The No.9 Bus to Utopia

by David Bramwell

When David Bramwell's girlfriend left him for someone she described as 'younger, but more mature than you', and citing his endless 'selfish projects' as a reason for their relationship breakdown, he decided he had something to learn about giving. So he embarked on a project.

Taking a year off, he journeyed through Europe and America seeking out extraordinary communities that could teach him about how to share. Why? He had a few questions he wanted to answer: Is modern life rubbish? Why do so many of us feel lonely and unfulfilled despite a high standard of living? Are there communities out there who hold the key to happiness? And if so, why do so many of their inhabitants insist on dressing in tie-dye? Where?

On his travels he visited an anarchist community in the heart of Copenhagen, had some hair-raising experiences in several free love communities, experienced an epiphany in a spiritual caravan park in Scotland and thought he'd found paradise in a Californian community dreamed up by Aldous Huxley. Most impressive of all was Damanhur, a 1000-strong science fiction-style community in the Alps with an underground temple the size of St Paul's Cathedral, a village of tree houses and a 'fully-functioning time machine'. What happened?

Inspired by the people and places he visited, he returned home with a desire to change. Not just himself but also his neighbourhood and city. Find out how he succeeded in this wry and self-deprecatingly funny spiritual journey that asks some big questions and finds the answers surprisingly simple.

Genres: Travel, Nonfiction, Memoir

265 pages, Paperback

First published June 24, 2014

About the author

Dr. Bramwell is a man who likes to keep busy. A magpie by nature, he is the creator of the successful Cheeky Guide series, founder and host of Brighton’s Catalyst Club and singer-songwriter in the band Oddfellows Casino (Nightjar Records). His music and spoken word material have been featured on BBC radio 1, 3,4 and 6.

David has written books on subjects ranging from difficult words to sexuality for Penguin, Harper Collins and DK, has spoken at and hosted TEDx events, curated a tent at Port Eliot Festival and, together with fellow musician Eliza Skelton, entertained festival and cinema audiences with “Sing-along-a-Wickerman”.

His one-man show, The Haunted Moustache, won him awards for “Outstanding Theatre” and “Best Comedy Show” during the Brighton Festival, a BBC R3 commission for the series Between the Ears and a Sony Award in 2011.

His second one-man show, the No9 Bus to Utopia was based on a year spent travelling round communities in Europe and America in search of a better life. The show premiered in the Earth Ship in Brighton’s Stanmer Park and has since featured as a TED lecture and been performed at Alain de Botton’s School of Life, 5X15, the Idler Academy and Port Elliot Festival. He is happiest, however, performing it in the back room of a pub.

It is worth noting that Dr Bramwell is a medical man by rumour only; approach with extreme caution, particularly if he offers to whip out your tonsils in exchange for a packet of biscuits.

Reviews

[Nigeyb · Rating 4 out of 5]

I stumbled across Dr David Bramwell through a talk on Kraftwerk at the Brighton Fringe in May 2016. He is one of those people who does much to make the world a better place: from his long-running Brighton-based Catalyst Club, to his splendid Odditorium Podcast, and plenty more besides, including the occasional book, such as this one, The No.9 Bus to Utopia.

When David Bramwell's girlfriend left him he was inspired to get away and investigate a number of communities who might help him to find a better way of living. David journeys to various communities which he feels might exemplify a Utopian ideal of communal living. Some I’d heard of, most I hadn't. Nothing he discovers is especially surprising, or revelatory, however he is such an engaging guide and companion that each chapter is a delight. Needless to say, he gains some self insights and wisdom along the way, in particular a few universal truths that we all do well to remember. The No.9 Bus to Utopia is a short, easy, interesting and entertaining read.

[Chris Sollett · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, for many reasons. David Bramwell is very candid regarding his relationship breakup, which was clearly painful, not least of all in his acceptance of where he had gone wrong, and wiser choices he might have made. He then travels around the globe, in search of Utopia and is equally open and honest about what he finds, both in himself and the people he meets. He combines sharp insight with generous humour. It's not simply a travelogue, he has also investigated the concept of Eutopia in the areas of Philosophy, History and Literature. Always engaging and interesting, he also presents us with conclusions and suggestions , both on a personal and societal level.

[Richard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Travelling to alternative lifestyles around the world. Yoga, mediation, chanting, community design, money making, a little sex, a bit of drugs, and hottubs. Ending with a (I don't think this is a spoiler, but hey, stop reading now if you don't want to take that risk...) return to Brighton and talk of http://brightonzocalo.com/

[Richard Hakes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Utopia and cycling round the upper and lower Don (but not particularly the middle bit round Rotherham) have always been amongst my interests so when I came across 'The Cult of Water' I couldn't resist and was handsomely rewarded by my trip to Harrogate to see Dr Bramwell. Then on my return and much to my astonishment I found I had already collected a book of his about Utopia and public transport. I was engrossed and again greatly rewarded for my foresight and small contribution. I was disappointed by his lack of use of public transport and do not recall a single use of such in the book. Its all cars, planes and taxi's I think he is missing something here.

You have to believe to find Utopia and you have to believe to use public transport to its best.

By strange co incidence I am off to Brighton next month for possibly the third time in my life, it is a long way from the Don to Brighton but I will be using public transport.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very interesting read; Bramwell's final chapter is particularly insightful. His year-long journey takes him through a variety of 'utopian' communities before he concludes that a Utopia is a place where we are constantly challenged (because a place of perfection, after a while, is unstimulating and boring) and a place of community and social interaction. He argues that Utopia does not have to be a newly created society, but that we can take steps within the society we already live in to make it a more communal place. I love his idea of Zocalo - informal street parties - and I am definitely looking Googling 'Sunday Assembly' to see if there are any in London. I'm so glad I read this book.

[Sara Green · Rating 3 out of 5]

This morning I just needed to sit and read a book, so I finished The No.9 Bus to Utopia quickly, not because it was a particularly good read, but because it was a relatively effortless read. Many of the communities David Bramwell describes just feel a little tawdry - and he doesn’t always pull off the mix of history and personal experience, but I can see he had an interesting journey and I applaud him for being interesting enough to take it.

[Marina Pasovski · Rating 4 out of 5]

3 1/2 stars. I enjoyed this book and the mix between humor and non-fiction. As a Dane, I did find a few too many errors in the first chapter (spelling mistakes and mistakes about pronunciation), and in a later chapter there was an annoying mix-up about a man who was from Denmark, but then suddenly he was Norwegian. All in all, the book could have been better with a good editor, but it was entertaining and enlightening.

[jessica ljung · Rating 4 out of 5]

A funny tale and insightful read about David who sets out to visit numerous alternative communities across the world to find his Utopia. Reading this during the Corona virus outbreak is making me think about happiness in a place. "Find a place that has what you like. Or if you like where you live already, whatever's missing you must create for yourself".

[Naomi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, it's tour of different Western 'utopian' communities and the similarities and differences between them.

The final chapter resonated with me strongly, and I would very much recommend this read for anyone interested in this topic.

[Robert Hutchinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting if a little weird. I'm a sucker for "utopia" books!

[Dee · Rating 5 out of 5]

An uplifting and funny book, with much to ponder and a simple underlying idea for making our lives better.

[Grace]

Meh

[Harriette Wilcock · Rating 4 out of 5]

Insightful and witty. A refreshing look on what simple things may help make our lives more utopian

[Abigail · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like many of us at some point in our lives, David Bramwell decided that he needed something different from life. For him, this was a quest to find Utopia. But what did Utopia truly mean? This book chronicles to journey to his answer, and helps the reading formulate their own reply.

Each community that David visits in interesting in its own way. He describes every one with feeling and genuine interest, drawing the reader into considering their benefits and negative aspects. It piqued my inquisitive nature, occasionally making me feel as if I'd been let into some hidden world.

As David travels we ca begin to glimpse not just the physical journeys he made during the book, but also the mental and philosophical ones. With frankness, he describes how his out-look was changed and affected by each new experience. Its easy to sympathise (and sometimes laugh) with him.

Most of all this is a truly though-provoking yet easy to read book. I picked it up at the same time as another and yet was so gripped by it that I read the whole thing in less than two days.

A great book for anyone who is, or has ever searched for Utopia. Or simply for those who like exploring different ways of living through other communities or closer at home.

[James Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

To long; didn't read: I liked this book a lot for its fairly balanced view of the various communities the author visited and his breezy writing style.

This book has a lot of good going on here. I really liked how the writer presented himself with both his good and bad traits. I also liked the variety of communities, though I really wish he would have gone to the ZEGG Forum instead of the Osho group(I've met some people from ZEGG and I can say with no small amount of confidence that it would have been awesome).

This is a very fast read, I finished it in about two days, mostly because of the conversational style of the author. It read like he recorded his thoughts, wrote them down, then had an editor give them a good cleaning.

Overall, I recommend this book without reservation. However, I still wish he would have gone to ZEGG.

[Vivienne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This quest by the author brought back many memories for me of the years I spent exploring New Age philosophies and the Human Potential Movement. It was interesting to read of his visits to these communities many of which were new to me. I certainly found it an interesting memoir.

This was a reading group selection and I was looking forward to the meeting to discuss this book but bad weather prevented going to the meeting, which is some distance away. However, a week later I was able to meet up with a group member for coffee and she reported that it was fairly well liked. Everyone, myself included, was very intrigued by Damanhur.

[Klim · Rating 3 out of 5]

It had a lot going for it when I started reading and thought it might be too short. But it ended up being a bit too long, running out of material and losing steam. The author has a good voice but sometimes tries too hard to be funny and it takes you out. It feels like the depth of information was lacking on a few communities, just brushed over, and I understand it's because the author spent less time there and decided to move on for his reasons and not to simply fulfill a book's contents. Still, there were parts that's felt they could have had more.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm glad we can get an insight into the communities the author visited. His perspective is beautifully human, open minded yet expressive of personal fears and opinions. This was an inspiring read that was conscious of the cliches that often come with exploring spiritual or 'utopian' communities and lifestyles. Entertaining and humorous, but I would give it some time before I would read this again. Maybe I will go and create my own utopia in the meantime :)

[Kayo · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a breezy and entertaining read. At times it was funny; other times it was insightful. The author, like many of us in the modern world, feels lost, alienated and disconnected... not only from other people but mostly, from ourselves. It's worth reading his experiences in various communities and whether or not you think his idea of utopia is what you expect utopia to be.

[Emma Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book - good to explore / read about communities that I know I'd never physically get to visit, and a useful reminder that what's really important is that life reflects what you put in - everyone can bring about positive changes in their lives and communities with even the smallest action. Well written book!

[Simon P · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an extremely well-written and enjoyable read about alternative communities, hippies, and ubiquitous Native-American dream-catchers. Funny, humble and well worth your time.

Warning, patchouli smell and pruned hot-tub skin will be lucidly imagined while reading.

[Helen Mulligan]

So disappointing. Poorly written and uninspiring.

[funkgoddess · Rating 3 out of 5]

Utopia -your place or mine. An entertaining travelogue to others.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh, was interesting to read about the different communities, but a lot of skim reading was done.