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Sống không cần tiền: Người đi ngược dòng
Theo Mark Boyle, khởi nguyên, tiền là một ý tưởng tuyệt vời. Thế nhưng, tiền đã biến tướng, quay lại bắt loài người phải phục dịch nó, khiến ta mất kết nối với mọi người, mọi vật và trở thành một thứ quái vật chỉ biết tiêu thụ. Cuốn sách viết về những trải nghiệm trong cuộc sống 1 năm không dùng tiền của tác giả.
207 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2010
191 people are currently reading
2912 people want to read
About the author
Mark Boyle
27 books231 followersMark Boyle aka The Moneyless Man (born 8 May 1979) is a business graduate who lived completely without money for three years, and is the best-selling author of The Moneyless Man (2010), and The Moneyless Manifesto (2012) and Drinking Molotov Cocktails with Gandhi (2015).
He is a director of Streetbank, a charity which enables people across the world to share skills and resources with neighbours. Mark writes for publications as varied as the Guardian and Permaculture magazine, contributes to international radio and television, and has been featured in major media including CNN, The Telegraph, BBC, The Huffington Post, ABC, Mother Jones and Metro. He lives on a smallholding in Ireland.
He is a director of Streetbank, a charity which enables people across the world to share skills and resources with neighbours. Mark writes for publications as varied as the Guardian and Permaculture magazine, contributes to international radio and television, and has been featured in major media including CNN, The Telegraph, BBC, The Huffington Post, ABC, Mother Jones and Metro. He lives on a smallholding in Ireland.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 332 reviews
July 27, 2018
Một quyển sách kỳ quái của một con người cực đoan. Nhưng đề cập tới những vấn đề rất có lý, về việc con người chúng ta đang phung phí tài nguyên từ năng lượng, thức ăn, đất đai...ra sao và tiền cũng như sự chạy theo đồng tiền đã hủy hoại trái đất như thế nào. Bằng việc lựa chọn 1 năm sống không sử dụng tiền, hằng ngày làm việc, trồng trọt và lục thùng rác lấy thức ăn còn tốt mà bị bỏ đi để tự nuôi sống bản thân, Mark đã minh chứng cho những giá trị cuộc sống mà anh tin tưởng bằng chính cuộc đời mình. Dù hầu hết mọi người không sống như Mark, nhưng có lẽ mỗi người đọc đều có thể tìm thấy điều gì đó cho chính mình từ câu chuyện của anh, cũng như giật mình nhận ra những điều quá sai trong lối sống hiện đại mà từ lâu nay mình không hề nghi vấn. Đối với mình, mình đươc Mark nhắc để nhớ đến niềm tin về việc khôi phục những giá trị tốt đẹp, sự quan trọng của việc tạo ra các kết nối cộng đồng có ý nghĩa, việc làm những điều tốt đẹp mà không trông chờ nhận lại, về việc gắn bó với thiên nhiên và những người xung quanh và trân trọng những điều giản dị. Rất nhiều thông tin hữu ích và mới mẻ trong quyển sách nhỏ này.
Bản thân Mark là một người gây tranh cãi dữ dội. Nhưng điều mình thích trong lối tường thuật của anh là sự chân thực, không che giấu, không tô hồng cho lý tưởng của mình, một tư duy cởi mở và cái nhìn tương đối về sự vật, sẵn sàng thừa nhận mình sai, sẵn sàng cho thấy những xấu xí của bản thân mình, và những bất tiện và khó khăn trong con đường mình lựa chọn, nhưng vẫn một lòng tin tưởng theo đuổi nó. Ở Mark có triết lý của những người khắc kỷ, cái sự chân thành rất đáng yêu, sự nghiêm khắc đôi khi gây đáng sợ và cái cực đoan trong việc làm những điều lương tâm mình cho là đúng. Thực sự là một người dũng cảm.
Sau một năm sống không cần tiền, giờ Mark lại chuyển sang một cuộc thực nghiệm mới không thời hạn về việc sống không có công nghệ, không laptop, điện thoại, internet... và trở về với ngày xưa. Do đó anh có vẻ im hơi lặng tiếng và cộng đồng anh gầy dựng ra hình như cũng đã không còn hoạt động nữa. Nhưng dù sao những tư tưởng của anh cũng thực sự mới mẻ và đột phá.
Bản thân Mark là một người gây tranh cãi dữ dội. Nhưng điều mình thích trong lối tường thuật của anh là sự chân thực, không che giấu, không tô hồng cho lý tưởng của mình, một tư duy cởi mở và cái nhìn tương đối về sự vật, sẵn sàng thừa nhận mình sai, sẵn sàng cho thấy những xấu xí của bản thân mình, và những bất tiện và khó khăn trong con đường mình lựa chọn, nhưng vẫn một lòng tin tưởng theo đuổi nó. Ở Mark có triết lý của những người khắc kỷ, cái sự chân thành rất đáng yêu, sự nghiêm khắc đôi khi gây đáng sợ và cái cực đoan trong việc làm những điều lương tâm mình cho là đúng. Thực sự là một người dũng cảm.
Sau một năm sống không cần tiền, giờ Mark lại chuyển sang một cuộc thực nghiệm mới không thời hạn về việc sống không có công nghệ, không laptop, điện thoại, internet... và trở về với ngày xưa. Do đó anh có vẻ im hơi lặng tiếng và cộng đồng anh gầy dựng ra hình như cũng đã không còn hoạt động nữa. Nhưng dù sao những tư tưởng của anh cũng thực sự mới mẻ và đột phá.
February 24, 2011
Started reading this for the adventure and the idea. Put off by the theorizing and sermonizing about all the bad we do to the planet. I do applaud him for trying to make a change for a year but now its back to money Il sure. The problem here is that although he advocates that he didn't use his own money everything he had to do cost someone somewhere some money. Whether it was a few years ago or a few hundred years ago everything cost someone something. There are all kinds of cast off things but money had to pay for them. His stove cost someone something at one time. If you really want to live with no money including that of others then start with nothing. Absolutely nothing. No clothes. No Food. Nothing. What can you create on your own? Nothing. You have no power to do anything. All you can do is use your wits and expect others kindness to help you. Unfortunately all of that only goes so far. It pretty much breaks down to a person getting help from others (welfare state anybody) and not making any money of their own. He worked hard for the things he had to get but someone else had to help him constantly. Foraging (stealing) from people's trash cans? Guess what the food you eat cost someone something and you didn't save the planet by eating something they already paid for. Pizza deliver guy drove his gas guzzling car to deliver it to the house. Use of another cardboard box to deliver a pizza in. Paper Napkins used to clean up. Now live this way the rest of your life and I'll respect you. Don't ever touch money again.
May 14, 2018
Mình đọc cuốn này vào một thời điểm tương đối kỳ lạ: đó là bản thân mâu thuẫn giữa hai việc cố gắng kiếm rất rất nhiều tiền và kiếm vừa đủ nhưng có thời gian cho những dự định riêng của cá nhân.
Tất cả chúng ta đều phụ thuộc vào tờ giấy thông hành mang tên tiền này. Có khi cả ngày chúng ta đều sẽ vật lộn với suy nghĩ về nó. Ngay cả tác giả của cuốn sách Sống Không Cần Tiền này cũng vậy thôi, hy vọng anh cũng đã nhìn ra vấn đề đó.
Đây là một cuốn sách gợi mở, bạn sẽ học được rất rất nhiều điều thú vị, suy nghĩ của bạn về cuộc sống cũng như công việc cũng như mục đích sống của bạn sẽ khác đi nhiều. Một góc nhìn kiểu refresh và đầy năng lượng.
Phần cuối cuốn sách viết hơi đuối, nhưng dù sao, nó thú vị. Ở đời làm người đi ngược dòng và làm được thì luôn luon thú vị. Bạn biết đấy.
Tất cả chúng ta đều phụ thuộc vào tờ giấy thông hành mang tên tiền này. Có khi cả ngày chúng ta đều sẽ vật lộn với suy nghĩ về nó. Ngay cả tác giả của cuốn sách Sống Không Cần Tiền này cũng vậy thôi, hy vọng anh cũng đã nhìn ra vấn đề đó.
Đây là một cuốn sách gợi mở, bạn sẽ học được rất rất nhiều điều thú vị, suy nghĩ của bạn về cuộc sống cũng như công việc cũng như mục đích sống của bạn sẽ khác đi nhiều. Một góc nhìn kiểu refresh và đầy năng lượng.
Phần cuối cuốn sách viết hơi đuối, nhưng dù sao, nó thú vị. Ở đời làm người đi ngược dòng và làm được thì luôn luon thú vị. Bạn biết đấy.
September 25, 2012
To be blunt, The Moneyless Man is a boring diary written by a boring man.
To be fair, Moneyless lacks a Hollywood storyline. Mark Boyle is a principled young man who sold his house(boat), quit his job, closed his bank account and went to live in a caravan in the middle of nowhere for a year. Not a huge amount happens to him in the caravan (no DRAMATIC INTERLUDES! ... no second-act decision to JACK THE WHOLE THING IN! ... not much of anything). And, unfortunately, Boyle doesn’t have enough skill as a writer to spin what does happen to him into an entertaining narrative.
In terms of politics, I probably agree with Boyle: if we were all less obsessed with money, the impact on the earth would be immense (and we’d probably be more happy, not less happy). However, Boyle seems, at times, overwhelmingly naive about what would happen if we all stopped using money and lived off the land.
(My favourite bonkers parts:
1. If we didn’t have laws, no one would do bad things.
2. Babies don’t need nappies. Parents should just be more attuned to their babies and pre-empt their little accidents.)
I think this book would have been more successful as a frank and thought-provoking discussion about the pros and cons of money. Instead, Boyle merely lectures endlessly about how money is the root of all evil. It’s tedious even if you agree with a lot of what he says.
To be fair, Moneyless lacks a Hollywood storyline. Mark Boyle is a principled young man who sold his house(boat), quit his job, closed his bank account and went to live in a caravan in the middle of nowhere for a year. Not a huge amount happens to him in the caravan (no DRAMATIC INTERLUDES! ... no second-act decision to JACK THE WHOLE THING IN! ... not much of anything). And, unfortunately, Boyle doesn’t have enough skill as a writer to spin what does happen to him into an entertaining narrative.
In terms of politics, I probably agree with Boyle: if we were all less obsessed with money, the impact on the earth would be immense (and we’d probably be more happy, not less happy). However, Boyle seems, at times, overwhelmingly naive about what would happen if we all stopped using money and lived off the land.
(My favourite bonkers parts:
1. If we didn’t have laws, no one would do bad things.
2. Babies don’t need nappies. Parents should just be more attuned to their babies and pre-empt their little accidents.)
I think this book would have been more successful as a frank and thought-provoking discussion about the pros and cons of money. Instead, Boyle merely lectures endlessly about how money is the root of all evil. It’s tedious even if you agree with a lot of what he says.
August 1, 2020
''We’re at a crucial point in history. We cannot have fast cars, computers the size of credit cards, and modern conveniences, while simultaneously having clear air, abundant rainforest, fresh drinking water, and a stable climate. This generation can have one or the other, but not both. Humanity must make a choice. Both have an opportunity cost. Gadgetry or nature? Pick the wrong one and the next generation may have neither.''
The Moneyless Man is packed full of intriguing ideas on society, consumerism, greed, complacency and of course the economy (which is all just made-up nonsense and no-one really knows exactly how it all works, not even the experts).
Mark isn't advocating for everyone to suddenly quit their jobs and start living like him (as he says himself, it wouldn't work), rather I think he used this experiment to illustrate how royally we are messing things up for future generations. Lately I have become more interested in ideas of self-sufficiency, learning associated skills and living more frugally (really considering purchases - 'do I need this, or want it?' ' can I buy this second-hand?') as well as looking more closely at the dirty tricks of marketing and advertising (we all know it's basically all telling you how inadequate you are and how buying this thing will make you feel better).
There were a couple of good films mentioned I went on to look up including 'The Age of Stupid' and 'The Story of Stuff' which I would recommend to anyone. I'd also never heard of EC before now - 'elimination communication' (toilet training method for babies which results in less or even no reliance on nappies) - so since my little boy is now almost a year old, off I went on another tangent - we just started a few days ago and it's working! So I picked up on a fair few extra ideas to research, things I could start doing now that help a little.
Yes, some of it can come off a little 'preachy' which Mark kind of admits to towards the end, but overall the ideas within are absolutely worthwhile and I think some of the more negative reviews are kind of missing this point.
The Moneyless Man is packed full of intriguing ideas on society, consumerism, greed, complacency and of course the economy (which is all just made-up nonsense and no-one really knows exactly how it all works, not even the experts).
Mark isn't advocating for everyone to suddenly quit their jobs and start living like him (as he says himself, it wouldn't work), rather I think he used this experiment to illustrate how royally we are messing things up for future generations. Lately I have become more interested in ideas of self-sufficiency, learning associated skills and living more frugally (really considering purchases - 'do I need this, or want it?' ' can I buy this second-hand?') as well as looking more closely at the dirty tricks of marketing and advertising (we all know it's basically all telling you how inadequate you are and how buying this thing will make you feel better).
There were a couple of good films mentioned I went on to look up including 'The Age of Stupid' and 'The Story of Stuff' which I would recommend to anyone. I'd also never heard of EC before now - 'elimination communication' (toilet training method for babies which results in less or even no reliance on nappies) - so since my little boy is now almost a year old, off I went on another tangent - we just started a few days ago and it's working! So I picked up on a fair few extra ideas to research, things I could start doing now that help a little.
Yes, some of it can come off a little 'preachy' which Mark kind of admits to towards the end, but overall the ideas within are absolutely worthwhile and I think some of the more negative reviews are kind of missing this point.
May 18, 2019
Look, it is just time to kill the myth that vegans don't need to shower. You do guys. You do.
October 14, 2011
One of the most inspiring books I've ever read!
At the time of reading i was in a period of learning and trying to get my head around the sustainability crisis we face as a civilisation, deep stuff really.
Since reading this book Mark has become a personal hero of mine. Recommended to me as the modern day Walden. Having just read Walden before this I somewhat agree. Mark is a self confessed ordinary guy so I never expected the same standard of writing as Thoreau however it does make for a remarkably readable book, not too long and perfectly concise.
One of the few books I wholeheartedly recommend to anybody who ever asks, Ishmael by Daniel Quinn being the other that spring to mind as I write this.
A must read. People who quibble about how money had to be a part of the process somewhere are incredibly inane. Honestly what do you expect, if you read the book or had any common sense you'd appreciate the realities of the situation. Also he has continued to live the moneyless life as far as possible, setting up a moneyless community to further the vision.
An inspiration that has changed my outlook on almost everything I read, see, hear and do.
At the time of reading i was in a period of learning and trying to get my head around the sustainability crisis we face as a civilisation, deep stuff really.
Since reading this book Mark has become a personal hero of mine. Recommended to me as the modern day Walden. Having just read Walden before this I somewhat agree. Mark is a self confessed ordinary guy so I never expected the same standard of writing as Thoreau however it does make for a remarkably readable book, not too long and perfectly concise.
One of the few books I wholeheartedly recommend to anybody who ever asks, Ishmael by Daniel Quinn being the other that spring to mind as I write this.
A must read. People who quibble about how money had to be a part of the process somewhere are incredibly inane. Honestly what do you expect, if you read the book or had any common sense you'd appreciate the realities of the situation. Also he has continued to live the moneyless life as far as possible, setting up a moneyless community to further the vision.
An inspiration that has changed my outlook on almost everything I read, see, hear and do.
March 29, 2024
Skimmed heavily, to be warned. Upside: Mark is well-informed and cares very much for the Earth, and wants a Greener future. He lived without money for a year to explore and challenge himself in ways that would make living more sustainable. Bravo. Downside: It's a bit preachy and not very interesting. It would make for a great book in an environmental study course, but for pondering in the tub, I just couldn't get through it. I did like the parts between pages 66-70 about his normal day collecting and brewing nettles for a thermos of tea and daily activities.
April 30, 2018
I started this book because I thought it would be an interesting experiment to see what the effects of trying to exist without money would be, I thought it would be more of a look at the personal struggles than it was.
Moneyless Man started with a fairly dull section basically explaining what money is and why it is bad, it then grew in to something that really sounded like it was going to be interesting. An experiment not only in economics but in sociology. How would someone cope if they reject the basic premise of modern life? How would it affect friendships and life in general?
However Boyle then becomes repetitive, tedious and at several points comes across as just out right preachy. After about a third of the way in or so you're left wondering really what the narrative of the book is, for example at one point he decides to show how his meals are made from foraged, bartered or scavenged food, this is fine when he covers the 10 or 12 things that go in to breakfast, he then however goes on to lunch snacks and dinner listing for a good few paragraphs more just names of food and how he acquired them, it is dry at best.
My enjoyment was hugely tempered by massive holes in his views without either acknowledging they are issues or offering solutions. For example we are supposed to barter with either our own goods or labour in return for what we need, however Mark also allows himself a laptop, mobile and internet access. He at no point explains how, or why, technology companies would create their products without using money or for that fact how you would buy them using bartering or labour. The same goes for utility companies, medical companies etc.
Largely you're enjoyment of this book will be based on personal philosophy but I can some it up quickly; Vegans good, everyone else bad. People who eschew all modern forms of commerce good, everyone else bad. Mark Boyle good, everyone else bad.
Moneyless Man started with a fairly dull section basically explaining what money is and why it is bad, it then grew in to something that really sounded like it was going to be interesting. An experiment not only in economics but in sociology. How would someone cope if they reject the basic premise of modern life? How would it affect friendships and life in general?
However Boyle then becomes repetitive, tedious and at several points comes across as just out right preachy. After about a third of the way in or so you're left wondering really what the narrative of the book is, for example at one point he decides to show how his meals are made from foraged, bartered or scavenged food, this is fine when he covers the 10 or 12 things that go in to breakfast, he then however goes on to lunch snacks and dinner listing for a good few paragraphs more just names of food and how he acquired them, it is dry at best.
My enjoyment was hugely tempered by massive holes in his views without either acknowledging they are issues or offering solutions. For example we are supposed to barter with either our own goods or labour in return for what we need, however Mark also allows himself a laptop, mobile and internet access. He at no point explains how, or why, technology companies would create their products without using money or for that fact how you would buy them using bartering or labour. The same goes for utility companies, medical companies etc.
Largely you're enjoyment of this book will be based on personal philosophy but I can some it up quickly; Vegans good, everyone else bad. People who eschew all modern forms of commerce good, everyone else bad. Mark Boyle good, everyone else bad.
January 18, 2013
Really great read, but I love real people with real stories, who refuse to conform to how society states we should live. Wirth 1938, under the ‘Determinist theory’, coined the term ‘urban anomie’ to describe the way growing cities producing an urban outlook, ‘where ties of kinship and face to face association decline’ (Rich & Hadrill, 1991, p4; Wirth, 1938). The voids that appear in society’s everyday lives are replaced with materialistic goods. However, the resulting happiness is temporary, and the void within their life can prompt mental health issues, which are exasperated by the non-rural milieu (Wirth, 1938). This is demonstrated by Dey, Aston and Corn’s (2005), annual report for the American Council of Education, which found, of the quarter of a million students entering college in 2005, 74 per cent believed that it was fundamental to be ‘very well off financially’, this differs considerably from the 39 per cent in 1970 (Dey, Aston & Corn, 2005). The answer is to find a way to overcome this interminable cycle. Through Buddhism economics, an individual can find a way of living through a kind and discreet path, which tries to overcome selfish urges and detach from the ‘urban anomie’ phenomena (DeSilva).
Ultimately the Earth doesn't belong to anyone, therefore the land belongs to no-one either, and yet we believe it is ours to use and abuse at will. In a nut-shell Boyle's book describes how we have become so detached from nature that it has skewed our vision of how happiness is detained, and how money has shaped our society in such a way that consumption is not only a lifeless way to fill our world, but we buy into a cycle of perpetuating capitalism. And it is a capitalist society that is causing so much ecological disaster. At the moment America consumes five times as much recources as it should, and it is frightening to think about what will happen with the under-developed countries become more developed, they surely have the same right as the west to consume more recources than they should too. What a nightmare! It is completely unethical.
Boyle's new book, is the communist manifesto, and that is definately on my must read list.
Well done, Mark!
P.S. The part of the book where Mark had to live with an unwelcome visitor literally made me laugh out loud.
Ultimately the Earth doesn't belong to anyone, therefore the land belongs to no-one either, and yet we believe it is ours to use and abuse at will. In a nut-shell Boyle's book describes how we have become so detached from nature that it has skewed our vision of how happiness is detained, and how money has shaped our society in such a way that consumption is not only a lifeless way to fill our world, but we buy into a cycle of perpetuating capitalism. And it is a capitalist society that is causing so much ecological disaster. At the moment America consumes five times as much recources as it should, and it is frightening to think about what will happen with the under-developed countries become more developed, they surely have the same right as the west to consume more recources than they should too. What a nightmare! It is completely unethical.
Boyle's new book, is the communist manifesto, and that is definately on my must read list.
Well done, Mark!
P.S. The part of the book where Mark had to live with an unwelcome visitor literally made me laugh out loud.
March 30, 2020
Một nỗi thật vòng cực kì lớn cho một cuốn sách nhìn qua tên đã thấy mê!
Điều duy nhất mình thích về cuốn này có lẽ là ý tưởng. Bản thân là một người quan tâm rất nhiều tới môi trường và phát triển bền vững, mình thực sự đã bị cuốn hút bởi ý tưởng sống không cần tiền của tác giả Mark Boyle. Trước khi đọc, mình cũng đã xác định sẵn 100% không tiền là điều không thể, vì thế giới chúng ta đang sống đã đầy ắp vật chất sẵn rồi, nhưng mình vẫn hy vọng Mark Boyle sẽ viết nên một cuốn sách thú vị và đầy cảm hứng.
Tiếc làm sao khi cảm hứng thì tìm mãi không thấy, đã vậy mình lại còn bị nản vô cùng và liên tục lướt nhanh qua các trang của cuốn sách "mỏng dính" này. Tác giả viết bằng lối kể lể dài dòng, nếu đây là các bài blog riêng lẻ trên trang web cá nhân của Boyle thì có lẽ mình sẽ khá thích! Thật sự cách viết của ông trong cuốn sách này đã quá lê thê, lặp đi lặp lại không điểm nhấn, và không tạo được chút nào cảm hứng cho người đọc.
Ông không phải đang cố truyền tải thông điệp gì trong cuốn sách này mà chỉ đang tự thoại về một năm sống không cần tiền của bản thân mình. Đúng là mình có ngưỡng mộ Boyle vì đã thử nghiệm cách sống ấy và biến nó thành khả thi, nhưng "lết" xong cuốn sách này mình mới nhận ra lối sống mà ông đang hướng tới không khả thi với đại đa số người bình thường (như mình!). Đến đây mình bắt đầu cảm thấy phí thời gian và công sức cho một cuốn sách khi mình có thể tìm đọc thông tin tương tự ngay trên mạng.
Còn một điều khá nhỏ bé nhưng cũng gây cho mình bao khó chịu, tác giả không ngừng nhắc đi nhắc lại việc có nhiều ý kiến trái chiều/phản đối việc ông làm ra sao. Một lần là đủ hiểu rồi!
Đọc để biết thì cũng được (không hay lắm), áp dụng thì chịu!
Điều duy nhất mình thích về cuốn này có lẽ là ý tưởng. Bản thân là một người quan tâm rất nhiều tới môi trường và phát triển bền vững, mình thực sự đã bị cuốn hút bởi ý tưởng sống không cần tiền của tác giả Mark Boyle. Trước khi đọc, mình cũng đã xác định sẵn 100% không tiền là điều không thể, vì thế giới chúng ta đang sống đã đầy ắp vật chất sẵn rồi, nhưng mình vẫn hy vọng Mark Boyle sẽ viết nên một cuốn sách thú vị và đầy cảm hứng.
Tiếc làm sao khi cảm hứng thì tìm mãi không thấy, đã vậy mình lại còn bị nản vô cùng và liên tục lướt nhanh qua các trang của cuốn sách "mỏng dính" này. Tác giả viết bằng lối kể lể dài dòng, nếu đây là các bài blog riêng lẻ trên trang web cá nhân của Boyle thì có lẽ mình sẽ khá thích! Thật sự cách viết của ông trong cuốn sách này đã quá lê thê, lặp đi lặp lại không điểm nhấn, và không tạo được chút nào cảm hứng cho người đọc.
Ông không phải đang cố truyền tải thông điệp gì trong cuốn sách này mà chỉ đang tự thoại về một năm sống không cần tiền của bản thân mình. Đúng là mình có ngưỡng mộ Boyle vì đã thử nghiệm cách sống ấy và biến nó thành khả thi, nhưng "lết" xong cuốn sách này mình mới nhận ra lối sống mà ông đang hướng tới không khả thi với đại đa số người bình thường (như mình!). Đến đây mình bắt đầu cảm thấy phí thời gian và công sức cho một cuốn sách khi mình có thể tìm đọc thông tin tương tự ngay trên mạng.
Còn một điều khá nhỏ bé nhưng cũng gây cho mình bao khó chịu, tác giả không ngừng nhắc đi nhắc lại việc có nhiều ý kiến trái chiều/phản đối việc ông làm ra sao. Một lần là đủ hiểu rồi!
Đọc để biết thì cũng được (không hay lắm), áp dụng thì chịu!
December 18, 2018
Đây là một cuốn sách điên rồ, nhưng vô cùng truyền cảm hứng.
Ở Việt Nam hay có mấy thử thách như là 24 giờ ngủ trong nhà vệ sinh, 24h lang thang ngoài đường..mỗi clip như vậy nhận được vài triệu lượt view. Nhưng nếu so với thử thách sống 1 năm không cần tiền của tác giả này, thì mấy trò 24h đúng chỉ là trò con nít.
Chủ nghĩa tiêu thụ, sự lãng phí về năng lượng, đời sống coi trọng vận chất đang là những vấn nạn trên toàn thế giới. Mark Boyle quyết định thử nghiệm một năm sống không có tiền, xem thử cuộc đời sẽ ra sao.
Đây là một hành trình rất tuyệt vời, truyền cảm hứng và khiến bạn phải suy nghĩ rất nhiều về cuộc sống tiện nghi mà bạn đang sở hữu.
Nếu bạn đã từng yêu thích lối sống tối giản, thì cuốn sách này có thể coi là lối sống tối giản cực độ. Một cuốn sách rất hay dành cho những ai có quan tâm đến môi trường, định nghĩa về hạnh phúc và làm những điều ngược với đám đông hay làm.
Ở Việt Nam hay có mấy thử thách như là 24 giờ ngủ trong nhà vệ sinh, 24h lang thang ngoài đường..mỗi clip như vậy nhận được vài triệu lượt view. Nhưng nếu so với thử thách sống 1 năm không cần tiền của tác giả này, thì mấy trò 24h đúng chỉ là trò con nít.
Chủ nghĩa tiêu thụ, sự lãng phí về năng lượng, đời sống coi trọng vận chất đang là những vấn nạn trên toàn thế giới. Mark Boyle quyết định thử nghiệm một năm sống không có tiền, xem thử cuộc đời sẽ ra sao.
Đây là một hành trình rất tuyệt vời, truyền cảm hứng và khiến bạn phải suy nghĩ rất nhiều về cuộc sống tiện nghi mà bạn đang sở hữu.
Nếu bạn đã từng yêu thích lối sống tối giản, thì cuốn sách này có thể coi là lối sống tối giản cực độ. Một cuốn sách rất hay dành cho những ai có quan tâm đến môi trường, định nghĩa về hạnh phúc và làm những điều ngược với đám đông hay làm.
July 17, 2010
Loved this book. It really made me think about how much money i spend. It made me question how i spend my money and how much of what i purchase is needed and what is unnecessary crap. I already question my purchases: 'Do i need this?', 'Why do i need it?', 'How much use will i get from it?', 'Is is worth it's cost?', 'What is it's background, where was it made, who made it and how much were they paid?'.
Spending is a very hard habit to break, i don't plan to go as far as Mark and live moneyless but he has reminded me that there is often an alternative to purchasing and i plan to use those alternatives where i can.
Spending is a very hard habit to break, i don't plan to go as far as Mark and live moneyless but he has reminded me that there is often an alternative to purchasing and i plan to use those alternatives where i can.
September 22, 2018
#Working #EscapeFromChina #WaitingOnBoard
Nhìn cái tựa thì có vẻ như anh tác giả này bất cần nhưng không phải vậy. Anh ta care tới cả tương lai của nhân loại đó.
P/s: Cũng từng có lúc mình cũng làm vài chuyện để bảo vệ môi trường tính ra cũng giống người lắm mà mọi người cứ kêu mình khác người, giờ bỏ rồi, cảm thấy bất lực hết sức. Trong khi ráng giảm thiểu được vài cái bọc nilong thì ngoài kia người ta xả thải official tấn tấn ra biển. Tuyệt vọng lời!
Nhìn cái tựa thì có vẻ như anh tác giả này bất cần nhưng không phải vậy. Anh ta care tới cả tương lai của nhân loại đó.
P/s: Cũng từng có lúc mình cũng làm vài chuyện để bảo vệ môi trường tính ra cũng giống người lắm mà mọi người cứ kêu mình khác người, giờ bỏ rồi, cảm thấy bất lực hết sức. Trong khi ráng giảm thiểu được vài cái bọc nilong thì ngoài kia người ta xả thải official tấn tấn ra biển. Tuyệt vọng lời!
September 19, 2011
Uang bagi manusia masa kini sudah identik dengan kepemilikan. Betapa kita terikat padanya, kita terima sebagai sebuah fakta bahkan mungkin sebagai salah satu kebenaran paling hakiki dalam kehidupan selain kredo bahwa hidup dan mati ada di tangan Tuhan. Oleh karena itu rasanya mustahil untuk membayangkan bahwa ada orang yang ingin hidup tanpa uang. Kecurigaan yag mungkin segera muncul adalah ide semacam itu tentu datang dari orang yang miskin, yang kekurangan atau malah tidak punya uang sama sekali. Tetapi, kalau kita mau berpikir lebih jauh – yang sayangnya membutuhkan sedikit kemauan dan tentu saja makan waktu lebih banyak – apakah sebetulnya miskin itu? Bagaimana kita mengukur uang sehingga kita bisa bilang “Uang saya banyak” atau “Uang saya sedikit?” Seberapa jauh kita mengenal uang dan segala kisahnya?
Kalau Anda termasuk gologan manusia masa kini yang malas bergerak, tidak suka berpikir yang berat-berat dan sangat percaya bahwa waktu adalah uang, sebuah buku dari Mark Boyle, The Moneyless Man, mungkin bisa menolong sedikit meringankan beban Anda untuk menelaah soal uang ini. Sebuah kisah nyata, yang disusun dalam buku dengan jumlah halaman tak sampai 400 dan sudah diterjemahkan ke dalam Bahasa Indonesia, saya kira sudah lebih dari sekadar sebuah penawaran yang menarik. Namun, kalau Anda merasa membaca buku itu pun sudah terlalu sulit dan tragis bagi gaya hidup metropolis Anda, maka di bawah ini saya coba tuliskan beberapa cuplikan dan sedikit pembahasan darinya dengan harapan pada suatu hari Anda bersedia membacanya juga.
Mark Boyle belajar bisnis dan ekonomi di Irlandia selama empat tahun kemudian mengelola sebuah perusahaan makanan organik di Inggris selama kurang lebih enam tahun. Dari sini bisa kita lihat, bahwa Boyle bukan orang yang tidak mengerti soal uang, bukan pula orang miskin yang tak pernah punya uang. Ia justru sangat mengerti soal uang dan sistem keuangan. Ia memilih makanan organik sebagai mata pencaharian karena terpaku pada salah satu kalimat Gandhi dalam buku tentang Gandhi yang ia baca selama semester akhir kuliahnya. Kalimat Gandhi “Jadilah perubahan yang ingin kaulihat di dunia” mendorongnya memilih bidang makanan organik yang ketika itu (sebetulnya, sampai kini pun masih) adalah salah satu industri etis (lebih etis dari yang lain). Memilih sesuatu yang “etis” menurut Boyle saat itu adalah salah satu cara untuk mempraktekkan ide Gandhi soal perubahan.
Mengelola sebuah perusahaan makanan organik membantu Boyle untuk dapat melihat bahwa ada yang salah dengan sistem makanan konvensional. Ekspor impor bahan-bahan makanan yang seolah tak mengenal jarak dan waktu, penggunaan plastik yang berlebihan sebagai kemasan dan pembunuhan perusahaan-perusahaan kecil oleh perusahaan-perusahaan besar adalah beberapa aspek yang mengusik Boyle. Ia pun menjadi lebih peduli pada isu-isu seputar hal-hal itu misalnya perubahan iklim, eksploitasi tenaga kerja di negara-negara yang lebih lemah kekuatan ekonominya serta penipisan sumber daya alam yang sering kali diikuti peperangan antarnegara demi lokasi-lokasi strategis yang dapat menjamin ketersediaan energi bagi manusia.
Kesimpulan awal Boyle adalah bahwa gaya hidup manusia saat ini sesungguhnya sudah terputus dari segala hal yang menjadi objek konsumsi manusia itu sendiri. Situasi ini digambarkannya sebagai “derajat pemisahan,” suatu kondisi kesenjangan yang semakin lama semakin lebar. Kita memakai pakaian tanpa tahu siapa pembuatnya, apakah mereka yang membuatnya dibayar dengan layak atau apakah transportasi dari tempat pakaian itu dibuat sampai ke tangan kita menimbulkan efek berkepanjangan bagi planet yang kita tinggali. Demikian pula, kita makan dan minum tanpa tahu dari lingkungan seperti apa makanan atau minuman kita itu diolah, apakah ada pestisida dipakai demi sekeranjang buah segar tanpa ulat yang ingin kita makan atau apakah daging sapi yang kita santap nyaris setiap hari itu dihasilkan oleh peternakan yang mengelola hewan tanpa kekerasan. Pertanyaan logis berikutnya tentu saja: Lalu siapa atau apa yang membuat kita terputus dari segala yang kita konsumsi itu? Jawabannya: ya, uang.
Boyle kemudian merintis sebuah gerakan kesadaran untuk hidup dengan tidak melulu mengandalkan uang. Di sini ia memang belum sepenuhnya hidup tanpa uang. Ia membawa idealisme bahwa setidaknya manusia masih dapat menjalankan kehidupannya dengan berbagi sehingga jumlah sumber daya alam yang digunakan dapat dikurangi dan manusia dapat lebih sering berkumpul dengan sesamanya. Dengan mengedepankan prinsip sederhana saling tolong sebagai cara bertahan hidup, Boyle mendirikan proyek “Freeconomy Community,” sebuah infrastruktur dalam jaringan internet yang kemudian diikuti dengan berbagai diskusi dan sesi pertukaran keterampilan. Situs Freeconomy (justfortheloveofit.org) menjadi wadah untuk berbagi keterampilan, sarana dan ruang tanpa kehadiran uang sebagai alat pembayaran. Semuanya gratis dan mereka yang bergabung di dalamnya saling membantu semata demi kesenangan melakukannya, tepat seperti nama situs itu sendiri.
Merasa telah semakin mengerti “perubahan” apa yang ingin ia lihat di dunia ini, pada Juni 2008 Boyle memutuskan untuk mencoba sesuatu yang lebih ekstrem lagi yaitu hidup tanpa uang selama setahuan yang akan dimulai pada November 2008. Ia memulai dengan berbagai persiapan (misalnya membeli karavan sebagai tempat tinggal agar tidak perlu membayar uang sewa lagi) dan menetapkan sejumlah peraturan (aturan pertama: benar-benar tanpa uang, tidak cek, tidak pula kartu kredit). Popularitas situs Freeconomy yang terus meningkat membuat rencana Boyle segera menjadi buruan wartawan. Meskipun sebagian besar dari mereka menganggap idenya sinting, tetap saja Boyle diliput oleh berbagai media cetak dan elektronik. Hal yang membuat eksperimennya di satu sisi mendapat kesempatan untuk meraih publik yang lebih luas, namun di sisi lain mendapat tekanan lebih besar untuk berhasil (meskipun mungkin banyak orang lebih suka melihat Boyle akhirnya gagal dan menyerah).
Pengalaman Boyle menjalani satu tahun kehidupan tanpa uang pun menjadi isi utama buku ini. Pengalaman-pengalamannya diceritakan dengan gaya yang cenderung penuh humor sehingga tidak semengerikan bayangan saya di awal membaca buku ini. Beberapa pergulatannya saya yakin juga dihadapi oleh mereka yang memilih untuk menjalani hidup ini secara “berbeda,” misalnya mereka yang menjadi vegetarian atau vegan atau mereka yang berjuang melindungi hak-hak hewan. Rasanya keterkaitan di antara tema-tema itu terjalin begitu alami. Boyle yang tidak menggunakan uang (dan sejak sebelum eksperimen sudah menjadi seorang vegetarian) dengan sendirinya menjalani pola makan super ketat namun lebih sehat dengan mengedepankan bahan-bahan makanan lokal bahkan menanam sendiri beberapa jenis sayur, buah dan semak-semak yang bisa dijadikan teh.
Membaca bagaimana Boyle menjalankan hidup tanpa uang juga menyadarkan saya betapa segala energi yang setiap hari kita pakai (tanpa memikirkan dari mana energi ini diproduksi dan sampai kapan energi ini akan ada) begitu melenakan. Ketika Boyle berusaha membuat sendiri tungku pemanas untuk karavannya (bayangkan sebuah negara dengan empat musim, setiap musim dingin adalah ujian naik kelas) dan mencuci sendiri pakaiannya (dengan sabun yang dibuat sendiri, lalu dikeringkan mengandalkan sinar matahari) saya pikir jelas sudah bahwa energi dan pemanfaatannya seharusnya ada di perbincangan kita sehari-hari mengingat perannya yang begitu penting.
Belajar untuk menghargai energi kemudian berlanjut menjadi kebijaksanaan menggunakan waktu. Bukan berarti Boyle menjadi semacam motivator bisnis yang akan mendoktrin kita untuk menggunakan setiap detik untuk mengejar keuntungan. Sebaliknya, dengan pengalamannya ia justru menunjukkan bahwa gaya hidup yang selaras dengan alam memerlukan waktu lebih banyak dan oleh karena itu manusia wajib menggunakan waktunya sebaik mungkin, membantu sesama tanpa mengorbankan makhluk hidup lain apalagi mengharapkan uang sebagai imbalan. Di sinilah Boyle menjejalkan sebuah nilai moral yang sekarang tidak lagi cukup bergengsi untuk dijual di layar-layar televisi Anda bahwa kebaikan tidak perlu timbal balik antara A dan B saja. Kebaikan adalah sesuatu yang bersifat universal, bukan sebuah transaksi. A menolong B, meskipun B tidak balik menolongnya. Tetapi, masih ada C, D, E dan seterusnya yang mungkin akan menolong A suatu ketika nanti saat ia membutuhkan. Tidak ada yang serbainstan, namun ada keyakinan bahwa kebaikan itu pasti akan terjadi lagi, berputar terus selama masih ada orang yang melakukannya.
Kalau sampai di sini Anda curiga jangan-jangan buku The Moneyless Man adalah semacam buku pseudo-psikologi atau malah tipu daya untuk mencuci otak kita agar berubah dari masyarakat modern kembali ke masa abad kegelapan, saya cuma bisa bilang jangan ragu untuk mengubah pendapat Anda dengan membaca sendiri buku ini. Seperti yang saya bilang tadi, di balik segala ide “gilanya” Boyle adalah seorang penulis yang humoris. Simak saja penuturannya soal toilet dan penggunaan kertas koran sebagai pengganti tisu (ini setahu saya merupakan salah satu produk rumah tangga yang paling jahat bagi lingkungan hidup). Jika Anda penyuka kisah-kisah petualangan, kehidupan tanpa uang Boyle menurut saya memiliki porsi ketegangan yang cukup. Mengandalkan kaki (serta tubuh yang sehat) dan sepeda sebagai alat transportasi selama setahun, tentu mengandung tantangan yang tidak sedikit. Bagaimana Boyle dapat mencapai kampung halamannya di Irlandia untuk dapat menikmati liburan Natal bersama keluarganya? Atau bagaimana ia menjadi pemulung makanan di rimba urban Bristol, menikmati musim panas dan bersama timnya menyiapkan pesta gratis untuk seribu orang pada hari terakhir eksperimennya? Yang pasti: tanpa uang.
Tanpa bermaksud menjadi tenaga pemasar yang bombastis untuk buku ini, saya kira The Moneyless Man adalah buku yang multidimensi. Di dalamnya ada ide-ide (dan ajakan untuk berdiskusi) mengenai ekonomi, kesehatan bahkan politik dan demokrasi. Selesai membacanya Anda tidak perlu menjalani hidup tanpa uang besok atau lusa, menjadi Mark Boyle Indonesia. Cukuplah, saya pikir, dengan menjadi manusia yang mengkonsumsi segala sesuatu (dari mulai listrik, makanan, minuman, alat komunikasi sampai pakaian) secara lebih sadar. Sadar berarti, bukan cuma berusaha untuk tahu proses pengadaannya, tetapi juga merasa malu dan berhenti ketika Anda sudah tahu bahwa pilihan Anda selama ini tidak cukup etis untuk dipertanggungjawabkan pada generasi berikutnya dan bahkan mungkin Anda tidak perlu memilih mengkonsumsi atau memakai “itu” karena hidup Anda tidak akan mati tanpa “itu.”
Kalau Anda termasuk gologan manusia masa kini yang malas bergerak, tidak suka berpikir yang berat-berat dan sangat percaya bahwa waktu adalah uang, sebuah buku dari Mark Boyle, The Moneyless Man, mungkin bisa menolong sedikit meringankan beban Anda untuk menelaah soal uang ini. Sebuah kisah nyata, yang disusun dalam buku dengan jumlah halaman tak sampai 400 dan sudah diterjemahkan ke dalam Bahasa Indonesia, saya kira sudah lebih dari sekadar sebuah penawaran yang menarik. Namun, kalau Anda merasa membaca buku itu pun sudah terlalu sulit dan tragis bagi gaya hidup metropolis Anda, maka di bawah ini saya coba tuliskan beberapa cuplikan dan sedikit pembahasan darinya dengan harapan pada suatu hari Anda bersedia membacanya juga.
Mark Boyle belajar bisnis dan ekonomi di Irlandia selama empat tahun kemudian mengelola sebuah perusahaan makanan organik di Inggris selama kurang lebih enam tahun. Dari sini bisa kita lihat, bahwa Boyle bukan orang yang tidak mengerti soal uang, bukan pula orang miskin yang tak pernah punya uang. Ia justru sangat mengerti soal uang dan sistem keuangan. Ia memilih makanan organik sebagai mata pencaharian karena terpaku pada salah satu kalimat Gandhi dalam buku tentang Gandhi yang ia baca selama semester akhir kuliahnya. Kalimat Gandhi “Jadilah perubahan yang ingin kaulihat di dunia” mendorongnya memilih bidang makanan organik yang ketika itu (sebetulnya, sampai kini pun masih) adalah salah satu industri etis (lebih etis dari yang lain). Memilih sesuatu yang “etis” menurut Boyle saat itu adalah salah satu cara untuk mempraktekkan ide Gandhi soal perubahan.
Mengelola sebuah perusahaan makanan organik membantu Boyle untuk dapat melihat bahwa ada yang salah dengan sistem makanan konvensional. Ekspor impor bahan-bahan makanan yang seolah tak mengenal jarak dan waktu, penggunaan plastik yang berlebihan sebagai kemasan dan pembunuhan perusahaan-perusahaan kecil oleh perusahaan-perusahaan besar adalah beberapa aspek yang mengusik Boyle. Ia pun menjadi lebih peduli pada isu-isu seputar hal-hal itu misalnya perubahan iklim, eksploitasi tenaga kerja di negara-negara yang lebih lemah kekuatan ekonominya serta penipisan sumber daya alam yang sering kali diikuti peperangan antarnegara demi lokasi-lokasi strategis yang dapat menjamin ketersediaan energi bagi manusia.
Kesimpulan awal Boyle adalah bahwa gaya hidup manusia saat ini sesungguhnya sudah terputus dari segala hal yang menjadi objek konsumsi manusia itu sendiri. Situasi ini digambarkannya sebagai “derajat pemisahan,” suatu kondisi kesenjangan yang semakin lama semakin lebar. Kita memakai pakaian tanpa tahu siapa pembuatnya, apakah mereka yang membuatnya dibayar dengan layak atau apakah transportasi dari tempat pakaian itu dibuat sampai ke tangan kita menimbulkan efek berkepanjangan bagi planet yang kita tinggali. Demikian pula, kita makan dan minum tanpa tahu dari lingkungan seperti apa makanan atau minuman kita itu diolah, apakah ada pestisida dipakai demi sekeranjang buah segar tanpa ulat yang ingin kita makan atau apakah daging sapi yang kita santap nyaris setiap hari itu dihasilkan oleh peternakan yang mengelola hewan tanpa kekerasan. Pertanyaan logis berikutnya tentu saja: Lalu siapa atau apa yang membuat kita terputus dari segala yang kita konsumsi itu? Jawabannya: ya, uang.
Boyle kemudian merintis sebuah gerakan kesadaran untuk hidup dengan tidak melulu mengandalkan uang. Di sini ia memang belum sepenuhnya hidup tanpa uang. Ia membawa idealisme bahwa setidaknya manusia masih dapat menjalankan kehidupannya dengan berbagi sehingga jumlah sumber daya alam yang digunakan dapat dikurangi dan manusia dapat lebih sering berkumpul dengan sesamanya. Dengan mengedepankan prinsip sederhana saling tolong sebagai cara bertahan hidup, Boyle mendirikan proyek “Freeconomy Community,” sebuah infrastruktur dalam jaringan internet yang kemudian diikuti dengan berbagai diskusi dan sesi pertukaran keterampilan. Situs Freeconomy (justfortheloveofit.org) menjadi wadah untuk berbagi keterampilan, sarana dan ruang tanpa kehadiran uang sebagai alat pembayaran. Semuanya gratis dan mereka yang bergabung di dalamnya saling membantu semata demi kesenangan melakukannya, tepat seperti nama situs itu sendiri.
Merasa telah semakin mengerti “perubahan” apa yang ingin ia lihat di dunia ini, pada Juni 2008 Boyle memutuskan untuk mencoba sesuatu yang lebih ekstrem lagi yaitu hidup tanpa uang selama setahuan yang akan dimulai pada November 2008. Ia memulai dengan berbagai persiapan (misalnya membeli karavan sebagai tempat tinggal agar tidak perlu membayar uang sewa lagi) dan menetapkan sejumlah peraturan (aturan pertama: benar-benar tanpa uang, tidak cek, tidak pula kartu kredit). Popularitas situs Freeconomy yang terus meningkat membuat rencana Boyle segera menjadi buruan wartawan. Meskipun sebagian besar dari mereka menganggap idenya sinting, tetap saja Boyle diliput oleh berbagai media cetak dan elektronik. Hal yang membuat eksperimennya di satu sisi mendapat kesempatan untuk meraih publik yang lebih luas, namun di sisi lain mendapat tekanan lebih besar untuk berhasil (meskipun mungkin banyak orang lebih suka melihat Boyle akhirnya gagal dan menyerah).
Pengalaman Boyle menjalani satu tahun kehidupan tanpa uang pun menjadi isi utama buku ini. Pengalaman-pengalamannya diceritakan dengan gaya yang cenderung penuh humor sehingga tidak semengerikan bayangan saya di awal membaca buku ini. Beberapa pergulatannya saya yakin juga dihadapi oleh mereka yang memilih untuk menjalani hidup ini secara “berbeda,” misalnya mereka yang menjadi vegetarian atau vegan atau mereka yang berjuang melindungi hak-hak hewan. Rasanya keterkaitan di antara tema-tema itu terjalin begitu alami. Boyle yang tidak menggunakan uang (dan sejak sebelum eksperimen sudah menjadi seorang vegetarian) dengan sendirinya menjalani pola makan super ketat namun lebih sehat dengan mengedepankan bahan-bahan makanan lokal bahkan menanam sendiri beberapa jenis sayur, buah dan semak-semak yang bisa dijadikan teh.
Membaca bagaimana Boyle menjalankan hidup tanpa uang juga menyadarkan saya betapa segala energi yang setiap hari kita pakai (tanpa memikirkan dari mana energi ini diproduksi dan sampai kapan energi ini akan ada) begitu melenakan. Ketika Boyle berusaha membuat sendiri tungku pemanas untuk karavannya (bayangkan sebuah negara dengan empat musim, setiap musim dingin adalah ujian naik kelas) dan mencuci sendiri pakaiannya (dengan sabun yang dibuat sendiri, lalu dikeringkan mengandalkan sinar matahari) saya pikir jelas sudah bahwa energi dan pemanfaatannya seharusnya ada di perbincangan kita sehari-hari mengingat perannya yang begitu penting.
Belajar untuk menghargai energi kemudian berlanjut menjadi kebijaksanaan menggunakan waktu. Bukan berarti Boyle menjadi semacam motivator bisnis yang akan mendoktrin kita untuk menggunakan setiap detik untuk mengejar keuntungan. Sebaliknya, dengan pengalamannya ia justru menunjukkan bahwa gaya hidup yang selaras dengan alam memerlukan waktu lebih banyak dan oleh karena itu manusia wajib menggunakan waktunya sebaik mungkin, membantu sesama tanpa mengorbankan makhluk hidup lain apalagi mengharapkan uang sebagai imbalan. Di sinilah Boyle menjejalkan sebuah nilai moral yang sekarang tidak lagi cukup bergengsi untuk dijual di layar-layar televisi Anda bahwa kebaikan tidak perlu timbal balik antara A dan B saja. Kebaikan adalah sesuatu yang bersifat universal, bukan sebuah transaksi. A menolong B, meskipun B tidak balik menolongnya. Tetapi, masih ada C, D, E dan seterusnya yang mungkin akan menolong A suatu ketika nanti saat ia membutuhkan. Tidak ada yang serbainstan, namun ada keyakinan bahwa kebaikan itu pasti akan terjadi lagi, berputar terus selama masih ada orang yang melakukannya.
Kalau sampai di sini Anda curiga jangan-jangan buku The Moneyless Man adalah semacam buku pseudo-psikologi atau malah tipu daya untuk mencuci otak kita agar berubah dari masyarakat modern kembali ke masa abad kegelapan, saya cuma bisa bilang jangan ragu untuk mengubah pendapat Anda dengan membaca sendiri buku ini. Seperti yang saya bilang tadi, di balik segala ide “gilanya” Boyle adalah seorang penulis yang humoris. Simak saja penuturannya soal toilet dan penggunaan kertas koran sebagai pengganti tisu (ini setahu saya merupakan salah satu produk rumah tangga yang paling jahat bagi lingkungan hidup). Jika Anda penyuka kisah-kisah petualangan, kehidupan tanpa uang Boyle menurut saya memiliki porsi ketegangan yang cukup. Mengandalkan kaki (serta tubuh yang sehat) dan sepeda sebagai alat transportasi selama setahun, tentu mengandung tantangan yang tidak sedikit. Bagaimana Boyle dapat mencapai kampung halamannya di Irlandia untuk dapat menikmati liburan Natal bersama keluarganya? Atau bagaimana ia menjadi pemulung makanan di rimba urban Bristol, menikmati musim panas dan bersama timnya menyiapkan pesta gratis untuk seribu orang pada hari terakhir eksperimennya? Yang pasti: tanpa uang.
Tanpa bermaksud menjadi tenaga pemasar yang bombastis untuk buku ini, saya kira The Moneyless Man adalah buku yang multidimensi. Di dalamnya ada ide-ide (dan ajakan untuk berdiskusi) mengenai ekonomi, kesehatan bahkan politik dan demokrasi. Selesai membacanya Anda tidak perlu menjalani hidup tanpa uang besok atau lusa, menjadi Mark Boyle Indonesia. Cukuplah, saya pikir, dengan menjadi manusia yang mengkonsumsi segala sesuatu (dari mulai listrik, makanan, minuman, alat komunikasi sampai pakaian) secara lebih sadar. Sadar berarti, bukan cuma berusaha untuk tahu proses pengadaannya, tetapi juga merasa malu dan berhenti ketika Anda sudah tahu bahwa pilihan Anda selama ini tidak cukup etis untuk dipertanggungjawabkan pada generasi berikutnya dan bahkan mungkin Anda tidak perlu memilih mengkonsumsi atau memakai “itu” karena hidup Anda tidak akan mati tanpa “itu.”
September 22, 2021
Haven’t figured out if he was ahead of his time in writing this or if I missed the bus.
No point wasting time with the intricacies of the the rules and definitions of living without money - enjoy the process and the wealth of knowledge which is shared
It must have been a decent book because I’ve written a review
No point wasting time with the intricacies of the the rules and definitions of living without money - enjoy the process and the wealth of knowledge which is shared
It must have been a decent book because I’ve written a review
May 6, 2025
An interesting insight in to alternative freeconomic living, which provided some valuable lessons to living more consciously and less impactfully — but which seemed superiously preachy and contradictory at points.
November 14, 2022
The book started out pretty good. In the first chapter Mark talks about why money isn't necessarily a good thing and he did so very vividly. It was very easy to get into the book, but I have to say it got a little less easy to read when I got further into the book. The ending was again as good as the beginning, which is why I still felt very pleased with this read after finishing it. The beginning and end of the book are stronger than the middle because it really shows why he decides to start living without money for a year and especially the end of the book is very positive and enthusiastic. The middle of the book felt a little different. Eventhough I agree with a lot of his ideas, such as that people should put in more effort to try to reduce their carbon footprint and also try to prevent the enhanced greenhouse effect from getting worse, I found it a little depressing to read the middle of the book. Mark seems to focus a lot on what is wrong with our world instead of focusing on what we can do to improve it. For me personally what has always inspired me about people who live self sustainable is their enthusiasm, the love they have for nature and the amazing things they acomplish. Constantly being told what is wrong about my current lifestyle makes me less inclined to change it.
On some fronts I understand where Mark was coming from. I do agree that money makes that we are very distant from the production process of everything we consume and because of that don't always see the concequences of the way we live. On the other hand I felt like he romanticised living off grid a bit.
The book was actually pretty good, but it wasn't what I was expecting. I was hoping to read more indepth information on how he actually managed to live moneyless for a year, instead I read a of of things I was already familiar with and a big part of the book focuses on how the media reacted to Marks project, which wasn't necesarily something I was interested in. However, if you are not too familiar with self sufficiency I think this is a good place to start reading.
The book includes some tips on how to become more self sufficient and allthough I was allready familiar with most of them, I was really surprised by the explanation on how to make your own paper and ink from mushrooms, since I didn't know this was possible.
On some fronts I understand where Mark was coming from. I do agree that money makes that we are very distant from the production process of everything we consume and because of that don't always see the concequences of the way we live. On the other hand I felt like he romanticised living off grid a bit.
The book was actually pretty good, but it wasn't what I was expecting. I was hoping to read more indepth information on how he actually managed to live moneyless for a year, instead I read a of of things I was already familiar with and a big part of the book focuses on how the media reacted to Marks project, which wasn't necesarily something I was interested in. However, if you are not too familiar with self sufficiency I think this is a good place to start reading.
The book includes some tips on how to become more self sufficient and allthough I was allready familiar with most of them, I was really surprised by the explanation on how to make your own paper and ink from mushrooms, since I didn't know this was possible.
June 24, 2013
When I first began to read this book I must admit I was a little cynical about a young economics graduate and businessman choosing to establish himself to live without money for a year. Just as he points out that some contributors on his website also suspected that he had some kind of trust funding behind him, so I wondered about the legitimacy of his attempt to embrace a lifestyle very different from the one he had been living.
As the book lays out his own ups and downs about his own thinking processes and what they mean in action, I more fully appreciate how great an experiment Mark Boyle has undertaken on behalf of us all.
He does not offer any answers as such. He merely posed his own questions, set up his own guiding principles and trusted that he would learn something of worth to share with others along the way. By this example alone he is worth reading. From this starting point his questions may help you pose your own. And from your own questions you will find your own answers.
All Mark Boyle really does is suggest that conscious living is the next step anyone can take. The conversations that arise from choices and actions, will then begin a chain reaction of other possibilities which none of us yet know on our own. But that we each need to make different choices seems obvious by the levels of stress under which so many of us exist.
With plenty of websites to do further research and make connections for our own changing actions, this is a great read at a crucial moment in human history. Personally I have travelled some similar territory, without seeking media attention, but in a suburban setting. While some experiences are comparable, others I would suggest are much harder under the critical eye of actively ignorant neighbours. The best any of us can do is seek out those who do have some sense of personal responsibility and link with their ideas and actions as often as we can.
It is only just beginning. We have a long and playful way to invent our own healthier future. This is one resource to help you along the way.
As the book lays out his own ups and downs about his own thinking processes and what they mean in action, I more fully appreciate how great an experiment Mark Boyle has undertaken on behalf of us all.
He does not offer any answers as such. He merely posed his own questions, set up his own guiding principles and trusted that he would learn something of worth to share with others along the way. By this example alone he is worth reading. From this starting point his questions may help you pose your own. And from your own questions you will find your own answers.
All Mark Boyle really does is suggest that conscious living is the next step anyone can take. The conversations that arise from choices and actions, will then begin a chain reaction of other possibilities which none of us yet know on our own. But that we each need to make different choices seems obvious by the levels of stress under which so many of us exist.
With plenty of websites to do further research and make connections for our own changing actions, this is a great read at a crucial moment in human history. Personally I have travelled some similar territory, without seeking media attention, but in a suburban setting. While some experiences are comparable, others I would suggest are much harder under the critical eye of actively ignorant neighbours. The best any of us can do is seek out those who do have some sense of personal responsibility and link with their ideas and actions as often as we can.
It is only just beginning. We have a long and playful way to invent our own healthier future. This is one resource to help you along the way.
June 18, 2012
É difícil avaliar este livro. Recomendo a toda a gente, para que nos lembremos do que é a vida e do que é que realmente importa e que se espalhe esse ensinamento. Este livro mostra como é deseperante constatar a nossa dependência do dinheiro e a extrema dificuldade que é viver sem dinheiro. A minha estrela a menos deve-se a alguns "exageros" e incoerências no percurso dele que não gostei, principalmente porque há uma constante demonização de tudo o que envolve dinheiro que acho descabida e também com os produtos que usaram petróleo algures no seu percurso até ao consumidor. A jóia da coroa para mim é quando ele diz que não come mel que não seja do produtor local e se souber que esse produtor usou açúcar de compra para acelerar a produção de mel, já não o vai comer porque o açúcar foi transportado num camião que usou petróleo. Enfim, mas depois já não tem problema em ir buscar ao lixo toda a comida dos supermercados que foi altamente industrializada e posta à venda em grandes superfícies.
O Mark Boyle também não explica como planeia viver sem dinheiro aos 70 anos, sem conforto e dinheiro para medicamentos, ou como se cria um filho com saúde sem dinheiro, por exemplo.
De resto é um excelente livro, cheio de contradições, mas com excelentes dicas para cultivar a partilha e o sentido de comunidade. Dá que pensar! Recomendo!
O Mark Boyle também não explica como planeia viver sem dinheiro aos 70 anos, sem conforto e dinheiro para medicamentos, ou como se cria um filho com saúde sem dinheiro, por exemplo.
De resto é um excelente livro, cheio de contradições, mas com excelentes dicas para cultivar a partilha e o sentido de comunidade. Dá que pensar! Recomendo!
April 13, 2012
I bought this book because I was experimenting in spending very little on food per week, to see how possible it is, and I like the idea of living very simply and frugally in general, so I was curious to know what it was like to live on no money, and how this could be achieved. I found it an interesting read, and was impressed by Mark Boyle's honest up-front style, and the values he imposed upon his experiment - not to let others buy him food or drink as a favour, for instance. He exchanged his labour for food and for a spot to park his caravan (which he got from Freecycle). He has strong ethical values underpinning his choices. Although his ethical value were interesting to me, there were points in the book, especially towards the end, where he waxed lyrical about his opinions, in a very evangelical way, to the extent where I got a bit bored and just wanted to read about his moneyless year. But other than this, I enjoyed the book a lot, and learnt a lot from it. It's not a lifestyle I would want to embrace completely - I have no desire to go hitchhiking or to scavenge tips for food among the garbage, nor to create my own electricity, so I would always want some money - but it has made me think in more detail about consumerism and the possibilities of living a simpler lifestyle
October 9, 2018
Ba phút tóm tắt cho cuốn nhật kí của tác giả trong một năm sống không tiền:
P/S: giờ thì tôi đã hiểu hơn về cộng đồng Freecycle Sài Gòn mà tôi đã tham gia từ đầu năm nay
P/S: giờ thì tôi đã hiểu hơn về cộng đồng Freecycle Sài Gòn mà tôi đã tham gia từ đầu năm nay
May 3, 2011
Yes, he relies on the odd hand out...yes, he had a mobile and a laptop with him...yes, others who support free living are probably selfish spongers...yes, it's a good parlour game to pick holes in the consistency of Mark Boyle's arguments but, in all, this is a really important book in helping us realise how much we rely on lucre to live our lives.
Polemical in places but mostly convincing, Boyle teaches us to see how we can rely on the natural resources around us in order to try and build an alternative future. It's not one for people who like sitting down to a good sirloin steak and if you are sick of getting kale in your farm share well...it's probably best to read Jeremy Clarkson's latest autobiography but even the most hardened of modernists would likely find a useful tip or two - maybe not to the extent of wanting to make pens out of mushrooms, but perhaps to recycle a little more or to try cycling. Thought provoking.
Polemical in places but mostly convincing, Boyle teaches us to see how we can rely on the natural resources around us in order to try and build an alternative future. It's not one for people who like sitting down to a good sirloin steak and if you are sick of getting kale in your farm share well...it's probably best to read Jeremy Clarkson's latest autobiography but even the most hardened of modernists would likely find a useful tip or two - maybe not to the extent of wanting to make pens out of mushrooms, but perhaps to recycle a little more or to try cycling. Thought provoking.
December 17, 2011
Quite interesting. I think it's worth considering all options, which is why I read it, but if we all lived in caravans and chopped our own wood, the UK would become one giant allotment site, which I don't fancy. It would be nice with a smaller population. The greenest thing you can do for this planet is to not have a child.
I also think there's nothing intrisically wrong with money - it's just a medium of exchange. The human weaknessess and limitations that cluster around money pop up in every society whatever medium of barter is used.
I also think that none of us could live a moneyless life if a civilisation that could make axes (and caravans) wasn't underpinning that choice - which makes trying to live 'moneyless' an exercise in hair-splitting.
Still, there's no harm in considering our actions and their impact on the world, so all credit to Mark for trying.
Only 2 stars because I found the writing a bit earnest and dull.
I also think there's nothing intrisically wrong with money - it's just a medium of exchange. The human weaknessess and limitations that cluster around money pop up in every society whatever medium of barter is used.
I also think that none of us could live a moneyless life if a civilisation that could make axes (and caravans) wasn't underpinning that choice - which makes trying to live 'moneyless' an exercise in hair-splitting.
Still, there's no harm in considering our actions and their impact on the world, so all credit to Mark for trying.
Only 2 stars because I found the writing a bit earnest and dull.
October 9, 2017
I couldn't decide whether to give this book a 3 or a 4, so ended up going lower. The Moneyless Man is a fascinating, thought-provoking social experiment - humorous yet serious, both a philosophical and practical account of living a year without money. Is it really possible to live without money in a monetary system? I would say no as it's almost impossible to draw a line on where money starts and stops, however Mark creates and lives by clear rules for himself. He highlights several crucial themes throughout his book - consumerism, food waste, and our disconnection to nature. The Moneyless Man is an inspiring tale, and has certainly gotten me to think more about my own consumption.
December 22, 2024
Watched the author on Ben Fogle's Lives in the Wild years ago, finally decided to read the book!
A good critique on capitalism as well as a thought-provoking piece on what's actually possible. Change on a long-term, dramatic scale is possible but it's not something we're likely to see in our lifetime. Change on a long-term, individual scale is very much doable but not without its caveats.
Boyle comes across a little preachy and idealistic at the beginning, but if you can get through the first few chapters, that's when it starts to get interesting. He earnestly shares his learnings, including his mistakes and preconceptions of living moneyless. The community events he ran, including feeding 1000 people for free in a day were very inspiring. What he learned about himself, and how he was endeavouring to change for the better, made up for the slightly self-indulgent false start. I agree that sourcing resources locally, sharing our skills and rebuilding communities is a great way of reducing our environmental impact as well as reducing need for money. The stats about importing food, clothes, building materials (almost everything, really) was a very sobering reminder about how much we live in excess and how many are exploited by this system overseas.
Going completely moneyless in the way that Boyle did seems a bit out of reach for most people - Boyle sold his assets, was given a caravan for free, already had a bike for transport and plenty of friends/interested parties willing to support him with food, advice and anything else to begin his moneyless year (that's not to discredit his efforts and achievements, given he embarked on the project alone and taught himself a lot about foraging, building and repurposing). Most people are less likely to have such a large and diverse community - although this is another of his points that we have lost this aspect through our money-oriented society. Meaning, I fear there are even more barriers in place now than there were in 2008 when Boyle completed his moneyless year.
As usual, it's a lot easier for a white man to go against the grain of society, get off-grid and live to tell the tale. I can't imagine many women or other marginalised groups feeling safe enough to disconnect from the outside world, hitchhike long distances and dumpster dive for their evening meal. That said, Boyle was never alone in these activities and the groups he was with seemed to be from varying walks of life, so maybe I'm just cynical.
What I'll take away most from this book is the reevaluation of the place of money in our society, in my life and what I choose to spend it on. Are there more ways to connect than over a beer at the pub, a coffee in a cafe or a cocktail on the beach? Should it really cost us anything to see friends and family? Do we look for excuses to spend money when we have it? Much to think about.
A good critique on capitalism as well as a thought-provoking piece on what's actually possible. Change on a long-term, dramatic scale is possible but it's not something we're likely to see in our lifetime. Change on a long-term, individual scale is very much doable but not without its caveats.
Boyle comes across a little preachy and idealistic at the beginning, but if you can get through the first few chapters, that's when it starts to get interesting. He earnestly shares his learnings, including his mistakes and preconceptions of living moneyless. The community events he ran, including feeding 1000 people for free in a day were very inspiring. What he learned about himself, and how he was endeavouring to change for the better, made up for the slightly self-indulgent false start. I agree that sourcing resources locally, sharing our skills and rebuilding communities is a great way of reducing our environmental impact as well as reducing need for money. The stats about importing food, clothes, building materials (almost everything, really) was a very sobering reminder about how much we live in excess and how many are exploited by this system overseas.
Going completely moneyless in the way that Boyle did seems a bit out of reach for most people - Boyle sold his assets, was given a caravan for free, already had a bike for transport and plenty of friends/interested parties willing to support him with food, advice and anything else to begin his moneyless year (that's not to discredit his efforts and achievements, given he embarked on the project alone and taught himself a lot about foraging, building and repurposing). Most people are less likely to have such a large and diverse community - although this is another of his points that we have lost this aspect through our money-oriented society. Meaning, I fear there are even more barriers in place now than there were in 2008 when Boyle completed his moneyless year.
As usual, it's a lot easier for a white man to go against the grain of society, get off-grid and live to tell the tale. I can't imagine many women or other marginalised groups feeling safe enough to disconnect from the outside world, hitchhike long distances and dumpster dive for their evening meal. That said, Boyle was never alone in these activities and the groups he was with seemed to be from varying walks of life, so maybe I'm just cynical.
What I'll take away most from this book is the reevaluation of the place of money in our society, in my life and what I choose to spend it on. Are there more ways to connect than over a beer at the pub, a coffee in a cafe or a cocktail on the beach? Should it really cost us anything to see friends and family? Do we look for excuses to spend money when we have it? Much to think about.
August 27, 2021
I came to this book having read “The Way Home” where Boyle writes about his progression from the moneyless man to a man living without technology - and much of this earlier book was retold in part in his later work, so very little of this was new or enlightening, but I admire the principled way in which Boyle is trying live his life, so it felt like a worthwhile read. Boyle is definitely an extremist, and I think it is unrealistic to even contemplate society more generally being able to live the way he does, but if his extremism helps to nudge some of us to question our current systems and live just a bit more sustainably, then surely that is enough.
August 28, 2021
I read this because I saw an episode of “New Lives in the Wild” where host Ben Fogle stayed with Mark, and I was intrigued to know more. A lot of what Mark said made sense to me, and secretly I think I’d like to do something similar, although maybe not quite as radical.
It’s Mark’s first book, and while the content is interesting and thought-provoking, it’s not as well written as I expected it to be (I’m more hopeful for later books). However, it made me look at how we live today from a totally different perspective, and made me realize that I need to get out of the giant city where I’m living sooner than later - I’m such a country bumpkin at heart
It’s Mark’s first book, and while the content is interesting and thought-provoking, it’s not as well written as I expected it to be (I’m more hopeful for later books). However, it made me look at how we live today from a totally different perspective, and made me realize that I need to get out of the giant city where I’m living sooner than later - I’m such a country bumpkin at heart
November 21, 2024
2010, an optimistic time of Transition Towns, Freecycle, Freeconomics etc. Mark isn’t as preachy as some reviews suggest in my opinion but his can-do attitude was certainly naive. I would wager that at least half of the groups he name-checks have since fallen into inactivity or folded altogether. The story will be familiar to anyone who followed his story, read his columns etc.
In this book he is an outspoken vegan activist, while in his latest one he has gone back on those very ethics. Shrinking ethics that coincide with a collapsing environmental movement. It represents an idealistic time capsule of high hopes and interesting responses to a rapidly eroding biosphere.
In this book he is an outspoken vegan activist, while in his latest one he has gone back on those very ethics. Shrinking ethics that coincide with a collapsing environmental movement. It represents an idealistic time capsule of high hopes and interesting responses to a rapidly eroding biosphere.
October 5, 2022
3.5 stars
Boyle isn't the most gifted writer, but he's surprisingly not terrible, either. I really enjoyed this look into his year without using money at all, and was encouraged/inspired to double down on my efforts to live a more simple life, which ultimately was the point, right?
I didn't love the layout, as paragraphs were interrupted by boxes of unrelated text. Also, there was a weird mix of UK and U.S. units of measurement. Sometimes it was one, sometimes the other, sometimes both.
The author isn't a Christian, so he's convinced the world can be saved by humanity. (It can't.) There's a brief reference to evolutionary theory as fact. (It isn't.) Boyle swears a few times. But overall, worth a read for the inspiration.
Boyle isn't the most gifted writer, but he's surprisingly not terrible, either. I really enjoyed this look into his year without using money at all, and was encouraged/inspired to double down on my efforts to live a more simple life, which ultimately was the point, right?
I didn't love the layout, as paragraphs were interrupted by boxes of unrelated text. Also, there was a weird mix of UK and U.S. units of measurement. Sometimes it was one, sometimes the other, sometimes both.
The author isn't a Christian, so he's convinced the world can be saved by humanity. (It can't.) There's a brief reference to evolutionary theory as fact. (It isn't.) Boyle swears a few times. But overall, worth a read for the inspiration.
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