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Escape Everything!: Escape from work. Escape from consumerism. Escape from despair.
We will each spend an average of 87,000 hours at work before we die. We will spend another 5,000 hours getting to and from work and countless more preparing for work. Worrying about work. Recovering from work. The majority of us hate our jobs. But without work, we can't buy all the things we've been told we should want and need, so around we go. Through the pages of New Escapologist magazine, Robert Wringham has been studiously examining the traps of modern life, questioning where our commitment to them stems from and why we are so unable to break free. Taking inspiration from the great Escapologist Harry Houdini—who escaped from jail cells, straitjackets, and even the innards of a dead whale—Wringham applies Houdini's feats as a metaphor for real life, proposing the principle of Escapology as a way to cut loose our shackles. Become a modern-day Escapologist and freedom and happiness might be possible after all.
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First published November 12, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
May 28, 2017
This isn't a bad book, objectively speaking. It goes over a lot of interesting concepts related to minimalism, early retirement, and happiness. Many of these topics are familiar to those in the Financial Independence community, but this bundled them together neatly.
That being said, it took me over 14 months to read this book. I have no idea why, but reading each page took a ridiculous amount of effort and concentration. I don't know if it was the writing style, the topic, the typeface, or what, but I struggled mightily to make myself read this book.
That being said, it took me over 14 months to read this book. I have no idea why, but reading each page took a ridiculous amount of effort and concentration. I don't know if it was the writing style, the topic, the typeface, or what, but I struggled mightily to make myself read this book.
February 25, 2016
An inspiring treatise on how to escape from "the Trap". Most people are stuck in the Trap, and past and current UK governments have made it very difficult to escape because you are left mired in debt. There are no easy solutions but the author makes out an excellent case for getting your life back and escaping from wage slavery. Excellent read particularly for young people who haven't got themselves inextricably caught in the Trap. Luckily I have now escaped, but I wish I'd read this book 30 years ago.
March 3, 2016
Lazy, solipsistic polemic on 9-5 office jobs. Offers nothing useful, poor long-term financial planning and some awful smug contributions from random people who don't have dull jobs but like dog walking, tea drinking etc. WHO CARES?
September 4, 2019
In one way, it is a collection of essays in a how-to feel not unlike Tom Hodgkinson's How to be Idle / How to be Free books. But it also feels different. Hodgkinson's works come from a place of casting off. Giving up the fancy life to a simpler, freer life you enjoy more. Here, Wringham describes a life lived free from the jump. The realization that you are already living the happier life than you would have were you stuck doing something eight to ten hours a day that you didn't want to do for the ability to pay for an address you were told was better. But isn't. It's the same idea, in the end - live your life more simply, more freely. But this one reminds you of what's simple in your life already, and how to monopolize on it.
January 24, 2018
Dieses Buch ist nichts für mich. Weder die (geringen) philosophischen Anteile noch der (un)praktische Teil der praktischen Tipps scheint mir verwertbar. Im-kreisdrehendes-Geschwafel, Wiederholungen ohne Ende. Mehr Rechtfertigung eines wohl selbst gefühlten Drückebergerlebens. Jedenfalls werde ich dieses Buch in die Freiheit entlassen und der freien Wildbahn übergeben. In unserem Ort gibt es Büchertelefonhäuschen. Vielleicht hat ein angehender Freigeist mehr Vergnügen mit diesem Buch.
June 27, 2017
Der Anfang war super, ein schöner Scheinwerfer auf die Konstruktion unserer Gesellschaft und der Absurdität von Büroarbeit.
Wurde dann leider zum Ende hin etwas seltsam und bekam ein polemisches, religiöses bis sektenartiges Geschmäckle. Das war dann auch der Moment als ich es zur Seite legte.
Wurde dann leider zum Ende hin etwas seltsam und bekam ein polemisches, religiöses bis sektenartiges Geschmäckle. Das war dann auch der Moment als ich es zur Seite legte.
July 19, 2019
Let’s embrace the bohemian lifestyle.
February 23, 2020
Krankheit hat ihre Vorteile, man kann einiges abarbeiten. Ich war sozusagen auch raus.
"Ich bin raus"- nach Einleitung und Vorwort war ich schon versucht, das Buch wieder wegzulegen, arbeitete mich dann aber dennoch durch und wurde weder enttäuscht, noch beglückt.
Ein paar interessante Einblicke und Impulse habe ich mitgenommen, aber es gibt bereits sehr viel Literatur zum Thema und es ist schwer, da neue Einblicke geliefert zu bekommen.
Was mich zudem gestört hat, war die ständige Werbung für den "New Escapologist", der inzwischen eingestellt wurde und die anekdotische Beweisführung.
Weiterhin sind die pop-kulturellen Referenzen für den deutschen Kulturraum nicht immer verständlich und ich hätte mir ein Literaturverzeichnis am Ende gewünscht.
"Ich bin raus"- nach Einleitung und Vorwort war ich schon versucht, das Buch wieder wegzulegen, arbeitete mich dann aber dennoch durch und wurde weder enttäuscht, noch beglückt.
Ein paar interessante Einblicke und Impulse habe ich mitgenommen, aber es gibt bereits sehr viel Literatur zum Thema und es ist schwer, da neue Einblicke geliefert zu bekommen.
Was mich zudem gestört hat, war die ständige Werbung für den "New Escapologist", der inzwischen eingestellt wurde und die anekdotische Beweisführung.
Weiterhin sind die pop-kulturellen Referenzen für den deutschen Kulturraum nicht immer verständlich und ich hätte mir ein Literaturverzeichnis am Ende gewünscht.
August 13, 2016
I'm a big fan of "The New Escapologist", the quirky journal edited by Robert Wringham, so I had to check out his book when it came out this year. I put in a request for my local library to acquire it, but so far they haven't come through, so I went ahead and got the Kindle version (using, in part, the class-action e-book pricing settlement credit I got from Amazon--woohoo!).
The book is largely a distillation of stuff he's written in TNE magazine--so nothing too new, but also, pretty enjoyable throughout. I think his style works a tiny bit better in article form than in book form--he embraces a sort of enthusiastic dilettantism that seems more suited to topical musings than the extended argument found in this book. But still, it holds together as a pretty coherent approach to thinking about life. I think there's a lot of wisdom here, even for those of us not actively trying to leave our jobs. As someone who works from home, I often struggle with allowing myself the freedom not to be at my desk 9-5. It's amazing how powerful some aspects of societal conditioning are. I'm getting better about it, but it's a process, and Wringham is certainly a helpful gadfly to have in your corner.
Very worthwhile, as well, is the "missing bibliography" for this book that Wringham published online--you can find it here:
http://newescapologist.co.uk/2016/04/...
The book is largely a distillation of stuff he's written in TNE magazine--so nothing too new, but also, pretty enjoyable throughout. I think his style works a tiny bit better in article form than in book form--he embraces a sort of enthusiastic dilettantism that seems more suited to topical musings than the extended argument found in this book. But still, it holds together as a pretty coherent approach to thinking about life. I think there's a lot of wisdom here, even for those of us not actively trying to leave our jobs. As someone who works from home, I often struggle with allowing myself the freedom not to be at my desk 9-5. It's amazing how powerful some aspects of societal conditioning are. I'm getting better about it, but it's a process, and Wringham is certainly a helpful gadfly to have in your corner.
Very worthwhile, as well, is the "missing bibliography" for this book that Wringham published online--you can find it here:
http://newescapologist.co.uk/2016/04/...
August 9, 2024
Robert Wringham is cut form the same cloth as The Deserter Blog (my favourite podcast) and Tom Hodgkinson (The Idler Magazine). All calling for an alternative way of life.
The tag line would is "Be an appreciator, rather than a consumer".
So we have Robert's plans for living a good life and leaving the rat race behind. Common ideas like minimalism, universal wages, not keeping up withe the jones, buying experiences rather than things, and what people say on their deathbed are discussed. Always good for a catch up.
Told with a non patronising and darkly humourous style. I can't really fault the logic or the ideas or the go for it mentally. In fact, I have recently escaped/deserted myself. Like the book says, I can always go back.
Things I would have liked - Be nice to see this argument now that commuting is not such a thing. Many work from home, where if you get the balance right and use tools (AI), you can potentially escape on a paid salary. Best of both worlds. Plus, if commuting is taken away and you can "work your way", office politics and his bug bear of strip lighting disappear completely.
Secondly, there are loads of good references to other works/people. I have made notes as I read along. A bibliography or future reading page would have been spiffing.
A design for life.
The tag line would is "Be an appreciator, rather than a consumer".
So we have Robert's plans for living a good life and leaving the rat race behind. Common ideas like minimalism, universal wages, not keeping up withe the jones, buying experiences rather than things, and what people say on their deathbed are discussed. Always good for a catch up.
Told with a non patronising and darkly humourous style. I can't really fault the logic or the ideas or the go for it mentally. In fact, I have recently escaped/deserted myself. Like the book says, I can always go back.
Things I would have liked - Be nice to see this argument now that commuting is not such a thing. Many work from home, where if you get the balance right and use tools (AI), you can potentially escape on a paid salary. Best of both worlds. Plus, if commuting is taken away and you can "work your way", office politics and his bug bear of strip lighting disappear completely.
Secondly, there are loads of good references to other works/people. I have made notes as I read along. A bibliography or future reading page would have been spiffing.
A design for life.
April 2, 2019
Das Buch hat einiges in meinem Denken in Gang gesetzt. Doch aber den Wegen aus dem Konsum hat es mcih ein wenig verloren, denn dieser extreme Minimalimus der hier vorgeschlagen wird ist nichts für mich. Ich habe mir auch die genannten Webseiten ein wenig angesehen. (Manche sind kaum mehr aktiv.) Ich wünsche allen die so leben wollen viel Erfolg, doch für mich ist es eher weniger etwas.
Nichts destotrotz fand ich besonders das Kapitel über Wege aus der Arbeit sehr interessante und einige davon werde ich auch ausprobieren.
Obwohl ich nicht mit allem einer Meinung bin, bietet das Buch einiges an Wissen udn eine völlig neue Perspektive. Ich sage also trotzdem: Lesenswert!
Nichts destotrotz fand ich besonders das Kapitel über Wege aus der Arbeit sehr interessante und einige davon werde ich auch ausprobieren.
Obwohl ich nicht mit allem einer Meinung bin, bietet das Buch einiges an Wissen udn eine völlig neue Perspektive. Ich sage also trotzdem: Lesenswert!
July 14, 2017
Encouraging and fun. This is anarchy and revolution in a non-threatening and very appealing way. As a Tertiary Franciscan this is a very helpful book as it sets out in a practical way the journey/routes to a simpler, more joyful life. However as someone with a faith basis this book struck me as a slightly selfish manifesto and I would prefer a focus which took the needs of others into account. All in all though I would definitely pick this up to read again at some point.
June 9, 2019
If you're familiar with FIRE/ERE/etc., there isn't much new here. A lot of overlap between this book, Early Retirement Extreme, and The Freedom Manifesto. This is probably the easiest read and most enjoyable of the three.
If you aren't familiar with these books, and a mainstream consumer life seems like the default path, and you haven't considered much else, you should read it, it'll open up new worlds for you.
If you aren't familiar with these books, and a mainstream consumer life seems like the default path, and you haven't considered much else, you should read it, it'll open up new worlds for you.
November 16, 2018
I love his style of writing - very witty and amusing.
Will I escape from the drudgery of work myself? Who knows? I don't find it too drudgeful at present :)
Either way, this book does argue for less consumerism and to wake up (or sleep in!), slow down and smell the roses. Which can't be bad.
Will I escape from the drudgery of work myself? Who knows? I don't find it too drudgeful at present :)
Either way, this book does argue for less consumerism and to wake up (or sleep in!), slow down and smell the roses. Which can't be bad.
July 5, 2017
Sehr echt und sehr persönlich
September 20, 2020
Perfekt! Eines der wenigen Bücher, die ich immer wieder lesen kann.
September 4, 2023
Impassioned, largely impractical; this is not a book that will give you exact financial advice on retiring early. It is very human, and a lovely alternative perspective for those of us in the work-to-live trap.
May 16, 2024
Kurzweilig zu lesen, wenn man sich aber schon mit den Themen Frugalismus, Minimalismus etc. Auseinander gesetzt hat, ist der Anteil neuer Erkenntnisse eher gering.
August 20, 2019
Escape Everything! is a delightful rebuttal of the average consumer lifestyle in Western society. Wringham gives examples of alternative methods of work and leisure, and does so in witty, not-too-serious style.
It is part memoir, part case study, and part philosophical essay where the concepts of work, debt, and over-consumption are described as "traps" which can be escaped in the method of stage magicians like Houdini.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book for its ability to cover so many topics while still remaining relatable and entertaining.
It is part memoir, part case study, and part philosophical essay where the concepts of work, debt, and over-consumption are described as "traps" which can be escaped in the method of stage magicians like Houdini.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book for its ability to cover so many topics while still remaining relatable and entertaining.
March 7, 2016
Clear guide to The Good Life. In terms of no nonsense (ok, there is a little nonsense) advice on life and goals, Escape Everything is on par with The War of Art. My only gripe is the amount of time spent on the "why" of escapology vs the "how". I would guess most of us are already converted by the time we pick up the book, but are not yet escapees.
November 17, 2016
Sachbuch.
Unterhaltsame Erklärung einer nicht Standartmässigen Lebensweise, mit Tipps und Ratschlägen wie man ein solches Leben realisieren könnte.
Einige gute Passagen mit interessanten Ideen, im grossen und ganzen aber nichts neues.
Unterhaltsame Erklärung einer nicht Standartmässigen Lebensweise, mit Tipps und Ratschlägen wie man ein solches Leben realisieren könnte.
Einige gute Passagen mit interessanten Ideen, im grossen und ganzen aber nichts neues.
January 27, 2017
A little disappointed as was expecting a bit more new stuff. If you have followed New Escapologist and have a reasonable acquaintance with Idler then there is a lot of familiar material here. Does point people to early retirement extreme which I enjoyed a lot.
December 28, 2023
Loved it. Practicable, readable and inspiring. An essential read for anyone interested in leaving behind the soul-sickening default of a lifetime spent in the work-consume-debt cycle.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews