Many years ago, stuck in a job that I disliked and yearning for adventure, I found a book that helped me change my life. Today, The Back Door Guide to Short-Term Job Adventures, by Michael Landes, is still a personal favorite.

Landes has done an excellent job of first outlining the process of finding something different, whether for a couple of weeks or a couple of years, and then giving practical advice, before moving into chapters that list specific opportunities. There is something here, it seems, for just about everyone: for people who like photography, for example, or for seniors who’d like to volunteer abroad; for those who are interested in working in summer camps and for those who have always wanted to work on a boat; for people curious about sustainable living and for people driven, simply, by the desire to spend some time outdoors.

It is unlikely that I will soon quit my job, move across the country, and work on an organic farm, as I did all those years ago. Reading about the many opportunities that exist, however, continues to feed my wanderlust, and in the midst of a particularly harrowing day at work, or after a lengthy metro ride in a hot, crowded car, it’s nice just to know that there are other options, after all.

Book Love is a regular feature of the Library Volunteer Newsletter, and is written by Library Volunteer Anna L. She’s always open to suggestions on what to read next.