excellent resource for understanding the philosophy of long-term travel, and one customer notes it provides practical advice on finding inexpensive accommodations. They appreciate its sincere style, with one review highlighting how it avoids exaggerations or romanticism. While customers enjoy the quotes throughout the book, some find them distracting.

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Inspirational content Readability Travel inspiration Writing quality Adventure value Value for money Style Quotes

204 customers mention "Inspirational content"191 positive13 negative

Customers find the book very insightful and inspiring, providing great perspective on life and valuable lessons and advice.

"...The author's insights and practical advice are invaluable, drawn from genuine experiences and a deep understanding of the joys and challenges of long..." Read more

"This is a pretty simple book, designed for those who have never traveled but always wanted to...." Read more

"...It was multiple times more useful from it's impressive amount of knowledge and links and book names to further enhance one's study to wherever in..." Read more

"...and practical advice for many travel topics but it will also work out your mind from the easy chair of your living room...." Read more

170 customers mention "Readability"170 positive0 negative

Customers find the book highly readable, describing it as a wonderful and amazing read that they consider one of their favorite books of all time.

"An exceptional book that serves as much more than a travel guide; it's a roadmap to living life more fully through the lens of extended travel...." Read more

"I enjoyed this book. Good info and I’d read again. Thanks." Read more

"...It's a classic, and the tons of great reviews confirm that." Read more

"...First, forget about the strange title, the book is much better. Forget about the word "vagabonding" and what is potentially means...." Read more

157 customers mention "Travel inspiration"151 positive6 negative

Customers find the book inspirational, describing it as a good addition to travel literature that provides great insight into long-term travel and describes several different approaches to it.

"...The author's insights and practical advice are invaluable, drawn from genuine experiences and a deep understanding of the joys and challenges of long..." Read more

"...The author describes several different approaches to travel and refrains from passing judgment on any of them...." Read more

"...It not only lays out a dense amount of valuable and practical advice for many travel topics but it will also work out your mind from the easy chair..." Read more

"...I still believe this book is a great place to start exploring the differences between vacationers and travelers, especially if you’re bored with the..." Read more

48 customers mention "Writing quality"48 positive0 negative

Customers find the book well written and easy to read, appreciating its quick pace and the author's humility.

"...The writing is engaging and relatable, making even the most exotic travel concepts seem attainable...." Read more

"...Now, personally, I like quotes. Quotes are nice. But certain quotes that resonate with me won't resonate with other people...." Read more

"..."long term" traveling is not for everybody, but the author does a great job of highlighting the benefits of taking an unconventional..." Read more

"This book was very well written. It gives a lot of resources concerning traveling vagabond style...." Read more

34 customers mention "Adventure value"34 positive0 negative

Customers find the book engaging with great stories that wet their appetite for adventure, and one customer notes it serves as a great jumping-off point for further exploration.

"...This book is a treasure trove of tips, anecdotes, and wisdom, ideal for both seasoned travelers and those dreaming of their first big adventure. '..." Read more

"...His trips are about exploration, learning the cultures and getting to really know a place...." Read more

"...philosophical touch enhanced by famous quotes while firmly being grounded in reality...." Read more

"...Although I have always enjoyed immersive and simple travel experiences, after reading this book I saw myself traveling in a more reflective manner...." Read more

13 customers mention "Value for money"13 positive0 negative

Customers find the book worth every penny, with one customer highlighting its practical advice on finding inexpensive accommodations.

"...it when I realized it wasn't a simple purchase but an investment to my desires and dreams. I regret not buying this sooner!..." Read more

"...It not only lays out a dense amount of valuable and practical advice for many travel topics but it will also work out your mind from the easy chair..." Read more

"...Throughout the book, he offers practical advice about finding inexpensive accommodations, food, and transportation while cautioning about scams and..." Read more

"...A quick, and affordable read, hopefully it will lead to many adventures on the road." Read more

11 customers mention "Style"9 positive2 negative

Customers appreciate the book's style, finding it sincere and easy to read, with one customer noting it avoids exaggerations and romanticism.

"...Stylistically, Vagabonding works better as a blog than a book...." Read more

"...He does in such a humbling and sincere fashion that has impacted my life since I first read it, a handful years ago...." Read more

"...That made the stories within this book much more personal and enjoyable...." Read more

"What a great illustration of the possibility of getting out of ourselves and welcoming new adventures...." Read more

12 customers mention "Quotes"8 positive4 negative

Customers have mixed feelings about the quotes in the book, with some appreciating them while others find them distracting.

"...book, in particular its slightly philosophical touch enhanced by famous quotes while firmly being grounded in reality...." Read more

"...it's too short - not a huge problem - and the various quotes from other travel writers are distracting and not always helpful." Read more

"...Great quotes throughout the book that are inspiring and reassuring. I recommend this to everybody." Read more

"...Potts is not shy about quoting other people and you will find a lot of references to other writers...." Read more

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Richard B.
Lovely read.
Reviewed in the United States on November 20, 2023
Verified Purchase

An exceptional book that serves as much more than a travel guide; it's a roadmap to living life more fully through the lens of extended travel. The author's insights and practical advice are invaluable, drawn from genuine experiences and a deep understanding of the joys and challenges of long-term travel. What makes this book stand out is its emphasis on the philosophy and mindset of travel, not just the logistics. It encourages readers to break free from conventional travel patterns and embrace the world with open arms and an open mind. The writing is engaging and relatable, making even the most exotic travel concepts seem attainable. This book is a treasure trove of tips, anecdotes, and wisdom, ideal for both seasoned travelers and those dreaming of their first big adventure. 'Vagabonding' doesn't just inspire you to travel; it inspires you to explore the world in a more meaningful and sustainable way. A delightful and enlightening read for anyone who believes in the transformative power of travel.

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Clackamas Lee
A good primer for those interested in long-term travel
Reviewed in the United States on April 24, 2014
Verified Purchase
This is a pretty simple book, designed for those who have never traveled but always wanted to. By "travel" I'm referring to long-term, low-budget travel. This is definitely not intended for the independently wealthy or those who don't know how to function without all of the conveniences of home. Nor is meant for the person who has a couple of weeks off of work and just wants to get out of town. There are plenty of other books for people interested in those types of travel.

The author describes several different approaches to travel and refrains from passing judgment on any of them. He lays out the pros and cons of each style and lets you decide what's right for you. He provides dozens of resources and is continually adding to them on his website. Somehow, he passes on all of this information without making the book feel like a typical travel book.

I took six months off after college and traveled around the U.S. with my then-toddler son. Sustained travel can be difficult even in this country. When my son graduates high school, I plan to try long-term international travel. This book was a great jumping off point for me. I was surprisingly impressed.

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20 people found this helpful

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Wesley Angel
An Uncommon Guide for An Uncommon Lifestyle
Reviewed in the United States on August 8, 2018
Verified Purchase
I'm the kind of person who, as a child, the teacher would have to shoo the birds away from the window, because I could never pay attention in class. I couldn't help it. I daydreamt about the freedom of those wonderful winged creatures and how, if they didn't desire this spot or that one, they could easy flap their wings and fly away. I still do this...

So when I was working and listening to the Tim Ferriss podcasts and how he sounded so passionate about travel, it rekindled that fire. I picked up a couple of other travel books and it seemed, no matter what or who, this book was mentioned. I hesitated because I couldn't explain the price when so much is free on the net. However, I finally did it when I realized it wasn't a simple purchase but an investment to my desires and dreams.

I regret not buying this sooner! It was multiple times more useful from it's impressive amount of knowledge and links and book names to further enhance one's study to wherever in the world one wants to go! For the first time since the Corps, I'm looking at long term travel again - but on my terms! Thank you Rolf, for this work of art, and to all those who helped push this book. I add my name to that list proudly! Again, this isn't a simple purchase of fancy, this is a great self-investment with huge returns!

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13 people found this helpful

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Tempusfugitve
A challenge worth taking and reading�
Reviewed in the United States on January 28, 2003
Verified Purchase
Not since reading the Jules Verne classic "Around the World in 80 Days" has my imagination been more fired up. I just completed a year of sabbatical of travel around the globe so I could easily act like this book is remedial, which is hardly the case.
This book is an intellectual toolkit for any traveler. It not only lays out a dense amount of valuable and practical advice for many travel topics but it will also work out your mind from the easy chair of your living room.
I have read Rolf's (the author) writings before and was excited to see he was writing a book. I love many travel writers but Rolf is the first to truly represent a younger and recent generation. To spite his youth he doesn't fall into the Gen-X trap of all cynicism and no substance instead his wit and style fall more into an updated Catcher in the Rye vibe.
I recommend if you love his book, become a daily reader of his website, where he posts daily musings and travel quotes. What I strongly recommend against is paying attention to the crackpot that listed the stay at home parenting book as a counter choice to Vagabonding. Clearly this person didn't bother to read Rolf's book, because its clear message isn't about making a life choice of travel over family responsibility, if anything its message is about living your life to its fullest potential so you can experience a life without regret. Something tells me there would be many more happy relationships and families if more people knew more about the big planet out there and followed their unrealized dreams.
Take the challenge and read this book.

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N. Beattie
Never ending Quotes
Reviewed in the United States on December 10, 2016
Verified Purchase
I really enjoy travel adventures and enjoy the travelers allowing us to read about what they have experienced. I have been fortunate enough to be able to travel to some out of the way places most people will not go because of some of these writers.
I cant say that for this book. About a third of this book is filled with never ending quotes from Muir to Thoreau and others less well known.
As well as every agency and travel organization you can think of. Examples Multi Cultural Travels, Family Travel, Ethical Guide, Nat Geo,
Rainforest Alliance, Peace Corps, Cross Cultural Solutions and even Religous groups.
THe best part ofthe book are the listings of all these groups, Agencies and Organizations.
I will not reference the book for his story but I will save it for the listings of all these orgnizations.
It's the most complete listing with addresses and web sites I've ever seen in one publication.

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Indy
Great book!
Reviewed in Canada on March 11, 2023
Verified Purchase

This book goes beyond just travel and introduces you to a travel mindset.
This isn't your average backpacker book. It's interesting, well written and perfect for anyone considering exploring the world or even just getting insight into the psyche of a traveler. Highly recommended

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Satoka Sotome
Why You Don’t Need a Vacation — You Need a Lifestyle Shift
Reviewed in Japan on January 7, 2025
Verified Purchase
Travel.

It’s something many of us dream about, but often find ourselves putting off or squeezing into tight, hectic schedules.

We’ve all been there — planning short, rushed trips between work and daily responsibilities, thinking of travel as just another checkbox in the “lifestyle” we’re supposed to have.

But what if travel didn’t have to be so rushed? What if it wasn’t about keeping up with trends or living up to society’s idea of what “lifestyle” should look like?

In this book, author Rolf Potts challenges everything we think we know about travel.

He argues that real exploration isn’t something you squeeze into a weekend or purchase like a new gadget. Instead, it’s a personal choice — one that doesn’t have to be dictated by society’s expectations.

This book isn’t just a guide to traveling the world. It’s a guide to living a life of freedom and intention, on your own terms.

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▶️ Who Should Read It?
I’d recommend Vagabonding to anyone who is interested in long-term travel or taking a break from the conventional 9-to-5 lifestyle.

It’s ideal for those seeking a deeper, more meaningful way to explore the world, whether they’re planning a gap year, a sabbatical, or a complete life overhaul.

The book is also great for budget-conscious travelers, minimalist-minded people, and anyone wanting to gain the mindset and practical tools for embracing a life of travel, independence, and self-discovery.

▶️ How the Book Changed Me
✅ Patience and Perspective:
When I travel, I often seek out local experiences rather than the typical tourist attractions. I want to see, feel, and think in ways that align more closely with how locals experience their world. My goal has always been to expand my perspective beyond my imagination. Vagabonding reminded me, however, that truly immersing yourself in another culture takes time — it’s not something that can be rushed or expected to produce quick results. The book taught me the value of patience and the importance of giving myself the time to genuinely understand others’ perspectives.
✅ The Journey, Not Just the Destination:
One quote from the book particularly resonated with me: “As new experiences and insights take you in surprising new directions, you’ll gradually come to understand why longtime travelers insist that the journey itself is far more important than any destination.” While I’ve never gone on a long-term journey myself, I felt a deep connection to this idea. It’s something that can be applied to everyday life — focusing on the process and the experience, rather than just the end goal, brings its own kind of joy. Since reading this, I’ve been more mindful of “enjoying the journey,” and I even have the phrase on my wall as a daily reminder as I work toward my goals.
✅ Embracing Solitude and Exploration:
Vagabonding also made me more enthusiastic about the idea of long-term travel, especially solo travel. The book helped me realize that solitude isn’t something to be feared, even in a big city like Tokyo, where I currently live. As the book says, “If travel really is an attitude of awareness and openness to new things, then any moment can be considered travel.” It encouraged me to approach my hometown with the same curiosity and openness as if it were a foreign land. The more I reflect on this, the more I see that the lessons of Vagabonding aren’t just about travel — they’re about living life more fully, right where you are.

----------

I hope you find Vagabonding as insightful and inspiring as I did.

Happy travels!

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José de Almeida Cavalcante Neto
Muito bom
Reviewed in Brazil on January 24, 2018
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Só não gostei da qualidade do material, mas o conteúdo do livro parece ser muito bom. Acredito que será uma leitura importante.

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Adrian Superstar
Ein besseres Gefühl für echtes Reisen gewinnen.
Reviewed in Germany on July 30, 2023
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Im Buch Vagabonding bekommt man ein Gefühl dafür, was es bedeutet, wenn man sich Zeit und Muse fürs Reisen nimmt. Es braucht nicht immer viel Geld oder minutiöse Planung. Was es braucht ist ein Bewusstsein was Reisen überhaupt geben kann. Was es ausmacht eine Reise erfolgreich durchzuführen. Oft sind es spontane Erlebnisse und Bekanntschafen, was es ausmacht. Und genau da knüpft das Buch an, anhand vieler Aha-Momente in Form von Geschichten, Erkenntnissen und Quotes.

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Carlos Varela
Travel through the mind of a traveller
Reviewed in Spain on July 22, 2014
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Reading "Vagabonding" is like having a deep conversation with somebody passionate about travelling in his own terms. The book includes some practical tips, but most of the text consists in Potts disserting about this kind of travelling, often with an esoteric or philosophical taste.

I expected to read an inspiring book, and this definetly is. I find the style and language of Potts both entretaining and beautiful, and he knows how to address some deep topics without being boring or wordy. You have to be adviced that this is a rather personal book so you may or not agree with what Potts says to you, though I personally found the text full of sense and wisdom. Perhaps fruit of this personal bias is the disproporcionate weight of American references in the book, though this is not something that bothered me especially.

Basically, very recommendable to anybody interested in knowing the psychology and the set of values behind a long trip on your own terms. I was thinking about travelling by my own in August, so I started to read the book, and then on the next day a friend calls me for a more exciting adventure: "hey, do you want to join me to do the Transsiberian?" I find it pretty amazing, no? I just started to read the book, and it was like if the adventure knocked in my door.

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Vagabonding: An Uncommon Guide to the Art of Long-Term World Travel Paperback – December 24, 2002

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5.0 out of 5 stars Lovely read.

4.0 out of 5 stars A good primer for those interested in long-term travel

5.0 out of 5 stars An Uncommon Guide for An Uncommon Lifestyle

5.0 out of 5 stars A challenge worth taking and reading�

3.0 out of 5 stars Never ending Quotes

Top reviews from other countries

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book!

5.0 out of 5 stars Why You Don’t Need a Vacation — You Need a Lifestyle Shift

5.0 out of 5 stars Muito bom

5.0 out of 5 stars Ein besseres Gefühl für echtes Reisen gewinnen.

5.0 out of 5 stars Travel through the mind of a traveller

Lovely read.

A good primer for those interested in long-term travel

An Uncommon Guide for An Uncommon Lifestyle

A challenge worth taking and reading�

Never ending Quotes

Great book!

Why You Don’t Need a Vacation — You Need a Lifestyle Shift

Muito bom

Ein besseres Gefühl für echtes Reisen gewinnen.

Travel through the mind of a traveller