Farewell, My Subaru: An Epic Adventure in Local Living (Hardcover)

by Doug Fine (Author)
Key Phrases: haz mat, carbon miles, Farewell My Subar, Funky Butte Ranch, New Mexico (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
In this memoir of mishaps and lessons learned, Fine shares his yearlong trek to turn his newly bought New Mexico ranch into a green and sustainable environment with as little carbon fuel as possible. From using two very lovable goats for his organic food production to transitioning into a biofuel engine for his truck and even installing solar panels, Fine balances the troubling decisions Americans must consider while also revealing a host of unexpected benefits. He advocates that a gradual process, despite having to deal with moments of hypocrisy, is essential for it to work. Fine's wry narration blends well with his often humorous and sarcastic tone. The energy and enthusiasm of his reading indicates that Fine not only relished the events but is happy to share his experience with listeners. Simultaneous release with the Viking hardcover (Reviews, Jan. 7).
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Product Description
Advance praise for Farewell, My Subaru

“Fine is Bryson Funny.” ——Santa Cruz Sentinel

“Fine is an amiable and self-deprecating storyteller in the mold of Douglas Adams. If you're a fan of Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy-style humor -- and also looking to find out how to raise your own livestock to feed your ice-cream fetish -- Farewell may prove a vital tool.” —— The Washington Post

“Fine is an eco-hero for our time..” —— Miami Herald

“An afterward offers solid advice and sources for learning more.” —— On Earth Magazine, Natural Resources Defense Fund

“This is Green Acres for the smart set—: a witty and educational look at sustainable living. Buy it, read it, compost it.”
–A. J. Jacobs, author of The Year of Living Biblically

“The details of Doug Fine’s experiment in green living are great fun——but more important is the spirit, the dawning understanding that living in connection to something more tangible than a computer mouse is what we were built for. It’ll make you want to move!”
–Bill McKibben, author of Deep Economy: The Wealth of Communities and the Durable Future

Like many Americans, Doug Fine enjoys his creature comforts, but he also knows full well they keep him addicted to oil. So he wonders: Is it possible to keep his Netflix and his car, his Wi-Fi and his subwoofers, and still reduce his carbon footprint?

In an attempt to find out, Fine up and moves to a remote ranch in New Mexico, where he brazenly vows to grow his own food, use sunlight to power his world, and drive on restaurant grease. Never mind that he’s never raised so much as a chicken or a bean. Or that he has no mechanical or electrical skills.

Whether installing Japanese solar panels, defending the goats he found on Craigslist against coyotes, or co-opting waste oil from the local Chinese restaurant to try and fill the new “veggie oil” tank in his ROAT (short for Ridiculously Oversized American Truck), Fine’s extraordinary undertaking makes one thing clear: It ain’t easy being green. In fact, his journey uncovers a slew of surprising facts about alternative energy, organic and locally grown food, and climate change.

Both a hilarious romp and an inspiring call to action, Farewell, My Subaru makes a profound statement about trading today’s instant gratifications for a deeper, more enduring kind of satisfaction.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Villard (March 25, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1400066441
• ISBN-13: 978-1400066445
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (52 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #186,002 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun, quick read in the "What I did for year to help mother earth" genre of books., March 26, 2008

By	Timothy Cleves (Illinois) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I started Doug Fine's fun book at about 5:00 PM yesterday and finished it by bedtime while also cooking supper, bathing two children and having several meaningful conversations with my wife. It's a quick read, and better for it. I have read a couple of other books in the "What I did for year to help mother earth" genre of books and this one ranks up with Barbara Kingsolvers "Animal, Vegetable and Miracle."

Doug settles down in an isolated valley in New Mexico and begins his adventures in sustainable living by purchasing some goats on Craig's List, replacing the said Subaru of the title with a F250 vegetable oil powered diesel truck, and going substantially off-grid.

On the way we meet some interesting characters, hear a bit too much about Doug's libido and get some practical advice on living the good life. But don't buy this book if you are looking for a step-by-step instruction on how to set up a eco-friendly homestead. Instead Farewell, My Subaru offers a few recipes, some web site links to get more information, and a good deal of evidence that going through life with good karma really pays off.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great humor tied in with a great underlying cause , March 28, 2008

By	Jamie Jackson (Maine, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book was so entertaining and motivational that I ended up purchasing the audio book as well to accompany me on my morning commute. I finished it in a little less than 3 days and was sad to have it end. Much of what Doug spoke about are things I've thought about trying or things I've been putting off, but hearing his experiences and the hurdles he went through and the obstacles he overcame made me a little more confident and has motivated me to continue trying to increase the green in my life. Not only is this a good introduction of how to add more green into your life and perspective, it's a hilarious story that will keep you smiling throughout.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book...Couldn't Put It Down, April 3, 2008

By	Peter E. Kowalewski (Elko, NV) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Like many of the others who have posted reviews, I was unable to stop reading this book once I opened it (even with three kids running around the house). Doug communicates his successes and failures at turning his ranch into a "carbon-neutral location" very well, often injecting humor into the whole process. The book is not a "how to" for becoming "self-sustaining" but provides factual information, on-line resources, as well as some great recipes to try out...I would highly recommend this book as well as Doug's previous book (Not Really An Alaskan Mountain Man).