Dirtbag Rich

Dirtbag Rich is my forthcoming book and its accompanying podcast.

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The Book

Some of us aren’t cut out for “normal life.”

If you crave nature, freedom, adventure, and work that matters—rather than just paying the bills for a life you never chose—then you might be ready to become dirtbag rich.

Drawing from the “dirtbag” tradition of pursuing outdoor bliss through creative self-sufficiency, this book charts an unconventional way of living that includes both security and flexibility, connection and independence, and service and self-actualization.

Whether you’re jettisoning a life that’s not working or just getting started, the message of Dirtbag Rich is clear: You don’t have to play the same game as everyone else. You can have a life where you wake up and decide what you want to do, every day. You really can.

Through personal stories and candid interviews with people who’ve made it work—from nurses and trail runners to graphic designers and relationship coaches—Blake Boles shows how to build a life rich in time, purpose, and freedom.

Praise

For everybody, young and not so young, who yearns to stop running the maze and start building a life that’s more authentic, ecstatic, surprising, alive, Blake Boles is here to point the way. Blake has walked the walk, hiked the hike, and danced the dance. He offers counsel that’s both practical and spiritual, in writing that’s sharp, energetic, and heartfelt. Put this book in your backpack and hit the great wide road.

—William Deresiewicz
New York Times bestselling author of Excellent Sheep

As a semi-nomadic freelance writer, I’ve often felt alone in my total freedom. No more after reading Dirtbag Rich! Blake Boles examines and celebrates what it is to live a meaningful life through the experiences of wild professionals (including himself) who live outside societal norms, illuminating that while no two paths are alike, the “dirtbag rich” are a far-flung cadre of maverick spirits marching to their own beat.

—Morgan Sjogren
Author of Path of Light and Outlandish

Many people—maybe even most people—would prefer to fail conventionally than defy social expectations in pursuit of deeper meaning. If you’re one of the few looking to strike out for a life of greater authenticity and autonomy, Blake Boles’s Dirtbag Rich will offer you warm encouragement and practical advice from a fellow traveler.

—Dave Whitson
Author of Pilgrimage: A Medieval Cure for Modern Ills

In an age where many are priced out, burned out, and done playing the game, Dirtbag Rich reframes wealth as free time, movement, and meaning—and offers practical ways to live it. We need more books like this.

—Scott Stillman
Author of Wilderness: The Gateway To The Soul

Dirtbag Rich is refreshing, encouraging, and entirely thought-provoking. Taking a walk through Blake’s out-of-the-box worldview makes me want to live my dirtbag-inspired life with greater intention, deeper presence, and a stronger sense of connection.

—Jenny Abegg
Patagonia trail running ambassador and co-founder of Better Trail

We all say “money doesn’t buy happiness,” but it’s hard to move our focus to anything else most days. In Dirtbag Rich, Blake brings a unique perspective and curiosity to the question of how we might live differently. He may not have all the answers, but knows who to ask to share their wisdom.

—Brendan Leonard
Writer, illustrator, and creator of Semi-Rad.com

These days, a “life of quiet desperation” involves a pointless office job, overdrawn bank account, and two depressing weeks of paid vacation. Dirtbag Rich offers practical inspiration for the part-time crusader, showing how there are plenty of achievable ways to have the exact opposite: meaningful work, sufficient money, and plenty of time to wander in the woods.

—Tim Mathis
Author of The Dirtbag’s Guide to Life 

The Podcast

The Dirtbag Rich podcast started as a way to do public interviews for the book. Now I’m continuing to do interviews (in a relaxed way) with fascinating people who I meet in my journeys. (Want to suggest one?)

Listen on Apple, Spotify, elsewhere—or right here.

All episodes