The Road Trip Pilgrim's Guide: Witchdoctors, Magic Tokens, Camping on Golf Courses, and Everything Else You Need to Know to Go on a Pilgrimage [Paperback]

Dan Austin (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 2007

A quirky, quasi-spiritual look at road trips and what inspires us to travel.

Fun and funny stories, as well as goofy illustrations, will entertain all for whom the shout "Road Trip!" brings an automatic smile.

Vagabond, couch-surfing, road-wise filmmaker author writes with the experience of someone who lives with one-hand clutching a sleeping bag.

Contains useful advice to help launch aspiring pilgrims onto their journeys. This guidebook-cum-journal describes how to plan and complete a successful road trip. Anecdotal and inspirational, it offers learned-on-the-road advice for seeking adventure, having fun, and taking time for yourself-whether it's a weekend trip to a nearby bluegrass festival, a week's vacation to explore your roots in Ireland, or a months-long journey to explore the ruins of Southeast Asia. The most essential element for a pilgrim? A sense of purpose and mindfulness every time you hit the road.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"It's an amusing and informative little book." -- Lexington Herald-Leader

"The perfect motivator for couch-potato dogs (or owners) needing to shed a few wintertime pounds... the photography is definitely the book's strong point. Owners never tire of watching their dogs run and play, even when it doesn't involve extreme sports. Dog lovers will appreciate these pictures for the same reason." -- Dog World Magazine

About the Author

DAN AUSTIN is a filmmaker and writer whose documentary of one of his road trips, titled True Fans, has screened in over 150 cities in North America and 16 film festivals, winning the People's Choice Award at the Banff Mountain Film Festival in 2005. The story was also published in book form (Lyons) and is currently being developed as a Broadway musical. He recently directed a film about street kids in Haiti, worked on a feature-length documentary with Angelina Jolie, produced film projects in Iceland and Paraguay, and finished the final installment in his True Fans film trilogy, True Fans Forever. Originally from Utah, Dan now makes his home in New York City.

Product Details

• Paperback: 214 pages
• Publisher: Mountaineers Books (October 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 159485081X
• ISBN-13: 978-1594850813
• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 5.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,272,701 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Great Combination of Guidebook and Storytelling, November 7, 2007

By 

Kathryn C. Stevens (Tacoma, WA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Road Trip Pilgrim's Guide: Witchdoctors, Magic Tokens, Camping on Golf Courses, and Everything Else You Need to Know to Go on a Pilgrimage (Paperback)

The Road Trip Pilgrim's Guide is one of those books that doesn't fit into just one category. Instead, it does a great job of offering sound road-tripping guidance and sharing interesting stories for all manner of would-be travellers- at the same time.

Having never been on a long pilgrimage like some of those highlighted by author-adventurer Dan Austin, I found insights from these treks especially interesting. But he doesn't neglect the day-trip pilgrim in his praise of more involved trips. The Guide is refreshingly supportive of all lengths and types of pilgrimages, which is sure to make everyone from beginners to seasoned "pilgrims" feel excited and prepared for whatever trip they embark upon next.

The Guide begins each chapter with a personal story submitted by those who have gone before (there's a lot of variety in these short testimonies), and the entire book is carried along by principles taken from Austin's own journeys, anecdotes and all. But Austin's insights are far from frivolous or surface-level; in fact, he often returns to the themes of honor, perseverance, vision, and spiritual awareness that he encourages his readers to take very seriously while on their own adventures. Combine this with the candid wisdom about everything from disabling common park sprinklers to attracting members of the opposite gender while "homeless, sweaty, and broke" and you've got an impressive, all-inclusive handbook for the modern pilgrimage.

All in all, I recommend it quite highly. It's both informative and entertaining, and will prove a useful tool for anyone up for the adventure.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Get out there!, October 19, 2007

By 

Beth K (St Paul, MN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Road Trip Pilgrim's Guide: Witchdoctors, Magic Tokens, Camping on Golf Courses, and Everything Else You Need to Know to Go on a Pilgrimage (Paperback)

Whether your apartment is a charming combination of Coleman stoves and jars of wet peanut butter, you're gearing up for your first fresh-faced road trip across Delaware in your hatchback, or your idea of adventure is trying a new salsa for Monday Night Football, you'll find Austin's book inspiring and entertaining. The collection of personal narratives launching each chapter, and the wealth of photography collected from Austin's own adventures make you want to cinch up your Carhartt's, grab your journal, and hit the road. Don't borrow this book. Buy it--you're not gonna want to leave it behind.

5.0 out of 5 stars GREAT STUFF !, May 3, 2011

By 

I. Roberts "I don't hate Balboa. I pity the f... (Australia) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Road Trip Pilgrim's Guide: Witchdoctors, Magic Tokens, Camping on Golf Courses, and Everything Else You Need to Know to Go on a Pilgrimage (Paperback)

I like to read / watch things about people that live outside of the pre-conceived norms of society

Dan Austin is such an individual.

Some handy tips in here.

Easily worth a read !