The Moneyless Man

A Year of Freeconomic Living

By: Mark Boyle

Narrated by: David Thorpe

Length: 6 hrs and 42 mins

Publisher's summary

Imagine a year without spending - or even touching - money. Former businessman Mark Boyle did just that and here is his extraordinary story. Going back to basics and following his own strict rules, Mark learned ingenious ways to eliminate his bills and discovered that good friends are all the riches you need.

Encountering seasonal foods, solar panels, skill-swapping schemes, cuttlefish toothpaste, compost toilets, and - the unthinkable - a cash-free Christmas, Boyle puts the fun into frugality and offers some great tips for economical (and environmentally friendly) living. A testament to Mark's astounding determination, this witty and heart-warming book will make you re-evaluate your relationship to your wallet.

©2010 Mark Boyle (P)2012 Audible Ltd

Critic reviews

"Essential and enjoyable reading. The fascinating story of an important social experiment, told with humility, insight, and great humour." (Chris Cleave, Sunday Times best-selling author of The Other Hand and Guardian columnist)

In a word, preachy

While this book began with and had some sections I found enjoyable, they were quickly ruined by the constant lifestyle preaching. Vegan, organic, stop using oil, consumerism is bad. After a while it just got annoying.

I found that most of his “ingenious” methods for living without money simply involved relying on the waste and/or the kindness of others. It’s a catch 22 that if the author actually achieved his utopia of a society without money and rampant consumerism, he probably wouldn’t be able to continue sustaining his lifestyle the way he did.

While there were good messages peppered throughout, they were overshadowed by the delivery. Boyle even days himself, it wasn’t until he stopped preaching about how horrible his parents lifestyle was and started simply providing information, that they finally became receptive of his message. It’s a shame he didn’t keep that lesson in mind when writing this book.

Not as extreme as I thought it would be.

More money = more stress and less liberty. I was disappointed that he became a squatter on someone else's farm and offered his free labor as compensation. Another factor was the use of items people would freely give away for various reasons. Lastly, his large dependance for food waste from grocery stores, and less on what he was able to cultivate.

Honestly figured the guy would live off of a portable mini greenhouse and camp along the way. Something along that scenario. However, I did realize how comfortable I could live financially with a smaller income after reading this book. Not to say I didn't figure out the numbers years prior to this book. Less money is doable. However, money does make living easier in some aspects. We humans don't need as much money we think we do. Only man made money "necessary", because plants and animals grow without it every day :)

One thing I can agree with the author is the fact that education can be free. The student just has to be willing to look in the right places.

A Mature, Healthy Exploration of Money's effect

What did you love best about The Moneyless Man?

That he wasn't hateful or unrealistic about our economy's need to realize the effect of money and debt. He was straight forward but optomistic, emphathetic, and empowering.

What does David Thorpe bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

He chuckles at the right spots in the reading. It keeps it light hearted.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Not necessarily. It requires thought and contemplation.

Any additional comments?

A great overview of the effects of money and debt and an empowering guide to beginning a life of strength in community instead of dependancy on money.

Made me think about what is possible

I have no desire to go without money, but I like the fact that he did what I didn’t think possible. It makes me wonder what I can do that is difficult but not a difficult as his moneyless year. This is a principled mountain climb … not to go somewhere but to extend our idea of what’s possible. We don’t get hung up on how someone achieves an ultra marathon so why complain about “preaching.” His beliefs and resolve allowed him to achieve something I didn’t think possible. It also inched me towards less waste. This book delivered exactly what I expected and more.

Let Down After The Way Home

The Way Home was a refreshing and informative story. Boyle avoided preaching the “Climate Change” dogma and let the story unfold. This compelled me to read The Moneyless Man. Big mistake. It was a diatribe of climate cultism. Very disappointing.

very idealistic

A lot of activist opinions which the author in his newest book had to go back on. His ability to question his ideals with reason is very refreshing. All in all some very inspiring content

amazing

I'm glad, mark had the courage to do what I wont but want to do. I'm inspired to make changes in my own life. I started to give away things, take showers with no soap and less water. I'm becoming a little more mindful. I hope I can contribute to the world like mark is, in my own way.

very enjoyable. springboard to moneyless living.

great ideas for moneyless living. it's about community. the advocates a kind of native american (early) lifestyle (but doesn't say this explicitly).

Entertaining and informative

So many things I hadn't have thought of before listening! Inspiring and entertaining although it took a few chapters to 'take off' which I find happens in similar themed books. Highly recommend it.

An attempt to picnic in Eden

One's liking or disliking of this book will largely be decided by one's attitude to man-made climate-change, capitalism, and a conventional agriculture. No prizes for guessing that he is against all three. This book could well have been called 'THE MONEY-LESS VEGAN' If you find that a turn-off then do not buy.

I quickly found myself a non-believer and believed less and less as the 6 hours dragged on.
Firstly, Boyle's analysis of 'what money is' struck me as tremendously biased and rather unimaginative. For him money is entrapping, it is debt and it is a method of enslavement. Possibly this is true, but personally I have always found it very useful for storing the value of my labour and ensuring the cooperation of those around me.

The cooperation of those around him is what Boyle depends heavily upon- 'security from Community not from Money.', 'Cooperation not competition.' No one could disagree that this is broadly a good thing- but on a large scale it's not human nature- What happens when someone wants more than their fair share? How do we cooperate with the non-cooperative? Mark Boyle hopes for a moneyless Eden, with no Original Sin.

In the meantime who is going to fund the Nuclear deterent, the cure for cancer... or the internet? The internet is particually key because if there is one thing that Mr Boyle believes in it is Publicity- not, we are to understand, for reasons of egoism but to 'get the message across' and to promote his ideas of 'Freeconomy' Hence a rather tiresome theme running through the book is a blow-by-blow account of his dealings with the Media and his excitement at the interest they take in his experiment. The internet is to the 'Freeconomic' community, more or less, what oil is to the transport industry- but any suggestion of the way computer production or internet access can be sustainably managed without money is not given by Mark Boyle.

Space is running out- but why such an English narrator for such an Irish writer?

I should have liked this, but I really didn't

Would you try another book written by Mark Boyle or narrated by David Thorpe?

No.

Has The Moneyless Man put you off other books in this genre?

Yes, to be honest. I have read a few, and this doesn't convince me to read more.

Any additional comments?

I am a left-leaning, mainly vegan, socialist simplicity seeker who loves reading books about environmental issues, 'downsizing' and philosophy around the way the current materialistic and capitalist system is shaping everything from the built environment to human happiness. So surely this is the book for me, right?
Um no.
I have the audiobook, and my heart started to sink as I heard the author (who also narrates) start with his little simplified explanation of how in the past everyone happily bartered, and then someone came along and invented money, and debt, and then things went pear shaped. Sorry, but this is just totally inaccurate, especially the whole 'everyone used to barter' idea. Perhaps the author should have read a book such as 'Debt: The First 5,000 Years' by David Graeber, which explains why this is just simply untrue (and is a much better book about the effects of debt and money).
There are also some other philosophical and historical ideas that really rubbed me the wrong way - Boyle falls in to the 'noble savage' fallacy idea at times that primitive tribes that weren't as materialistic didn't have theft or crime or whatever - and he can be very, very judgemental of other people's choices, alternating his 'my way or the highway' standpoint with some really naive viewpoints such as that you don't notice the changing of the seasons if you live in a city (speak for yourself), or that everyone except those that live in isolated country can connect with nature.
I really wanted to like this book. And I think his experiment, and many of the ideas behind it, are valuable. But his philosophy, writing style and frank naivety were off-putting for me.

Interesting concept

Some interesting concepts, I admire the authors sense of adventure and bravery but ultimately the book was a bit to preachy for me.

He over generalises and simplifies. Spends lots of time saying he should not judge others but then goes right ahead and does anyway.

Some of the rules that he set himself seemed a bizarre, he could accept a ferry ticket home but could not use his parents shower?

Also who is going to run the internet, his prime publicity tool in him moneyless vegan organic utopia??

There are definitely things that can be taken away from this book, we could all do with having a good long look at our impact on the world. But am not sure I am ready to jump on this particular band waggon.

the moneyless man

I really loved this book and enjoyed listening to it , Mark is a really inspirational guy, the only gripe i had was that he didnt read it himself as the english accent didnt sound right sometimes especially in the pronunciation of grainne " seoige" (sheoga) he pronounced it sai- oga which made it sound like a chinese name, which drove me crazy, but that was only a smal part of the book. I liked his ideas and that he had the guts to live them, but did think he took things to extremes at times such as allowing himself a laptop and a mobile but having to make ink from mushrooms?? ? but all in all i really enjoyed it and must get it in paperback soon. would reccommend to anyone interested in living more sustainably and environmentally friendly, Mark Boyle shows us we can do it .

Peaks About An Hour In.

This book started with a fairly dull twenty minutes of basically explaining what money is and why it is bad, it then grew in to something that really sounded like it was going to be interesting. An experiment not only in economics but in sociology. How would someone cope if they reject the basic premise of modern life? How would it affect friendships and life in general?

However Boyle then becomes repetitive, tedious and at several points comes across as just out right preachy. After two hours or so you're left wondering really what the narrative of the book is, for example at one point he decides to show how his meals are made from foraged, bartered or scavenged food, this is fine when he covers the 10 or 12 things that go in to breakfast, he then however goes on to lunch snacks and dinner listing for a good 3 minutes just names of food and how he acquired them, it is dry at best.

Largely you're enjoyment of this book will be based on personal philosophy but I can some it up quickly; Vegans good, everyone else bad. People who eschew all modern forms of commerece good, everyone else bad. Mark Boyle good, everyone else bad.

And if you bought this book on here or have a subscription and used credits to get it you are very, very bad. Amazon own Audible and you don't get much bigger than them. You should have bartered a day of labour for it.

very affirming

Would you listen to The Moneyless Man again? Why?

tbh this review comes after listening to this book about 7 times and yes i would still listening again

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Moneyless Man?

some of the statistics were awful, but in all it was the honesty and humour that was most memorable

Have you listened to any of David Thorpe’s other performances? How does this one compare?

No but i would, his voice is clear and easily enjoyable to listen along to

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

peoples generosity

Any additional comments?

Is it possible to live without money and consumer ego mentality - i think so - especially after reading Mark Doyle's "The Moneyless Man"

Excellent book innovative and inspiring - well written x

A wonderful, life challenging listen

The Moneyless Man is narrated beautifully and I found it a compelling listen. It is creative non-fiction at its best; a well written real life tale, which holds your interest from beginning to end. I learned so much, and it challenged so many aspects of my life and living. Rather than an 'all or nothing' call to live without money, (though that is certainly a vision the author maintains), this work provides so many ways that each of us can reduce our impact on the world in terms of considering alternatives to buying things, replacing things unnecessarily and creating less waste. A fabulous book that captured my heart and imagination... capable of changing us if we let it.

Lots of food for thought

Excellent narration of issues poignant for our generation. Pushes you to rethink your lifestyle and seriously toy with alternatives. Touches on the subject of co-dependence rather than independence as the key for survival of our species. Mark did the extreme to eloquently make his point and push us to question, why we don't use our gifts of thinking, giving and compassion. Is there an alternative to capitalism, read on and formulate your own answer

Amazing listen

I came across this book by total accident. I am very glad i did. It is a great listen but also makes you think a lot, about the way we live our lives. Many things have changed in my home since i listened to this. Brilliant!!

Interesting view point

Any additional comments?

I cannot say that I agree with everything in this book but it is a very interesting view point and he does raise many valid points about the problems of capitalism.