My Exile Lifestyle Paperback – January 14, 2013

(I chose the title of my review mainly for people who would see the picture of a mostly naked man on the cover and not buy the book. What a mistake that would be! The cover is simply a tie-in to minimalism, nothing more.) Mr Wright shares some wonderful insight into the benefits of minimalism.This book is not only for those who pursue extreme minimalism - as the author has chosen. It will also benefit the one who us simply seeking help to declutter his life and get back to a place where he control his own life, instead his life controlling him. To give you a better idea of what this book presents, I want to share a few quotes that I've bookmarked on my Kindle. Kindle Location numbers are included:"Minimalism does not mean owning as little as possible. It's cutting out the things you don't care about - that you don't need - so you can invest more of yourself in the stuff you're passionate about." (Location 1032)"What a depressing thought, to have to depend on "stuff" to feel happy and good about myself! Just writing it made my stomach clench up. Take it away. Move on," (Location 739)"Chase your passions and the money will come. Chase money and you'll be lucky to ever find your passions." (Location 488)"If I couldn't do good work on any computer, was I really that talented? If I couldn't have fun when I wasn't out drinking and eating expensive food, was I really happy? If I couldn't live without a certain person in my life, was I really living?" (Location 1026)I hope these little tastes will give you a feel for what the author is trying to present to you. He scatters these wonderful gems amidst his own story of what led up to this lifestyle choice and how it has played out since he began. His stories are entertaining and educational. Reading them has stirred up change from deep inside me...changes that I have begun acting upon to declutter my own life. I hope you enjoy this book as much as I have.

It's hard to write a review for an unconventional book and an unconventional author. First of all, I'd say that the main reason why I really enjoyed this book was getting to know the backstory of a very inspirational pioneer and life explorer. For the most part, in the way it's written (so very different than his blog or other stuff), it felt like I was just at a cafe table with him or something, as if we were close friends and he was telling me all this crazy stuff that has gone through his mind while on his travels and couldn't wait to share. I don't think that's so easy to accomplish, so that's kinda awesome. I thought the stories were engaging and, when considered in their proper time/space frame, well chosen and functional when read as a small parts of a wider story, part of which is yet to be written.The soon-to-be world traveler in me got excited and psyched about finding points in common with Colin's view of the world, and thanked the scoop on the down-sides of the experience (the loneliness, the ocassional disease, the relationships and the mental rushes of changing your surroundings and having an expire date on everything you see, do and come to love). The Exile Lifestyle "follower" in me was also pleased to find out more about Colin's origins, what he did as a kid and how he came to be the person he is now. I think that in telling those stories he has done a very humble and even noble thing of rejecting the "rockstar" personae that somehow was built around him as an internet celebrity, and so we are shown that he's just an average guy with an addiction to life and the guts to defy rules and respect himself. Doing so, we learn that it's not luck or circumstances that grant you an awesome, unconventional or happy life; it's your choices and what you're willing to sacrifice in exchange.All in all, a very enjoyable and entertaining book for the unconventional masses; those who are already living the dream and specially for those who still need a little push to take the leap of faith into the unknown. Well done!

I'm adding a star for Colin's courage in pursuing an unorthodox lifestyle and his willingness to write about it. However, it may be too soon for him to have penned a book. I've never read his blog but this feels like a series of posts, emails, and Facebook commentary smashed into a virtual binding and sealed with a smidgen of snake oil. The intention, according to the introduction, is inspiration for would-be vagabonds and pioneers but the actual content swings wildly from a sort of self-defensive boasting, to dissertations on environments and situations that sound like ungraded English assignments, to MBA-esq evaluations of people and events, to sermonizing on his opinions under the guise of open-minded philosophy. Between the lines I felt potential, and a few sentences might be worth quoting, but on the whole I saw only ego (an excuse to sell one's image). At least, I must give credit, there are no smilies.