The Last American Man | Elizabeth Gilbert

The Last American Man | Elizabeth Gilbert | Good treatment of a complex personality

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The Last American Man

	The Last American Man Elizabeth Gilbert Penguin (Non-Classics), 2003 - 288 pages average customer review:based on 97 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

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I am from NC and had a chance to meet Eustace at Merlefest, the bluegrass festival that he attends every year (In his teepee). He seemed very laid back, appreciative and polite in person. At the time, I had only heard of him through a few friends that read this book, but I had not read the book myself. I was extremely curious about his life and views after meeting him and read the book about him, "The Last American Man".

This is a great book, because it is the type of book that will stay with you a long time (I read it three months ago and I still think about it frequently). Eustace is a fascinating person, with views on materialism and nature that could only be considered eccentric in today's culture. He believes that most of us would be happier if we release ourselves from our materialism and live in nature, surving off our knowledge of the wilderness. He is amazing in that he starts his own camp, Turtle Island in which he teaches kids and adults who want to work with him about the art of surviving in the wilderness. His knowledge of hunting and farming is astounding. He often studied Native American cultures growing up (In Gaston County) and used this knowledge from very early on. He adopts many values and skills of the Native Americans and applies it. He also faces challenges that most of us just dream about (Hiking the entire AT, and riding a horse from coast to coast with his brother).

The book is not only a riveting story about Eustace's wanting to start a movement to Native American values, but also captures character flaws which often leave Eustace isolated and feeling unfufilled. He has difficulty having relationships with women, and getting along with those that work with him. Through it all, though, we are still in awe of his drive to take a stand and at least try to influence other people to adopt at least some of his values or lifestyle.

I am an avid outdoorsman, but would be the first to admit that it would be difficult to live and survive in the wilderness under primitive condidtions day after day. I suppose I, like most other people, have been spoiled with todays comforts. I know I will not adopt his lifestyle, but because of this book I go to bed at night sometimes just dreaming about what it would be like!

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Good treatment of a complex personality

I really enjoyed the book. The author clearly does not attempt to distance herself from the subject, but she lets us see all (including the darker) sides of his personality. It is not written in the usual dry biographical style, but I think that her style fits the subject.

All around, an easy and enjoyable read.

Gilbert's style is very modern, i.e. modern phrases, etc., which may turn some folks off. If you look past that, the story is fascinating, and Gilbert does a very good job of telling the story to the reader. As far as the subject, Conway could not be surpassed, he's a very interesting man with an even more interesting (perhaps idolized) lifestyle.

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My new hero.

After I read this book I had a new hero. I have always wanted to do what Conway has done with his life. And, according to him "You can."

I have told everyone I know that I think might be interested about this book.

Too honest for most folks

I loved this book, although it was not what I expected. I had hoped that it would be more of a guide, a how to of how to survive off the land, but what it is in reality is a very honest account of one man, Eustace Conway, and his adventures, achievements and philosophy about living off the land. If you are a nature lover and have dreamed of living off the land you can't help but feel a connection and a sympathy with Eustace, who contends that the modern world has robbed us of our collective soul, taking us away from nature and reverence for her, and obliterating our natural instincts and basic humanity. I couldn't agree more! However, what you discover as you read more and more is that Eustace is a man, very damaged by the demeaning abuse and ridicule of a father whom he still seeks to please. He is haunted and tormented by the dysfunctional relationship he endured with his father, whom in spite of Eustace's brilliance and many achievements, he can never please or win the approval of. Folks who are looking for an idol, a folk hero, will be disappointed to discover Eustace is an ordinary, damaged man in many respects who can't seem to outrun the ghosts of his childhood past. This book had me laughing, crying and applauding Eustace. I couldn't help but feel a deep love for him, sharing so many of his convictions about life and nature. At some points in the book, I wanted to smack him upside his head, and say, "Get over it!" Move forward, move past, blossom and be the Man of Destiny you weren't meant to be, independent of your father's approval.
Eustace is hard on others, he seems to have little understanding of how to be gentle and accepting of other's shortcomings. He has a deep contempt for incompetence of any kind, which does not endear him to his apprentices who come to him, hoping to learn how to be self sufficient off of the land. He is unable to extend the understanding, the patience and the loving acceptance of others that he himself was denied, that he as an adult still craves from his father. You wonder how a man so brilliant, so in tune with nature, so brilliantly able to commence with nature and understand animals from a deep intuition could be so woefully lacking in the most basic kindness' of interacting with others on an intimate level, as friends and family members. He craves love, but pushes others away and is deeply pained, knowing he does so but never digging deeper to understand his actions or intentions and move beyond them. I love Eustace and identify with him on so many levels that I could not help but feel a deep compassion for him, all the while very clear that I could and would never tolerate the demeaning manner in which he tries to teach others the skills of living off the land.
Eustace is fascinating, a contradiction, multi faceted, brilliant, focused and achieving, a man you love to hate.

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