How to give yourself the gift of time when you travel, and by so doing, discover something about the world, and about yourself.
How to give yourself the gift of time when you travel, and by so doing, discover something about the world, and about yourself.
Essays & travelogues, Happiness, Western
In the aftermath of the pandemic, author Tim Ward and his wife, Teresa, decided to leave their home and professional careers in the US to spend a year in Europe as flâneurs. The French word "flâneur" means one who “wanders without purpose, observing society.” As the French literary critic Sainte-Beuve explained it, to flâne “is the very opposite of doing nothing.” Indeed, it is to give yourself the gift of time: permission to live an unstructured life and, by so doing, discover something about the world, and about yourself.
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Whimsical, unexpected, frequently revelatory, exquisitely observed (and written), this is vintage Tim Ward–I loved it. ~ Ian Weir, author of The Death and Life of Strother Purcell
Would you like to quit your job and travel with no itinerary, no destination, and a beautiful companion? Tim Ward did just that. Dive into these pages as he strolls, explores, and hikes his way across some of the most beautiful places in Europe. ~ Marsha Scarbrough, author of Honey in the River
I have been a Tim Ward fan since What the Buddha Never Taught. In Mature Flâneur he shows that it’s possible to find a life partner of matching and opposing sensibilities, adding depth and spice to the journey. ~ Melanie Choukas-Bradley, author of Finding Solace at Theodore Roosevelt Island
With a keen eye, sense of the absurd, and an underlying philosophy of life, Tim enthrals as he entertains. But a warning: reading him will make you long to flâneur too, as I was forced to do! ~ C.C. Humphreys, novelist and director of the rock-opera version of What the Buddha Never Taught
In this wonderful book, Tim Ward invites us to slow down our lives enough to find the hidden gems right in our midst. Through his vivid accounts of his travels through Europe during his "senior gap year" with his wife, I could imagine meandering through the small lanes he discovered in Paris, felt my heart racing as he negotiated the vertiginous Dolomite hiking trails, and burst out laughing during his near-accident motorboating in the Arctic Circle. Tim Ward is a brilliant storyteller and we benefit from his indefatigable curiosity. Whether you decide to follow in his flaneuring footsteps or not, after reading this book you will see the world around you with different eyes. ~ Stephanie J. Miller, author of Zero Waste Living, the 80/20 Way
Tim Ward, a.k.a. the Mature Flâneur, has a special talent for noticing the little details of geography, architecture, food, history, wildlife, and culture. His vivid descriptions transported me to his side. From bustling cities filled with history to striking natural landscapes, this book offers a captivating journey through some gorgeous parts of northern and southern Europe. For adventure, discovery and enlightenment, it's a true gem, not to be missed. ~ Bart W. Édes, author of Learning from Tomorrow
If you have ever dreamed about strolling through the gardens of Paris, marveling at the glaciers of Norway, or exploring the back alleys of Lisbon, buy this fabulous book! Tim has an eye for detail and an adventurous spirit that brings every nook and cranny of Europe to life. Escape where you are through these charming pages and who knows, you may be inspired to book a European ramble for yourself. ~ Lisa Foster, author of Bag Lady: How I Started a Business for a Greener World and Changed the Way America Shops
