The Art of Non-Conformity

We are living in austere times, but this inspiring book suggests how to survive and even thrive in this environment. Guillebeau, creator of the online manifesto A Brief Guide to World Domination, embraces challenging the status quo and valuing personal freedom and service to others above all. From the perspective of his extensive international experiences, unconventional higher education, and reliance on self-employment, he describes ways to escape the constraints of a typical life and construct a more remarkable one based on one's passions and focus on a worthwhile legacy. Like a modern-day hippie, he espouses countercultural values concerning money, possessions, and formal higher education, though hard work and determination are also emphasized. Trained in sociology, Guillebeau maintains his own website and is a regular contributor to news outlets such as CNN and BusinessWeek. In addition to his personal story, the book contains further sources of information on innovative travel and frugal living. Though his book is thought-provoking and well crafted, the ambitiously simple lifestyle he advocates may not be practical for many.