Customer Reviews

Imagine: A Vagabond Story

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Grant Lingel was like many lost and confused college graduates that had really no idea where the next chapter of their lives would take them. Being locked away in some dank cubicle for the rest of your life can often times be just as bad as a life sentence in a maximum security prison for people with the travel bug.

Grant decided that he wanted more out of life and by more that meant packing his bags and heading off to Mexico. Sounds crazy right? Well it is, but in a good way. This guy truly is a nomad! Imagine documents his time spent not only in Mexico, but also Belize and Guatemala. Three locales that are filled with great characters Grant meets along the way.

Grant has described the book as "a memoir of sex, drugs, and salsa dancing." This truly is remarkable story about an extremely spur of the moment kind of guy that makes some amazing friendships along the way.

From start to finish I was loving this book. Now while I will not give away any juicy details of Mr. Lingel's escapades that occur quite often throughout the book, I am sure that you will definitely drop your jaw a few times at some of the trouble (both good and bad) he finds himself in. Let's just say it is not every day you find yourself on a beach in the middle of the night with three women. Enough said.

Who hasn't thought about just packing up and leaving? Not making any reservations... no itinerary. No ticket home. Just you, a one way ticket to a country you've seen only in books and on television, and only a few hundred dollars to sustain you on your journey. Grant Lingel did just that. He left his friends, his parents, and his whole life behind in hopes of finding himself and pushing his limits. Imagine is a story that explores the friendships that can be made when you meet people on the same path as you are, and how those friendships can surpass language barriers through a common interest in travel and adventure. It's a story that shows that in the Vagabond lifestyle, friendships flourish quickly, end abruptly with departure, but the memories are all that truly matter.

Grants adventures through Mexico, Beliz and Guatemala are an inspiration to us all. His bravery to explore the unknown and live with so little is something I truly admire in him. Grant had several run-ins with the Mexican police, many exciting nights with pretty girls and even more amazing adventures in which he explored Central America, made some fleeting friendships and some that will last a lifetime, and got to know himself. If only we were all so brave.

This book shares the wisdom and experiences of someone who has obviously seen and explored many things. Wonderfully told with just the right amount of excitement and free will. A must read.

I finished Grant Lingel's book about 3:00 this morning. Needless to say, I couldn't put it down til the end! Mr. Lingel took me away from New York on a journey through Mexico, Belize and Guatamala. I could almost smell the water and trees.
I spent my life working in the cubicle that Lingel avoided, and wished I were somewhere else. He left straight from college without turning back! He leads us through a story that most would wish they had led. You will find friendship, journeys, sex and .....excitement.
I dare anyone to start the book and be able to put it down!

By the time I finished reading Imagine: A Vagabond Story, I was ready to pack my bags and hit the road.

A truly inspiring tale of a young man unwilling to succumb to the pressures of the post-college scramble for entry-level jobs. Grant takes off on a one-way ticket to Mexico with only a few hundred dollars in his pocket, a bag of clothes on his back, and an open mind. After working in a posh resort in Mexico, Grant ends up joining six new friends on a road trip through Belize and Guatemala before staying behind to volunteer in hostels. I don't want to give away much more than that for this a story you should savor for yourself.

I found the author to have a great voice. From start to finish I was completely engulfed in the story and felt as though I was along on the journey. I was very surprised when I found out this was his first book. I see big things for Grant Lingel and Imagine: A Vagabond Story.

I'm so glad that I came across this book. The way Grant tells a story gets you so wrapped up in it that it's hard to put this book down. I read it much quicker than I usually read a book.

As someone who is a month away from leaving on a 9 month trip, Imagine: A Vagabond Story has got me more excited than ever to hit the road.

I highly recommend this book for any current or past long term traveler, or anyone aspiring to throw caution to the wind and start exploring. Read this!

Grant Lingel did a great job telling his story in this book. The book is a true adventure. It will keep your attention from the beginning to the end. Good read, everyone should check it out.

IMAGINE is immensely entertaining. Grant Lingel did what I wished I would have done when I was younger, he followed his dream and followed his heart. This book is funny, insightful, descriptive and very entertaining. I love the Yucatan and I love traveling, so this book was perfect for me.

Fantastic read. I highly recommend it. I was glued in from start to finish. I identified with the author. I, too, have decided I want more out of my life than to dwiddle my thumbs in a cubicle. His story was inspiring and a great read for vagabonds and wanna-be vagabonds. Grant's ability to "go for it" and be open to experiences on the road is something all travelers should live by. Engaging writing and juicy stories. Go for it.

Grant wrote an awesome story that was a very fun book to read. He writes about his adventures, women, fun times, and gives a great description of details. Grant explores Mexico, Belize, and Guatemala. The book is not laborious with details but still has enough description of stuff to appreciate and wonder how Grant remembered all of this stuff so detailed to be able to write about it. Grant has a true skill of describing his trip throughout Mexico and Central America. It is also great to read about the friends and relationships Grant made throughout his travels. Grant chooses a very interesting way of life after college different from the standard graduate. I highly recommend this book because it is a great book to read and is the kind of book that makes you not want to set the book down.