I must say, though, that the man is a very good writer (if a bit on the formal side, stylistically speaking). So it makes sense, as I read in Chapter 14, "Choice of Clothing, that Angier left his job as an editor when first venturing out into the wilderness. The chapter begins with these words, which tell a lot about the man's philosophy, expressed as it was well before the back-to-nature movement of the 1960s:
The necessaries of life are food, shelter, warmth, and clothing. When we have obtained these, it is claimed, there is an alternative to struggling for the luxuries. That's to adventure on life itself, our vacation from humbler toil having commenced.
With such philosophy not everyone will agree, although I was fortunate enough to find no reason for disputing it when I went to the wilderness to live, and it may at least answer the questions of a few to note that we have never regretted the decision not to waste what are called the best years of life earning money in order to enjoy a questionable freedom during the least valuable part. (145)I think my husband would agree with Bradford's choice to spend his youth in exploration rather than piling up cash for retirement (although I daresay Angier probably made plenty of money from his books). The idea does have a certain appeal, even now, in the "least valuable part" of my life. Perhaps it's not too late to take to the woods? Some people believe it won't be long before we're forced to do so, when the economy or the government or the environment or the infrastructure collapses.
For now, though, I'm moving on to Julie Andrews' biography, Home: A Memoir of My Early Years. It got a pretty good revew from the NY Times, so I think I'll enjoy it. But I intend to keep Angier's very useful book around for when I may need it.
Until next time!
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