"I first read this book when it was in it's second printing in 1972, WOW, who can cut ties with civilization, let alone family, friends, conveniances, TV, DVD, 3D, Video games, ipod, and on and on?. I dare say it would be difficult then without most of these techno advances, let alone now! What an accomplishment!, for sure!. God bless you Angier's. Thank You for your inspiration. :->. I am humbled.