The Butterfly Hunter: Adventures of People Who Found Their True Calling Way Off the Beaten Path

by Chris Ballard

Do we each have a dream job that we are, by nature or nurture, uniquely meant for? To answer this question, Chris Ballard set out to talk to people who found work they love way off the beaten path. The Butterfly Hunter is a rollicking narrative of what he discovered, and reveals insights the rest of us can use to find passion in our work.

The Butterfly Hunter begins its roundup of quirky characters in unusual professions with Spiderman Mulholland, a former Marine, who rappels to suicidal spots on sheer building faces to assess damage or make repairs. (And yes, that’s his legal name.) Through Spiderman, Ballard learns that one can find a calling by following one’s wildest idiosyncrasies. Along the way he learns the history of window-washing, why it is that some people enter risky professions, and the best way to jump off a 230-foot building.

His adventures continue as he meets America’s top lumberjill, an NFL kicking coach who has never kicked a ball in his life, a MacArthur genius who’s spent his life in remote jungles chasing butterflies, and the movie trailer voice-over artist known as the Voice of God.

These ten characters each reveal an aspect of the search for a life’s work, and reaffirm for Ballard that we, too, can discover a calling if only we look in the right place. As with true love, there aren’t seven steps to finding it, but The Butterfly Hunter  teaches us what it looks like when it’s real.

Genres: Nonfiction

288 pages, Hardcover

First published April 18, 2006

Reviews

[Kressel Housman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I began this book immediately after attempting Working by Studs Terkel, and it turned out to be an interesting follow-up. Whereas the interviewees in Working are people with ordinary jobs who, for the most part, are griping about them, this book is about people with extraordinary jobs, and all of them love what they do. The subjects include a mother-daughter team who run a handwriting analysis business, a lady lumberjack, and the recently deceased voiceover artist featured in the movie “In a World.” My favorite by far, though, was the wheelchair-bound football coach. He’s never kicked a football, but he’s got an eye for technique, so he can explain the moves to players better than the “regular” coaches can demonstrate it. I liked that chapter particularly because that was where the author best delved into the issue of the impracticality of following your passion. After all, what could be more impractical than a man in a wheelchair pursuing a career as a football coach?

But the book is not a whole-hearted argument for “following your passion.” All the people featured in the book did precisely that, but they did suffer setbacks. The football coach, for example, went further with his career than anyone could have predicted, yet not as far as he himself wanted. The lady lumberjack suffered injuries that kept her out of work. So inspiring as it was to read about these people who made money by doing what they love best, they are a minority. Most of us end up like the people in Working. And so, my feeling is pretty much the same as when I read So Good They Can't Ignore You, which is a strong argument against “following your passion” into a career. As I said when I finished that book, isn’t there a happy medium? Can’t I be practical and enjoy my work? I guess my current read shows how much I’m looking for the answer. It’s called Should I Go to Grad School? I’ll keep you posted.

[Subrus · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had picked this book up searching for inspirational stories of people. It is a collection of stories of people who have found professional satisfaction in non traditional vocations like handwriting analysis or Mullholand the human Spider-Man who does forensic examinations of building to name to name a couple. The chapters are a tad long, some of them are tedious to read. I skimmed through some of the pages in there.

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was interesting but I was looking for more conclusions about work. The opening chapter was strong but the conclusion much less so. The stories are interesting though.

[Mae Lees · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting read as I consider going back to work. Not many conclusions drawn by the author but I kinda like that. It’s more about these people’s stories.

[Allison · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting book about people who have the unusual passion for their jobs that most people aspire to and only few people achieve. The author follows a different professional in each chapter in a very diverse set of fields. There is a skyscraper inspector, a artificial eye maker, a female lumberjack competitor, a historically accurate model train builder, researcher who studies work, the voice of many trailers and other advertisements, a mushroom gathering man, a handwriting analyst, a disabled football coach, and a butterfly hunter. Each job comes with its own sets of rewards (monetarily and otherwise) with the common thread being that each individual absolutely loves what he does. It was an interesting book and somewhat inspiring to hear each tale, but also a bit depressing since I have never found anything that I am that passionate about.

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had this in my middle school library collection and picked it up, curious to see what it was about. I had a hard time getting into the collection of stories about people and their odd jobs. The author interviews people to find out if they consider their job a calling. There are some interesting parts about what people do and why they do it. There were quite a few swear words and the f bomb which is fine for adults. I felt the subject matter and the language are not appropriate for my kiddos so I will not be recommending it to any children.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an incredibly enjoyable book. It was well written, interesting, and engaging. It was also inspirational, especially to someone (like me) who is undergoing a re-evaluation of life goals and how those intersect with career.

Ballard conducted intensive in-person interviews and spent time on the job with each person highlighted in the book. Additionally, he draws in outside research (cited, thank you) where appropriate.

Overall, one of the most worthwhile "What Color is Your Parachute" books I've ever read.

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

What happens when you take an obsession or passion and turn it into a brilliant way of life?
Chris Ballard tells the stories of several folks with very unusual jobs, careers,and original walks of life and he tells them with well researched information, humor and affection. I was facinated by these most extraordinary lives.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Chris Ballard is a talented writer and quite engaging. The stories of the different people are interesting but each one is too long. I didn't read each chapter in entirety, I lost interest after the initial story was covered about each one. I skimmed the balance of each chapter and moved on. I would have loved for him to have broadened his scope of subjects and covered each one more concisely.

[Abbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book interviews and follows several different people's lives and their quirky careers they've made out of their passions. It is quite endearing and inspirational, it challenges you to make your own way and to live life doing what you love.

[Alonzo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book! I plan to get a copy and read and reread it! The idea that someone can earn a living tramping around in the woods, etc., is one that I want to trumpet from the rooftops! Happy butterfly hunting!

[Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is basically a series of essays about people in unconventional jobs -female competitive lumberjack, glass eyeball maker, voice-over professional, etc. The common thread is the single-minded passion these people have for their craft. It's an interesting glimpse into other people's lives.

[eliza]

I know this sounds like a lame self-help book, but I read an interview of the author, and it's really just a nonfiction about a bunch of quirky people who have even quirkier jobs. Sweetness

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

It put my girlfriend to sleep, but it's a great read if you want to see what drives people who are passionate about their work.

[Jodie]

I'd love to know what I SHOULD be doing. :)

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really interesting book for people who aren't sure what to do with their lives. These are some careers you would never dream up!

[Dorothy R]

Liked the premise, not 100% a fan of the writing style, not that there was anything really wrong with it. Just not a preferred style.

[Raluca · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting topic but I didn't like how it was written. I thought it was dragging and un inspiring. I would of liked the author to be more playful.

[Scott Herrigstad · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn't finish it due to time factors however I will most likely pick it up again.

[John Stoner · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very inspirational look at people who did not follow the ''norms" of society and followed what they loved and made careers out of it. I find this a good book to read for time to time.

[Kuba · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very useful collection of stories about passionate people who live their calling instead of work for a living. A great read for readers looking for inspiration.

[Carolyn Page · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an inspiration--somebody has to hunt the butterflies. If you want to do it, why shouldn't you be the one?