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Ghost Town Living: Mining for Purpose and Chasing Dreams at the Edge of Death Valley
A long-abandoned silver mine for sale sounded like an adventure too great to pass up, but it turned into much more—a calling, a community of millions, and hard-earned lessons about chasing impractical dreams.
The siren song of Cerro Gordo, a desolate ghost town perched high above Death Valley, has seduced thousands since the 1800s, but few fell harder for it than Brent Underwood, who moved there in March of 2020, only to be immediately snowed in and trapped for weeks.
It had once been the largest silver mine in California. Over $500 million worth of ore was pulled from the miles of tunnels below the town. Butch Cassidy, Mark Twain, and other infamous characters of the American West were rumored to have stayed there. Newspapers reported a murder a week. But that was over 150 years ago.
Underwood bet his life savings—and his life—on this majestic, hardscrabble town that had broken its fair share of ambitious men and women. What followed were fires, floods, earthquakes, and perhaps strangest, fame. Ghost Town Living tells the story of a man against the elements, a forgotten historic place against the modern world, and a dream against all odds—one that has captured millions of followers around the world.
He came looking for a challenge different from the traditional 9-5 job but discovered something much more fulfilling—an undertaking that would call on all of himself and push him beyond what he knew he was capable of. In fact, to bring this abandoned town back to life, Brent had to learn a wealth of new self-sufficiency and problem-solving skills from many generous mentors.
Ghost Town Living is a thrilling read, but it’s also a call to action—to question our too-practical lives and instead seek adventure, build something original, redefine work, and embrace the unknown. It shows what it means to dedicate your life to something, to take a mighty swing at a crazy idea and, like the cardsharps who once haunted Cerro Gordo, go all in.
The siren song of Cerro Gordo, a desolate ghost town perched high above Death Valley, has seduced thousands since the 1800s, but few fell harder for it than Brent Underwood, who moved there in March of 2020, only to be immediately snowed in and trapped for weeks.
It had once been the largest silver mine in California. Over $500 million worth of ore was pulled from the miles of tunnels below the town. Butch Cassidy, Mark Twain, and other infamous characters of the American West were rumored to have stayed there. Newspapers reported a murder a week. But that was over 150 years ago.
Underwood bet his life savings—and his life—on this majestic, hardscrabble town that had broken its fair share of ambitious men and women. What followed were fires, floods, earthquakes, and perhaps strangest, fame. Ghost Town Living tells the story of a man against the elements, a forgotten historic place against the modern world, and a dream against all odds—one that has captured millions of followers around the world.
He came looking for a challenge different from the traditional 9-5 job but discovered something much more fulfilling—an undertaking that would call on all of himself and push him beyond what he knew he was capable of. In fact, to bring this abandoned town back to life, Brent had to learn a wealth of new self-sufficiency and problem-solving skills from many generous mentors.
Ghost Town Living is a thrilling read, but it’s also a call to action—to question our too-practical lives and instead seek adventure, build something original, redefine work, and embrace the unknown. It shows what it means to dedicate your life to something, to take a mighty swing at a crazy idea and, like the cardsharps who once haunted Cerro Gordo, go all in.
273 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 19, 2024
187 people are currently reading
5079 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 194 reviews
April 13, 2024
Brent Underwood runs a hostel in Austin, Texas hosting travelers from around the world. He majored in Finance in college, is the son of successful parents and grew up in a suburban area in Tampa, Florida. He excels at everything he does, and it seems his life is the ideal path of so many. However, he wanted something to really sink his hands into, so to speak. Something that meant fulfillment to him, and something that he could leave his mark and actually retain a part of history, that would probably go unnoticed except by a very few. When a listing comes up for Cerro Gordo, an abandoned mining town in California, bordering on Death Valley, he takes the leap. I loved the philosophical bent of this book along with the actual descriptions of the work he has poured into this and continues to do so. To many people, buying an actual old ghost town, is beyond most imaginations. I think this is what drew me to this book. I found it really fascinating and feel invested myself in what happens there. He mentions rebuilding the American Hotel, after a devastating fire caused by faulting wiring. It will actually be opened one day, and I would be tempted to try to visit, especially after reading everything that has been done to save this piece of history and the elegy to those who came before him who forged a path of their own in this town.
March 10, 2024
In 2018, Underwood bought Cerro Gordo, an abandoned mining town high in the California desert. In 2020, he moved there more or less permanently to start restoration and exploration. (He also started a YouTube channel, which is what led to the traction for this book.) I've been looking forward to this book since well before it was announced; it's a hell of a story, no matter which way you slice it, and I was pretty sure it was only a matter of time.
Underwood writes much as he talks—if you watch his videos, you'll recognize the rhythms and generally be able to hear the book as you read. As much as I enjoy the videos, though, I'm not entirely sold on the book structure. Underwood is a good storyteller, but the book is structured more as connected essays than as a chronological memoir, and there are some strange gaps.
Underwood is passionate about this town and its history, and that passion comes through loud and clear, whether he's talking about rebuilding after a fire or the history of water access in the town. (Why water access? Because it's an isolated desert town, and whether in the 1800s or now, accessing it requires feats of logistics and/or engineering.) But...there's never a basic walkthrough of the town. Never a description of a day in the life in an abandoned mining town—or a day in the life of someone working in that town more than a century ago. A fire is mentioned in passing in early chapters, but it's not until chapter nine, which details that fire, that Underwood talks about the importance of the (main) building that was lost. Readers don't have a chance to feel the weight of that loss in the way that Underwood did—to the reader, it might as well be a random old building that wasn't important enough to describe for the first half of the book, or important enough to include in the map at the beginning.
To an extent I get it—the fire is set up (rightly) as a catalyst, and it's easily the most dramatic moment of the book. A chronological structure would have placed it early in the book (just a few months after Underwood moved permanently to the town), leaving little time to build up to it...but as it stands, there aren't really enough details in the first half of the book to build up to it anyway. Even knowing the overall trajectory I think I would have preferred something more linear (and with fewer oblique comments about things that don't get full stories, like relationships that ended badly).
Because of this I struggled to figure out the ideal reader for this. Make no mistake; there are a lot of people who will enjoy this. But is the ideal reader someone who (like me) has already been following along and can fill in the mental gaps—but already knows the general story? (This may be the reason for the non-linear structure...) Or is the ideal reader someone who has seen one or two articles or YouTube videos and doesn't have preconceived notions—but will have to look up the salt tram to be able to understand its isolation, or the American Hotel to understand what it once was?
Probably the answer is somewhere in between. I imagine this book will do well (and that it will be popular among those already familiar with the story), in any case—it's a place and a story to attract dreamers.
Thanks to the author and publisher for providing a review copy through NetGalley.
Underwood writes much as he talks—if you watch his videos, you'll recognize the rhythms and generally be able to hear the book as you read. As much as I enjoy the videos, though, I'm not entirely sold on the book structure. Underwood is a good storyteller, but the book is structured more as connected essays than as a chronological memoir, and there are some strange gaps.
Underwood is passionate about this town and its history, and that passion comes through loud and clear, whether he's talking about rebuilding after a fire or the history of water access in the town. (Why water access? Because it's an isolated desert town, and whether in the 1800s or now, accessing it requires feats of logistics and/or engineering.) But...there's never a basic walkthrough of the town. Never a description of a day in the life in an abandoned mining town—or a day in the life of someone working in that town more than a century ago. A fire is mentioned in passing in early chapters, but it's not until chapter nine, which details that fire, that Underwood talks about the importance of the (main) building that was lost. Readers don't have a chance to feel the weight of that loss in the way that Underwood did—to the reader, it might as well be a random old building that wasn't important enough to describe for the first half of the book, or important enough to include in the map at the beginning.
To an extent I get it—the fire is set up (rightly) as a catalyst, and it's easily the most dramatic moment of the book. A chronological structure would have placed it early in the book (just a few months after Underwood moved permanently to the town), leaving little time to build up to it...but as it stands, there aren't really enough details in the first half of the book to build up to it anyway. Even knowing the overall trajectory I think I would have preferred something more linear (and with fewer oblique comments about things that don't get full stories, like relationships that ended badly).
Because of this I struggled to figure out the ideal reader for this. Make no mistake; there are a lot of people who will enjoy this. But is the ideal reader someone who (like me) has already been following along and can fill in the mental gaps—but already knows the general story? (This may be the reason for the non-linear structure...) Or is the ideal reader someone who has seen one or two articles or YouTube videos and doesn't have preconceived notions—but will have to look up the salt tram to be able to understand its isolation, or the American Hotel to understand what it once was?
Probably the answer is somewhere in between. I imagine this book will do well (and that it will be popular among those already familiar with the story), in any case—it's a place and a story to attract dreamers.
Thanks to the author and publisher for providing a review copy through NetGalley.
September 30, 2023
I'm a fan of books featuring unknown individuals achieving remarkable feats, and "Ghost Town Living" fits the bill. However, the book could benefit from a thorough edit, as the narrative seemed disjointed and lacked a chronological account of the author's experiences in the Ghost Town. I desired a more structured presentation, detailing the transformation of the Ghost Town season by season and its impact on the author's life. The repetition of certain anecdotes, like the concrete story for the hotel, felt unnecessary and detracted from the overall flow. Despite these criticisms, I devoured the book in a single day, making it a worthwhile read.
March 5, 2024
2 stars
I was unaware of Brent Underwood and Cerro Gordo prior to reading this book. I was intrigued by the notion of him restarting an old mining ghost town. The history of Cerro Gordo and all old mining towns are endlessly fascinating yet this book quickly dims. Ghost Town Living starts out very strong, however, Underwood loses focus rapidly and leaves a great deal of questions unanswered.
Underwood writes the book as if he is alone. But if so, who are his spotters when exploring the old caves and mines? Where is the money coming from? What's next? Is his money just coming from social media or is the purpose of this book just to fund some more time in his ghost town?
I struggled to finish this book, as Underwood tends to ramble and repeat himself. It is an okay read, but I would not recommend it.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and Netgalley.
I was unaware of Brent Underwood and Cerro Gordo prior to reading this book. I was intrigued by the notion of him restarting an old mining ghost town. The history of Cerro Gordo and all old mining towns are endlessly fascinating yet this book quickly dims. Ghost Town Living starts out very strong, however, Underwood loses focus rapidly and leaves a great deal of questions unanswered.
Underwood writes the book as if he is alone. But if so, who are his spotters when exploring the old caves and mines? Where is the money coming from? What's next? Is his money just coming from social media or is the purpose of this book just to fund some more time in his ghost town?
I struggled to finish this book, as Underwood tends to ramble and repeat himself. It is an okay read, but I would not recommend it.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and Netgalley.
April 12, 2024
Started strong, but the story of rebuilding the town and its history is overshadowed by self indulgent philosophy and ‘wisdom’.
April 16, 2024
I was introduced to Cerro Gordo in 1997 and the town has held a special place in my heart since. I grew up in the Owens Valley (or Payahuunadü as the indigenous peoples originally named it) in California and I have heard a lot of the stories of the Valley from many people. My family’s history in the Valley began around the same time as Cerro Gordo and I even had a family member work in the mine (he wrote his name on the side of one of the tunnels).
When Brent announced that he had written a book, I got very excited. Brent did not disappoint my expectations. If you go into reading this book, please understand that it is not written in chronological order nor is it just Brent’s experience in the town. Once Brent purchased Cerro Gordo in 2018, he solidified his place in the history of not just Cerro Gordo but the Owens Valley as well. Living here we are surrounded by history and the past constantly reminds us of that no matter where we look, from a ghost town nestled in the mountains at 8,000 feet in elevation to the petroglyphs that are hidden away up and down the valley. Brent recounts his experiences while comparing them to the miners who called Cerro Gordo home over a hundred years ago. Not too much has changed in the town over the course of its history. Brent explains the issues of not having running water or indoor plumbing and the life struggles that creates even now in the 21st century. But I think that adds to the beauty and character of the town in a way.
One of the most heartbreaking parts of Brent’s experiences was losing the American Hotel in 2020. I had the opportunity to stay in the original hotel and I cried for many days following the news that the Hotel had burned down. Listening to Brent talk about that night (I listened to the audio book even though I own the hardcover) broke my heart all over again. I can’t wait to see what Brent and all the volunteers create with the rebuilding of the Hotel. Cerro Gordo would not exist without the Union Mine, but the American Hotel was the heart of the town. I spent many afternoons and evenings in that Hotel.
I hope to visit the town again someday since I haven’t been there since Jody Stewart’s memorial in 2001, I think. Thank you Brent for continuing Cerro Gordo’s legacy. I am very proud of all you have accomplished so far and I look forward to what you do next.
When Brent announced that he had written a book, I got very excited. Brent did not disappoint my expectations. If you go into reading this book, please understand that it is not written in chronological order nor is it just Brent’s experience in the town. Once Brent purchased Cerro Gordo in 2018, he solidified his place in the history of not just Cerro Gordo but the Owens Valley as well. Living here we are surrounded by history and the past constantly reminds us of that no matter where we look, from a ghost town nestled in the mountains at 8,000 feet in elevation to the petroglyphs that are hidden away up and down the valley. Brent recounts his experiences while comparing them to the miners who called Cerro Gordo home over a hundred years ago. Not too much has changed in the town over the course of its history. Brent explains the issues of not having running water or indoor plumbing and the life struggles that creates even now in the 21st century. But I think that adds to the beauty and character of the town in a way.
One of the most heartbreaking parts of Brent’s experiences was losing the American Hotel in 2020. I had the opportunity to stay in the original hotel and I cried for many days following the news that the Hotel had burned down. Listening to Brent talk about that night (I listened to the audio book even though I own the hardcover) broke my heart all over again. I can’t wait to see what Brent and all the volunteers create with the rebuilding of the Hotel. Cerro Gordo would not exist without the Union Mine, but the American Hotel was the heart of the town. I spent many afternoons and evenings in that Hotel.
I hope to visit the town again someday since I haven’t been there since Jody Stewart’s memorial in 2001, I think. Thank you Brent for continuing Cerro Gordo’s legacy. I am very proud of all you have accomplished so far and I look forward to what you do next.
May 1, 2024
As a fan originally of the YouTube channel since late 2020, what first fascinated me about Brent Underwood was his way with words: he has a way of taking something others might think mundane and revealing it in a new and beautiful light. If there's anything I can say about this book, it's that the stories within capture that same excitement and gritty determination as the channel. The book is made exciting and page-turning by the chapters told in a series of elements, rather than a lineal timeline. There's a beauty to the comparisons of the real world challenges and the stories of the past and present. Above all, every page of this book left me feeling like I needed to find my own Cerro Gordo - not in the literal sense, but in the sense of taking control of my life and finding beauty in what's around me.
I particularly enjoyed the history this book shared, because there's nothing more important than preserving what has happened, even just in story, for generations to come. I leave this story with a motivation to find where I belong in the world, and with thoughts that will continue to cycle around the rich storytelling of Ghost Town Living and Brent Underwood long after I've picked up my next book.
I particularly enjoyed the history this book shared, because there's nothing more important than preserving what has happened, even just in story, for generations to come. I leave this story with a motivation to find where I belong in the world, and with thoughts that will continue to cycle around the rich storytelling of Ghost Town Living and Brent Underwood long after I've picked up my next book.
December 28, 2024
2.75?
Audiobook!
This is from the genre "Men will really do anything but therapy.."
I picked this up totally randomly. It's about a guy who is too rich for his own good (but pretends that he sort of isn't) and buys an abandoned mining town. I guess his goal is to build it into a Millennial dreamscape (community this and that, you know the drill). But I would say the book had more substance than I expected, I learned quite a lot about the town, the conditions, the vibes and some of the characters. I don't respect what the guy is doing because it's such an egomaniac thing, but I definitely wouldn't hate on him either. If he wants to live a life of suffering there, so be it, and there is a good chance that something positive will come out of it for others as well. It did seem like he was leaving a lot of things out, though, in terms of his support network.
About these kinds of books in general ... I wish the authors wrote for a more general audience, as I think the book still assumes that I know something about his whole story or the Youtube channel. It could have used a bit more to bind it together into a "standalone".
Audiobook!
This is from the genre "Men will really do anything but therapy.."
I picked this up totally randomly. It's about a guy who is too rich for his own good (but pretends that he sort of isn't) and buys an abandoned mining town. I guess his goal is to build it into a Millennial dreamscape (community this and that, you know the drill). But I would say the book had more substance than I expected, I learned quite a lot about the town, the conditions, the vibes and some of the characters. I don't respect what the guy is doing because it's such an egomaniac thing, but I definitely wouldn't hate on him either. If he wants to live a life of suffering there, so be it, and there is a good chance that something positive will come out of it for others as well. It did seem like he was leaving a lot of things out, though, in terms of his support network.
About these kinds of books in general ... I wish the authors wrote for a more general audience, as I think the book still assumes that I know something about his whole story or the Youtube channel. It could have used a bit more to bind it together into a "standalone".
February 4, 2024
Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Brent decided he wanted more out of life. He didn't like his job and was looking for a change. He decided he needs a challenge. He goes to California to do something that most people would look at as foolish and crazy. Brent got so much more than he ever thought from this little town. An inspiring read
June 25, 2024
Beyond outstanding! An exemplary book filled with wisdom, heartache, pain, inspiration, and love. Love for this once abandoned ghost town that is slowly being resurrected into a home for its resident owner and caretaker, as well as for those who have a shared passion for preserving a slice of our collective history.
July 18, 2024
Ghost Town Living is an enjoyable, easy read, and a fascinating look at the former mining town of Cerro Gordo. Brent weaves together the history of the ghost town with accounts of his plight as a modern man seeking deeper meaning in life into an insightful and inspiring story. His words come off as so truly heartfelt that the reader can't help but root for Brent and the future of Cerro Gordo.
April 6, 2024
I could not put this book down. I love Brent’s YouTube channel and it’s really cool to read some more behind the scenes things that happen in this book. This may be the fastest I’ve ever read a book (this long at least)
June 1, 2024
3.5 stars. In 2018, Brent Underwood along with a business partner and other investors bought rights to Cerro Gordo (meaning "fat hill" in Spanish), an abandoned mining settlement high in the Inyo Mountains of Southern California. Cerro Gordo's mines were operational for almost 100 years spanning the mid-19th to mid-20th century, producing a variety of valuable ores including silver, lead and zinc, but rarely providing a lucrative living to the miners who labored exhaustively underground. But today, Cerro Gordo exists largely as a ghost town with no running water (water being a sticking point - Underwood writes in the book about early Angelino William Mulholland's successful efforts to funnel water away from the valleys and mountains of Southern California so that they could be funneled to Los Angeles to enable continued population growth).
In 2020, Underwood decided to move full-time to Cerro Gordo to try to rebuild the settlement, for a variety of motives - historical preservation, economic opportunity (hoping the rebuilt settlement will become a tourist destination), and personal fulfillment. This book is very millennial-coded, with Underwood (b. 1987) having a classic millennial "finding my passion" and "quitting the rat race to go off the grid" narrative (he even throws in what I think is a Legends of the Hidden Temple reference with part of the mine being dubbed "the pit of despair"). In classic millennial side hustle fashion, Underwood has built a Youtube channel, an Instagram account, and various other social media platforms around his efforts to restore the settlement and navigate the many ups and downs (pun semi-intended).
I found this to be an interesting read (the historical parts being more of interest to me than the memoir overpinning) and would recommend it those interested in the history of the Western US.
Further reading - history of the American West/modern reenactions
The Mirage Factory: Illusion, Imagination, and the Invention of Los Angeles by Gary Krist (features William Mulholland extensively)
The Last Ride of the Pony Express: My 2,000-mile Horseback Journey into the Old West by Will Grant (my review)
The Oregon Trail: A New American Journey by Rinker Buck
Brave the Wild River: The Untold Story of Two Women Who Mapped the Botany of the Grand Canyon by Melissa Sevigny
A bonus related science pick:
Material World: The Six Raw Materials That Shape Modern Civilization by Ed Conway
My stats:
Book 109 for 2024
Book 1712 cumulatively
In 2020, Underwood decided to move full-time to Cerro Gordo to try to rebuild the settlement, for a variety of motives - historical preservation, economic opportunity (hoping the rebuilt settlement will become a tourist destination), and personal fulfillment. This book is very millennial-coded, with Underwood (b. 1987) having a classic millennial "finding my passion" and "quitting the rat race to go off the grid" narrative (he even throws in what I think is a Legends of the Hidden Temple reference with part of the mine being dubbed "the pit of despair"). In classic millennial side hustle fashion, Underwood has built a Youtube channel, an Instagram account, and various other social media platforms around his efforts to restore the settlement and navigate the many ups and downs (pun semi-intended).
I found this to be an interesting read (the historical parts being more of interest to me than the memoir overpinning) and would recommend it those interested in the history of the Western US.
Further reading - history of the American West/modern reenactions
The Mirage Factory: Illusion, Imagination, and the Invention of Los Angeles by Gary Krist (features William Mulholland extensively)
The Last Ride of the Pony Express: My 2,000-mile Horseback Journey into the Old West by Will Grant (my review)
The Oregon Trail: A New American Journey by Rinker Buck
Brave the Wild River: The Untold Story of Two Women Who Mapped the Botany of the Grand Canyon by Melissa Sevigny
A bonus related science pick:
Material World: The Six Raw Materials That Shape Modern Civilization by Ed Conway
My stats:
Book 109 for 2024
Book 1712 cumulatively
March 9, 2025
Ohhh boy did I need this book. Most people can’t understand the blood sweat and tears it takes to turn something that’s in ruins to something that is great. This book really resonated with me and reminded me why we do camp, why we need to take a break from camp sometimes and how it takes a village. One of my new favorites.
February 21, 2025
Very interesting! About a guy who bought an abandoned mining town and is documenting his time there and re-building it
May 6, 2024
Ghost Town Living is a collection of front porch stories looped into a rough timeline of Brent Underwood's time owning former California mining town Cerro Gordo. Underwood bought the town in 2018 and subsequently moved there with high hopes of restoring Cerro Gordo to a hospitable enough state to become somewhat of a travel destination, albeit a niche one. During the slow exploration, planning, and necessary construction in Cerro Gordo, Underwood started a YouTube channel about the project, which eventually snowballed into this very book (deal).
I wasn't familiar with either Cerro Gordo or Underwood's YouTube channel, so I went into this read without expectations more specific than hoping to learn about the town and how one goes about decamping ghosts and luring in tourists. Unfortunately, I didn't leave with much information that I found particularly entertaining. There are a few sketches of colorful locals who feel personally invested in the town and highlights of both successful projects and setbacks. There is a very rudimentary outline of what makes up a mine and how difficult it is to find information about Cerro Gordo. There is a lot of thanking folks who have helped with everything thus far. All of this shuffles through a relatively chronological timeline until the point of publication.
Underwood, by trade, is a marketer—not an author. This was evident by the endless stream of generic motivational phrases and quotations pulled from a variety of texts you had to read in a 200 level Humanities elective in college. Sentences were short to the point of feeling incomplete rather than structured for poignance. The overall narrative arc struggled to find its flow and felt more like arranged post-it notes that lacked an effective way to finesse transitions from one to the next. I can see the style working for vlogs, but it fell short for the vessel of a memoir.
thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the review copy
I wasn't familiar with either Cerro Gordo or Underwood's YouTube channel, so I went into this read without expectations more specific than hoping to learn about the town and how one goes about decamping ghosts and luring in tourists. Unfortunately, I didn't leave with much information that I found particularly entertaining. There are a few sketches of colorful locals who feel personally invested in the town and highlights of both successful projects and setbacks. There is a very rudimentary outline of what makes up a mine and how difficult it is to find information about Cerro Gordo. There is a lot of thanking folks who have helped with everything thus far. All of this shuffles through a relatively chronological timeline until the point of publication.
Underwood, by trade, is a marketer—not an author. This was evident by the endless stream of generic motivational phrases and quotations pulled from a variety of texts you had to read in a 200 level Humanities elective in college. Sentences were short to the point of feeling incomplete rather than structured for poignance. The overall narrative arc struggled to find its flow and felt more like arranged post-it notes that lacked an effective way to finesse transitions from one to the next. I can see the style working for vlogs, but it fell short for the vessel of a memoir.
thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the review copy
January 26, 2025
This book captures the call of the wild, embracing the great outdoors, and preserving the elements through one man’s enormous challenge to resurrect a once prosperous mineral town that built the city of Los Angeles.
Heartwarming, historic, adventurous.
I enjoyed ✨
Heartwarming, historic, adventurous.
I enjoyed ✨
August 19, 2024
I’ve been following Brent Underwood’s story via YouTube for years now and this book was fantastic! This book is filled with inspirational messages and is a raw representation of stepping outside your comfort zone and being rewarded with adventure.
Being able to read about each experience Brent has encountered from before Cerro Gordo to where he is now was phenomenal. I find history and creating things to be a couple of my personal enjoyments and while reading this book I certainly was engaged with all the experiences that Brent has had.
This was a great book and I am eager to continue to watch Cerro Gordo grow.
Being able to read about each experience Brent has encountered from before Cerro Gordo to where he is now was phenomenal. I find history and creating things to be a couple of my personal enjoyments and while reading this book I certainly was engaged with all the experiences that Brent has had.
This was a great book and I am eager to continue to watch Cerro Gordo grow.
September 3, 2024
an influencer wrote a repetitive self-help book.
March 12, 2025
A friend recommended this and I liked it way more than I expected. Got sucked into the adventure. It ended too soon. I wanted more!
July 7, 2025
While I found this to be an interesting story, I was disappointed that the author did not give more details about what it was like to move to this ghost town all by himself, what his living conditions were like, how he supported himself, what he did for food and water etc… instead, I felt like it read more like a series of random stories and thoughts that he put together, with a few facts about the town thrown in. He would allude to things in the beginning like blizzards, floods, a fire, water problems but then either just passed over it or, as in the case of the hotel burning down, waited until towards the end of the book to go into more detail. In the last couple of chapters the author writes about the stress of large crowds of tourists coming to the town, losing his business partner, and of having to manage his staff (both paid workers and volunteers) but there is nothing in between where he mentions why he needs to hire staff or how he pays them (He did mention starting a YouTube channel which most likely was the reason for the influx of visitors to the town but again, he doesn’t really say). If your interested in the history of old ghost towns, you will definitely find this an interesting book.
December 5, 2025
I was vaguely aware of Brent's YouTube channel, as I watched some of his older videos a while back yet haven't kept up with it. I was also not particularly fast to picking up this book, and mostly interested because Ryan Holiday repeatedly recommended it.
I thought this was going to be a book about the story of the town, Cerro Gordo. In a way, it is, but if that's the goal of this book, it is deeply lacking. What this book is, and I was wholly unprepared for, is a book about finding meaning, belonging and purpose. You'd imagine the book about trying to revive a town from the dead would have an exploration of how to do that.
Instead, this book is a love letter to a place and to a project that made life worth living. Brent was, even if he did not fully acknowledge it in these words, looking for something to give his life a flavor it didn't have previously. He felt, in the absence of better words, empty. That feeling, of looking for something to make him whole, of defying death long enough to be able make an imprint on this world in one way or another, drove him into the desert.
This book, in a way, describes some of his journey through that process. The town isn't really the issue, despite what the YouTube videos and the name of the book implies. The town could have been... anything. But an anything that offered him a romance for this life. And that is something worthy to learn.
I thought this was going to be a book about the story of the town, Cerro Gordo. In a way, it is, but if that's the goal of this book, it is deeply lacking. What this book is, and I was wholly unprepared for, is a book about finding meaning, belonging and purpose. You'd imagine the book about trying to revive a town from the dead would have an exploration of how to do that.
Instead, this book is a love letter to a place and to a project that made life worth living. Brent was, even if he did not fully acknowledge it in these words, looking for something to give his life a flavor it didn't have previously. He felt, in the absence of better words, empty. That feeling, of looking for something to make him whole, of defying death long enough to be able make an imprint on this world in one way or another, drove him into the desert.
This book, in a way, describes some of his journey through that process. The town isn't really the issue, despite what the YouTube videos and the name of the book implies. The town could have been... anything. But an anything that offered him a romance for this life. And that is something worthy to learn.
April 14, 2024
My rating: 4.25
My summary: Best known for his YouTube channel by the same name, Ghost Town Living is Brent Underwood’s story of his adventures thus far in restoring Cerro Gordo, once the largest silver mine in California and whose riches are credited with building Los Angeles. Brent used every penny of his life savings to purchase the town of Cerro Gordo in 2018 and moved up to it full time at the start of the pandemic in early 2020. Despite having no running water and no residents, Brent set out determined to bring this ghost town back to life. The book covers the history and historical figures significant to the town and surrounding areas, intertwined with Brent’s experiences in Cerro Gordo, the people he’s met along the way, the recent events that have continued to shape the town, and some of Brent’s philosophical musings. If you’re a fan of Brent’s YouTube channel, if you’ve ever made the trek up the Yellow Grade Road, or if you just enjoy ghost towns or adventures, then this is a must read for the valuable insight into the town, its history, and Brent’s mark on it so far.
My thoughts: My husband got me hooked on watching Brent’s YouTube channel and I have been to Cerro Gordo to visit once so far. I love the Sierra Nevada and surrounding areas, and visiting a once abandoned ghost town that’s being resurrected is just up my alley of hobbies. The Ghost Town Living YouTube channel is one of the (very) few that I watch and I’ve enjoyed watching Brent’s four year journey so far. My husband pre-ordered the book for me (I may not have bought it on my own), and I’m really glad he did because I really liked the deeper dive into the history of the town and Brent’s take on some of the major milestones in the town under his watch. I have heard a lot of these stories and anecdotes through the vlogs and online posts but it was still enjoyable to have those expanded on in his words. The whole water/Owens Lake/Mulholland/LADWP situation has always held my interest with its effects in this region, so I was particularly interested in the Water section of the book. Although I don’t necessarily agree with some of Brent’s larger worldviews that he mentions in the book, I can appreciate that his experiences so far have led him to those opinions and am still intrigued in his overall story at Cerro Gordo. It’s been great to watch Brent’s progress so far in the town and I am sure that his passion, combined with the following he’s generated through his YouTube channel and now his book, will transform this town into everything he envisions it can be one day.
My summary: Best known for his YouTube channel by the same name, Ghost Town Living is Brent Underwood’s story of his adventures thus far in restoring Cerro Gordo, once the largest silver mine in California and whose riches are credited with building Los Angeles. Brent used every penny of his life savings to purchase the town of Cerro Gordo in 2018 and moved up to it full time at the start of the pandemic in early 2020. Despite having no running water and no residents, Brent set out determined to bring this ghost town back to life. The book covers the history and historical figures significant to the town and surrounding areas, intertwined with Brent’s experiences in Cerro Gordo, the people he’s met along the way, the recent events that have continued to shape the town, and some of Brent’s philosophical musings. If you’re a fan of Brent’s YouTube channel, if you’ve ever made the trek up the Yellow Grade Road, or if you just enjoy ghost towns or adventures, then this is a must read for the valuable insight into the town, its history, and Brent’s mark on it so far.
My thoughts: My husband got me hooked on watching Brent’s YouTube channel and I have been to Cerro Gordo to visit once so far. I love the Sierra Nevada and surrounding areas, and visiting a once abandoned ghost town that’s being resurrected is just up my alley of hobbies. The Ghost Town Living YouTube channel is one of the (very) few that I watch and I’ve enjoyed watching Brent’s four year journey so far. My husband pre-ordered the book for me (I may not have bought it on my own), and I’m really glad he did because I really liked the deeper dive into the history of the town and Brent’s take on some of the major milestones in the town under his watch. I have heard a lot of these stories and anecdotes through the vlogs and online posts but it was still enjoyable to have those expanded on in his words. The whole water/Owens Lake/Mulholland/LADWP situation has always held my interest with its effects in this region, so I was particularly interested in the Water section of the book. Although I don’t necessarily agree with some of Brent’s larger worldviews that he mentions in the book, I can appreciate that his experiences so far have led him to those opinions and am still intrigued in his overall story at Cerro Gordo. It’s been great to watch Brent’s progress so far in the town and I am sure that his passion, combined with the following he’s generated through his YouTube channel and now his book, will transform this town into everything he envisions it can be one day.
August 4, 2024
I don’t follow the author’s YouTube channel, but my sister does, and she occasionally tells me about his videos. I got this book from her, and I thought it was interesting, but I don’t think I’m the right audience for it. It’s not written in any sort of chronological order, the narrative is all over the place, and there are a lot of gaps in the timeline. I think it’s meant more for people who are already following along on his journey.
September 25, 2024
Only critique is there should’ve been pictures and a map! I’ve never wanted pictures and a map MORE!
January 10, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
June 18, 2025
Great book! Brent really opens up about his journey and the things that he has accomplished in Cerro Gordo. He also opens the readers eyes to think more about life and the meaning.
May 17, 2024
I’ve been following Brent on his YouTube channel (Ghost Town Living) since the beginning and have visited Cerro Gordo and taken a small informal tour with one of the volunteers. I have not met Brent, but after reading his story I feel like I have a better understanding of him and his love for the mines and mountains around the town. The book fills in some of the blanks of the channel (and his life) and corroborated some of what I saw through the years. I appreciated his frankness of dealing with both the good and the bad. I found the story interesting and inspiring.
May 9, 2024
I’ve been a long fan of Ghost Town Living on YouTube since the early days.. and have watched all the videos. This book, goes deeper into the history and the background of Cerro Gordo and a lot of the more personal experiences and insights not captured on video. An inspirational read.
December 21, 2024
I loved the history, but it lost my interest in the last pages about finding purpose. I get it, he has found purpose there, but the genre took an unnecessary turn from non-fiction to self-help. Keep up the history, Brent! I love watching what you are doing.
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