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The Moneyless Man

A Year of Freeconomic Living

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The Moneyless Man

By: Mark Boyle
Narrated by: David Thorpe
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Imagine a year without spending - or even touching - money. Former businessman Mark Boyle did just that and here is his extraordinary story. Going back to basics and following his own strict rules, Mark learned ingenious ways to eliminate his bills and discovered that good friends are all the riches you need.

Encountering seasonal foods, solar panels, skill-swapping schemes, cuttlefish toothpaste, compost toilets, and - the unthinkable - a cash-free Christmas, Boyle puts the fun into frugality and offers some great tips for economical (and environmentally friendly) living. A testament to Mark's astounding determination, this witty and heart-warming book will make you re-evaluate your relationship to your wallet.

©2010 Mark Boyle (P)2012 Audible Ltd Economics Money Inspiring Thought-Provoking
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Critic reviews

"Essential and enjoyable reading. The fascinating story of an important social experiment, told with humility, insight, and great humour." (Chris Cleave, Sunday Times best-selling author of The Other Hand and Guardian columnist)
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One's liking or disliking of this book will largely be decided by one's attitude to man-made climate-change, capitalism, and a conventional agriculture. No prizes for guessing that he is against all three. This book could well have been called 'THE MONEY-LESS VEGAN' If you find that a turn-off then do not buy.

I quickly found myself a non-believer and believed less and less as the 6 hours dragged on.
Firstly, Boyle's analysis of 'what money is' struck me as tremendously biased and rather unimaginative. For him money is entrapping, it is debt and it is a method of enslavement. Possibly this is true, but personally I have always found it very useful for storing the value of my labour and ensuring the cooperation of those around me.

The cooperation of those around him is what Boyle depends heavily upon- 'security from Community not from Money.', 'Cooperation not competition.' No one could disagree that this is broadly a good thing- but on a large scale it's not human nature- What happens when someone wants more than their fair share? How do we cooperate with the non-cooperative? Mark Boyle hopes for a moneyless Eden, with no Original Sin.

In the meantime who is going to fund the Nuclear deterent, the cure for cancer... or the internet? The internet is particually key because if there is one thing that Mr Boyle believes in it is Publicity- not, we are to understand, for reasons of egoism but to 'get the message across' and to promote his ideas of 'Freeconomy' Hence a rather tiresome theme running through the book is a blow-by-blow account of his dealings with the Media and his excitement at the interest they take in his experiment. The internet is to the 'Freeconomic' community, more or less, what oil is to the transport industry- but any suggestion of the way computer production or internet access can be sustainably managed without money is not given by Mark Boyle.

Space is running out- but why such an English narrator for such an Irish writer?

An attempt to picnic in Eden

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Some interesting concepts, I admire the authors sense of adventure and bravery but ultimately the book was a bit to preachy for me.

He over generalises and simplifies. Spends lots of time saying he should not judge others but then goes right ahead and does anyway.

Some of the rules that he set himself seemed a bizarre, he could accept a ferry ticket home but could not use his parents shower?

Also who is going to run the internet, his prime publicity tool in him moneyless vegan organic utopia??

There are definitely things that can be taken away from this book, we could all do with having a good long look at our impact on the world. But am not sure I am ready to jump on this particular band waggon.

Interesting concept

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Only a slight criticism that the narrator was bubbly whereas Mark Boyle’s own tone is much more considered, quiet and warm which suits his words more.

Very thought-provoking

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I thought this book was good, I enjoyed the perspective of the author and also the information provided in the book.

A bit disappointed that the author didn’t read the book, or any attempt of similarity to his native tongue was used as this, for me, would have made it a more pleasurable experience. The narrator is very competent but would have preferred the guy who read Mark Boyles book ‘The Way Home’ to have narrated this too.

Still a really good book and highly recommended to get an insight into how we have evolved into a materialistic society and how we can make changes, small and large, to make the world a better place.

Enjoyable and thought provoking

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Great to listen to whilst I am in the woods by my fire. Very easy to listen to and escape into the story of how it all began.

Loved it as all of marks books

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