The Moneyless Man: A Year of Freeconomic Living [Hardcover]

Mark Boyle (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2010

The astonishing reality of living without our most important resource. Imagine a year without spending any money. Former businessman Mark Boyle did just that and here is his extraordinary and compelling story. Going back to basics and following his own strict rules, Mark learned ingenious ways to eliminate his bills and flourish for free. Encountering seasonal foods, solar panels, skill-swapping schemes, cuttlefish toothpaste, compost toilets and – the unthinkable – a cash-free Christmas, Boyle puts the fun into frugality and offers some great tips for economical (and environmentally friendly) living. Highlighting the huge wastage inherent in modern Western living – we throw away a third of our food – Mark explains how to feed yourself for free with “the four legs of the food-for-free table”. From making paper out of mushrooms and to constructing a rocket stove from discarded catering cans, Mark advocates a return to local economics where we can see the consequences of what we consume. Heart-warming and witty, learn how Mark’s mission affected his relationships. What did his parents think of his crusade? Can you keep a girlfriend when you are moneyless? Do your friends keep in contact when you can’t go out for a beer? A testament to Mark’s astounding determination, this thought-provoking book will make you re-evaluate your relationship to your wallet. Mark Boyle has founded the worldwide ‘freeconomic’ movement. An economics graduate and former business director, he is Irish and lives in Bristol in the UK. His website (justfortheloveofit.org) receives up to 30,000 hits a day and has become a hub for community sharing with over 17,000 members worldwide (many in the US). His story has been reported worldwide and he is an excellent self-publicist. He has been covered in media including: Wall Street Journal, CNN, Huffington Post, New York Metro, BBC World Service, Guardian of London, Sky News, The Times of London, The Star of Canada, La Presse of Canada. Mark is lined up to be interviewed on CNN shortly as The Connector of the Day – a slot which goes out to 300 million people worldwide. He also plans to do a moneyless tour of the US to coincide with publication, where based on previous coverage, he expects major press interest. As he will be hitch-hiking (illegal in the US) and promoting this, he expects more publicity if and when he is arrested.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The fascinating story of an important social experiment, told with humility, insight and great humor. Mark is a brave and big-hearted character whose example is an invitation to all of us to change the way we live – not just because we should, but also because we might enjoy it. Essential" Chris Cleave, New York Times #1 bestselling author of Little Bee

"Intriguing. It makes several very important points. A powerful look not so much into the past as into the future." Bill McKibben, author of Deep Economy: Economics as if the World Mattered

From the Publisher

AUTHOR'S PROCEEDS WILL BE DONATED TO CHARITY TO SET UP THE FIRST REAL FREECONOMIC COMMUNITY

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Oneworld Publications (September 1, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1851687815
• ISBN-13: 978-1851687817
• Product Dimensions: 6.1 x 0.9 x 9.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #194,900 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

63 of 67 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A real eye-opener October 7, 2010

By Dr Cathy Goodwin TOP 500 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

Since I work on the Internet, where every other post is about "creating wealth" and "overcoming your money blocks," this book was really refreshing. It's well-written and easy to read. The author manages to avoid seeming self-righteous; he focuses on what he did and even admits that, at times, he was a little too concerned with following his own rules. I especially liked the parts where he talks about finding genuine joy in what he was doing: eating delicious food, hiking and having time to think.

The obvious challenge is, we can't all do this. Someone has to write and publish the books. Some of us are simply less talented than others. Our modern life is set up for car travel, even if you hitch hike or get rides with friends.

Additionally, if we buy fewer products and services, we are displacing ordinary people from jobs. The only way to make this work on a large scale is to establish communities, as he discusses.

On the other hand, we can simplify our lives. I stopped watching television a long time ago (although I did go to a sports bar to watch the WNBA finals this year).
I don't drive a car, but to make this option feasible I live in a big city with a lot of other things that create a big carbon footprint.

Ultimately the book makes a powerful statement that's quite memorable. The author's matter-of-fact British style helps a lot. It will be interesting to see what he does next and whether the book can make a difference beyond a book and a few feature stories.

47 of 49 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars An Inevitable Comparison September 3, 2010

By Chris Bowen

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I had just finished reading, "Twelve by Twelve," by William Powers. It's his account of living in an off-grid structure that is twelve by twelve feet. I loved the book. The fact that Powers was able to make toilet composting and foraging dramatic and fascinating speaks a lot to his ability as a writer. The same can be said of Mark Boyle's book. After reading an on-line article about his experience and watching it pop up over and over again on my list of Amazon recommendations, I caved in and purchased the book. I was a bit hesitant. I mean, how many books about composting and tea made from nettles can one guy read?

I'm glad I bought the book. And, I'm glad I read the two books back-to-back. Two great takes on one fascinating life strategy. Where Powers left me feeling very spiritual and took great pains to avoid judgment, Boyle gave me a constant sense of urgency and felt compelled to keep reminding me of my carbon footprint and wasteful ways. The book could have been too preachy, but Boyle is able to make his points over and over without putting the reader on the defense. That's effective writing. I also enjoyed Boyle's side-bars from everything to making paper to websites that promote swapping items as apposed to making more of something. I recommend both books. And, I recommend reading them close together. It was a great reading experience.

Chris Bowen
Author of Our Kids: Building Relationships in the Classroom

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating November 16, 2010

By Heather A. Conrad

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

Like other books in this genre of "A year doing x", Moneyless Man is part diary, part treatise and part self-help book. This one is a fascinating read. Mark Boyle appears to be a remarkable individual. Passionate to the point of fanaticism, yet touchingly sincere and exceptionally conscientious. In fact, I felt for him with his outsize conscience but then realized he has a terrific sense of fun and camaraderie; and in the course of his year without money he created some stunning achievements. He's very persuasive about the central issues: What is a life joyfully lived? What is the basis of human relationships, and humans' relationship with nature? These questions sound abstract, but Boyle manages to make them very earthy with his real-life experiment and his deeply honest tale.

Because Boyle was a business major at his university he has a good grasp of economics and a gift for making difficult concepts simple. Along with the wealth of information I gleaned from this book, finally understanding the credit crunch of 2008 was another benefit. Good reading. Important stuff.