A Field Companion for Wandering

by Conner Bouchard-Roberts

A book for being lost on real and imagined borders.

Genres: Poetry

186 pages, Paperback

Published November 10, 2025

Reviews

[Sydney Dunn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really magical collection of musings, poetry, and stories. I can't recommend it enough

[Elise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Makes me want to educate myself a bit more on Taoism

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Wandering is sustained suspension: finding yourself in between places and a determination to remain out there, to not arrive just yet.”

Something about the act of wandering, aside from all the aspects around it included in this book, is that those living in capitalist societies don’t do much of it. It requires a slowing down, as well as the notion of doing something that obtains no real objective or goal, and who has time for that when we’re too damn busy optimizing the fuck out of our lives?! We can’t wander! It takes not only time, but a submission to the ignorance of time - if it comes down to wandering or laundry, well, I’d rather the former, but I also need my dumb clean pants for my dumb job.

But. For those who have managed, in some way or another, to escape the daily capitalist death grip and take up wandering, this is a handy guide to have by your side. I love when the physicality of a book aids in achieving its purpose to readers - this comes in a pocket-sized volume, ideal for taking with you on walks and explorations. There is also plenty of margin and blank space to take notes in, even casually so if you just want to journal about your travels. Winter Texts has put together a great practical book that previously went through various self-published iterations, including time in the public domain (the book itself is a bit of a wanderer, you could say).

“When you leave, everything that remains knows you through your absence. For the folks around you, your occurrence and lack are consistently said in simple words: here, gone.”

Also included in wandering are the acts that happen around it - the getting ready, the leaving, the left, the coming back. These are more than adjacent to the practice of wandering, they have an effect on it; maybe for some, there is no planning or prep, no place even to leave or come back to. That changes the nature of the excursion considerably. It changes, as well, based on whether you live within the constraints of time or outside of it.

And there is the nature of the wandering itself. It can encompass anything from a more touristy trail - complete with guardrails and a start and end point - that’s arguably less committed to aimlessness, to a lengthy, challenging, winding hiking trails that occupy hours or days. There are roads, of course, which tend to lead to more capitalist destinations. And what of the wanderer who chooses to go off the path? Is it more authentic to chart your own way, possibly covering ground that no one else has walked?

“Admiring and observing all that’s in the world without committing yourself to any one thing: noticing, acknowledging, reflecting, and letting go.”

The point of wandering is not to take or buy or even achieve, which again, goes against a culture in which everything is monetized. The point is to decenter yourself, and humans generally for that matter, to observe and take things in and resist coming to any fast or convenient conclusions. The point is an acceptance of a lack of answers and certainty. Kind of getting into the notion of being lost, which runs adjacent to wandering.

“Wandering isn’t being lost, though they are related closely to each other. Wandering for long enough will get you lost, and being truly lost may require wandering to get you home. Being lost is being submerged in unknown signs and symbols. Wandering is moving past and through, around and within those symbols.”

I think wandering and being lost deal with the unknown; while the latter is an immersion in it, the former is continuing to move and calculate and think through it all. The brain must wander, alongside the body.

I’m not saying I’d go all out if I won the lottery tomorrow, but there would be signs. Namely, you’d find me unemployed and regularly in the woods with this book.

[Jan Priddy]

I cannot rate this book, it is the more recent of a series, published over the years, growing as it went along. I think the greatest satisfaction would come from carrying this beautiful reddish book with the crow on the cover [why no image?], and using its generous white space to note the quotations that come one's way, the observations and notations, questions and semi-fictions that arrive as we wander. I was pleased to find mention of the Salish Sea.

A book for being lost on real and imagined borders.

[Robert Meyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating read, time well spent while on a thoughtful trip to the Oregon coast. I found myself re-reading many of the vignettes and shorts multiple times while wandering through the pages. This for me had the feel of Jonathan Livingston Seagull - something to wander through while pondering the coastline or alone in your introspection. I was reading the 2024 edition of 250 copies, purple cover.

[Carly Schaechter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read the red winter 2025 edition with the crow. A fascinating and beautiful read. Came across this in a local bookstore on a trip to Seattle and it caught my attention. I totally agree with the person who wrote that carrying it with you and taking notes in the margin with your own musings and thoughts as you travel would be a great way to read this, although sitting down and reading it cover to cover also seems totally pleasant! My thanks to the author for publishing this gem.

[Linda Rozanski · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting and insightful collection of small stories, vignettes, and some poetry loosely about travel and wandering, but really about exploring life.
A fun read, but to be taken slowly in order to savor each meaning.

[Jeff · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this up at my local bookstore because it seemed unusual and interesting. it was consistently unusual, with a variety of interesting. Maybe if I had actually been wandering rather than sitting on the sofa or lying in bed it would have resonated more.

[jillian · Rating 4 out of 5]

5 stars for concept and content of ideas. loved it. magical!

3 stars for writing style according to my personal taste. the style made it difficult for me to stay grounded in the text reading front to back. will reassess when i do a nonlinear reading.

[Foster · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely little book, a real meditation on travel - touching on migration - that prompted some deep thoughts. Enjoyed it.

[in8 · Rating 4 out of 5]

https://5cense.com/23/1081.htm

[Stephanie Silva · Rating 5 out of 5]

i loved this book so much, i didint want it to end

[Charlie Hurwitz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked taking this along with me when I travel and reading it bit by bit; attempting to to utilize a few of the many wisdoms in this awesome little book

[Mathi Fonseca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Indeed a great companion for travelling, fits perfectly in my beanie bag! It was great to read it slowly while travelling, one page at a time, and rereading to take it all in.

[Michelle P · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful reference text to bring while traveling! Series of reflective vignettes, quotes, and trails of thought.

[Karen Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

The crow on the orange cover caught my eye, and the concept of being lost was intriguing to me (more should learn to wander!). I read excerpts of this book in the mornings & have really enjoyed it. I am now inspired by another review to carry it with me & make notes in it. I feel fortunate to have come across it in my favorite Seattle bookstore in Pioneer Square & have also shared it with a friend.

[Dylan St. Louis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably the most insightful reading about travel and philosophy I’ve ever read. If you can manage to find a copy of this book do not pass it up.