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Happier Than a Billionaire #1
Happier Than a Billionaire: Quitting My Job, Moving to Costa Rica, and Living the Zero Hour Work Week
I came across this blog while reading Forbes online and enjoyed the first class writing. It reminded me of, and was in the same big league as “A year in Provence” -Okfine response to Chapter "Pink Houses, Clouds, & Crazy People" "I had to grab the Kleenex box on this one, as I laughed so much I literally cried! Thank you so much for sharing. I came upon your blog tangentially from your answer to a question on Frommers’, and I haven’t stopped reading yet. I am so happy for you, that you are “living” your life and truly enjoying it. I am also glad I can enjoy CR vicariously through your posts!" -Lana response to Chapter "Stop...Or My Husband Will Shoot" TWO PLANE TICKETS, NO PLAN, ONE DREAM A celebration of one couple's decision to risk it all and live in one of the happiest places on earth. In this humorous and witty account, Nadine Pisani shares what it is like to follow her dream of quitting her job and starting a new life under the sunny skies of Costa Rica. Along the way, she finds reliable utilities are not that reliable, quirky neighbors are unavoidable, and tackling red tape takes the strength of a linebacker. But with all its challenges, you'll learn why Costa Rica is ranked as one of the happiest places on earth—and you too may want to taste the Pura Vida lifestyle.
242 pages, Paperback
First published June 20, 2011
276 people are currently reading
811 people want to read
About the author
Nadine Hays Pisani
11 books74 followersNadine was born in Elizabeth New Jersey and attended Rutgers University. She lives in Costa Rica with her husband and dog, Clementine. When not writing, you can find her at the beach, on the back of a scooter, or frantically tossing scorpions out of her bed. She shares her weekly adventures on her blog.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 166 reviews
April 20, 2013
Should probably give this 3 stars, as the writing is fine, but man, if you are reading a memoir and hate the main character, it is hard to give an impartial rating. This book is part of the growing genre that recounts tales of insuferable gringos who go abroad and continue to besmirch the good name of the U.S.
This lady goes to Costa Rica not knowing Spanish ... and from the book ... it is clear she is not in a rush to learn it either, and then she constantly goes on and on criticizing and playing up the differences between back home and primitive Costa Rica. If you intentionally move to a foreign country with much less development and a different language culture, it is not the obligation of the locals to reshape their lives to fit your expectations.
Having spent a month in Costa Rica and months in other even less developed Latin American countries, I suspect she took heaps of artistic license in the story telling as well; I have trouble believing some of the stories she told here actually happened. If she were in the parts of rural Guatemala and Ecudaor I have visited, maybe, but Costa Rica is actually quite developed, modern, and sophisticated ... not that you would know it from reading this book.
The part at the end where the author goes off moralizing about happiness and getting away from material stuff that we have in the U.S. in hackneyed and practically defines cliche. I wonder how narcissistic a person has to be to think such common observations are groundbreaking and worthy of sermonizing about.
As noted above, the writing is competent, and the stories, though lacking credibility do amuse fairly consistent, so not an altogether awful read. If nothing else, you will leave this book feeling a great sympathy for her poor suffering husband, who she is always doubting, criticizing, and backtalking to, but who ends up leading her out of danger and saving the day time after time. A nobel man, he is.
This lady goes to Costa Rica not knowing Spanish ... and from the book ... it is clear she is not in a rush to learn it either, and then she constantly goes on and on criticizing and playing up the differences between back home and primitive Costa Rica. If you intentionally move to a foreign country with much less development and a different language culture, it is not the obligation of the locals to reshape their lives to fit your expectations.
Having spent a month in Costa Rica and months in other even less developed Latin American countries, I suspect she took heaps of artistic license in the story telling as well; I have trouble believing some of the stories she told here actually happened. If she were in the parts of rural Guatemala and Ecudaor I have visited, maybe, but Costa Rica is actually quite developed, modern, and sophisticated ... not that you would know it from reading this book.
The part at the end where the author goes off moralizing about happiness and getting away from material stuff that we have in the U.S. in hackneyed and practically defines cliche. I wonder how narcissistic a person has to be to think such common observations are groundbreaking and worthy of sermonizing about.
As noted above, the writing is competent, and the stories, though lacking credibility do amuse fairly consistent, so not an altogether awful read. If nothing else, you will leave this book feeling a great sympathy for her poor suffering husband, who she is always doubting, criticizing, and backtalking to, but who ends up leading her out of danger and saving the day time after time. A nobel man, he is.
July 3, 2012
This book was an absolute abomination. I read it while traveling in Costa Rica and everything in this story is way over the top and definitely quite inaccurate at the same time. The editing really needs work as the book is full of dumb mistakes, it looks like the author has never heard of spellcheck. The only upside I can attribute to it is that it was quite cheap on Kindle (~$2 range) so it's not much of a loss. Stay away.
February 16, 2015
Ah, the dream a lot of us have: pick up and move to another country for a more relaxed lifestyle. A fun fish-out-of-water read about an American in Costa Rica.
What I didn't like was that it's a book about yet another rich person who gives up their lifestyle and then congratulates themselves on successfully living abroad. Of course it's a success! They have lots of money to literally take off a year to "settle in". In this case, they sold their successful chiropractic practice and insanely large house and are living off the proceeds. Good for them. (really - it's still a huge leap!)
I'd be interested in something like this where the decisions are made from a different personal place. Suggestions?
What I didn't like was that it's a book about yet another rich person who gives up their lifestyle and then congratulates themselves on successfully living abroad. Of course it's a success! They have lots of money to literally take off a year to "settle in". In this case, they sold their successful chiropractic practice and insanely large house and are living off the proceeds. Good for them. (really - it's still a huge leap!)
I'd be interested in something like this where the decisions are made from a different personal place. Suggestions?
December 18, 2011
For this type of book to work, the author has to be likeable, for me, she was not. At many points during the book I found myself wondering how the husband could stand it?! The writing is sharp however, and she is witty. Just like life, you click with some people (authors) and others are disagreeable just because......The book is highly rated so obviously it has resonance with a lot of people, but if I saw this woman at a cocktail party I would run the other way !
September 25, 2011
After seeing this author and book on various sites for writers and indie authors, I went on a mission to track it down over on Amazon. My journey was not in vain.
Happier Than A Billionaire is one womans story of chucking it all and moving to Costa Rica. I mean, come on, who hasn’t considering doing something equally zany? I certainly have, though lately it’s become something more of an obsession than a crazy notion.
Let me just say, I adore this author, who writes with moments of clarity and wit, bracketed by comedic timing. She spins an entertaining tale, while calling out others to reconsider the way they are living. If something makes you miserable, why on earth would you continue to do it? Exactly.
Even if you’re not considering a move to a tropical locale, I’d still reccomend Happier Than A Billionaire to just about anybody. It’s quirky, fun, and well worth the tiny price tag!
Happier Than A Billionaire is one womans story of chucking it all and moving to Costa Rica. I mean, come on, who hasn’t considering doing something equally zany? I certainly have, though lately it’s become something more of an obsession than a crazy notion.
Let me just say, I adore this author, who writes with moments of clarity and wit, bracketed by comedic timing. She spins an entertaining tale, while calling out others to reconsider the way they are living. If something makes you miserable, why on earth would you continue to do it? Exactly.
Even if you’re not considering a move to a tropical locale, I’d still reccomend Happier Than A Billionaire to just about anybody. It’s quirky, fun, and well worth the tiny price tag!
September 1, 2016
A couple’s decision to give it all up - that is, give up a comfortable but stressful life on the east coast of the U.S. and move lock, stock and barrel to Costa Rica. The book is an amusing and genuine account of Nadine and Rob’s move to Costa Rica and the challenges they faced settling in a new country, not speaking the language, not knowing the culture and having to rely on the locals to help them get even the simplest of things done. But Ticos are the friendliest and most helpful people and the beauty of the land and the simple lifestyle more than make up for the challenges of living in a new country. Their fast-paced, work-filled stressful and unhappy days in the U.S. have been transformed to a “stop and smell the roses," carefree and healthy lifestyle and zero work-filled days. What more can Nadine and Rob ask for? And they don’t. They are happier than billionaires! A fun and fast read about living the carefree and inexpensive life in Costa Rica - Pura Vida!
January 23, 2012
I received this book as a Kindle gift, largely as a rebuke for considering a job at a small start up. I love getting books as gifts, especially as rebukes, so I was eager to read it.
It is also possible that I received this book as a political statement because I was threatening to leave the country if anyone who was personally told by Jesus to run for president won a primary. [[[Aside: The danger of this appears to have passed because Mr. Perry and Ms. Bachmann have dropped out of the race. But then again "the ways of the Lord are right, and the just shall walk in them" (Hosia 14:9), so if Jesus tells me to vote for someone who He has told to run for president then I totally will without complaining or leaving the country.]]]
So fortunately I didn't have to use this book as a practical handbook for moving to Costa Rica, which is good because it only the story of one couple -- a miserable one trapped in their careers who had to make a break for their sanity and health -- who struck out more or less sight-unseen for Costa Rica. It's an interesting story, one maybe a little over-written and one that unfortunately invoked the ghost of Erma Bombeck once every few pages.
The main annoyances in Costa Rica, aside from the bureaucracy there, appear to be other Americans. Even in a relatively remote area of Costa Rica they encounter a crazy pet lady who keeps dead birds in her freezer and a Jehovahs Witness who blithely assumes that the husband of the couple (who is of Italian descent) can connect him with the mob for some un-Jehovah-ish dirty work. I can see why they didn't want to live in a gated community, but they should have looked a bit further than Loser Hill before putting down first and last months rent.
In the end they settle down, have some wacky adventures, and find joy in a simpler life. It will give me something to think about after my next equity event.
It is also possible that I received this book as a political statement because I was threatening to leave the country if anyone who was personally told by Jesus to run for president won a primary. [[[Aside: The danger of this appears to have passed because Mr. Perry and Ms. Bachmann have dropped out of the race. But then again "the ways of the Lord are right, and the just shall walk in them" (Hosia 14:9), so if Jesus tells me to vote for someone who He has told to run for president then I totally will without complaining or leaving the country.]]]
So fortunately I didn't have to use this book as a practical handbook for moving to Costa Rica, which is good because it only the story of one couple -- a miserable one trapped in their careers who had to make a break for their sanity and health -- who struck out more or less sight-unseen for Costa Rica. It's an interesting story, one maybe a little over-written and one that unfortunately invoked the ghost of Erma Bombeck once every few pages.
The main annoyances in Costa Rica, aside from the bureaucracy there, appear to be other Americans. Even in a relatively remote area of Costa Rica they encounter a crazy pet lady who keeps dead birds in her freezer and a Jehovahs Witness who blithely assumes that the husband of the couple (who is of Italian descent) can connect him with the mob for some un-Jehovah-ish dirty work. I can see why they didn't want to live in a gated community, but they should have looked a bit further than Loser Hill before putting down first and last months rent.
In the end they settle down, have some wacky adventures, and find joy in a simpler life. It will give me something to think about after my next equity event.
July 12, 2016
This is one of the most entertaining, enjoyable travel memoirs I've ever read...and I've read A LOT.
Nadine Pisani and her husband Rob lived the American dream--and they were completely miserable. Both chiropractors with a successful business, a huge house, and a 200-gallon aquarium, they hated their jobs--and their lives. Eventually, it starts to affect Rob's health, and when doctors can't figure out why he's plagued by chronic vomiting, the couple decides to do something crazy--sell everything and move to Costa Rica, where they will start a whole new life.
I've had similar dreams for a while--thought not in Costa Rica--so these stories are always inspiring to me. What sets this book apart is the humour. Pisani is an extremely funny writer, though her story is most amusing in the beginning. As she gets deeper into their struggles to adjust to Costa Rica, she's not as hilarious, but no less interesting.
I really don't understand all the haters. I like that Pisani doesn't gloss over the challenges she faced, and they are HER challenges. Just because others haven't faced the same doesn't invalidate her experience. And who cares if they only started learning Spanish once they got there? A huge life change like this requires an equally gigantic leap of faith. As I've learned from painful experience, if you wait for everything to be perfect, with all your ducks in a row, you will never leave. Leap and the net will appear. While Pisani and her husband had a bigger net than most of us, with a successful chiropractor business and a huge house to sell, I'm sure that also made it more difficult to leave in a lot of ways.
Bravo, Pisani, and thank you so much for sharing your experiences with us.
Nadine Pisani and her husband Rob lived the American dream--and they were completely miserable. Both chiropractors with a successful business, a huge house, and a 200-gallon aquarium, they hated their jobs--and their lives. Eventually, it starts to affect Rob's health, and when doctors can't figure out why he's plagued by chronic vomiting, the couple decides to do something crazy--sell everything and move to Costa Rica, where they will start a whole new life.
I've had similar dreams for a while--thought not in Costa Rica--so these stories are always inspiring to me. What sets this book apart is the humour. Pisani is an extremely funny writer, though her story is most amusing in the beginning. As she gets deeper into their struggles to adjust to Costa Rica, she's not as hilarious, but no less interesting.
I really don't understand all the haters. I like that Pisani doesn't gloss over the challenges she faced, and they are HER challenges. Just because others haven't faced the same doesn't invalidate her experience. And who cares if they only started learning Spanish once they got there? A huge life change like this requires an equally gigantic leap of faith. As I've learned from painful experience, if you wait for everything to be perfect, with all your ducks in a row, you will never leave. Leap and the net will appear. While Pisani and her husband had a bigger net than most of us, with a successful chiropractor business and a huge house to sell, I'm sure that also made it more difficult to leave in a lot of ways.
Bravo, Pisani, and thank you so much for sharing your experiences with us.
July 15, 2015
Nadine is a woman after my own heart and soul. A kindred spirit, for sure.
After returning from my sixth wander to Belize, my disgust with the rat race was at its highest point ever. The transition from the slow paced serenity of the Caribbean I had savored for the last 10 days to my frenzied SoCal life was not gentle. I was slammed by a play-by-play of the neighborhood tomcat defecating in my entry way, clients who needed their work done yesterday, a house that had been systematically dismantled by two teenagers, and the continuing antics of the professional victim that I used to call "husband." It mattered not that there was a stunning beach just minutes from my new house. The high cost of living here coupled with an out-of-control To Do List kept it constantly out of reach.
I knew what had to be done. Instead of a 21 day pilgrimage on the Camino de Santiago after my youngest left for college in five years, I needed to go on a permanent pilgrimage to Central America. My research started immediately. Hence, the purchase of Happier Than a Billionaire.
More of a collection of anecdotes, rather than an "manual," this book had me laughing out loud more than once. I related more than once, too. I definitely have a general feel for the state of existence I'm heading toward - and the importance of a sense of humor. I look forward to reading the sequel...and her Escape Manual...before my boyfriend and I head out on our first reconnaissance mission to Panama in 2016.
Peace out.
After returning from my sixth wander to Belize, my disgust with the rat race was at its highest point ever. The transition from the slow paced serenity of the Caribbean I had savored for the last 10 days to my frenzied SoCal life was not gentle. I was slammed by a play-by-play of the neighborhood tomcat defecating in my entry way, clients who needed their work done yesterday, a house that had been systematically dismantled by two teenagers, and the continuing antics of the professional victim that I used to call "husband." It mattered not that there was a stunning beach just minutes from my new house. The high cost of living here coupled with an out-of-control To Do List kept it constantly out of reach.
I knew what had to be done. Instead of a 21 day pilgrimage on the Camino de Santiago after my youngest left for college in five years, I needed to go on a permanent pilgrimage to Central America. My research started immediately. Hence, the purchase of Happier Than a Billionaire.
More of a collection of anecdotes, rather than an "manual," this book had me laughing out loud more than once. I related more than once, too. I definitely have a general feel for the state of existence I'm heading toward - and the importance of a sense of humor. I look forward to reading the sequel...and her Escape Manual...before my boyfriend and I head out on our first reconnaissance mission to Panama in 2016.
Peace out.
September 14, 2013
I give up!! I never give up before the end of a book, even if I hate it and complain about it. But I can't read any more of this. Around 60% through a book about quitting your job in your thirties for a simpler lifestyle and you still haven't addressed the obvious question of "How the hell are you supporting yourself without jobs?!?" The concept of not working isn't new. The issue of needing to pay for the necessities of life usually gets in the way. So I assumed the book would address how they solved that dilemma... but she never bothers to address it so I am just getting angry at the author. Are you telling me that at age 37, you had enough money to retire?!?! From working as a chiropracter?!? Does that education involve the $300K in loans that medical school does? Because I will be paying that off for 30 years and it makes quitting my job and moving to another country quite difficult. That just makes me hate wealthy chiropracters. I had tried to look past her obnoxious complaining spoiled narrative if there was something I got back for it. But I give up. If you enjoy snarky sarcastic humor that ridicules husbands, neighbors, and various other things, you may enjoy the book. But that isn't enough to hold my attention.
March 5, 2014
Amazon listed this gem in my recommendations and I’m glad they did. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Nadine’s writing style is like sitting with a friend and having a casual conversation. Here is a person who knows how to laugh at life’s roadblocks, and at herself.
She is very honest about the obstacles they faced during their transition, and about her doubts and fears. She even admits to occassional bouts of homesickness. Her and her husband manage to face down their fears, shrug off the difficulties and find true happiness. Throughout the narrative you can’t help but take a new accounting of your own life. Why aren’t you happy?
Do you really need all that stuff? Do you ever just stop to enjoy the moment, watch the hummingbirds, enjoy a sunset? The author leads us through her journey from stressed out, unhappy professional, to laid back, devil-may-care adventurer. It’s a well told tale that will grab you right from the beginning, and cause you to chuckle throughout.
She is very honest about the obstacles they faced during their transition, and about her doubts and fears. She even admits to occassional bouts of homesickness. Her and her husband manage to face down their fears, shrug off the difficulties and find true happiness. Throughout the narrative you can’t help but take a new accounting of your own life. Why aren’t you happy?
Do you really need all that stuff? Do you ever just stop to enjoy the moment, watch the hummingbirds, enjoy a sunset? The author leads us through her journey from stressed out, unhappy professional, to laid back, devil-may-care adventurer. It’s a well told tale that will grab you right from the beginning, and cause you to chuckle throughout.
January 3, 2012
I enjoyed the concept of the book more than the book itself. The book had some humorous stories and side notes, but I would have liked for it to go into more detail about the emotional transition. I felt like the author tried a little too hard to be funny and at times seemed to be a little preachy with the "and the morale of the story is" messages at the end of each chapter. She seems to posit that picking up and moving to another country is a solution that could work for anyone. Not everyone has the good fortune of having enough liquid assets to make such a transition yet her assertions seemed to point to "anyone can do it if they set their mind to it".
January 12, 2025
Such a fun “travel” memoir. Hilarious at times and I found myself reading parts of it aloud to my husband and daughter. The book was even better as I read it while vacationing in Costa Rica and seeing many of the places mentioned. A gem of a find. ✨
January 2, 2016
I was thinking this might be a reasonable resource of what to do or not to do if in fact I retire to Costa Rica. Mostly this is a bloggy soliloquy of whining. Who goes to Switzerland from America to set up a bank account to use when living in Costa Rica and then never funds the account? I'm glad this was only a borrowed book from the library.
March 2, 2016
I picked up this book randomly on Amazon Kindle on a day where I was totally fed up with my job and was actually browsing instead of working. No wonder the title caught my eye!
Overall, I liked the book. The author tells a good story, with wit and humor. I found myself laughing out loud almost uncontrollably in my bed while reading. The way Nadine describes some situations make you come up with hilarious visuals, most of them involving her husband Rob. Here's my favorite example (Rob is concerned about their safety when they go to the city, so they go shopping for a gun...in a mall!):
As we walk around looking for the gun shop, I notice that Rob clipped a can of mace, as one might clip a ballpoint pen, the the collar of his shirt. He thinks it makes him look scary, an observation reinforced by the expression on every salesperson's face as we enter their store.
"Will you please take that off, you look like a nut. Seriously, is that how you're going to walk into a gun store?"
A minute passes before turning back around and catching Rob accidentally macing himself in the eye. He has now succeeded in looking like the scariest person in the mall.
"I got to get to a bathroom, it's burning really bad," Rob says as the surrounding tissue of his eye begins to simmer. We find the food court and he disappears in the men's room for half an hour.
My only complaint about the book is the lack of time frame reference. All through the book, I was looking for clues as to how long it had been since they had moved, without success. By then end of the book, I had not idea if it had been a year or a few months.
Overall, I liked the book. The author tells a good story, with wit and humor. I found myself laughing out loud almost uncontrollably in my bed while reading. The way Nadine describes some situations make you come up with hilarious visuals, most of them involving her husband Rob. Here's my favorite example (Rob is concerned about their safety when they go to the city, so they go shopping for a gun...in a mall!):
As we walk around looking for the gun shop, I notice that Rob clipped a can of mace, as one might clip a ballpoint pen, the the collar of his shirt. He thinks it makes him look scary, an observation reinforced by the expression on every salesperson's face as we enter their store.
"Will you please take that off, you look like a nut. Seriously, is that how you're going to walk into a gun store?"
A minute passes before turning back around and catching Rob accidentally macing himself in the eye. He has now succeeded in looking like the scariest person in the mall.
"I got to get to a bathroom, it's burning really bad," Rob says as the surrounding tissue of his eye begins to simmer. We find the food court and he disappears in the men's room for half an hour.
My only complaint about the book is the lack of time frame reference. All through the book, I was looking for clues as to how long it had been since they had moved, without success. By then end of the book, I had not idea if it had been a year or a few months.
April 21, 2017
This book had me laughing out loud. I really expected more of a how to but instead it's a very funny memoir. The author and her husband move to Costa Rica and she tells quite a few funny stories about their preparation and some of their experiences in the first year. The chapter where her husband buys a gun had me in tears I was laughing so hard. I had to read it to my husband so he would know what I was laughing about. It's very light reading. Something fun and funny.
August 13, 2015
Even though I have never lived in Costa Rica this book brought back some fond memories. It struck a chord with me since I have lived abroad myself in a country not at all like my own.
Nadine tells us about her frustrations and some of the downsides of living in Costa Rico, but overall her attitude tends to feel positive to me which was a breathe of fresh air since I have read too many books about people living abroad with a pessimistic undertone.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
Nadine tells us about her frustrations and some of the downsides of living in Costa Rico, but overall her attitude tends to feel positive to me which was a breathe of fresh air since I have read too many books about people living abroad with a pessimistic undertone.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
February 3, 2020
I truly wish I could give this book exactly 0.01 of a star. It is just the worst snivelling dribble of complaints by an obnoxious rich woman mixed in with the odd racist comment against Native Americans. Pisani's writing clearly shows that she's a horrible human being. I couldn't even get to the end of this waste of paper. Absolute garbage.
June 25, 2015
For $2.99 on Ibooks, you can not beat this quick funny read. It had me busting out laughing at certain parts. Love Nadine's sense of humor. Looking forward to reading the sequel.
January 13, 2013
I downloaded this book from Amazon after my return from backpacking Costa Rica while recovering from a quarter-life crisis. A lot of how Pisani described CR is spot on. The way of life is totally not perfect yet it is, especially if you're looking to realize and witness the quality of *your* life. What I loved about Happier is the humor, the experiences, the characters, the dynamic between Nadine and Rob, and how they're both "idiot" Americans trying to make it in the rainforest. I didn't like the lack of editorship (so many obvious grammar errors), the lack of time frame made it a little difficult to keep up (I was under the assumption that everything happened in chrono order), and I also didn't like the ending tone including my husband is an idiot. I thought it was degrading. Regardless of my dislikes, I really appreciated the story of leaving a life that was killing them to living a life that could still kill them but make them appreciate their lives. Pisani shares some head-nodding nuggets of wisdom throughout that elicit an "amen" or a "pura vida" if you're lucky enough to have visited Costa Rica, which you totally should.
May 31, 2018
I’ve had this book on my kindle for at least a year and only recently remembered that it existed when trying to clean out my “library”. This book had me at “God, I hate my job. In fact, I hate it so much that if you love your job I might just hate you too.” In my opinion, this book is extremely funny (literally laughed out loud), informational, and an absolute joy to read. Not only did it fit my needs/mood exactly but I think the author is also just a very likable and witty person and moreover I appreciate the respect this couple appears to have for the people and culture of Costa Rica. None of that condescending separatist ex-pat attitude that I have experienced first hand when living in the Caribbean. Given that it’s a dream of mine to do what this couple did, leave the daily grind and live a simple life in a gorgeous corner of the world, I actually bought another memoir at the same time as this one with a similar storyline. I disliked the other author’s voice and perspective (patronizing, elitist, not relatable, etc) so much that I couldn’t finish the book and had no desire to try this one. I’m so happy I gave this book a chance and I’m excited to read the follow up!
March 3, 2013
The title of this book caught my eye. Who doesn't want to quit their job and live in a tropical paradise? I enjoyed the short story like chapters, each focusing on another theme or challenge the author was experiencing. I found her writing entertaining for the most part and even found myself laughing out loud in a few cases. Toward the end it got a little touchy-feely; it almost felt like I was reading her diary.
I found the book relatable as I'm currently living in Austria with my husband for three months and we don't speak the language. Since I'm not working, I'm also experiencing the repriortization of daily tasks and find myself able to focus on what's truly important. There might be something to the zero-hour work week!
I found the book relatable as I'm currently living in Austria with my husband for three months and we don't speak the language. Since I'm not working, I'm also experiencing the repriortization of daily tasks and find myself able to focus on what's truly important. There might be something to the zero-hour work week!
March 6, 2014
I picked this book up as a vacation read. I was vacationing in Costa Rica and it seemed like a perfect fit. At first, I loved the funny stories ... but as the book progressed, I was wishing there was a story. The author and her husband leave their lives in the US to live in Costa Rica. Not clear how they have enough money to live for the rest of their lives and they move to a country where they don't speak the language and don't know much about. I suppose they have made quite a bit off of this book - so good for them. The book really doesn't even explain why she is so happy. Disappointing read.
August 11, 2016
4 stars for being highly entertaining, although not quite as entertaining as the 1st book (quite possibly because the 2nd book talks a lot about her experience writing and publishing the first book--which is interesting, but perhaps not really book material). I laughed out loud, and found that it was a great book to take the gym, so I could be distracted with giggles as I put in my time on the treadmill. Now I need to find something else that is just as humorous and can keep my legs moving without thinking about them!!
July 3, 2015
I have to agree with many of the reviews, I completely despise this woman after reading the book. I kept hoping she would finally realize how lucky she is and figure out how to be happy but she just continued to whine and complain about everything that happened. I also find half the unfortunate events to be hard to believe. I mean either her and her husband are super unlucky or just really really dumb. They memoir was well written and engaging but for the wrong reasons. I was turning pages hoping that I would find something to like about the author. I was very disappointed in the end.
August 22, 2018
One star??? WTF???
Okay the guy that gave this book one star is a total douche bag, wanker(google it) hater and troll. My grandmother wants to punch him in the face and seriously i would pay his airfare to Vancouver Canada just to watch that happen she is a tough lady. The name of the book says it all so why would dick head buy the book then whine about it later? I absolutely loved this book and fell in love with Nadine and Rob. Seriously, any one who slags this book deserves a punch in the face from my grandmother.
Okay the guy that gave this book one star is a total douche bag, wanker(google it) hater and troll. My grandmother wants to punch him in the face and seriously i would pay his airfare to Vancouver Canada just to watch that happen she is a tough lady. The name of the book says it all so why would dick head buy the book then whine about it later? I absolutely loved this book and fell in love with Nadine and Rob. Seriously, any one who slags this book deserves a punch in the face from my grandmother.
November 8, 2018
This was a very funny read. Nadine is funnier than most professional comics. I liked her wit and her ability to laugh at herself. It is always fun to read a story about a life that takes a different turn for the better.
Read
August 24, 2011Terrible. What a whiny person. I couldn't even finish the book it was so negative.
March 23, 2022
I enjoyed Nadine’s comical journey moving from the US to Costa Rica. She really has a gift!
January 22, 2026
#ReadAroundTheWorld #Costa Rica
I read this book purely to tick off a book set in Costa Rica for my Read Around the World Challenge, there being very limited options available to me in English that I could find. It is a travelogue and memoir of an American couple in their 30s who decide to quit their fairly affluent but stressful life running a chiropractic practice in the U.S and move to Costa Rica.
I think this type of book taps into a hidden fantasy in all of us: to escape our current lives and go somewhere that life is simpler, friendlier and somehow seems more exotic and adventurous. The thing that drove me to repeated and continuous eye-rolls during this particular version was the amount of self-centered and completely oblivious privilege that oozed from its pages. Nadine promotes the idea of giving up work and moving countries as a novel and ingenious solution to stress and the monotony of being caught in a Western capitalist paradigm. She is probably right, but what she glosses over and fails to really explain is how the average person would achieve this. Even for people living in the already relatively privileged world of the capitalist West, this would be an impossible dream for most. I presume they sold their chiropractic business and fancy house and invested the proceeds? To be fair I still admire the courage this takes, as I realise many of us are trapped largely by our own limited vision and thinking. Nevertheless, I feel Pisani completely fails to acknowledge that this kind of adventure probably takes more than just courage and a big idea, needing some solid cash to actually make it happen.
Their adventures on arriving are told with wit and humour, but for me much of it missed the mark. The constant very girly terrors and hysteria over insects and wildlife did not enamour the author to me any further. As a reader from outback Australia, venomous spiders, snakes, man -eating crocodiles lurking below the surface of swimming holes and deadly irukandji jellyfish, invisible to the naked eye but merrily floating in the crystal blue ocean are all part of daily life. So I guess my sympathies were limited.
The other thing I found amazing was the tolerance of her poor husband Rob. He took her multiple melt-downs, complete and utter impracticality, and moods all in his stride and had to single-handedly rescue them from all their scrapes.
At the end of the book I am still holding my secret hankering for travel and adventure, and hence a little envy towards the writer, but on realising this was in fact the first of a series I know I definitely won’t be signing up for book 2! 2 stars for the concept.
I read this book purely to tick off a book set in Costa Rica for my Read Around the World Challenge, there being very limited options available to me in English that I could find. It is a travelogue and memoir of an American couple in their 30s who decide to quit their fairly affluent but stressful life running a chiropractic practice in the U.S and move to Costa Rica.
I think this type of book taps into a hidden fantasy in all of us: to escape our current lives and go somewhere that life is simpler, friendlier and somehow seems more exotic and adventurous. The thing that drove me to repeated and continuous eye-rolls during this particular version was the amount of self-centered and completely oblivious privilege that oozed from its pages. Nadine promotes the idea of giving up work and moving countries as a novel and ingenious solution to stress and the monotony of being caught in a Western capitalist paradigm. She is probably right, but what she glosses over and fails to really explain is how the average person would achieve this. Even for people living in the already relatively privileged world of the capitalist West, this would be an impossible dream for most. I presume they sold their chiropractic business and fancy house and invested the proceeds? To be fair I still admire the courage this takes, as I realise many of us are trapped largely by our own limited vision and thinking. Nevertheless, I feel Pisani completely fails to acknowledge that this kind of adventure probably takes more than just courage and a big idea, needing some solid cash to actually make it happen.
Their adventures on arriving are told with wit and humour, but for me much of it missed the mark. The constant very girly terrors and hysteria over insects and wildlife did not enamour the author to me any further. As a reader from outback Australia, venomous spiders, snakes, man -eating crocodiles lurking below the surface of swimming holes and deadly irukandji jellyfish, invisible to the naked eye but merrily floating in the crystal blue ocean are all part of daily life. So I guess my sympathies were limited.
The other thing I found amazing was the tolerance of her poor husband Rob. He took her multiple melt-downs, complete and utter impracticality, and moods all in his stride and had to single-handedly rescue them from all their scrapes.
At the end of the book I am still holding my secret hankering for travel and adventure, and hence a little envy towards the writer, but on realising this was in fact the first of a series I know I definitely won’t be signing up for book 2! 2 stars for the concept.
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