The Wander Society

This book was very interesting and enlightening. For me at least, it walked me back through things I haven't done or experienced since childhood and was a nice change of pace from my usual reads. It's not very long and can be set up to read in small sections at a time, which makes it easier to get through, especially when not in the mood to let my mind “wander”. I don't think this book would be great for everyone to read however, as it's more for a niche audience. You have to be open to the idea of wandering in order for this book to truly be impactful and a fun read. The end with the How Tos can also be a bit dry, especially if you're not really wanting to read something like that, but it does fit the book.

This book draws you in with a superb aesthetic and a casual side mystery to intrigue you. It then proceeds to spend the first half filled with pretentious ramblings about a higher state of being and the glory of Walt Whitman that make the motion of rolling your eyes an intense workout. It seems like a literary companion for the running gag in Momma Mia where Harry keeps saying he's spontaneous. However the second half of the book actually offers the content I was looking for; A fun list of concepts and ideas to randomize your routine and make you think, all within an interconnected framework to offer a sense of community without lengthy human interaction. The book is not without merit but is just heavy handed enough that it's easy to abandon.