The author of How to Be Idle, Tom Hodgkinson, now shares his delightfully irreverent musings on what true independence means and what it takes to be free. The Freedom Manifesto draws on French existentialists, British punks, beat poets, hippies and yippies, medieval thinkers, and anarchists to provide a new, simple, joyful blueprint for modern living. From growing your own vegetables to canceling your credit cards to reading Jean-Paul Sartre, here are excellent suggestions for nourishing mind, body, and spirit—witty, provocative, sometimes outrageous, yet eminently sage advice for breaking with convention and living an uncluttered, unfettered, and therefore happier, life.
Customer Review: Good read but hard to practice
I agree with other reviewers that this book is a joy to read. It presents noble solutions to a series of very serious issues faced by modern day career ladder climber, money spending consumers, government oppressed citizens with witty yet elegant languages. The book basically tells you to let go of your desire, decrease your consumption, see through the empty promises of career, and not rely on the conventional yard stick to measure your “success”. They are all common senses as pointed out by other reviewer, and probably known by most people deep in their heart even when they are doing exactly what Tom Hodgkinson preached us not to do.
This is basically the reason why I only gave the book four stars instead of five. It merely presents the problem, but does not offer much solution other than some short suggestions. I can understand that the author probably think that each individual is too different to have dogmatic solutions, but I truly believe some sort of organized suggestions with more substance can greatly enhance this good book.
Customer Review: A doorway to the obvious
The freedom manifesto is a great read for the all those searching and yearning for a meaning to life. It is also a great read for those who believe are lives are largely manipulated by government, and corporate advertisement to maximise profits at the expense of our contentment. It doesn’t pull its punches ~ and is not afraid to say things as they are. It is a doorway to the obvious ~ for when you read it you realize what it says is obviously common sense ~ although like most it is difficult to put in practice. It is a witty, cleverly crafted book that makes you laugh whilst trying to encourage us to lead a more rewarding self empowered life.
Well done!