Rating: 
Summary: In The Breast Of The Beast!
Review: The Last American Man is worth reading. America has many similar guys today still who live to perpetuate the frontier spirit and who are certainly not pleased with the changes in the country and the environment. Eustace Conway is to be credited for his accomplishments and zeal thus far regardless of what people may criticize him for. His idealism is not new as the author points out in case examples of prior and present attempts at utopian living. Other cases could have been cited but were left out unfortunately that readers would have benefited from. Personally, I thought the book cover didn't do Conway justice and I was disappointed. I didn't care for the title of the book either. Quite frankly, the writing could have been better.The publisher could have printed interesting photos or other worthy information in the book but didn't unfortunately. The pioneer spirit lives in every American, both man, woman and child, even if only in their dreams. That strong fire in the breast of the beast will remain strong regardless of what civilization does to try to destroy itself. One main thing is worth remembering. As long as our great country (or perhaps used to be) and social experiment continues to explode in population to unreasonable, devastating proportions, and to make the environment pay the price and the people who pay the price too, then utopian dreams of trying to save what was will die an ever quickening death in a smaller and smaller world in a bigger and bigger world of globalization and massive social and economic upheaval if not also massive destruction to come.What is the answer to survival? Simple! Less population! However, the human race doesn't want to go in the right direction when less population will prove to be the only answer in time but too late probably. Trying to colonize other planets with countless future humans will only magnify the problem. While Eustace Conway and others along the way, past and present, have meritorious ideas and actions, reality is what everyone has to stare in the face. It is up to the people to speak and act strongly enough to make the needed changes occur. So far, not enough countrymen are willing to unnumb their comfortable existence to collectively make those changes. Administrations and big business only continue to perpetuate the myth of progress despite attempts to convince the population otherwise. The evidence of that fact is all around us that we witness continually. One thing I liked about the book that really needed to attempt to explain was the interior of a man which confuses so many women and psychologists and educators. There is nothing really complicated about a man at all. A man, just like a woman, seeks to feel the freedom inside and with nature against a world that tries to destroy and complicate the breast of the beast.
Rating:
Summary: So much potential, so poorly realized
Review: I heard all of the buzz about this book and really looked forward to a good read. However, there were a few times in every chapter when I wanted to pitch the book in the trash can and read something else. The problem is not the subject, the arrogant and sometimes immature Eustace Conway. The problem the writer, the arrogant and sometimes immature Elizabeth Gilbert. She can't keep irrelevant information about herself out of the book. She opens with an anecdote about her early 20s, when she went to find herself on a Wyoming ranch. That's fine -- she connects the story to her meeting with Eustace and the overall theme (never fleshed out) about finding oneself in the wild. But later we find out about her childhood affections for the Wizard of Oz and her tendencies to think about the sex lives of everyone she meets. Who cares? She inserts little comments about the characters here and there ("Would it have killed him to yield one goddamn centimeter in all his life?" and "Welcome to the South, Professor" -- ugh).She needs an editor, too. She tends to insert unnecessary italics. And she tends write in fragments. Which is really annoying. And kind of jarring. Worst of all, the story never lives up to its potential. Things happen, blah blah blah, but they are never strongly tied to the theme of American masculinity. And for as much time as Gilbert spends with Eustace, she always seems like a city girl admiring the outsider. Eustace is perfect, according to her; and even when he's not acting perfect, when he's a driven self-promoter, he's following an archetype, and thus still perfect. This book gets three stars from me because there are some really good moments in there (the scene early on when Eustace kills the deer -- a way of showing, with all the gore, what it means to live in the outdoors). But people who are sticklers for good profiles and good journalism should prepare for disappointment.
Rating: 
Summary: Read this book...it's a pageturner!!
Review: My husband requested this for Father's Day. I read a few pages and was hooked! Eustace Conway is a fascinating and complex individual! Narcissistic, yeah...somewhat of a control freak...sure but, anyone who lives with such passion always gets my vote! He walks his talk and isn't that a breath of fresh air!!
I love Elizabeth's writing style. Also like her sense of humor! She shares the good and the bad about Eustace. Yes, he is a hero to many but to others just a pain in the you know what! This is what makes him all the more interesting! I would highly suggest running out and reading this! I hear there is a movie in the making...will be fascinating to see who gets the lead part!
Rating: 
Summary: A fascinating story
Review: Speaking as a man close in age to Eustace, I can only envy him for living his life as he has. In today's society where we tend to judge people by wealth or the material things they accumulate, Eustace proves that these things really have very little significance. To take each day we are given and to learn something new, to notice that which is around us, and to appreciate the sights, sounds, and smells of nature. These are the things that make life worth living.
It was sad to see that toward the end of the book that Eustace too feels tired of trying to make the changes in society that he felt so strongly about in his earlier years. Who knows though, he just may not be through yet.
Rating:
Summary: Read this book!!
Review: This book is awesome! Elizabeth Gilberts writing is superb and Eustace Conway is fascinating. He is truly an American hero!
Rating:
Summary: Fascinating book about an extraordinary but troubled man
Review: Some years ago I read a magazine article about Eustace Conway and found his story captivating. Thus I was eager to read this book when I learned of its publication. I won't summarize his life - the Reviews above do so sufficiently to capture almost anyone's interest - but let me urge others who post reviews to remember you are reviewing the book, not Eustace Conway. I'd give him 5 stars - or 10 - for many qualties, but surely not for his troubled personal relationships. But Elizabeth Gilbert has done a wonderful - definitely 5 star - job in telling his story. She knows him very well (and clearly likes him), has talked at length with a great many of his friends and with his parents and siblings, and she loves the lifestyle ideal he seeks to propagate. She also writes in a wonderfully engaging, personal style. I can't imagine anyone who reads the first couple of pages not being totally hooked.
Rating:
Summary: A page turner!
Review: This is a captivating book that allows us to peer into the life of a man who has chosen to live off the beaten path. (Gives a whole new meaning to the term "out of the box.") I see no need to judge the man (as other reviewers have); his story, his motivation, his aspirations, his flaws, accomplishments and longings are all presented in a style that kept me turning pages. The author has interviewed numerous people from Eustace's life in addition to having known him personally for many years; she presents a multifaceted and intimate look at this unique man. I highly recommend the book to young adults on up. It may not send us all back into the mountains but hopefully will motivate self-examination about taking responsibility for ourselves and our environment. And one of the best questions raised (yet not answered) is: how do boys these days learn to become a true Man?
Rating:
Summary: Interesting, but a narcissist
Review: Yes, Eustace Conway has spent a long time honing his skills, and living "green" is great for the planet - I'm all for it. But it's key to understand that Conway's quest has always been about seeking validation from a cold, distant father. This drives him to do just about everything he does, from carefully crafting his charismatic, perfect, self-proclaimed "Man of Destiny" self- image, to pronouncing his grandiose mission to lead Americans back to nature. Narcissists want a lot of attention, good or bad, to make up for some lack of it in childhood. Conway is the classic example: preoccupied with grandiose philosophies and projects, presuming his own genius, taking no financial responsibility (he gets daddy to buy the land), constant over-busyness, claims of spiritual specialness, and fear of loneliness - even while his intolerant perfectionism and cold-heartedness drive away the very people whose company he desperately wants. His constant state of anxiety drives him to self-medicate with alcohol. It's the classic narcissistic cycle. Interesting read, but keep his narcissism in mind.
Rating:
Summary: hats off!!!
Review: hats off to you eustace, truly.
yes, sure, he's difficult, controlling, has some nice down to earth human flaws, relationship problems, you name it, we all have those too, no surprise there.
but WOW, and what's totally amazing, is that he's also got, and it seems, in endless supply, qualities, traits and values that we are so, so sorely lacking.
good work elizabeth gilbert, but now it's time for eustace to write his own book.
Rating:
Summary: great book
Review: eustace conway is my hero. read this book and you will see why. he will be yours too. he's a jerk in some ways but all in all an inspiring guy.
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