I always love reading these stories and commend those who go the extra mile to give up technology or make a significant contribution to nature by way of isolation and minimalism. However, the same moral questions always come up for me. I’ll get to those shortly.

It’s no surprise that Walden always comes up. It’s interesting that homelessness never does. We’re speaking of a concept that purposely causes survival but never once are those who are forced into isolation mentioned. I find it hard to believe that panhandlers aren’t encountered based on how long these ventures went on. In fact, the only outsiders mentioned are generally family, friends, and the general public.

While these men (because that’s who writes these books, a woman’s perspective/experience would be completely different) distanced themselves from the fact that they have large bank accounts awaiting their return if they ever decided to return to everyday life. I don’t recall any of them leaving their money to family, friends, or a good cause. Perhaps I overlooked that part.

The same meaning consistently comes up: seeking clarity; embracing nature; rebelling against the government and big tech; revisiting roots; giving up everything (debatable) to have “nothing.”

What is the real purpose of these experiences, truly? Something that is never discussed with these memoirs is mental state.

There doesn’t have to be anything wrong with someone making such an impulsive decision, but there are themes between them all. While I don’t notice any psychological neurosis on the surface, I do sense loneliness to be common. I’d love to know more about the upbringings that lead to wanting a lifestyle away from everyone and everything. Are they writing to us, the readers, or is it a last letter to themselves (or an outcry)? On the flipside, could this be an even bigger cry for attention?

Back to Boyle: the entire book is a contradiction to the title. To say that you’re giving up a life with technology but have someone else to use technology on your behalf makes the entire book uneven. I like that he’s the only author that I’ve read so far that at least brings up this fact and embraces it. There is a lot of technology and resources that go into publishing a book so there’s no way to be consistent with the overarching message to the public.

The other issue I have is what I feel like is “cheating.” If you’re going to detach yourself from society, great, go for it but stealing from others doesn’t make the world any better. Unfortunately, it takes resources to grow your own produce, keep hygienic, and live off the grid. Meaning, stealing food or living on private property. Is there truly a way to follow this concept when everything is owned by the government or individuals? How can you be respectful of others’ things or space?

On another note, how do you get others to join the movement if the lifestyle must be secretive?

Again, I did enjoy that he was more candid about things like relationships, sexual desires, using technology, and hypocrisy. The question I had the entire time was where do you draw the line of what is considered technology? In my opinion, tools would count as using technology, even if outdated. Is it even possible to survive without the use of anything at all. Catching food by hand, for example, or would creating a fishing rod then mean you’re using technology? It’d be oblivious to assume using your hands to catch a fish is realistic, but this is just one example of what is subjective.

Another rule that he gave himself was not accepting anything from others (handouts, money, etc.). At one point, a woman tells him that he looks hungry, which he was. She then offers him a sandwich, which he refuses. She then makes it anyway and hands it to him. He accepts this and eats it.

Do you say no because it goes against your morals to take handouts, or yes because ethically you do not want to mistreat others, in this case declining the sandwich would be rude and perhaps even generate hostility towards someone you call a friend.

I also loved that he gave a before and after review. It was initially decided to only live this new lifestyle for a year, but he decided to keep going after reaching that goal. It’s fascinating that he was happier with the nomad way of life but also found them equally difficult. For example, paying bills versus doing favors for people to get seeds to grow the produce. There are always tradeoffs.

I’ll leave it with this, “money and Truth seldom go hand in hand.” We’re all on the road to self-discovery and hopefully can one day be in a position to follow where that road takes us, as Boyle has done.

The Way Home: Tales from a life without technology by Mark Boyl.