Dude Making a Difference: Bamboo Bikes, Dumpster Dives and Other Extreme Adventures Across America

by Robin Greenfield

How far would you go to save the planet? One man’s cross-country journey to radical sustainability. You want to do something for the planet, but what? Change a light bulb, install a low-flow faucet, eat organic? How about ride 4,700 miles across America on a bamboo bicycle, using only water from natural sources, avoiding fossil fuels almost completely, supplying your few electrical needs with solar power and creating nearly zero waste? Sound crazy? Maybe. But not if you're Robin Greenfield. Then it sounds like a pretty amazing way to bring your message to as many people as possible, and to have a great time doing it. Dude Making a Difference is Robin's first-person account of his incredible adventure in radical sustainability. Join him as he pedals from coast to coast in 3-½ months This one-of-a-kind travelogue will inspire you to reexamine your relationship with the earth's resources. Robin's captivating stories of life on the low-impact road are rounded out by practical guides to help you reduce your personal ecological footprint and plan your own larger-than-life adventures. Author's proceeds from the sale of Dude Making a Difference will be donated to 1% for the Planet.

Genres: Nonfiction, Environment, Inspirational, Nature

320 pages, Paperback

First published September 8, 2015

About the author

Robin Greenfield is a truth-seeker, activist, social reformer and servant to Earth, humanity and the plants and animals we share our home with. His life is an experiment with truth and integrity. At the heart of Robin’s action based philosophy is his dedication to living simply and sustainably as a means of resistance to systems of oppression and exploitation. Through living closely connected to Earth, he is on a path of personal liberation. Through living simply he rejects societal standards of consumerism that contribute to great inequity and injustice.

Robin’s public activism involves dramatic gestures designed to reach the mainstream and to provoke critical thought, self-reflection and positive change. His activism creates nuanced conversations on the critical issues of our time, with a focus on solutions for living in harmony. His activism has been covered by media worldwide and he has been named “The Robin Hood of modern times” by France 2 TV and “The Forest Gump of ecology”.

Robin has committed to a set of lifetime vows – to earn below the federal poverty threshold, to resist federal taxes and to keep his net worth and possessions to a minimum. He donates 100% of his media earnings to grassroots nonprofits, with a focus on supporting Black and Indigenous women-led organizations that contribute to healing Earth and humanity, while serving the communities most affected by the dominator society.

What Robin is dedicated to is simple – liberation and basic rights for all – Earth, humanity and our plant and animal relatives. He believes that community, diversity and bio-diversity are central to all true solutions for a harmonious existence as a humanity. In a time when many feel disempowered, Robin chooses to live in gratitude and celebration of life. What keeps him going is his belief that our actions do matter and that as individuals and communities we have the power to liberate ourselves and contribute to the well-being of our communities.

Reviews

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

I find it entertaining that people feel like they're being guilt tripped reading this. I'd say Rob is more cheerful, charitable, and non-preachy than he probably has license to be. He states up front that he doesn't expect anyone to go as hardcore as he does for this. He just wants to show that he cares enough to do that much, and he hopes to inspire others to make changes once they see what's possible. It's a laudable goal. Certainly not the only way to make an impact, but it's his chosen way.

Personally I would have liked to learn more about other aspects of the journey - how he chose his route, bike and food culture in different cities and states, flora and fauna along the way. Even his breakup story. The whole thing felt a bit too clean for me, and did get repetitive. As a longtime environmentalist, I tend to skip passages about the importance of environmental issues. They're background parts of my everyday life, and I don't need education on the level he provides.

But I love Rob. The world needs more Robs.

[Douglas Lord · Rating 3 out of 5]

A self-described adventurer and environmental activist, Greenfield does what the title says. In 2013 he cycled 4,700 miles across the United States on a bamboo bike, used solar power and “found” water, and eschewed fossil fuels—all while apparently smelling okay (though we only have his word for this). Along the way he blogged, created only two pounds of trash, served himself banquets from dumpsters, and was, to the chagrin of the rest of us, relentlessly goddamned cheerful. Though nobly intended, Greenfield’s modern-day hobo lifestyle is questionable. Dumpster diving for food is a case in point. Finding “…a still-frozen half gallon of chocolate chip vanilla ice cream. It wasn’t even past the sell-by date, just a small hole in the cap, and I happily ate half of the box.” Strong gut bacteria aside, Greenfield is right-hearted and brave. Unfortunately, his narrative is frequently sanctimonious and self-aggrandizing. Among a long list of what he won’t do is “use water that has been transported from the source with the use of any resources, such as electricity. This means I will not turn on a faucet, use a shower, use a flush toilet, or wash clothes in a washing machine.” Am I less of a dude because I enjoy water from my well pumped with electricity that I pay for using after-tax dollars earned in the World instead of whipping out my Katadyn Pocket filter when my kid needs a drink? Or use bike frames of aluminum instead of bamboo? VERDICT Greenfield is an outlier, living by example, his message a challenge to us to do what we can—today—to help Mother Earth. It’s impossible to separate the politics of his lifestyle from his writing as they are mashed together like so much reclaimed PB&J. Admirable. Laudable. Unrealistic.

Find reviews of books for men at Books for Dudes, Books for Dudes, the online reader's advisory column for men from Library Journal. Copyright Library Journal.

[Stephanie Cubbon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dude Making a Difference is an inspiring, accessible read that helps readers take action in their own lives towards a more sustainable world. Part adventure story, part how-to guide for sustainable living, Rob Greenfield writes in a way that makes sustainability not only seem feasible, but fun! As a college professor teaching a sustainability course, I found the book (as well as Rob's blog) to be great material for my students. They found it to be very relatable, and were very inspired by Rob's story, as it really highlighted the potential that each one of us has to make a difference in our own lives. If you have a chance to have Rob come speak to your class or community, I would highly recommend that too! He's a very engaging speaker. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to make a difference in the world (which is hopefully all of us! :).

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Dude Making a Difference, Robin Greenfield describes his 104-day bicycle journey from San Francisco to Vermont all in the name of environmental sustainability. He exercised such practices as creating zero waste, using solar power, and not obtaining water from municipal supplies. Additionally, Greenfield exposes the vast amount of food waste that goes on in this country, but he also features farms and restaurants who are exceling at producing organic food responsibly. This book definitely made me reconsider my usage of food, energy, and water. The combination of Greenfield’s environmental practices and the descriptions of the natural landscape along his bicycle route made this a compelling read.

[Heidi Wiechert · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a free (uncorrected galley proof) copy of this book through Goodreads First Reads. FTC guidelines: check!

In Dude Making a Difference, Rob Greenfield has some interesting ideas about how to conserve resources, promote sustainability, and how to educate others on natural resources, transportation, personal hygiene, and more. I don't think that many of the methods that Rob uses will work for everyone, but they seem to make him feel better about his lifestyle.

In his quest to save the planet, Rob fights with the photographer who comes along on the 4,000+ mile bike ride (though he omits the details of these misunderstandings). I found that small detail to be ironic. It seems as if Rob cares more about the planet than he does about getting along with the people on it. I think that if he embraced working within the system rather than getting under other folk's skin and bucking the system, then he might make more headway with convincing others to his point of view. As it is, Rob runs afoul of multiple municipalities on his trip because of his dumpster diving and naked hi-jinks. I'm not saying that the system is perfect or that one shouldn't question authority if you believe that the status quo is bogus- what I am saying is that I feel as if Rob pushes the issue just to see what he can get away with and to tell the story afterwards.

I learned quite a lot about small changes that I can make to my current lifestyle to save resources like changing out my faucets or utilizing a PowerPot (that particular product seemed exceptionally cool). But, the majority of this book felt repetitive and somewhat preachy. Rob gets up from wherever he crashed for the night (rarely from a real bed, of course), he either feels energized or not, he scavenges for food from local dumpsters, gets yelled at for that or not, gets on the road where he either feels energized or not, promotes his sustainability initiative for the day- be that biking barefooted, or going without the seat on his bike, or using only leaky faucets to get drinking water- then he rides for awhile, finds somewhere to sleep, pops on social media while either plugging his computer into the grid or not- but justifying it either way- and then goes to sleep either energized by his day or not. Repeat, repeat, repeat. For 104 days.

It's interesting how Rob relies on waste to get by for much of the time because, if he succeeds in his quest to lower waste, he wouldn't be able to live the lifestyle that he's promoting anymore. The cognitive dissonance in such a position would drive me bonkers, but Rob seems ok with it. I admire what he's doing, but I just don't believe in his methods.

If you enjoyed Dude Making a Different, you may want to read Outsmart Waste: The Modern Idea of Garbage and How to Think Our Way Out of It by Tom Szaky or The Art of Non-Conformity: Set Your Own Rules, Live the Life You Want, and Change the World by Chris Guillebeau.

[Tristram · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rob Greenfield reminds us that humanity's urgent need to live more in harmony with nature shouldn't be about doom and gloom: he shows us it's about living a rich, rewarding and ultimately more beautiful existence - without creating garbage, pollution, or consumer demands that cannot be satisfied. Rob glows with the simplicity and sincerity of his message and has inspired so many to take small steps to a more sustainable lifestyle.

[Bluestem · Rating 1 out of 5]

Wow. No. Editing is a thing, people.

[Janet · Rating 2 out of 5]

While I completely appreciate what this dude is up to, this chronicle is simply a day by day, blow by blow diary that summarizes his actions and doesn't make for a very satisfying read.

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extremely inspiring. While it may not be everyone's cup of tea to read a day-by-day journal of a long-distance trip, there's absolutely no doubt that Greenfield's journey has tons of practical info on sustainability learned while riding across the US, and non-stop inspiration from all the moments lived and people met along the way.

[Jaime T · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks Rob for going on a crazy adventure and inspiring me and many others to try to live more sustainably to protect the amazing Earth we live on. (imo it's great to read Robinson Crusoe before, because then you get to appreciate how much better this book is lol i hated RC)

I found out about Rob on Youtube first. It was a video about foraging for beginners. This was unheard of to me! Here was this guy, picking plants off the ground, eating them, and doing it all barefoot! I immediately started researching foraging and learning from Rob, and started doing what he did! I saw his video about how he lived with only a backpack - only 44 total possessions!! This was such a cool lifestyle. I knew the modern, materialistc, consumerist lifestyle was not the way to be happy in this life!

Then I found out he wrote a book. So I rushed to get it and started reading. This was a story unlike anything I've read. Rob went across the States with his bike with not a single dollar in his pocket. The lessons he learned which he wrote about were insightful and struck deep into my heart and my way of life. Rob is definitely one of my top influences.

Here are some insightful quotes from the book that I found interesting (**SPOILERS**):

- Recycling is actually a highly energy- and resource-intensive process... it still has a far greater impact on the environment than not having that item to recycle in the first place.
- Problems in food like salmonella in eggs are due to factory farming, not fresh organic and cage-free eggs. Money-driven, large-scale industrial farming leads to these problems in foods.
- The average meal in America travels 1500 miles from farm to fork.
- I've learned to become very thankful for biting insects because they are a sign of warmth. When the temperature drops below a certain threshold most insects die off. Better than biting cold.
- Be a good person, live a healthy lifestyle, go out of your way to help others, share your knowledge, your possessions and your life. By being a good person you will inspire others to be good and that is the ripple effect that can change the world.
- By putting myself in challenging situations and removing the luxuries of life I come to appreciate them so much more. Change your perspective and you'll change your life.
- Cars kill millions of birds each year. Bikes kill next to none.
- This was just another example of mind over matter. It's all about having a positive attitude. Positivity creates greatness.
- If you don't support oil, then don't drive a car. Bike or walk.
- If you don't support pesticides and GMOs, then buy organic food.
- If you don't support wasting electricity, then switch to CFL or LED bulbs and pay attention to your usage.
- If you don't support landfills, then start recycling and composting and don't use one-time-use items.
- If you don't support horrible treatment of animals, then start eating a plant-based diet.
- If you don't support wasting water, then take shorter showers, do less laundry and pay attention to how much water you're dumping down the drain.
- Never give up. Take breaks, take time to think, modify your methods of achieving your goals as needed, but NEVER GIVE UP.
- Modern toilets use between 1.2 to 1.6 gallons per flush.
- Faucets have a maximum flow rate of 2.2 gallons per minute.
- Showers have a maximum flow rate of 2.5 gallons per minute.
- Joe said, "Most factory farmers don't eat a thing they produce because they know what's in it." He meant all the chemicals and hormones that go into factory farming.
- Will Allen: "I believe we cannot have healthy communities without a healthy food system."
- The more possessions I have, the less freedom I have.
- As our accessories create convenience for us, they create inconvenience for the Earth, our environment, the people around us and even ourselves.
- Create the world you want to see around you. Live simple and you will live free.

[Readersaurus · Rating 1 out of 5]

I stayed up last night to finish this. Not because I loved it; because I couldn't face spending any part of today with Rob Greenfield.

This book would have made a nice one-page article. Everything useful would have fit, and I would not have had to read this immature, insufferable boor say things like: "This is why . . . I blow people's minds." (p.118) and "I'm overcoming [it] with grace." (p.114), or "Compared to the average human I am strong, brave, and courageous." (p.163), or go on and on about animal cruelty and meat animal living conditions and them have him write about the glorious day he spent sport fishing (torturing) "more than 50 bass" he had no intention of eating.

This book would have been so much stronger if the author had detailed how he planned and packed for this trip, what equipment was essential, what equipment he ended up not needing, how he financed the trip, a few historical and natural details about each of the towns or regions he traveled through, some science about bicycling, nutrition, the solar chargers he had, anything! Without them, this book is trivial and disappointing.

Here are the few things of interest from the book (and they are primarily things he mentioned briefly that I wanted to look up and get more information about):

Below the Surface - protecting water
Solar charger for laptop
Fact check whether all egg recalls for salmonella are from factory farmed/caged birds
What is a Powerpot?
League of American Bicyclists
BlueSign
Film Biz Recycling Sadly, out of business

Not normally a person who gloats at others' misfortunes, I cheered when his girlfriend called long distance to break up with him and was not surprised when his biking companion, Brent, refused to share his tent.

I only persevered and finished this book because my book group will be discussing it. I am "making a difference" by lending my library copy and making sure my book group buddy does not have to purchase her own copy, which will surely end up in a landfill.

Skip this book and watch some of his videos instead.
https://www.youtube.com/c/robgreenfield

[Fallon Willoughby · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank god. That is all I can say at this moment. Thank god I have finished this book.

First off, let me say props to Rob Greenfield for wanting to change the way we live on the Earth. It is great that he wants to inspire change, that he was willing to live so radically for 104 days, and that he did what he did.

However... The entire time I was reading this book, it almost felt like I was being reprimanded for not doing enough. He flat out lectures that we should not say we do not have the time to do something - it is our choice. He says he is a more courageous and strong human than normal humans. Constantly he utters such comments that are egotistical and condescending. I would write in a few quotes, but as it is an uncorrected gallery proof, I cannot do that without permission, so I'll go without.

I did learn quite a few crazy facts from the book. I liked reading about the Organic farms he visited. I also think it is stupid how much humans waste, and I've never understand how we throw so much good food into the trash. We need to create change, and we need to work on such things.

I will write more on this book later, but right now, I just need to step away from it.

[Dawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

A guy decides to make a statement by riding a bamboo bike he built across the country, eating only locally grown organic food or food that would have gone to waste (ie dumpster diving) and drinking only water he can find in nature or that would have been wasted (ie leaking pipes, fire hydrants, cooling hvac). He rides across one state never sitting on a bike seat, just to see if he can. OK, he's kinda crazy. Also successful. Along the way he gives interviews and meets lots of people, all who learn more about his story and the lessons he wants us all to internalize about what humans are doing to planet earth.

I'd give it more stars, but sometimes it got repetitive. Ride, get hot (or cold) find food, find water, find shelter, ride...etc. Still, it was interesting and enlightening (especially about the amount of food thrown away by retailers) and eye-opening.

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

I recently binged a lot of Robin Greenfield's Youtube videos and ordered his book on how to survive by gardening and foraging, and decided to check this one out as well. This is an older challenge he did where he biked across the country under rules to basically not do anything unsustainable (no cars, no electricity besides solar, no food that comes in plastic or is shipped from out of state, etc). The problems this book had were that it was not well edited (it wasn't meant to be, it was mostly his journaling/"liveblogging" through his trip) and contains some greenwashed depictions of animal agriculture (what exactly do they do with the older hens on the picture-perfect free range farm, then, Rob? and what habitat was destroyed for that field you describe the cows grazing on all day?) and some highlighting of 'sustainable brands' that I was suspicious of (of course some brands are better than others but if you're trying to be sustainable you shouldn't encourage people to buy new items from brands at all, and based on his more recent content I don't think he would endorse brands anymore). Overall fun and informative, and it does get you to notice all the unnecessary things you do that are terrible for the planet but you haven't stopped yet because you take them for granted and don't notice them most of the time. And it definitely calls you out if you've been sitting on a computer in a building all day and not interacting with the real world!
Below is a section I wanted to save (which I tried to screenshot but the library app wouldn't let me so I typed it up... and yes I fixed the missing commas because I couldn't help myself).

“Where we excel in intelligence, we lack the ability to coexist with the Earth, the elements, nature, and our surroundings. Like no other creature on the planet, we have evolved into needing an accessory or tool for everything we do. We’ve complicated the simplest of tasks. The daily activities we carry out just to survive have become impossibly complicated.
To sleep, we need a bed full of blankets and a roof over our head. To eat, we need cabinets and drawers full of utensils, dishes, pots and pans. We need refrigerators and ovens that use electricity and gas. Most of us no longer eat food whole and simple as it comes from the Earth. To drink water, we need it to pass through specialized pipes and systems. To wash ourselves, we need showers, soaps, gels, and scrubbing pads. To cover our bodies, we need closets and dressers full of fashionable clothing.
We can’t figure out where we are going without computer screens telling us. Most humans can’t even tell you which way is north or south in their own city, let alone walk through a forest without being completely lost. A deer or wolf can get where it’s going without the help of any accessory.
To move our bodies, we need cars and bikes and boats and shoes and special inserts for our shoes. We need a 2,000-plus pound accessory that runs on petroleum to get us to the store that’s a ten-minute walk away. To get simple exercise, we run on a treadmill or ride a stationary bike indoors, both of which take us nowhere and consume energy rather than create it. We have weights to lift and machines to push and pull on to shape our bodies into admirable forms. We can’t even poop without the help of a special seat and paper that comes from chopped-down trees.
All of the simplest things in life, we have turned into complicated tasks we can’t accomplish without accessories. Most humans never think twice about how convenient our lives are with all of these accessories. The sad thing is that as they create convenience for us, these accessories create inconvenience for the Earth, our environment, the people around us, and even ourselves. You don’t see the inconvenience being created because it’s outsourced. It is outsourced to the air around that was once pure, to the water that used to be pristine, to the humans who slave away in misery in enclosed buildings, to the huge holes in our Earth filled with trash, to the forests that are disappearing, and to the death of millions of creatures each day from pollution and destruction. To get the toilet paper we need, we destroy forests. To get the petroleum we need to run our cars, which pollute our air and water, we kill innocent people in far-off countries. To get the plastic, one-time-use items we need, we destroy lives and our planet.
All of these things are supposed to make our lives simpler, but just make them more complicated and intricate. We have to work long hours to afford all of this stuff. We are constantly trying to keep up with the times and buy the same stuff, just slightly updated, year after year. We need space to store it all and insurance to protect it. We need people to take care of it. We need more money to manage our stuff. Most accessories reduce simplicity and time to live and add stress and complication to our lives. We are so busy taking care of our stuff. The other creatures on this Earth get to live freely. Most of the humans I know have very little freedom and are always tied down by something.
Simplify your world and you will find yourself living a happier, healthier life. You will have time to do the things you actually want to do. You won’t have to work as much because you won’t need as much money. You won’t have to clean as much because you won’t have stuff to clean. Spend your time living, loving, eating, learning, exploring, breathing, exercising, and being outside. Spend your time with friends and family. Spend your time helping others and helping create a better world. Spend your time living out your dreams. Do what you really want to do. Do it for yourself and do it for the people around you and the Earth you live on. You only live this life once so make it the life you want.”

[Miriyam Burger · Rating 5 out of 5]

I DO KNOW ONE THING IN LIFE. THERE ARE SOMETIMES PEOPLE TO ADMIRE. BECAUSE THEY WANT TO LEARN THE WORLD SOMETHING. TO NOT DESTROY BUT TO KEEP ALIVE. THE PLANET EARTH IS DESPARETELY GOING TO BE DESTROYED BY OUR WASTING AND ALWAYS TO WANT MORE THAN IT IS ABLE TO PROVIDE. IT NEEDS SOME REST TO GROW AND DEVELOP AGAIN. TO RESTORE LIKE THE SEASONS WITHIN HER. WE NEVER GIVE HER ANY REST, BUT WANTING MORE AND BETTER; EVEN IF IT WILL DESTROY HER. THIS MAN IS REALLY AWARE OF THIS, THE TECHNICAL DEVELOPMENT IS EVEN CONSUMING THE OZON STRUCTURES. WHEN WE DON;T WANT TO LISTEN TO THIS, WE WILL FINALLY DESTROY OURSELVES IN BETWEEN ; IT IS GOOD THAT SOME PEOPLE ARE WARNING US AND WANT TO FIND A BETTER WAY OF LIVING, OF BEING AN EXAMPLE AND SPECIALLY OF WARNING ITS INHABITANTS.

[Bob · Rating 2 out of 5]

A friend gave me this as a Christmas gift as I love to bike and am conscientious environmentalist. The book was about the exploits of a "dude" who rides cross-country on a bamboo bike only eating organic food or stuff he finds in dumpsters. It was interesting, and the guy makes some good points. But I found him to be a bit wacky, like riding barefoot across Iowa, and without a saddle for extended periods. Bike safety was probably not a big priority for him.

[Molly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the idea of the book. I feel like I just finished binge-reading a blog though. To be fair, he told me in the beginning of the book that he basically just printed his blog posts, but I was really hoping someone would’ve helped him edit it into an enjoyable reading book.

I’m glad I read it though. Rob is an inspiration. He probably wrote the book better than I could have, but I hope he gets some help putting his thoughts on paper for his next book.

[Melinda Brinkman · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I admire the guy's passion, he falls into the same category as a lot of blog writers; you know, fine for a brief read every couple of days but just not able to compose an entire book. I was so thankful the book is finished.

[Paola Suarez · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book because I knew about Rob through watching his YouTube videos. I'm grateful that I "met" Rob through his YouTube videos instead of this book first. I was surprised by how much I didn't care for Rob's personality via reading this book. I don't know if it's the blog format or just a lack of explanation in terms of relationships or thoughts, but Rob came off as really insensitive, fanatical, and just annoying. I think that his message of waking people up to climate change and our relationship with the environment is so important.

With that in mind, I think the repetitiveness of the narration is not helpful. I think it would have been great if an editor could have worked with him; to make it more about the relationships and the thoughts, instead of just the mundane activities. I forced myself to finish reading it because I do not believe in writing a review without reading the entire book. Also, I wanted to do it justice because I love watching Rob's videos.

I think the message of the book is important. However, there were many times when it felt very abrasive and condescending. I also felt like there isn't enough talk about the privilege that comes along with what Rob was doing. There's no conversation about how most people with children or disabilities or health problems or who are not white-bodied and male would have a difficult time doing what is being asked of people in this book. Also, as an aside, I found it a bit disturbing the lack of empathy that Rob had for people who would not feel comfortable seeing him naked. Rob didn't seem to take into account children who might not have a positive experience seeing a naked man or women who have a past of sexual trauma who would also not appreciate that. And this was again surprising because that's not the energy that I got from Rob from watching his videos. I feel like he tried to address some of these points via blog post links at the end of the book that however his would have been better if it was integrated into the book itself. I think it's something that could have played a larger part in the book. I feel as though I read a rough draft of a book that could be better.

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

The beginning started off really strong. I found the end to be less about his journey and his experience and more about guilt tripping people. I will not be the person to go dumpster diving and it made me cringe every time he talked about it. However, it did make me aware that companies should try to cut back on waste the best they can. He went a very drastic way to make a point to only end with how he can’t wait to get back to electricity, cars, etc. I enjoyed reading his journey but could have gone without the shaming

[Shawnee Darlene · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have followed Rob for a few years through his many projects by way of social media. He has a wonderful message of doing good for the planet and others. This book is about him biking across the country and is formatted by day and like blog posts. There were quite a few typos and formatting issues if we want to be technical. However it is a good and easily digestible read that I recommend anyone to take the time and pick up.

[Jane Halloran · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was really inspiring. I think sometimes Rob comes off as a little harsh in the way that not all Americans can follow a perfectly sustainable lifestyle. I think we can all make changes, however, being a single white man with no kids definitely gives Rob the privilege to be able to live the life he lives. I still thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and plan to go vegan and use my car as little as possible.

[Kerri Ana · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s entertaining and inspiring, but I couldn’t help but cringe often at the author’s unexamined privilege. I suspect this would have been written different today than last decade, but from the change in society and from the change that comes from more time on the planet and ability to self-reflect. Still, I pushed through rather than hurl the book across the room, and was glad to have done that.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was simply a phenomenon book. I absolutely adored this book, it’s positive message and thrilling adventure we get to discover alongside Robin is amazing. With some silly moments and inspiring moments, I had fun all around while reading. Being a huge fan of Robin Greenfield and his work before reading the book, makes me even more excited for what’s in store for Robin Greenfield and what he does next. I can’t wait to read his newest release!

[Derek Ludwig · Rating 3 out of 5]

1. Rob rode his bike across the country while being earth friendly
2. Advice to anybody who wants to make the world a better place is to start with yourself. Be a good person, live a healthy lifestyle, go out of your way to help others, share your knowledge and passions
3. Appreciate the simple things in life and try to be happy with whatever comes your way

[River Guru · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rob has some crazy to some ideas, but overall gives everyone something to think about. Whether you've been practicing sustainability for years or are new to the game-Rob will inspire us all to do more good. Highly recommend.

[Kalene Fowler · Rating 2 out of 5]

Enjoyed the book until halfway through where things started getting redundant and very high and mighty. He said that he was better than most Americans, made people feel guilty for wanting to live in a place with AC and said most American homes are "evil".

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so inspirational! I am a huge fan of Rob Greenfield and appreciate his character. He is doing so much to help spread environmental awareness. This book showcases one of Rob’s ways of living in freedom!

[Keith Potts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rob Greenfield is one determined person. Makes me think seriously about what I am consuming on a daily basis. If he can do what he did during his journey, I can make a difference as well. Oh and he is SO positive! Can't help but inspire you to be a glass half-full .. even overflowing.

[Abigail Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although I thought the ideas this guy puts forth are really compelling, at first I found his tone/writing flat and it was hard to read with enjoyment. But as I went along his story began to sweep me up and by the end I felt amazed, humbled, and inspired. He's given me a lot to think about.