Hutchinson has a steady career as a copywriter but it’s not what he wants to be doing. He’s not ‘adulting’ enough to hit the usual milestones so ennui ensues. He responds to this quarter life crisis by acquiring a ‘rustic’ cabin (with a loan from mom). 

I dipped in and out of this book because it moves slowly and wasn’t holding my interest. This all felt very self-indulgent to me. ‘I wrote a book about working on a crappy shack in the woods. I’m a writer AND more of a grown-up.’ 

I made it to 80% before I was just over it. The writing is fine but forgettable. The subject matter is fine but forgettable. Nothing about this felt particularly interesting or special. There’s nothing WRONG but there’s nothing to be excited about. Big meh. 2.75/5

The best part of this book is the name of the street that Hutchison's cabin sits. The repetition of call of the cabin and hating the office 9-to-5, j.o.b. was funny at first but later feels like a joke that we are done laughing at and want to cry. Overall, it is a relatable feeling of leaving everything behind to rebuild a cabin with all the heartache of not having skills until you do. The ending was abrupt. Mostly, we can all relate to the courage it takes to lake a leap toward uncertainty and the satisfaction of building something with your hands.

Patrick Hutchison’s CABIN is a love letter to the process of transformation—both of a place and of a person. With warmth, humor, and an inspiring dash of grit, Hutchison takes readers on his journey from a nine-to-five office life to a six-year adventure restoring a 120-square-foot cabin in the moss-draped woods of Washington’s Cascade Mountains.

The memoir is part how-to (or sometimes how-not-to!) guide to renovation and part meditation on the beauty of embracing the unknown. Hutchison’s candid reflections on his lack of carpentry skills when he started—and the slow, often humbling process of learning—are relatable and endearing. His descriptions of the cabin and surrounding nature are vivid, pulling you into the quiet, green world where so much of his transformation took place.

What truly stands out is Hutchison’s ability to weave humor and vulnerability into his story. CABIN is about more than fixing up a shack; it’s about reimagining what life can be when you’re willing to take a leap into the unconventional. For anyone who’s ever dreamed of starting over, living off the grid, or tackling a project way beyond their comfort zone, this memoir is a comforting reminder that growth often comes in unexpected ways.

While some sections linger a bit long on the nitty-gritty of construction, they’re balanced by poignant moments of personal reflection and a deep appreciation for the process. Hutchison’s journey is as much about self-discovery as it is about woodworking, and it’s one worth taking.

A perfect read for nature lovers, dreamers, and anyone contemplating their own leap of faith.

4 stars for a very entertaining and relatable nonfiction adventure. Without hesitation, I selected CABIN by Patrick Hutchison because it appeared that I was the target audience. I am a nature lover who enjoys camping, getting away from the world and undertaking DIY projects, some of which I have no business even thinking about attempting.

Patrick decides to buy what sounds like a poor excuse for a cabin in the Pacific Northwest in a difficult-to-access area, surrounded by iffy structures and people. I can relate to the tug of nature on Hutchison and a desire to hold a part of it as his own.

"I saw only potential, and I saw a version of myself that was capable of making it better. Not great, necessarily, but better. Most importantly, for the first time in a while, I felt the pull of something bigger, a grand pursuit, a thing to dive into that was different and new and exciting. I could buy a cabin and fix it up. Why not?"

He and a bunch of easy-going, willing friends repair and rebuild the cabin in bits and pieces, and learn a lot about home construction and themselves, while of course questioning everything they were undertaking along the way. Which tools are good tools? Should they have used math for making steps?
Should they tie people by the waist to hoist them on the roof?

"Three cars, six idiots, a couple of hundred bucks of lumber, and a truck full of tools no one knew how to use stood between us and that cabin."

Ultimately, fake it 'til you make it worked out. Hutchison, his friend Bryan, and their closest comrades created a place where everyone could relax, escape to, make memories at and fall in love with. CABIN draws readers in with its relatable and humorous missteps, hooks them with exploration of what makes some people feel the most themselves, and highlights the potential in all of us.

"Going into cabin ownership without any knowledge had taught me to remember tidbit like this. If you can spice up ignorance with a few real-world facts, a few slang words, a few tools of the trade, it's remarkable how much credibility it buys."

Hutchison wrote CABIN in such a way that I could picture the cabin and its surrounds, and felt part of every step. I wanted to know a little more about everyone, especially the other residents of Wit's End, and to hear more about the adventures and activities there. But Hutchison saying yes to that cabin has relayed enough confidence that I might have started nonchalantly exploring cabin possibilities here on the other side of the country. I recommend this for readers who have been tempted by the call of escaping to the wilderness and also for readers that want to laugh at the follies of others mostly because they can see themselves in them.

3.5/5
Thank you to St. Martin's Press for the ARC of this book. Fans of Bill Bryson and Outside Magazine will enjoy this memoir about a first time DIY-er who purchases a very rustic tiny cabin escape in the Pacific NW. I can relate to the author's quest to simplify and escape modern conveniences for the quiet comfort camping brings. Some of the stories were funny and the book was well written, although long winded at times.
#Cabin
#PatrickHutchison
#StMartinsPress

I really enjoyed this dive into turning a small cabin and learning as you go and how peaceful it is in the outdoors. As someone that completely agrees, I was transported into a place that was peaceful and of true rest while experiencing making things new.

Patrick Hutchison’s *Cabin* is a refreshingly honest and humorous memoir about restoring a run-down, off-the-grid cabin in the Pacific Northwest. At its core, this book isn’t just about the practicalities of fixing up a dilapidated structure; it’s a deeper exploration of dreams, resilience, connection, and self-discovery. Hutchison’s dry humor shines as he recounts the trials and triumphs of taking on a monumental task with little experience but an abundance of determination. His friends, equally enthusiastic yet hilariously inept, bring heart and camaraderie to the narrative, emphasizing that building a cabin isn’t just about the nails and plywood—it’s about the bonds formed along the way.

The author’s longing to escape a soul-crushing 9-to-5 job for the simplicity and satisfaction of cabin life resonates deeply, even if the repetition of his grievances occasionally wears thin. Once the story shifts its focus to the actual restoration process, readers are immersed in a world of muddy trails, unpredictable weather, and the quiet tension that comes with caring deeply for a place. Hutchison’s ability to blend the struggles of cabin building with moments of humor and reflection makes this a compelling read, even when the level of detail about repairs veers toward the tedious. Some readers may yearn for visuals to accompany the meticulous descriptions of transformation, but the author’s vivid storytelling compensates for the lack of photos.

Beyond the technicalities, the cabin becomes a symbol of retreat—a space to unplug, reconnect with nature, and embrace simplicity. It’s a place of healing, not just for the author but for the friends and family who find solace there. Hutchison’s humility and gratitude infuse the book with hope and inspiration, reminding readers of the joy in creating something meaningful from scratch.

While not every chapter will appeal to all readers—mushrooms, anyone?—the overarching themes of growth and contentment make this a rewarding journey. Whether you’re a seasoned DIY enthusiast or someone who leaves all home improvement projects to a partner, *Cabin* will spark a desire to find your own little corner of peace. Honest, hopeful, and laugh-out-loud funny, this memoir is well worth your time.

Cabin is a warmly funny, well told story by Patrick Hutchison about his acquisition and rebuilding of a tiny off-grid cabin in the Washington state forest. Released 3rd Dec 2024 by Macmillan on their St. Martin's Press imprint, it's 304 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links throughout.

This is a charmingly written book, full of the sort of dreams and aspirations and honest soul searching most of us went through in our late 20s. He finds and fixates on a broken down cabin in the woods and, like Thoreau 170 years before, sets himself to fixing it and maybe finding his purpose in the process. Unlike his philosophical muse, there's a conspicuous absence of mother and sisters providing home cooked meals in his "solitude" and there are a few hair-raising situations before Hutchison gets to where he's going. Unlike Thoreau, however, he doesn't pretend to try to live full time at the shack in the woods, and much of the content is him doing the necessary drudge work in-office to afford to fix up the place in fits and starts over a 6 year period (during which he also acquires the skills along the way).

The unabridged audiobook format has a run time of 8 hours and 31 minutes and is read by the author himself. Sound and production quality are excellent throughout the read.

Four stars. It's an honestly told, well written book, and definitely worth a winter-time cozy read. It would be a good choice for public or secondary school library acquisition, gift giving, or for readers who enjoy contemplative nature oriented reads.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Even though I'm quite possibly the least handy person alive, I still became so engrossed in this memoir. So much of what he was doing went right over my head, yet I was so invested and continued to turn the pages. He perfectly encapsulated his version of a 'happy place' and how all of his blood, sweat, and tears were more than worth it in the end. I think some photos of the process would have been a nice touch. Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review - this book is out now!

I loved this book, It was nostalgic to me in so many ways and just what I needed this season. This would be a re-read for me and I would love to purchase a physical in the future!

Patrick Hutchison does, in Cabin, what a lot of the Millennial generation has talked about online for several years now. He found a cabin in the woods and renovated it so he could get away from it all. Hutchison, himself, admits that he took on a bit more than he was expecting, but he rolls up his sleeves and does the thing. I found the Memoir to be breezy and fun. The atmosphere the author describes is picturesque, but one can also feel the frustration the author has at times as well. I did appreciate that this story didn't make me feel that Patrick was being overly idiotic in some of his mistakes and decisions, it felt very human and incredibly relatable. If you're looking for a good memoir about figuring yourself our while you figure out how to fix a house, this book is for you.

REBUILDING A LIFE


“I was worried I was someone who just let life happen to them.”

Patrick Hutchinson


At the center of Patrick Hutchinson’s Cabin, are his hunger to live meaningfully and his need to exchange a dreary, soul-killing job in the city for physically and intellectually satisfying work. This he found the process of rehabbing a decrepit cabin in the heart of a forest. At the time, Hutchinson worked as a copywriter in the city. That changed when he came across an ad for a cabin in Snomish, near Seattle, Washington. One day after seeing it, he bought it with money borrowed money from his mom. Subsequently, he set out to solve a long list of problems that ranged from procuring firewood for of wood stove of unconventional size, to plugging chimney pipe leaks, to dealing with the effects of a mudslide. In the process of fixing the worst of these problems--the tilted floor will remain tilted--he rebuilt his life.

His struggle to upgrade his cabin while resisting the urge to turn it into a duplicate of a city apartment is the stuff of Early American tales. This is a tale that never ceases to be new, particularly when the teller has an engaging style, a keen sense of humor, and sufficient humility to admit that as a construction worker, he is but a novice. His story includes elements of a Quixotic disposition, a large pinch of Thoreauvian idealism, and the derring-do of American pioneers. The result is not unlike a snow globe that isolates the reader from troublesome issues such as national politics, pandemics, economic inequality, and other pesky bits of reality. There are no serious conflicts. The bubble is an invitingly warm and fuzzy space that is all the more charming because the reader knows that it keeps out everyday reality.
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Inside the bubble, there is warmth, friendship, humor, good meals, some drinking, and one disposable chapter about drug use. There is gratuitous profanity, and there are way too many sentences in the passive voice, but there is also the endearing quality of a writer who knows his limitations and goes working, nevertheless. Much like the final version of his cabin, Hutchinson's book is not all of one piece. It ambles, it digresses, but it eventually returns to its source—the quest for simplicity, for green spaces, for a time when it was brave, wise, and virtuous to rebuild, heal, mend, reuse, and make do. Part chronicle of a shambolic adventure, part a reconciliation of what is imagined and what is real, this is a book one would have to be heartless to dismiss.

One senses that Hutchinson is the kind of writer who will only get better. He is a determined learner who taught himself the skills he needed to become a builder. He is also a writer whose voice is fresh and compelling. One might say that in his adventure, Don Quijote grew up, flourished, and moved out of the bubble. His readers are richer for that.

CABIN is a St. Martin's title

Cabin is a memoir highlighting the author’s restoration of an off-the-grid cabin in the Pacific Northwest. This immediately drew my interest as I admit to dreams of having a tiny home in a remote location. The book speaks to much more than learning to fix up a dilapidated cabin. It is about having an idea and making it a reality and appreciating the journey. He clearly has very solid, but equally inept friends, who jumped in to help which also made this a story about connection—to others and to a place. The chapters on the impacts of abandonement, drugs, weather and mud were both interesting and filled with a tension that only exists with something that is cared for. There was a chapter or two that I did not find helpful for my enjoyment of the book, but perhaps others will (I am looking at you, mushrooms). Overall, this felt honest and hopeful which is sorely needed today. The humility and gratitude the author spoke with is so powerful. The very end of the acknowledgments made me laugh. Definitely worth checking out.

Many thanks St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC. This was such a fun read. This was EXACTLY what I'd hoped for when I read the book description. Patrick Hutchinson's style will make you smile and likely chuckle out loud several times. Highly recommended. Take the journey. Who hasn't wanted to do just this same thing?

This is the story of a boy who bought a fort in the woods, brought all of his friends over to play, and then left as a man. Funny, relatable, and a pleasure to read as we learn along with Patrick. Readers with decent home repair skills will enjoy the repair antics. That being said, it does get a bit redundant with mentions of needed to get a away from his desk job and to go play in the woods (but who hasn't said those same things?).

This memoir had me immediately planning a day trip to the Washington mountains and if I hadn't known the roads were almost definitely frozen, I would've been trying to talk the family into it. The author's descriptions make you feel like you're in the woods and at the same time make you want to head for the woods. (Granted, I'm practically in the woods already and a fifteen or twenty minute drive would get me into actual national forest...) As he's describing his impulsive purchase of the cabin as a fort or clubhouse, it just sounds so appealing. He's in over his head and knows it, but he learns from his mistakes and builds his skills. The enthusiasm that fills ever page of this memoir is contagious.

I really enjoyed this book and daydreamed about escaping to the woods with the author. Really great descriptive writing combined with many laugh out loud moments.

Why did this book make me think that I, too, could fix up an off-grid cabin in the middle of nowhere and then spend magical times there with all my friends who would absolutely be willing to drive and give up the comforts of electricity, flush toilets, and WIFI?

When Patrick Hutchison purchases a run-down cabin in the woods of the Cascade Mountains, he does so with zero construction skills, only a wish to find some fulfillment missing in his life. With some help from his friends, he figures things out as he goes; he creates a retreat that nurtures his spirit and changes his outlook.

This memoir was so inspiring and entertaining. I was also basically terrified that he was going to severely injure himself as he started winging it with power tools and roof repairs. There was a valuable message in here about not waiting until circumstances and skills are perfect. You absolutely can learn as you try, and end up with something imperfectly wonderful.

Thank you so much to St. Martin's Press for this ARC!

Patrick ends up buying a "cabin" in the Cascade mtns for "something to do" when life seems to be passing him by. It was an easy read, funny at times, stressful at others! He has zero carpentry skills, friends with more, some with less, and they all put it together for a guys hang out place, a place to get away from it all. A filler book, a good read.
Thanks to NetGalley, Mr Hutchinson, and St Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I chose this on a whim based upon it’s title and description. It was a blast! Charming, soothing, and hilarious. It absorbed me, and I found myself right there at the cabin.

This book came at a great time for me. I’ve felt restless and unrested. I’m missing nature, and the “old-fashioned” way of experiencing life in 3D rather than through a screen. Hutchison is a vivid writer, and it was a vacation to live vicariously through his cabin experience. I thoroughly enjoyed my time spent with this book.

Of note, I listened to the audio version about a month after reading the digital ARC. I enjoyed both experiences. It was voiced by its author, Patrick Hutchison, and I think that was a wise choice. He brought well-earned character to the story.

Thanks to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for granting access to a digital ARC in response to my request.