Cabin

Off the Grid Adventures with a Clueless Craftsman

By: Patrick Hutchison

Narrated by: Patrick Hutchison

This program is read by the author.

A memoir of the author's journey from an office job to restoring a cabin in the Pacific Northwest, based on his wildly popular Outside Magazine piece.

Wit’s End isn’t just a state of mind. It’s the name of a gravel road, the address of a rundown, off-the-grid cabin, 120 shabby square feet of fixer-upper Patrick Hutchison purchased on a whim in the mossy woods of the Cascade Mountains in Washington state.

To say Hutchison didn’t know what he was getting into is no more an exaggeration than to say he’s a man with nearly zero carpentry skills. Well, used to be. You can learn a lot over six years of renovations.

CABIN is the story of those renovations, but it's also a love story; of a place, of possibilities, and of the process of construction, of seeing what could be instead of what is. It is an audiobook for those who know what it’s like to bite off more than you can chew, or who desperately wish to.

A Macmillan Audio production from St. Martin’s Press.

©2024 Patrick Hutchison (P)2024 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

"A small cabin, purchased of Craigslist and tucked in Washington State's Cascade Mountains, becomes a life-changer for Patrick Hutchinson, who amusingly details a rather impulsive, woodland adventure in his first memoir…What ensues is a comedy of errors where headstrong, learn-things-the-hard-way-Hutchinson is drawn down a winding path that ultimately leads to personal enlightenment."—Shelf Awareness

"A hammer and nail mini-saga, told not by a master carpenter, but by a dynamic prose stylist who possesses the best of all skills: the ability to laugh at himself. This is a charming sample of the cabin dream afoot in America today and Hutchison is the perfect neophyte builder who is made better by the building he makes better."—Joseph Monninger, author of A Barn in New England: Making a Home on Three Acres

"At some point in his life, every man has the thought of going off into the woods to build a cabin. Patrick Hutchison didn’t stop at just thinking about building a cabin, he went and built one. A Walden for the modern age, CABIN humorously chronicles the misadventures, mishaps, and unexpected joys of escaping the digital world for a slice of rustic reality. It’s a book that celebrates and inspires the reader to be more agentic and take action to bring one’s daydreams to life. It’s a book about doing what Thoreau himself advised: putting foundations under your castles in the air."—Brett McKay, bestselling author of The Art of Manliness

A cozy story of self discovery

A pleasant, introspective story of the author’s impulse cabin purchase, and the subsequent journey of repairing the cabin and, incidentally, growing into himself. Well-written and entertaining, a cozy read for sure.

Romantic DIY adventure

A bit too long winded. Felt sometimes too outstretched: going on and on about certain details in the construction of the cabin.

Very entertaining!

I liked the way his cabin project symbolized how he found his way into his future.

Enjoyable read. no see, some F-bombs Great experience

The author reignited my vision of acquiring a dry cabin for escape. His experience showed me how town look for the diamond in the rough. I appreciate his insight, tips, and story. Encouraging accounts, and funny quips.

Just a great story with many layers

This is Great book with lessons on many levels. Love the reader as well.
It’s all a lesson in authenticity

Loved the story

Very well told a nice little escape into something I would love to do and dream to accomplish

Inspiring, hilarious and genuine

Whether you are looking for inspiration to take a foray into carpentry, a leap of faith into the unknown, or simply countless heartfelt laughs - this is the book for you. Any reader will find Hutchison’s narration authentic and genuine. A book not to miss.

Humorous, enjoyable, inspiring

This book is for everybody who has ever wanted to get off the grid and do something new, even if in the current moment obligations of life prevent them from doing so. It might not be the right time right now to get away from it all and rediscover yourself, but this book will make sure you don’t miss the opportunity the next time it presents itself.

Let’s head out to the Cabin!

I felt like one of the gang participating in a weekend of building all manner of things, of breathing deep the scent of the woods and leaving the week day world behind. What an adventure! Thank you, Patrick, for sawing & nailing your way through it and for inspiring the rest of us to believe in our dreams. Well done!

Cabin life is the best!

As a Shabin (shed/cabin) owner, I understand everything Patrick was talking about! There is nothing better than a cozy little cabin with a fireplace roaring while the rain or snow is falling outside!
Great audio book, I will have to buy the paperback for the Shabin!