Unplugged: How to Disconnect from the Rat Race, Have an Existential Crisis, and Find Meaning and Fulfillment

by Nancy Whitney-Reiter

The tremendous success of Po Bronson's What Should I Do With My Life and Neil Crofts's Authentic, and the resurgence of Paolo Coelho's The Alchemist indicate the inner struggle faced by many working professionals today. Unplugged explains why career breaks are necessary in our modern, technologically-driven society, and explains how to take such a break in easy to follow steps. The emerging trend of young people taking mid-career breaks calls for a book that will help them find their true path.

Genres: Travel, Nonfiction

182 pages, Paperback

First published April 23, 2008

About the author

Nancy Whitney Reiter is a former economist and corporate market analyst. As a 9/11 survivor and Generation Xer, she found herself questioning the true meaning of success, and embarked on a year long travel sabbatical. Her travels took her to Costa Rica and South Africa, where she worked as a volunteer teacher and wildlife researcher. Thanks to this unhampered time of reflection, she decided to abandon the corporate lifestyle in order to pursue her true passions: nature, teaching, and writing.

Nancy Whitney Reiter has a BS in Economics and International Studies from University of South Florida. She also has a MA in Economics from University of South Florida. She currently resides in northern Arizona, near Prescott. Her website is www.unplugyourhead.com.
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Reviews

[Abdulrahman · Rating 4 out of 5]

هل عملك، محيطك، روتينك، او حتى علاقاتك، تجلب لك التعاسه؟

سؤال طُرحت له حلول كثيره، احدها هو: الانقطاع! و هو موضوع الكتاب هنا، الانقطاع عن التكنولوجيا، العمل، و العلاقات، و الذهاب في رحلة غياب عن كل هذا الهراء في حياتك.

الكتاب يأخذك خطوه بخطوه، بدا من الفلسفه، و وصولا للخطوات العمليه و ما يمكن ان تتوقعه، و حتى رجوعك و اندماجك مره اخرى في المجتمع و الروتين و العمل السابق.

الكتاب مليئ بالقصص لأناس يملكون ما يبدو من الخارج حياة مثالية، و يفه مرموقه و سيارات فارهه و حياة عائليه، لكن بداخلهم لا يشعرون بالسعاده. و كان قرارهم بترك الكثير خلفهم (من وظيفه و منزل و ملابس و رفاهيات، و الانطلاق في رحلة سفر طويله تستمر لنصف سنه و اكثر). بهذا الاسلوب،، تتيح لنفسك بأن تكتشف نفسك مجددا.

لا اخفيكم اني افكر بهذه الخطوه منذ فتره، حاولت كثير من الاستراتيجيات و اراها حلول مؤقته، احيانا كثيره، افكر بترك اغلب ما يدور في حياتي، و الانطلاق في رحله طويله تستمر لشهور او حتى سنه في اماكن بعيده عن كل مغريات و ملهيات الحياه. رحلة هايك مثلا في غابات امريكا او رحلة تطوعية في احد قرى افريقيا الفقيره

لا اقول انه حل يناسب الجميع، حيث انها خطوه كبيره ا يرتعب منها اغلبنا، لكن الكل يؤكد بأن خطوه كهذه اعادة اتصالهم بانفسهم

[mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

UNPLUGGED (2008) by Nancy Whitney-Reiter is an amazing book and might have been titled: ON BECOMING A PERSON, which was written by Carl Rogers in 1961 and is called, “The classic work on the human potential for growth and creativity by the pre-eminent American psychologist.” So … here we are forty-eight years after Rogers’ book and just where are we, exactly, in our journey towards living lives full of “meaning and fulfillment?” Still in the starting blocks according to Whitney-Reiter (NWR); and I think most psychologists and social scientists would agree. And why is that? It’s because of the “Axe Maker’s gift,” aka, TECHNOLOGY. The axe maker’s gift is, of course, the duality of function of a tool (for good or evil) dependent upon the user and circumstance, aka, fate. [I’m going to leave God out of this discussion.:] NWR is in agreement with Thoreau, that most Americans lead lives of “quiet desperation.” She posits most people have no idea who they are, or why they do what they do, but—instead—do as she did, which is to take “the path of least resistance” (pg. 17); be that determined by direction from The Authority (The Father) or by Freedom (the illusion of Choice.) Ah … what to do?

According to NWR one should “unplug” and get the hell out of Dodge. And, Nancy does an absolutely remarkable job of laying out just exactly how a person can do this—step by step: Here’s what you need to do, and how to do it … to the extent even of how to pack, what to wear, where to go, how to leave your job, how to manage your finances, how to enlist support (both financial and emotional), how to re-enter the real world, and how to re-organize YOUR world once you return. BUT, there’s always a but (otherwise we would be there by now) she admits right in the beginning that “… you won’t want to go back to the artificial world that most of the world is operating in.” (pg. 16) This is the Catch-22. The world we live in is driven by avarice, driven by evolutionary imperatives, which now depend upon technological growth. Thus the “catch.” Damned if you do, damned if you don’t. This is why I drink and smoke dope. I don’t see a way out. Oh, I do … but I can’t see how we get there from here.

What happened to NWR, Nancy, was a catastrophic SHOCK. She was in New York at the Twin Towers when the planes hit. She was one of the lucky ones who got out alive. The event SHOCKED her into changing her life. But (again the but) that event is no big deal to the way things are. It’s just a “comma,” as President Bush said. It doesn’t change nature, human or otherwise. It’s a friggin raindrop. Now, I argue in my novel, ATTACHMENT, that one raindrop can cause significant change. BUT, that’s just a theory. Naomi Kline in her book, THE SHOCK DOCTRINE, argues that smart people have figured all of this out and use SHOCK to change the way things are on a fairly large scale (witness, “SHOCK AND AWE,” Bush’s name for the invasion of Iraq.)

So, if you decide to become who you really are (which you most likely won’t, unless you experience some sort of SHOCK) you can expect to NOT be allowed to re-enter the world in which we live in. You will be an outsider—UNPLUGGED—while the rest of the world races onward towards its avarice with the use of the GIFT.

Take away this: Nancy implores you WRITE! BUT, beware it is as she says it is … if you write (a personal, private journal) you may discover who you truly are, and that you don’t fit in. Good luck.

[Malcolm · Rating 5 out of 5]

While getting away from it all for 3-6 months may sound impractical, "Unplugged" is an exceptionally practical book. The author, a 9/11 survivor who has already blazed a trail to remote places to find herself outside the chaos of daily life, has thought of everything. Your house, your friends, your finances, your job, your acclimation back into the world after you get back.

If you think you can't volunteer in Africa or lose yourself on an Amazon trek, you may re-assess your options after reading Nancy Whitney-Reiter's advice.

[Ana Ulin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is not a book I'd recommend, but I'm giving it 3 instead of 2 stars because I did glean some interesting ideas from it.

The book focused too much on the mechanics of "unplugging", with entire chapters devoted to figuring out how will you take care of your bills while you are away, or admonishments about not watching TV or browsing the internet. These I found really not very useful or interesting for my own situation.

I did appreciate the focus on journaling, and the small writing exercises sprinkled throughout the book. I'll be working through some of those. I also found the reminders of the important of solitude useful, as well as the reminders to spend time outside (both of these things extra-tricky and important while under shelter-in-place orders and living with a partner).

[Katharine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good broad overview and a bit dated now. This is helpful for general advice but not as much if you’re more advanced in your planning.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am always fascinated by people who suddenly gather up the incredible will power (and not to mention courage) required to quit their jobs and pursue a path in life that they have always dreamed. Although extremely short in terms of pages, Whitney-Reiter has managed to fill her book chock full of practical as well as extremely encouraging advice on how to actually go about doing this.

I would highly recommend this book for anyone who has had any thought about changing their current life or career path. Though be forewarned- Nancy's writing is so clear, concise, logical, and convincing, that you might find yourself actually following through with things! I was lucky enough to hear her speak at a local booksigning and found her to be as inspiring in person as she is in writing.

I think I'm a better person for having read this book- which I think is the ultimate compliment!

[Carly · Rating 1 out of 5]

Eh. Not all that inspiring. The author said three times what could have been said once (in almost every chapter). She didn't have particularly exciting ideas for how to disconnect. Also, I think she really catered to a class that has money in the way she proposed you take a trip to Africa to volunteer, hire a life coach, etc. The simple things she suggests that everyone can do (even without money) like choosing to turn off your cell phone and not check email are good reminders, but sort of fell flat with me because I just didn't find her other points to be helpful or valid at all. I think there are probably better books out there on this subject. P.S. I guess the cover kinda sums it up--cheesy.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unplugged is a light though valuable read. Reiter left Corporate America to travel, and the book deals with all aspects of taking a sabbatical. She describes at length the benefits of taking time off and travel. This should be very illuminating to many in Corporate America constrained by 2 or 3 weeks of vacations a year. There are many inspiring case studies in Reiter's book. She gives good common-sense advice, though not as deep as some other books of this genre. I really like her recommendation that some part of any sabbatical time should be undertaken alone. Overall, Unplugged is a great book that combines inspiration with practical advice very well. If you plan a sabbatical, you should have this one on your desk before leaving.

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of great ideas and opportunities to remove yourself from the day to day grind. Includes a writing section to help you answer the question as to why you haven't unplugged yet. This book is best read by those who have had enough and really want to find a simpler life, rather by sabbatical, retirement, or just plain walking away from stress. It should also be read by those who might be considering traveling as a means of finding oneself.

[Jess · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kind of like a how-to version of eat, pray, love (and less narcissistic). I saw the author speak and her message is a good reminder that we can't do it all, and sometimes we need breaks (from work, technology and being constantly connected) to put things in perspective.

[Pammy · Rating 1 out of 5]

I should have known better, but it was an impulse borrow from the public library while waiting for a bus. The title sounded like a good idea, but the content was sorely limited. I actually skimmed and abandoned this book. The first brief writing exercise got me dreaming, but the rest was irrelevant because I'm not in a position to put a crazy big dream destination in motion.

[Susan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Didn't finish it, mostly because it doesn't pertain to my life. I like my job and don't care to quit at the moment. ould be a good book for those in corporate America looking to make drastic changes in their lives.