In order to gather material for his masters thesis, Eric and his wife Mary took a plunge into Mennonite country living in order to experience life unplugged. For eighteen months they lived without electricity and at a low technological level, discovering what a simpler life would be like. The book closes with a retrospective look at their choices after this eighteen month experience, during which time they chose to not own a television or computer, rarely rely on using their car for transportation and instead choose to walk or ride their bikes, and often barter goods with neighbors rather than purchase them outright.
I found this book to be an interesting and thought-provoking (as well as a quick read), despite its lacking a clear chronological organization or glossary with characters names. Nevertheless, I would recommend this book to anyone who questions their own reliance on technology and yearns for a more simple life.
Learn more about “Better Off: Flipping The Switch On Technology” by Eric Brende.