The Cabin on Sawmill Creek: A Western Walden

Rating:
Summary: This is not a western Walden
Review: I had mixed emotions over this book. Mary Jo gives great details of how they manage to live off the land in Idaho for only $2500 per year income and as a person always looking to simplify my life and live below my means, I found this helpful and the reason for the 2 stars. This book also gives great descriptions of rural Idaho, as well as an account of building a home with no outside help. She breaks down costs and gives details. However, I came away from reading the book disliking Mary Jo and her husband Stew a lot! She says goodbye to her children and family to take up with a man she has known for only a few months for this dream of a modern day Walden. He kidnapps his own children and ends up in jail for custodial interference. The irresponsibility and self-centeredness that these 2 show is unbelievable and what is more unbelievable, she writes as if she is proud of it. If you can get past the personality, there is some good information.