First published 2018
William Powers chronicles his family's bold experiment in sustainable living after leaving their New York City life behind for a remote Bolivian village. Powers documents their pursuit of what locals call the sweet life, a philosophy that prioritizes balance and environmental harmony over material accumulation and career advancement. The family confronts the daily realities of village existence while questioning American assumptions about progress and prosperity. Powers examines how this dramatic shift challenges their previous definitions of comfort, success, and fulfillment. Through personal anecdotes and cultural observations, he explores whether it's possible to find genuine contentment by embracing simplicity and ecological responsibility. The memoir reveals how stepping away from conventional Western lifestyle choices can lead to unexpected discoveries about what truly matters for human happiness and planetary health.
Genres: nature, adventure, environment, memoir, non-fiction, 21st-century, sustainability
Vibes: intimate, lyrical, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, found-family
Setting: Bolivia, New York City
Period: 21st Century
306 pages · Kindle Edition · New World Library