Life 2.0: How People Across America Are Transforming Their Lives by Finding the Where of Their Happiness

I've been reading this book during my 75 minute one way train commute into Midtown Manhattan, and it has confirmed a lot of what my wife and I have been discussing over the last few years regarding the Internet, outsourcing, rural living, etc., etc. The people profiled in this book are indeed highly educated, highly ambitious people, and I suspect that for the naysayers in the crowd, that may be the first step. As one of the interviewees in the book points out, it would be tragic if you are a great artist, but decided to spend your life as an accountant, trudging to/from a non-descript office, day in, day out, day in, day out... To me, the ultimate message from the book is that we all need to critically examine ourselves, our strengths, weaknesses, and innermost desires, then think about how these can be translated into a meaningful work and home environment. Think hard, visit a few places, get a high-speed Internet connection, and go for it! Regret is a terrible feeling with which to live.

Spot on! I live in Sandia Park, NM @ 25 miles from Albuquerque. I am an independent geologist and work from a home based business. I moved from Dallas, TX 11 years ago to escape the city and live in the Rocky Mountains. So let me reiterate your article and you will feel happy to know that your article was correct. Ten years ago I purchased 2.2 acres of mountain forest property, at @ 7,500 feet msl, a gated community with abundant water. All homes in my community are 2-acres or more and all homes have a minimum value of $275 to $300K. The Albuquerque International Sunport provides easy and close access to CA and the west coast where the majority of my projects are and my family enjoys the shopping and dinning in Albuquerque within 20 minutes or so. Recreational activity is a 12-season affair. Ski and golf in the same day with an abundance of National Forest and BLM land in all directions. The property I purchased was $38,000 with utilities and a community water system, I designed and built a 2,000 sf home for $160,000 which includes the land. My mortgage is less than $150K. I live on a post card with a 200 mile view of the Sandia Mountains, the Monzano Mountains, Ortiz and the Sangre DeCristo's. My next option for a place to live would be Reno/Sparks Nevada. Close proximity to mountains, large airport, relatively cheap housing in the farther suburbs and a variety of climates. Great book and should be inspiring for the people who want to get away and enjoy a quality of life not found in the suburburbian congestion. Tony Herald A-Team Consulting, Inc. 94 Angeles Vista Circle Sandia Park, NM 87047

Rich Karlgaard, the Publisher of Forbes, has written an outstanding book. It is a combination of Peter Mayle's best-selling "A Year in Provence" and Howard Schultz' "Pour Your Heart Into It: How Starbucks Built a Company One Cup at a Time". Like Mayle and Schultz, Rich shows us that a fulfilling professional life can be achieved by going outside of the big urban areas of America. In fact he invites us along to ride in the co-pilot seat (metaphorically), to visit a lot of great business people residing in the smaller cities of America.These are locations he has visited and found to be great places to start a new company. If you like President Bush's conservative politics, you will love this book. If you like Senator John Kerry's goal to end corporate greed and end the outsourcing of good jobs to China and India, you will love this book! This book refreshes your spirit and Rich has done a great service to all of us who love our work but would like to move out of the congested urban cities of America, with his list of "150 Cheap Places to Live". Oh, did I tell you about the great Hot Turkey Sandwich they make at the Madonna Inn Restaurant in the small town of San Luis Obispo California...Rich would really like that city. Gary Plantz Managing Director - California The National Graduate School San Diego, California

Rich Karlgaard captures the stories of successful people who are moving from the rat race of long commutes, conspicuous consumption competitions, and burn out in large cities for a more balanced lifestyle in smaller communities. Karlgaard cleverly intersperses dozens of stories of people who have made such moves to a more tranquil lifestyle in a very visionary manner from his vantage point in Silicon Valley. The book includes his captivating personal story of flying around the country in his single engine plane interviewing many of these successes. He relates how changes in communications and transportation technologies have allowed these moves to be facilitated compared to even a decade ago. He delves into paradigm shifting technologies he refers to as Distance Shrinking Technologies, Geographic Arbitrage, The Cheap Revolution, The Hidden-Tech Revolution and The Brain Belt. Karlgaard's story is about living the American dream in small havens he affectionately calls booming boonyacks and happy hootervilles. Life 2.0 is a must read for all who have ever considered a move out of the rat race.

Everytime you pay your mortgage, you will think of this book, Life 2.0. First, full disclosure: I've known the author Rich Karlgaard for sometime. I used to write for him when he ran Upside Magazine through his current job as Publisher of Forbes Magazine, and he has said nice things about my books. But I was totally unprepared when I started reading Life 2.0. I finished it in two sittings - it was that enjoyable. It is a lot of fun following Rich as he flies his plane around the country, meeting those that fled, figuring out if you can make it without living in New York, the Bay Area or near other expensive rat races. His conclusion: you can, which is what makes this an important book in a post-industrial America. So here is my blurb: The New Yorker ran their famous cover of a Manhattan's view of the world, with nothing beyond the Hudson River. From both 10,000 feet and at ground level, Rich Karlgaard fills in the map. His new book, Life 2.0 is a must read for anyone who has ever contemplated jumping off the treadmill, or getting on one in a less stressful town. Karlgaard finds that life is just as good, and often better, in America's undiscovered thriving communities. His focus on both people and economics honed on the pages of Forbes gives backbone to his conclusions that you can have your cake and eat it somewhere else.