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Ghost Town Living

Mining for Purpose and Chasing Dreams at the Edge of Death Valley

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Ghost Town Living

By: Brent Underwood
Narrated by: Brent Underwood
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About this listen

 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A long-abandoned silver mine for sale sounded like an adventure too great to pass up, but it turned into much more—a calling, a community of millions, and hard-earned lessons about chasing impractical dreams.

“Inspiring and meditative—the story of man vs nature and man vs himself.”—Ryan Holiday, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Obstacle is the Way

The siren song of Cerro Gordo, a desolate ghost town perched high above Death Valley, has seduced thousands since the 1800s, but few fell harder for it than Brent Underwood, who moved there in March of 2020, only to be immediately snowed in and trapped for weeks.

It had once been the largest silver mine in California. Over $500 million worth of ore was pulled from the miles of tunnels below the town. Butch Cassidy, Mark Twain, and other infamous characters of the American West were rumored to have stayed there. Newspapers reported a murder a week. But that was over 150 years ago.

Underwood bet his life savings—and his life—on this majestic, hardscrabble town that had broken its fair share of ambitious men and women. What followed were fires, floods, earthquakes, and perhaps strangest, fame. Ghost Town Living tells the story of a man against the elements, a forgotten historic place against the modern world, and a dream against all odds—one that has captured millions of followers around the world.

He came looking for a challenge different from the traditional 9-5 job but discovered something much more fulfilling—an undertaking that would call on all of himself and push him beyond what he knew he was capable of. In fact, to bring this abandoned town back to life, Brent had to learn a wealth of new self-sufficiency and problem-solving skills from many generous mentors.

Ghost Town Living is a thrilling read, but it’s also a call to action—to question our too-practical lives and instead seek adventure, build something original, redefine work, and embrace the unknown. It shows what it means to dedicate your life to something, to take a mighty swing at a crazy idea and, like the cardsharps who once haunted Cerro Gordo, go all in.©2024 Brent Underwood (P)2024 Random House Audio Personal Development Personal Success Natural Disaster Dream Haunted

Critic Reviews

"[Underwood’s story] continues to be of endless fascination."—The New York Times

"It is . . . a romantic way of life. But it hasn’t been without its share of difficulties, worries, and setbacks."—VICE

"Who knows? Maybe Cerro Gordo has one last boom in it after all."—CBS News
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My best book yet ! I am happy to have in my collection for life ! Can’t wait to listen to it again !

Wow very chapter was fantastic

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As a watcher of the Ghost Town channel, it was great to have a inside view of the challenges faced, and the stories of those struggles told in greater clarity. It was funny/sad/inspiring recollection of the 4 years of Cerro Gordo and the history discovered and also made. Definitely worth the listen on Audible, It provides you the passion and the heartbreak of a story the is worth listening to.

The combination of honesty and philosophy

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I love hearing about the starting of the of the area and what is happening in the town now bringing it but to life.

the history and the now

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Made me cry multiple times and was so inspiring for my own life and the steps I'm scared to take. I've followed Brent on YouTube since he first came onto YouTube and didn't have many followers yet. I've followed with bated breath along it all. I thought I would know everything from his journey, but I was very wrong. This book showed so many things we didn't see and feel and experience. I tell everyone about his channel however watching his channel or not I highly recommend anyone read this book. It's inspiring and calming and full of so many things lost to time, things we shouldn't forget. I'm in australia and we have a deep dark mining history as well. Since I've started watching GTL I have explored my local history and am inspired to learn and not forget. Some can learn from the past to not repeat or help inspire, some can't but thats humanity. Brent has inspired me to not be scared to risk, to fail, to learn but best of all to live.

Made me cry... in a good way

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Great story and history of the Mining Area interspersed with other factual stories of who and what made this place so special

Awesome piece of work Brent

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I love what Brent is doing and this is a good read. He goes a lot deeper than he has done in the YouTubes, particularly personally and the darker side of owning a ghost down. However, I do think he has a slightly better one in him than this so I've only given hit 4/5. Perhaps a second book in a few years!

Worth a read

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I’ve been watching Brent on YouTube for years and feel like I already know him. We all battle with what we are here to do and most of us chicken out and don’t push that boundary. Brent went for it and sharing his story is inspirational and reminds us that good things come only after repeated hard work and challenges.

Heart felt and real

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In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.