In her foreword to Living the Vanlife, Deenaalee Hodgdon (queer indigenous nomad and executive director of On the Land Media) explains that author and activist Naomi J. Grevemberg's "Diversify Vanlife" project "offered accessible and approachable resources for getting started and building community from BIPOC perspectives." Grevemberg offers her book as "a contribution to that purpose, written through the lens of the multiple intersections that I navigate." Born in Trinidad, Grevemberg immigrated to the United States at 17 after graduating high school, and describes herself as "a Black-identifying, queer woman"--all demographics that have historically been underrepresented in outdoors media.
With lush, full-color photos and a conversational, friendly tone, Living the Vanlife will undoubtedly appeal to anyone considering opting out of the traditional work-life model. But Grevemberg refuses to romanticize the experience, balancing the pros (such as "sustainable, off-grid living") against the cons (financial uncertainty), and includes real talk about traditionally taboo topics like personal hygiene and menstruation. Besides covering vanlife essentials, Grevemberg maintains a thoughtful focus on issues of equity and sustainability, such as providing practical ways to honor and support Indigenous communities or singing the praises of slow travel, which she explains "means accepting experiences for what they are, rather than imparting our own ideas of what they should be." With detailed appendices featuring tips and lists, a glossary of terms, and a comprehensive list of Native land acknowledgements, Living the Vanlife is a great resource for those considering life on the road. --Sara Beth West, freelance reviewer and librarian