Book overview
"I see the "How on earth do you make this happen?" question in various groups all the time. I'd love to just get this guide out there in response!" - Heather "Anish" Anderson. National Geographic Adventurer of the Year, record-setting long distance hiker, and author of Thirst: 2600 Miles to Home.
Forget picket fences. Live your best life. Sleep in the dirt.
Most people think that an adventure-filled life is only an option for the rich or the irresponsible. For the dirtbag, it is a birthright for the masses.
In the spirit of classics like Thoreau's Walden and Rolf Potts' Vagabonding, The Dirtbag's Guide to Life is both a celebration of an under-appreciated subculture and a practical how-to manual for building your own life of adventure.
It distills the real-world experiences of hundreds of the most dedicated dirtbags to address the key challenges to creating a meaningful, flexible life outside, whether you're a weekend warrior or a full-time nomad:
- How to stretch a small budget to accomplish big adventures through seasonal work, minimalist living, and dirtbag financial strategies.
- How to build a career path that will support your passions rather than working against them.
- How to keep your friendships and make your mother proud in a life punctuated by six month thru-hikes and overseas adventure.
- How to manage grown-up responsibilities like debt, housing, and health insurance without giving up time flexibility.
- How to live intentionally and make your life meaningful through a simple, adventure-centered lifestyle.
Whether you want to travel the world, hike the Appalachian Trail, or just fit in more mountain biking on the weekends, The Dirtbag's Guide to Life is an essential, inspiring, and consistently entertaining roadmap.
A note on the 2025 revision:
This book started as advice for a few friends who wanted to work less and go outside more. Somewhere along the way, it connected with thousands of readers. This updated edition is revised, polished, and expanded to keep the dirtbag dream alive.
