Desert Soliloquy Second Edition: A Perfectly Sane Misanthrope Hides in the Desert

by David Rice

"Desert Soliloquy. A Perfectly Sane Misanthrope Hides in the Desert" is like combining Walden with Blazing Saddles with a bit of history about the East Mojave Desert. How I interacted with the desert and the people I encountered while living in "my" cave is the theme that binds the manuscript together. I performed several decades of original research on the region and the historical people who passed through the East Mojave, and I have included the most interesting historical events (such as the "last great gun fight" in the USA Southwest) in an easy, humorous narrative. Starting in year 2000, I spent 29 months living alone in a cave in the desolate wilderness of the Avawatz Mountain Range (which borders the southeast side of Death Valley).

426 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 17, 2018

Reviews

[David Rice · Rating 5 out of 5]

“It’s a cynical, outrageous, politically incorrect, foul-mouthed and absolutely hilarious modern-day Walden.” — Douglas Preston (author of Lost City of the Monkey God).

“David is my favorite curmudgeon. I thoroughly enjoyed every page!” — Wonderhussy (Las Vegas Showgirl)

“Hysterically funny, but in a ‘twisted genius’ way.” — Nadia Teeze (Exotic Dancer and Contortionist)

[Fredric Rice · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel was difficult to put down, I found myself staying up all night reading to find out what happened next, it was witty and informative as well as disturbing at times.

Millions of Americans, and tens of millions of people around the globe have downloaded a pamphlet from The Skeptic Tank entitled “Vanishing Point: How to disappear in America Without a Trace,” and about ten thousand new downloads of the web page is accessed every month, a phenomena which shows considerable interest in people’s desires to walk away from everything and disappear.
Several years ago, a guy who is known the world over by the name “Desertphile” did that, driving off in to the Mojave Desert, ditching his pickup truck, and walked off in to the dry, demanding environment to live in a cave for 18 months, experiencing the harsh living conditions and enjoying the companionship of other, four-legged denzines of the desert.

Several years after the experience, after re-joining humanity (albeit currently living and working on a cattle ranch in New Mexico with very few people crowding in) Desertphile wrote about his adventures, drawing from numerous hand-written volumes of notes and observations that he made while living in a shallow cave.

The novel, “Desert Soliloquy: A Perfectly Sane Misanthrope Hides in the Desert” is the culmination of authorship which sought to describe what it was like to just walk away, something that millions, tens of millions of people around the world would love to do themselves.

If you ever thought about getting away from everything, about just walking off or driving off in to the wilderness, whether mountains, deserts, or in to a teeming, crowded city, you should read Desert Soliloquy, it offers witty, stark, gritty commentary not just on desert life alone by yourself but also stark, truthful insights in to grubby humanity and some of humanity’s worse faults, faults which motivate so many of us to wish to emulate Desertphile and just walk off in to the sunset.

[Carlton Phelps · Rating 4 out of 5]

For me it was a bit interesting at times and just seems to be a man who feels sorry for the human race or hates it. The interesting parts were his ways to survive in a place that worked against him and how people reacted when he went to town. Justified distrust by his own description of himself. He made fun of people around them without any thoughts that they were trying to get away from humanity, like him, just for a shorter time.
It seems in the end he found a way to live with humanity by working on a ranch and following the Zen way.

[Den Warren · Rating 1 out of 5]

No one should patronize this bigoted author, who goes around looking for Christian works to give bad ratings to without rating the merits on how the work was written. I have used him (his negative reviews) as a guide to find the best Christian works to read.

We Christian authors post free works because we care about people's souls. We don't ask for anything in return. The most important thing you can do in life is to accept Jesus as your Lord.

John 3:16
King James Version
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

All David wants to do is to convince you not to consider the truth of the Word of God by blasting articles as soon as they come out, discouraging readers not to look at them. This is a mission that is driven by his own problems with God.

Anything he writes is bound to be intellectually dishonest and not worthy of any of your time.

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I received this book as part of Good Reads' First Reads program.

This book is a memoir of a guy who tires of the rat race and decides to drop out and live in a cave in the Mojave Desert. He originally planned to stay there about 4 months, and ended up spending over 2 years. He describes how to survive in the extreme heat of the desert summer and deep cold of the winter nights. How he scavenged for various items needed to make his life a little easier, how he setup a still with some cans, plastic sheeting and a rock to provide himself with water, how he created a stove out of an old can after his camp stove finally consumed itself, and how he disguised his truck to make it look like it was abandoned. Along the way he contemplates his life and generally how people are living in the modern world. Overall, a very interesting with ample humor, and I'd recommend it.

[Melina Ahl · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book took me hostage for two days!

Words cannot adequately describe just how awesome this book is. The word selection and usage is genius; the wit and humor is beyond genius; the interesting history of the East Mojave was "icing on the cake." After reading the book I was depressed because it ended, and I am planning on reading it again in a few days: it is that excellent. Do yourself a favor and buy this book.

[Milo · Rating 5 out of 5]

The world's entire body of words in all languages are not enough to describe just how much I love this book. The stories are written in the first person point of view (as it is a memoir), and are brilliantly written. The history is also told with the flare of genius, and I now know more about the Mojave desert than I ever expected to and it was fun to learn. I think I will wait a week and read it again, it is that good.

[Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

If 3.5 were an option, that is what I would give this book. I really enjoyed the vignettes of Mojave Desert history peppered throughout the book.

[Yuu · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this, though I'm not sure I'd be able to describe why. Something to do with the author's turn of phrase and sarcasm combined with passion about the desert environment. Kind of cringe at times (aughhhh); it's an unvarnished account. But that could be a plus depending on how you look at it.

I listened to the audiobook (not currently listed on goodreads), which is read by the author. If you're someone who requires a polished performance, this isn't it, but I felt it really added to the experience.

[Mitch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Insanely good.

Rice has penned a book so crazy, so weird, so surreal that it automatically qualifies as a freaking masterpiece. He is a true master and a great purveyor of truth, justice and the American way.

[Melina Ahl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Words fail to express just how good this book is. It would seem that I now have internal organ damage due to laughing too hard. If you love exceptional books with an exceptional and unique voice, this is the book you have been looking for.