Ten Years a Nomad

This is more a memoir than a travelogue, as we join Kepnes on his bid to see the world without much money. Kepnes is hooked on travel after his vacation to Costa Rica, where he meets travelers from all over the world, all of whom are stunned and disgusted with the paltry vacation time Americans receive. After talking with his new friends, Kepnes makes a bold decision, he goes home and quits his job, preparing to travel the world for a year. From the antics of his fellow travelers at hostels, to beautiful locations, love affairs that disintegrate as fast as they form and a longing to find roots after being rootless, this is a story of a man who actually did what most of us only dream of. A vicarious thrill ride

The author wrote a great account of the personal journey they embarked on. The honest and detailed writing made it easy for the reader to feel invested in their journey.

As an avid traveler who has nomadic aspirations, this book was perfect for me to read. The author gives you the good, bad, and the ugly when it comes to pursuing a life around the world. There was no holding back on what he experienced whether it was life changing or devastating. This book showed me that at this point in my life, I no longer crave to live indefinitely abroad. Whatever decision I make for my future, this book is a reminder to do everything with intention. Even if you're not a traveler, this book is great for anyone wanting to break outside of the norm and what society deems as the American dream.

This is a wonderful story about a young man who travels the world for 10 years on a very limited budget. It a a good read for anyone interested in travel.

I would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy free of charge. This is my honest and unbiased opinion of it.

I love to travel! If you follow me on Instagram, you will see that I always take hundreds of photos from where ever I go so I can have fun editing them and looking at them again. I love going to a new place and experiencing life away from home. I love the anticipation of going on a trip, the last few days leading up to an adventure. I look at travel photos from around the world and imagine what each place is like.

Ten Years a Nomad by Matthew Kepnes captured my interest right away because of the topic- travel. Have you ever wanted to travel around the world? Do you find that you care less about having “things” and more about having experiences? Then this book is for you.

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New York Times bestselling author of How to Travel the World on $50 a Day, Matthew Kepnes knows what it feels like to get the travel bug. After meeting some travelers on a trip to Thailand in 2005, he realized that living life meant more than simply meeting society’s traditional milestones, such as buying a car, paying a mortgage, and moving up the career ladder. Inspired by them, he set off for a year-long trip around the world before he started his career. He finally came home after ten years. Over 500,000 miles, 1,000 hostels, and 90 different countries later, Matt has compiled his favorite stories, experiences, and insights into this travel manifesto. Filled with the color and perspective that only hindsight and self-reflection can offer, these stories get to the real questions at the heart of wanderlust. Travel questions that transcend the basic “how-to,” and plumb the depths of what drives us to travel — and what extended travel around the world can teach us about life, ourselves, and our place in the world.

Ten Years a Nomad is for travel junkies, the travel-curious, and anyone interested in what you can learn about the world when you don’t have a cable bill for a decade or spend a month not wearing shoes living on the beach in Thailand.

Thank you NetGalley for a copy of this book. Because of it I heard of the author the very first time. I checked out his website and was even more fascinated by his life travelling the world for ten years, his experiences, the people he met and how it changed him. The book shows what really is important in life. I definitely will recommend this book to my friends and family. And to you reading this review

This book really has the potential to change your life. I live to travel and would like nothing more than to escape the 9-5 and jet off around the world. The next best thing is this book. from a reluctant traveler to nomad I was hooked from the beginning. After the second chapter I had been online and booked open ended European train passes for me and my children for the holiday time - I was truly inspired to grasp life as it comes and go. And not just to travel to see a new country but to experience travel - to meet people, get into the culture, immerse myself and my children, to really learn about the world we live in - the reality of the world and not the perceived threats. I really enjoyed the style off writing and felt i was there with Matthew. An excellent read for the armchair traveler . but don't be surprised if you end up somewhere you weren't expecting!

“The road is and always will be a place of wonder and endless possibility. It’s where magic happens. But you can find wonder and magic wherever you are. You just have to look closely enough.”

I enjoyed the journey Nomadic Matt takes us on. His experience and love of traveling is evident. I loved reading his take on places I have visited in the past and also highlighted and added new places to my ever growing list of places I want to visit. I also appreciate his honesty and struggles he encountered while traveling.

“Did I come here to work or did I come here to drink wine?” This might single handedly be the best line in the entire book. It was a wake up call for sure. As a person who loves to travel, I always have my phone in hand to check emails and “multitask” while on vacation. I’m guilty of documenting everything on social media instead of just living. I read this and realized that when traveling, I’m not only doing myself a disservice, but also my family. Instead of making memories, I’m trying to meet a deadline with my toes in the sand. So thank you Nomadic Matt for this wakeup call. And thank you for sharing your struggle with anxiety and your journey home. Anxiety is something many people struggle with on a daily basis and it’s refreshing to read his honesty on not only having it, but how he addressed it.

“Here’s the thing about trying to escape: Your feelings come with you. They sew themselves into the nooks and crannies of your backpack and hang there like dead weight, digging into your shoulders as you carry them from one beautiful place to the next.”

I enjoyed reading Ten Years a Nomad and highly recommend it to anyone that loves to travel or has been bitten by the travel bug.

I loved this book. I'm not a "travellor" and its hard to try new things. Even though I loved what I got from this book. I can see it behind helpful if you want to break out of your shell, go on your first vacation (no matter how near or far), or are a frequent travellor.

Matt gives us such an inspiring and realistic look at what it means to be a "traveler" in Ten Years a Nomad. As someone who has been around the world and back many times, he can give a very personal insight on it means to embark on a long-term journey like this. He talks about the ins and outs, the ups and downs of living out of a backpack for a year on end. Sometimes traveling may not always be full of adventure and romance, Sometimes it's really tough, and he gives many things to think about before someone decides to set off on a experience like this themselves. Having been to many of the locations Matt talks about, I felt a sense of camaraderie; that he also fell in love with Costa Rica, Thailand, and Eastern Europe for some of the same reasons I have. 5/5 highly recommend this book for anyone that loves to travel, vacation, and adventure.