SKU: 90238315255

Walden on Wheels: On the Open Road from Debt to Freedom

Sale price$15.29 Regular price$16.99
Save 10%

Pay in installments of $4.25 with ShopPay, AfterPay and Klarna

Shipping Estimate
USA
  • USA
  • CAN

Ships within 48 hours · Estimated delivery Jul 27 - Aug 1

Promo Codes Available:

For Your Every Summer RSVP, with Code: SUMMER15

Description

Walden on Wheels: On the Open Road from Debt to FreedomIn this frank and witty memoir, Ken Ilgunas lays bare the existential terror of graduating from the University of Buffalo with $32,000 of student debt. Ilgunas set himself an ambitious mission: get out of debt as quickly as possible. Inspired by the frugality and philosophy of Henry David Thoreau, Ilgunas undertook a three year transcontinental journey, working in Alaska as a tour guide, garbage picker, and night cook to pay off his student loans

In this frank and witty memoir, Ken Ilgunas lays bare the existential terror of graduating from the University of Buffalo with $32,000 of student debt. Ilgunas set himself an ambitious mission: get out of debt as quickly as possible. Inspired by the frugality and philosophy of Henry David Thoreau, Ilgunas undertook a three-year transcontinental journey, working in Alaska as a tour guide, garbage picker, and night cook to pay off his student loans before hitchhiking home to New York.

Debt-free, Ilgunas then enrolled in a master's program at Duke University, determined not to borrow against his future again. He used the last of his savings to buy himself a used Econoline van and outfitted it as his new dorm. The van, stationed in a campus parking lot, would be more than an adventure--it would be his very own "Walden on Wheels."

Freezing winters, near-discovery by campus police, and the constant challenge of living in a confined space would test Ilgunas's limits and resolve in the two years that followed. What had begun as a simple mission would become an enlightening and life-changing social experiment.

Walden on Wheels offers a spirited and pointed perspective on the dilemma faced by those who seek an education but who also want to, as Thoreau wrote, "live deep and suck out all the marrow of life."

Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: New Harvest
Published: 05/14/2013
ISBN: 9780544028838
Pages: 296
Weight: 0.55lbs
Size: 8.20h x 5.60w x 1.00d

Review Citations: Publishers Weekly 02/11/2013 pg. 52
Kirkus Reviews 04/15/2013
Booklist 05/01/2013 pg. 55
Shipping Notes
  • Free Standard Shipping on $100+ Orders to the USA.
  • Except Preorder products are shipped in 48 hours.
  • Delivery to the USA:
  1. Standard Shipping : 3-10 business days
  • If time is of the essence, please consider selecting expedited delivery for faster service.
Exchange/Return Notes
  • We offer a 30-day return/exchange service after receiving.
  • Final sale items are not eligible for returns or exchanges.
  • To process your return/exchange, please contact us at [email protected]
  • Please click here for more details>>> Return & Exchange Policy
SKU: 90238315255

Discover Niche Categories That Outsell

Top-Converting Item to Boost Your Average Order

4.7 ★★★★★
Based on 26 reviews
Sort
Highest Rating
Newest First
Oldest First
Product Reviews
H
Verified Purchase
Hector Suarez
Lowell, US
★★★★★ 5
Great quality highly recommended
Great quality highly recommended for the summer or used on the oven great size
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on May 22, 2026
R
Verified Purchase
reginald braxton
Lake Worth, US
★★★★★ 5
Good
Good value
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on May 3, 2026
C
Verified Purchase
Charity W.
Belleville, US
★★★★★ 5
Easy To Use
These work great for a really good price. I love using these when I'm making dishes that would be difficult to clean otherwise.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on March 15, 2026
P
Verified Purchase
Patricia Randle
Louisville, US
★★★★★ 5
Good buy
Love these. Easy clean up and use. As described
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on March 7, 2026
R
Rachel
Fort Morgan, US
★★★★★ 4
Value, Durability, Everyday Use
What I liked: - Price-to-value is the standout. These were significantly better priced than similar packs I’ve bought from local grocery stores and big discount retailers. - For everyday, disposable use—think casseroles, baked pasta, brownies, roasted veggies—the lighter weight is perfectly fine. - They stack neatly and are easy to store, which matters when you’re buying in bulk. What I didn’t like: - They’re a bit flimsier and not as thick as the store-brand pans I’ve used before. You can feel the difference when you handle them. - For heavier dishes (large lasagnas, big roasts, or anything dense with sauces), a single pan can flex more than I’d like. How I used them: - Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve used these for baking brownies, roasting chicken thighs with vegetables, and prepping freezer meals. When I expected more weight or lots of liquid, I doubled up the pans, which solved the flex issue and kept everything stable. - I also tested bending one to compare sturdiness. In the accompanying video, you’ll see me gently flexing the pan to show the “give.” In the photo, I placed this pan next to a thicker pan I bought at a regular store so you can see the difference in gauge. My takeaway: - If you need heavy-duty pans for very weighty dishes, these aren’t a perfect one-for-one replacement for thicker, premium options. However, for routine baking, storage, and serving—especially when you plan to toss the pan afterward—the cost savings make a lot of sense. - Doubling them for heavier recipes is a simple workaround that maintains stability while still keeping the overall cost lower than buying thicker single-use pans. Verdict: - I’ll be purchasing these again for everyday use and bulk meal prep. The value is strong, and the performance is solid when you match the pan to the job or double up as needed.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on April 15, 2026

recommand products