Living in Nature

Sometimes the weight of civilization can be overwhelming. The fast pace … the burdens of relationships … the political strife … the technological complexity — it’s enough to make you dream of escaping to a simpler life more in touch with nature. For most that dream translates into an occasional weekend camping trip, but there are some people — critics of civilization, activists, spiritualists or mere free spirits — who have taken the idea to the extreme. Some call them naive or radical, but others consider them inspirational. You decide: here are 7 individuals who gave up on civilization to live in the wild.