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Finding Moosewood, Finding God: What Happened When a TV Newsman Abandoned His Career for Life on an Island
For twenty-five years, millions of Americans watched Jack Perkins on NBC News as a correspondent, commentator, and anchorman. People were familiar with his face, his bearing, and his rich, reassuring bass. Yet at the age of fifty-two and at the height of his career, Jack Perkins left the world of broadcasting and moved with his wife, Mary Jo, to a bare-necessities cabin on an uninhabited island off the coast of Maine. This isolated home they came to call Moosewood was the setting for and the catalyst to Jack and Mary Jo’s spiritual awakening. For thirteen years they endured (and learned to enjoy) snowbound winters, shuttling supplies from the mainland, testing themselves and the strength of their marriage, and discovering the rewards and glories of a close-to-nature life. Which is to say, the rewards and glories of a close-to-God life. As far as the public was aware, Jack Perkins had vanished. In fact, he was doing research; not, for a change, about the unknown private life of a movie star or celebrated artist, but about the unknown sides of himself. Jack’s personal account in Finding Moosewood, Finding God tells a relatable story of one man drawn to cast off a shallow and unsatisfying lifestyle in order to seek out a deeper, more meaningful and spiritual life. Within the course of explaining how their lives were blessedly transformed especially during the cycle of their first year of island living, Jack draws in stories from his long career in an impressionistic, associative way that invites the reader to connect the dots. One finds―as he finally did―that there’d been many hints along the way of a greater plan at work. This rich memoir also contains a photo insert.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published March 1, 2013
13 people are currently reading
162 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
May 19, 2018
Mr. Perkins certainly had a charmed life with all that he wanted seemingly being served up to him. It is a life of serendipitous chain of events one after another. I felt compelled to read the book essentially because of my desire to one day be able to live off the grid. On top of that I find it rather intriguing that someone who lives such a charmed life could be drawn into a life of simplicity in an island setting. The title makes you think that he will expound on just how rich a relationship he has come to foster with his Creator upon having to move to Moosewood. But I find very very little of that as I read through the book. And yes it is a memoir and the writer is entitled to of course make a trip down memory lane and write down his proudest moments, of which there are a lot for him, given how talented he is in his industry. And although some may pick up a tone of bragging, I wouldn't say that it came across that way, although, some may very well say that it does. His, is a life well lived with very little misfortune or struggles along the way.
I saw a glimpse of his humanity, though, when he wrote about his trip to Somalia and the heart-wrenching situation that those who live there are dealt with. He felt it wasn't right to be feasting on meal after meal and wine after wine amidst all the hunger around them there, and he felt powerless to change their situation. Perhaps only someone truly evil through and through would be so indifferent when faced with the same situation. He likewise displayed his good nature when he opted to hand over his winning bid to another family who's paternal figure was then 92-years old and wanted to be conductor for a day at a fund-raising gala. He is undoubtedly a good person.
What moved me was the thought that people seem to have a penchant for dramatics and extremes, myself included. And we tend to look up to God mostly in times when we feel like we are at our rope's end. But in this memoir, I find it rather surprising and quite in a good way, that there are people who seek to fill in that God-vacuum in their lives, despite having lived a life of glitz and glamour. And I hope that more people would feel that way.
The only thing I wish he could have added in the book would be how his perspective changed through the years, along with other stories of God's saving grace. But then again, Mr. Perkins went ahead and acknowledged that it may not be as moving to other people as their experiences may not be enough to be told, they were perhaps meant to be experienced.
I'm glad he found a life worth living and I hope that he indeed found God in Moosewood.
I saw a glimpse of his humanity, though, when he wrote about his trip to Somalia and the heart-wrenching situation that those who live there are dealt with. He felt it wasn't right to be feasting on meal after meal and wine after wine amidst all the hunger around them there, and he felt powerless to change their situation. Perhaps only someone truly evil through and through would be so indifferent when faced with the same situation. He likewise displayed his good nature when he opted to hand over his winning bid to another family who's paternal figure was then 92-years old and wanted to be conductor for a day at a fund-raising gala. He is undoubtedly a good person.
What moved me was the thought that people seem to have a penchant for dramatics and extremes, myself included. And we tend to look up to God mostly in times when we feel like we are at our rope's end. But in this memoir, I find it rather surprising and quite in a good way, that there are people who seek to fill in that God-vacuum in their lives, despite having lived a life of glitz and glamour. And I hope that more people would feel that way.
The only thing I wish he could have added in the book would be how his perspective changed through the years, along with other stories of God's saving grace. But then again, Mr. Perkins went ahead and acknowledged that it may not be as moving to other people as their experiences may not be enough to be told, they were perhaps meant to be experienced.
I'm glad he found a life worth living and I hope that he indeed found God in Moosewood.
January 7, 2018
I bought this on sale on a remainder shelf, intrigued by the title and the fact that is was inexpensive. Mr. Perkins is a very good writer, and he has had a very interesting life as a journalist and on the slice of island in the midst of Arcadia National Park he bought with his wife. I think I would have liked this book better though if he had set up his life as a journalist first, rather than interspersing flashbacks throughout the narrative of their life on the island. The book is filled with Bible quotes and the writer's reflections on events in his life that he now interprets as God looking over him, as well as some intriguing thoughts on God as the collective unconscious that is shared by all of mankind. But from the title, I was expecting a more mystic experience to happen on the island. In fact, I'm not sure how life on the island lead him to to "find" God. My general impression is that he had more spare time to read and think. Still, he doesn't really take us through even that process. Nor does he explore in enough detail all the problems and rewards of living on a small, otherwise uninhabited island, instead focusing on a few rather isolated incidents. So why did I give it even 4 stars? Like I said at the beginning, Mr. Perkins is a very good writer, and the book has many interesting anecdotes. The book largely wasn't what I thought it was going to be, but it is what it is and I did find most of it entertaining.
August 1, 2013
This is an autobiography written by Jack Perkins, who, with his wife Mary Jo, decide to leave the life of privilege behind and move to an island in Maine. Everyone they know think they are crazy, but the Perkins are thrilled at the adventure of it and to live more intentionally with God. The name of their home is Moosewood, and they are the only inhabitants of the island.
There are moments of profound thought written in these pages, but not enough for me to have a sustained interest. I have a feeling he has more to say about what he learned in those 13 years, but unfortunately he would come back to his life's successes instead.
I was intrigued initially by their decision to live more primitively. The simplicity of waiting for the tides to recede in order to cross over to the mainland, heating by wood stove all winter, being snowed in for weeks at a time, all made for good reading. But unfortunately there was something about his writing style that did not inspire as I had hoped. Instead it often became "let me tell you a little bit more about me and my accomplishments".
There are moments of profound thought written in these pages, but not enough for me to have a sustained interest. I have a feeling he has more to say about what he learned in those 13 years, but unfortunately he would come back to his life's successes instead.
I was intrigued initially by their decision to live more primitively. The simplicity of waiting for the tides to recede in order to cross over to the mainland, heating by wood stove all winter, being snowed in for weeks at a time, all made for good reading. But unfortunately there was something about his writing style that did not inspire as I had hoped. Instead it often became "let me tell you a little bit more about me and my accomplishments".
September 28, 2017
I was really expecting more from this book. When a notable journalist and his wife decide to abandon fame and fortune and live on a small island in Maine, he should have more to say. Let me just say, he is no Thoreau. Although he says that he "found God," I never got much of a sense of what that meant to him. I know that he tuned in to nature and simplicity and kept a Bible by the fire, but that is about the extent of it. He spent a lot of time talking about his life before the island, but I never got a sense of his day-to-day life there other than knowing that he spent a lot of time getting wood ready for the fire. His wife was a two-dimensional figure. She did some drawing and other crafts, but that is about all he shares. They spent 13 years there. Wish he had told us more about it.
August 23, 2017
I would have given it higher but the continual flashbacks took away from the book. I didn't need to know about all his accomplishments with his career. I would have liked to have heard far more about his life there. The thirteen years was barely touched in this book.
November 22, 2016
I if the press discourages or encourages you, you should read this book, loved the perspective.
June 2, 2022
Unsatisfying strange mixture of three very different topics that are blended ineffectively.
The bulk of the book is about Perkins deciding to give up his career and move to a tiny "island" in Maine (it's only an island when the tide comes in), and to be honest that's the least interesting part of the book. If you are the type that likes your elderly neighbors giving you a travelogue of their long boring trips or home construction then maybe you'll enjoy this, but otherwise I didn't really care. And no matter how hard Perkins wants to brag about Maine, it's still a place where most people would have no interest living.
The second part of the book is supposedly about finding God but there's very little in the book about spirituality beyond Perkins trying to find purpose in life and he ends up going to a very liberal Christian church. There's an unclear section where he leads us to believe he may have an alcohol problem and that may be why the few God references in the book sound like the vague comments you'd hear in an AA meeting. While it's nice to see a few Bible verses quoted in any book authored by a TV newsman, this falls way short of what you'd expect from a Christian publisher.
The third part of the book is where he weaves in some of his news career, and none of it makes sense when written in this style. He oddly places his coverage of a civil rights story in the midst of his struggles buying the island property. Is famous, privileged elitist Perkins trying to compare his homebuilding struggles with those of blacks in America?
Then stuck in the middle of all this is a 20-page travel diary of his drive from Los Angeles to Maine. Yawn.
I'm sure some will find this bland mixture of topics to be as interesting as a long monotone NPR piece, but it makes for some dull reading. This is a man who enjoys the sound of his own voice and reading his own words. He brags a lot about how much people love him and how popular he is. He has to mention his Emmys a couple times, pretending to be shy going on stage to win them.
He also includes a large portion of his exclusive interview with Sirhan Sirhan and it's obvious from it that Perkins doesn't know how to conduct a real news interview, asking the assassin yes/no questions instead of open-ended questions that would give long detailed answers. Perkins also continues to call himself a real journalist when in truth most of his on-air career was made up of "human interest" feature pieces that were never newsworthy. While he states that he understands what real fair and balanced news reporting used to be, this book is evidence that he was one of the first to turn news into PR celebrity fluff.
In the end this is a meandering retirement project where a once-well known man tries to reclaim his audience while verbalizing a humble gratefulness to an unclear God. It's really only for those who would be crazy enough to buy part of a Maine island.
The bulk of the book is about Perkins deciding to give up his career and move to a tiny "island" in Maine (it's only an island when the tide comes in), and to be honest that's the least interesting part of the book. If you are the type that likes your elderly neighbors giving you a travelogue of their long boring trips or home construction then maybe you'll enjoy this, but otherwise I didn't really care. And no matter how hard Perkins wants to brag about Maine, it's still a place where most people would have no interest living.
The second part of the book is supposedly about finding God but there's very little in the book about spirituality beyond Perkins trying to find purpose in life and he ends up going to a very liberal Christian church. There's an unclear section where he leads us to believe he may have an alcohol problem and that may be why the few God references in the book sound like the vague comments you'd hear in an AA meeting. While it's nice to see a few Bible verses quoted in any book authored by a TV newsman, this falls way short of what you'd expect from a Christian publisher.
The third part of the book is where he weaves in some of his news career, and none of it makes sense when written in this style. He oddly places his coverage of a civil rights story in the midst of his struggles buying the island property. Is famous, privileged elitist Perkins trying to compare his homebuilding struggles with those of blacks in America?
Then stuck in the middle of all this is a 20-page travel diary of his drive from Los Angeles to Maine. Yawn.
I'm sure some will find this bland mixture of topics to be as interesting as a long monotone NPR piece, but it makes for some dull reading. This is a man who enjoys the sound of his own voice and reading his own words. He brags a lot about how much people love him and how popular he is. He has to mention his Emmys a couple times, pretending to be shy going on stage to win them.
He also includes a large portion of his exclusive interview with Sirhan Sirhan and it's obvious from it that Perkins doesn't know how to conduct a real news interview, asking the assassin yes/no questions instead of open-ended questions that would give long detailed answers. Perkins also continues to call himself a real journalist when in truth most of his on-air career was made up of "human interest" feature pieces that were never newsworthy. While he states that he understands what real fair and balanced news reporting used to be, this book is evidence that he was one of the first to turn news into PR celebrity fluff.
In the end this is a meandering retirement project where a once-well known man tries to reclaim his audience while verbalizing a humble gratefulness to an unclear God. It's really only for those who would be crazy enough to buy part of a Maine island.
July 19, 2020
I picked this book out of our library’s free basket after it was removed from our collection. I was drawn to the story because it was written by a well-known journalist (he was a contemporary of David Brinkley but, for the life of me, I can’t place him). Also, this memoir was told from the perspective of a high profile man who decides, at the age of 52, to leave his successful career behind and move—with his wife—to an uninhabited island off the coast of Maine. Along the way he found God and became a devoted practitioner of Christianity. I could personally relate to much of Perkins’s story since I, too, left the big city for a home in the woods at the age of 49. My former partner and I were ready for quiet, solitude, and a blessed return to nature. Different location (Wooded acres near the shores of Lake Superior vs. coastal New England) but similar story because, when you consciously venture into the holy ground of nature you return a changed person.
November 14, 2025
Very disappointing.
As a memoir of his TV career, I would give this four stars. He writes very well and all of the stories a very interesting.
But I chose the book to read about how he gave all of that up and found God. For that part of the book, I would give this only one star. Just because he makes a number of quotes from the Bible, that didn't convince me of some spiritual conversion that I was expecting.
As to living on the island, don't expect much. He gives details of their first winter, but virtually nothing of the other 12 years. Also, he made it sound like they went to town, just about every day. And he writes of leaving to take on various TV assignments.
One last thought concerns his family. While he treats his wife with such tender feelings; I got no sense of her as a person. And his children, he barely even mentioned them.
As a memoir of his TV career, I would give this four stars. He writes very well and all of the stories a very interesting.
But I chose the book to read about how he gave all of that up and found God. For that part of the book, I would give this only one star. Just because he makes a number of quotes from the Bible, that didn't convince me of some spiritual conversion that I was expecting.
As to living on the island, don't expect much. He gives details of their first winter, but virtually nothing of the other 12 years. Also, he made it sound like they went to town, just about every day. And he writes of leaving to take on various TV assignments.
One last thought concerns his family. While he treats his wife with such tender feelings; I got no sense of her as a person. And his children, he barely even mentioned them.
June 13, 2017
Interesting autobiography. I was more interested in his transition to the new life on the island than the flashbacks of his professional highlights, so I skimmed over those sections. Insightful recognition of the presence of God in his life, even before becoming a believer, was thoughtfully covered as well.
April 19, 2020
Truly food for the soul. I wasn't necessarily in agreement with everything he said, but like a great, 12 course meal...you don't throw out the full menu because one plate didn't sit quite right with you. If you like a bit of history with a bit of introspection and a call to Something much greater than self...this is the book for you. It will be amongst my favorites!
February 12, 2020
A lovely journey with Jack Perkins and his wife.
Master of the English language. Well written and entertaining.
Very vivid descriptions of the environment and their life trek.
Most certainly a recommended book.
Master of the English language. Well written and entertaining.
Very vivid descriptions of the environment and their life trek.
Most certainly a recommended book.
December 4, 2021
A great book full of reflection and a life lived well. This book is honest and open. I would have liked more stories but the main point is well thought out throughout.
March 23, 2023
Didn’t live up to its potential
October 15, 2023
It was okay. I wish he spent more of the book talking about his life in Maine and God and less about career highlights. He’s a good writer but I found it slow and not as interesting as I anticipated
December 23, 2024
I always enjoyed Jack Perkin's "A Gulf Coast Journal" PBS program and was delighted to find this autobiographical book.
October 19, 2023
I got this book at a used book sale and read it on a flight this fall. It was not what I expected form the title, I expected more God and a coming to Christianity so that part of the story was a miss for me. However, I really liked this book and now want to move to a cabin on an island in Maine.
January 21, 2014
Finding Moosewood, Finding God was a delightful and interesting autobiography written by Jack Perkins, a former NBC News correspondent, commentator, and anchorman. The book weaves together Jack’s personal story and details from various interviews and experiences that Jack encountered during his news career. At the age of 52, when Jack’s career was at its peak, he and his wife Mary Jo chose to leave their former life of prominence for a remote cabin on an island off the shore of Bar Harbor, Maine which could only be reached during low tide. The isolated home, which they named “Moosewood” after the trees of the same name that populated the island, became the setting for Jack and Mary Jo to “be still and know that I am God.”
During Jack’s busy years of his career among the rich and famous, he never felt the need for God; but, in this new and quiet, isolated life, Jack began to rethink all he knew. For the 13 years while at Moosewood, Jack and his wife discovered that all through their lives there was the unseen Hand of God guiding their very steps and paths.
I would highly recommend this book to any teen or adult reader. Jack Perkins is a “word-smith” who weaves an almost poetic literary style with vocabulary that is not only delightful, but stretches the reader to discover new words and their meanings. It is also a wonderful reminder that those whom the Lord is seeking, He always finds. Read and enjoy Finding Moosewood, Finding God. (rev. J.LaTour)
DISCLOSURE: A complimentary copy was given to the school for its library.
During Jack’s busy years of his career among the rich and famous, he never felt the need for God; but, in this new and quiet, isolated life, Jack began to rethink all he knew. For the 13 years while at Moosewood, Jack and his wife discovered that all through their lives there was the unseen Hand of God guiding their very steps and paths.
I would highly recommend this book to any teen or adult reader. Jack Perkins is a “word-smith” who weaves an almost poetic literary style with vocabulary that is not only delightful, but stretches the reader to discover new words and their meanings. It is also a wonderful reminder that those whom the Lord is seeking, He always finds. Read and enjoy Finding Moosewood, Finding God. (rev. J.LaTour)
DISCLOSURE: A complimentary copy was given to the school for its library.
March 27, 2013
***Reading Jack's memoir is like sitting across the table having coffee with a dear friend***
Jack Perkin’s inspirational memoir recounts the life of a celebrated, globe-trotting journalist who couldn’t find room in his “…life for God...” until he learned “…there was room in God for his life…” It’s the story of a road well-traveled from the journalistic corridors of fame to a remote island in the backwoods of Maine where he wrote, he and his wife found “…the greatest story this newsman could ever report…”
The seeds that prompted his decision were buried in the soil of his writing career. Whether meeting master photographer, Ansel Adams or a “…genuine back-to-basics Idaho hermit known as Buckskin Bill” decades earlier, Jack knew such men had found purpose that gave their lives meaning.
Although Jack’s life was full to overflowing with fame, fortune and happiness, I could sense an underlying discontent in his writing that presents a “before and after” picture in his memoir. The “before” made me think of the Liber and Stoller’s 1969 song classic “Is that all there is?” Peggy Lee’s #1 hit: www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCRZZC-DH7M While the “after” was the realization God had always been there “…patiently waiting…” (pg. 18)
His decision to walk away from his career coincided with another major life event, winning an Emmy…Full Review: http://tinyurl.com/cma7xx4
Jack Perkin’s inspirational memoir recounts the life of a celebrated, globe-trotting journalist who couldn’t find room in his “…life for God...” until he learned “…there was room in God for his life…” It’s the story of a road well-traveled from the journalistic corridors of fame to a remote island in the backwoods of Maine where he wrote, he and his wife found “…the greatest story this newsman could ever report…”
The seeds that prompted his decision were buried in the soil of his writing career. Whether meeting master photographer, Ansel Adams or a “…genuine back-to-basics Idaho hermit known as Buckskin Bill” decades earlier, Jack knew such men had found purpose that gave their lives meaning.
Although Jack’s life was full to overflowing with fame, fortune and happiness, I could sense an underlying discontent in his writing that presents a “before and after” picture in his memoir. The “before” made me think of the Liber and Stoller’s 1969 song classic “Is that all there is?” Peggy Lee’s #1 hit: www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCRZZC-DH7M While the “after” was the realization God had always been there “…patiently waiting…” (pg. 18)
His decision to walk away from his career coincided with another major life event, winning an Emmy…Full Review: http://tinyurl.com/cma7xx4
January 2, 2016
I went into this book predisposed to like it. I watched NBC news went I was growing up and it fed my desire to get into broadcast journalism, so I was very familiar with Perkins and his work for NBC. The idea that he "found God" late in his career, causing him to leave it and move to one of my favorite places--coastal Maine--seemed to be a perfect connection of three strands I would find inherently interesting--Perkins career at NBC, "finding God" and moving to Maine. However, my interest flagged as I went through the book and I finally gave up on it about half-way through. It had too much of an "it's all about me" tone to it, both in terms of his admittedly stellar career and the benefits from having found God. Perhaps influenced by a "prosperity gospel" from their time with Rev. Robert Schuller of the Crystal Cathedral, Perkins and his wife's "finding God" was mainly manifested by having coastal property in Maine dropping into their laps, allowing him to leave his job and retire to a slower pace and a chance to enjoy a "back to nature" existence, and not much beyond that. Although, as you might expect, the book is well-written, their story never developed into the compelling narrative I was hoping for and the "look how much God blessed us" narrative worn thin.
August 16, 2016
Finding Moosewood, Finding God transported me to the clear air and fresh pine smell of Maine. And it transported me to a slower, more deliberate pace of life. I felt at home there.
Jack Perkins and his wife Mary Jo left L.A. and the fast paced world of national news for the beauties and challenges of life on an island off Bar Harbor, Maine.
Perkins writes their tale with his clear, straightforward style. I could hear is rich baritone as I read the stories of their adventures and transformation.
Those who enjoy the stories of the rich and famous will also enjoy the little snippets of Jack's Hollywood connections.
I just re-read the book. Still feel like it is worth reading. I re-read it for book club. 8.16.2016
As I finished this book with a sigh of gratitude I had a small taste of the gratitude the Perkins' have for their years of growth on Moosewood.
Jack Perkins and his wife Mary Jo left L.A. and the fast paced world of national news for the beauties and challenges of life on an island off Bar Harbor, Maine.
Perkins writes their tale with his clear, straightforward style. I could hear is rich baritone as I read the stories of their adventures and transformation.
Those who enjoy the stories of the rich and famous will also enjoy the little snippets of Jack's Hollywood connections.
I just re-read the book. Still feel like it is worth reading. I re-read it for book club. 8.16.2016
As I finished this book with a sigh of gratitude I had a small taste of the gratitude the Perkins' have for their years of growth on Moosewood.
January 24, 2014
One account of someone trying to pull the plug on a hectice lifestyle. I found it interesting because his feelings about moving across the country to restart life was a lot like ex-pats feel when they move to a different country. There is almost always:
the honeymoon phase, when a culture is fresh and wonderful,
the disillusionment phase where the confusing parts of why a culture does what it does is revealed and people struggle to try to make sense of different "rules"
the adjustment phase as the newbie comes to terms with the new culture,
and the acceptance phase, adopting portions of the new culture as preferable to the country of origin.
Even the amount of money they had to spend on new digs aside, this could be recommended reading for anyone planning a long-distance move.
the honeymoon phase, when a culture is fresh and wonderful,
the disillusionment phase where the confusing parts of why a culture does what it does is revealed and people struggle to try to make sense of different "rules"
the adjustment phase as the newbie comes to terms with the new culture,
and the acceptance phase, adopting portions of the new culture as preferable to the country of origin.
Even the amount of money they had to spend on new digs aside, this could be recommended reading for anyone planning a long-distance move.
July 18, 2016
From riches to "rags"
So often we read of how the revered in our world rose from the "rags" of an ordinary life to the riches of fame and glory. Often their stories ended up leaving me feeling empty and far removed from them. This wonderful story of how one in the throes of the "riches" found his true riches by leaving them behind in favor of the "rags" touched and impacted my life more than I can say! His writing style is as easy to read as his voice is easy to hear (and I learned some wonderful new vocabulary!) As someone who will be traveling to Maine in the fall for the first time, I know I will be seeing and appreciating it so much more personally as I remember seeing it thru his eyes! As a photographer, myself, my next purchase (today) will be Jack Perkins' photography. I am so thankful this story was told!
So often we read of how the revered in our world rose from the "rags" of an ordinary life to the riches of fame and glory. Often their stories ended up leaving me feeling empty and far removed from them. This wonderful story of how one in the throes of the "riches" found his true riches by leaving them behind in favor of the "rags" touched and impacted my life more than I can say! His writing style is as easy to read as his voice is easy to hear (and I learned some wonderful new vocabulary!) As someone who will be traveling to Maine in the fall for the first time, I know I will be seeing and appreciating it so much more personally as I remember seeing it thru his eyes! As a photographer, myself, my next purchase (today) will be Jack Perkins' photography. I am so thankful this story was told!
March 29, 2013
Finding Moosewood is a delight from cover to cover. There were frequent moments throughout every chapter where I just was stopped by the beauty of the prose. I reread it just to find these all again. The experiences Jack (and Mary Jo Perkins) shared, the questions they faced, the trust and courage they demonstrated in their pursuit of interests of the heart and talents, and the support for each others dreams provides valuable opportunity for both introspection and discussion. Finding Moosewood both entertained and informed, and is a must for all 50-somethings facing the inevitable passages of life and search for meaning. An absolutely fabulous read.
July 3, 2015
What happens when an NBC news anchor steps away from worldly success at the age of 52, downsizes, and moves with his wife to a tiny island off of Maine? Well, you have to read this book to find out! It was delightful. Mr. Perkins is a gifted author and I especially enjoyed his personal soul-probing as he locks into the slower pace of island living and begins to look at his past and see God's hand throughout his career and his life. The tale runs back and forth between his past life of journalistic adventures and his present life of hiking, gardening, photography and being open to the guidance of the Holy Spirit in all things. I recommend the book highly!
April 28, 2013
I read this for my book group, and the general consensus was that most of us didn't care for it. There were a few lovely insights scattered throughout. But, overall it was another take on the theme of "privileged white male steps out of society and then has a spiritual experience".
It would be wonderful if we could all buy our own island, not work and just concentrate on nature. But for those of us who don't have the luxury of making those lifestyle choices this book was hard to relate to.
It would be wonderful if we could all buy our own island, not work and just concentrate on nature. But for those of us who don't have the luxury of making those lifestyle choices this book was hard to relate to.
October 25, 2013
Jack Perkins was an NBC correspondent and anchorman for thirty years. He and his wife enjoyed living in busy Los Angeles, but felt something was missing from their lives. Both had grown up in Ohio and were products of a 1930-40's childhood and small town lifestyle. Thinking about starting a simpler life, they purchased land on an island in Maine, built a cabin, and started spending vacations there wherever possible. They eventually moved there permanently, and in seeking to enrich their lives by living close to nature and with a minimum of "stuff", they found God.
September 16, 2013
I picked up this book a couple days after I actually had visited Bar Harbor and seen the low tide path to the home the Perkinses built on Bar Island, which of course made it even more interesting.
A story of leaving the known for the unknown, a life of prestige and public notice for something quiet and perhaps more rich in less worldly ways. Includes some wonderful stories of Jack Perkins work life as well.
A story of leaving the known for the unknown, a life of prestige and public notice for something quiet and perhaps more rich in less worldly ways. Includes some wonderful stories of Jack Perkins work life as well.
December 23, 2015
Retiring in your 50s to an (previously) uninhabited island in Maine that is accessible from/to the mainland only a few hours twice a day at the low tides. How cool is that? Jack Perkins and his wife did it - and, loved it. Not only did they find the natural beauty and the solitude they were looking for. They also finally realized how God how been there all their lives before they were ever interested in him.
September 29, 2021
It was hard to have the details of so many historical events described in engaging details, but have the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr mentioned simply with a quote by Robert Kennedy. Clearly the author was not engaged or interested in the Civil Rights Movement and, even with the passage of time, does not regret his disinterest.
But I enjoyed the author - his wit and just how relational gets was with those around him. A masterful and engaging storyteller!
But I enjoyed the author - his wit and just how relational gets was with those around him. A masterful and engaging storyteller!
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