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Life 2.0: How People Across America Are Transforming Their Lives by Finding the Where of Their Happiness
Do You Know Where Your Happiness Lies?
In The Purpose Driven Life, I consider the question “What on earth am I here for?” This book considers another important question: “Where on earth should I be living?” Is where you live worth the stress? No one is forcing you to stay where you are. It’s your choice. —From the foreword by Dr. Rick Warren, author of The Purpose Driven Life
Would you be happier if you lived somewhere else? A place where the quality of life is greater than the cost of living? Such places do exist—you just have to look a little harder to find them. The answer probably doesn’t lie in the big coastal cities: the cost-of-living gap between those urban areas and the heartland is an immense chasm. And yet the “sophistication gap” between these regions is steadily shrinking—cable tv, computers, fax machines, cell phones, and broadband Internet access are making it possible to work almost anywhere.
Forbes publisher Rich Karlgaard wanted to explore the new appeal of “flyover” country, and he decided to sky-hop around America in a single-engine Cessna, talking to people—those with a nose for entrepreneurship, a faith in technology, and the willingness to take a chance—who found their bliss in places like Green Bay, Wisconsin; Des Moines, Iowa; and Bozeman, Montana.
America offers up scores of these gems—cities and towns with a winning combination of low cost of living and high quality of life—and Karlgaard provides an in-depth look at the country’s 150 cheapest (and greatest) places to live.
Life 2.0 is the story of those who are living larger lives in smaller places, and a road map for those who want to follow their lead.
Where is your happiness? Check out Life 2.0’s “150 Cheapest Places to Live” section, featuring dozens of cities and towns that offer the good life at a great price.
In The Purpose Driven Life, I consider the question “What on earth am I here for?” This book considers another important question: “Where on earth should I be living?” Is where you live worth the stress? No one is forcing you to stay where you are. It’s your choice. —From the foreword by Dr. Rick Warren, author of The Purpose Driven Life
Would you be happier if you lived somewhere else? A place where the quality of life is greater than the cost of living? Such places do exist—you just have to look a little harder to find them. The answer probably doesn’t lie in the big coastal cities: the cost-of-living gap between those urban areas and the heartland is an immense chasm. And yet the “sophistication gap” between these regions is steadily shrinking—cable tv, computers, fax machines, cell phones, and broadband Internet access are making it possible to work almost anywhere.
Forbes publisher Rich Karlgaard wanted to explore the new appeal of “flyover” country, and he decided to sky-hop around America in a single-engine Cessna, talking to people—those with a nose for entrepreneurship, a faith in technology, and the willingness to take a chance—who found their bliss in places like Green Bay, Wisconsin; Des Moines, Iowa; and Bozeman, Montana.
America offers up scores of these gems—cities and towns with a winning combination of low cost of living and high quality of life—and Karlgaard provides an in-depth look at the country’s 150 cheapest (and greatest) places to live.
Life 2.0 is the story of those who are living larger lives in smaller places, and a road map for those who want to follow their lead.
Where is your happiness? Check out Life 2.0’s “150 Cheapest Places to Live” section, featuring dozens of cities and towns that offer the good life at a great price.
- GenresCultural
384 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2004
10 people are currently reading
92 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
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July 17, 2008I only made it a chapter or so into this book. It's just not at all was I had expected (and hoped for). I was hoping for something that would give someone (i.e. me) who might be thinking of relocating, things to think about in deciding where the "perfect" place for them may be. Maybe a comparison of city living, suburbs, small towns, etc. with some suggestions thrown in. I of course expected some stories of people who have relocated by choice, and was fine with that, but just by the profiles given in Chapter 1 it was clear that pretty much everyone in the book was a high-profile exec or big earner of some sort, who chose to leave city life for a small(er) town. I was still planning on sticking with this, as some of the societal obserations and commentary were interesting, but then the author started the next chapter with a several page description of the flight he flew when starting his research. This was following his disclaimer that "some people might think there is too much flying talk in this book, feel free to skip those parts." Well, quite frankly I wasn't interested enough in the other parts to weed through, so I just decided to give it up. I'm so glad I got it from the library. Now if I can only find something more along the lines of what I was looking for in the first place....
February 23, 2016
This book was a surprise. It was originally recommended for my wife to read as we were seeking what was next in our lives. This is delightful and worthwhile, especially if you are tired of where you are at and are wondering what lies over the next hill.
April 25, 2013
I ignored my basic rule about lifestyle / happiness / money books and looked at one from prior to the crash of 2008.
During the "pie-in-the-sky" time frame, this book would have had some merit. Now that the world is a vastly different place, that is no longer the case.
Lots of take your money and relocate to smaller locales and become penultimate consumers. If you are a high-buck exec, this book may still apply, but not applicable to average people -- then or now.
If we had a time machine and could travel back to 2004, I might give this one or two more stars, of course we don't have that so it gets one.
During the "pie-in-the-sky" time frame, this book would have had some merit. Now that the world is a vastly different place, that is no longer the case.
Lots of take your money and relocate to smaller locales and become penultimate consumers. If you are a high-buck exec, this book may still apply, but not applicable to average people -- then or now.
If we had a time machine and could travel back to 2004, I might give this one or two more stars, of course we don't have that so it gets one.
March 1, 2008
A nice quick read that describes the best places to live in the U.S. that are not in the big cities.
Want to read
June 19, 2009Okay, aside from some critiques on amazon, i am interested to see what the GRs community says about this one...
July 28, 2011
Interesting information about some locations, but the story that loosely held together the info was BORING.
March 30, 2013
An optional-read book on life management in self development for knowledge workers, managers, executives, and entrepreneurs.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews