Matt Harding, mi admirado Matt, cuenta en este libro las interioridades de sus tres primeros viajes por el mundo (ha hecho cuatro hasta la fecha) bailando de manera torpe y convulsiva, con todos los gastos pagados. En este libro, pulcramente editado y a todo color por 14 dólares (mirando en Lulú esto parece imposible), nos cuenta cómo surgió todo y cómo ha ido evolucionando en su manera de ver la vida al visitar a tanta gente en tantos países. Además de un viaje geográfico este libro nos relata su viaje interior, junto a su novia y luego mujer Melissa.
Tras ver su primer viaje, organicé en CPI un desafío para imitar el espíritu del mismo. Había que bailar por todo el mundo y conseguir sacar en el vídeo más países que Matt. Me consta que el desafío CPI hizo sonreír a mucha gente, que era el objetivo principal.
Para alguien que ha seguido las aventuras de Matt, este libro es obligatorio. Para quien no lo haya hecho, puede ser un interesante vistazo a cómo Internet entra de repente en tu vida y te la cambia, y cómo Matt se adaptó a este cambio de vida, viéndose envuelto en multitud de aventuras, y moviéndose por el mundo con desenvoltura :) ( )

Where the Hell is Matt?: Dancing Badly Around the World by Matt Harding

★ ★ ★

After years of working as a video game designer, Matt Harding realized he was in a rut. So he quit his job and with what little money he had decided to travel the world. And at each stop his friend told him he should do that goofy little dance he does. Then that little goofy dance was put online and Matt became a mild internet celebrity. All because of a goofy little dance. And then Stride Gum called up Matt and said “Hey. We want you for a campaign. We'll pay for you to travel wherever you want and do that goofy little dance.” And so Matt traveled some more (for money this time!). And he did more of that goofy little dance and became a bigger internet celebrity! All because of a goofy little dance. This book chronicles his travels and his journey to do a goofy little dance and make people smile.

I got this book for free and just happened to start reading it on the eve of his newest video being release (4 years since the one that made him a star). This book starts out fairly slow. A lot of, “and I went to this place..and this place..” etc. Not much detail but the pictures were interesting. It became more interesting about halfway through when he starts describing his third trip (his 2008 dancing). This is where he takes the concept of dancing around the world and adding other people – so the book take a turn not just about his locations but about it's people. And how people will dance, come together, and be happy (even in the worst of times, if even for a moment) regardless of race, religion, or location. So Matt Harding may not be the best writer and his goal to dance around the world and make others happy may not be the most ambitious of goals in the world, but it's a fun one. An entertaining and easy read.

My only complaint is I wish he had gone into more detail on many of his trips. I'm sure much more happen than described. Also, there were a lot of pictures in this. Not a bad thing. Unless you have a Kindle. The pictures just aren't as clear and vivid as I'm sure they appear in the actually book.

PS. Here is his website: http://www.wherethehellismatt.com/videos/. I suggest watching the 2008 dancing video if you take a look as much of this book surrounds the details of the recording of that trip. ( )

Read as a download from Amazon.

A fun introduction to the idea of travel that moves from personal project to a more engaged or altruistic activity. As a travelogue it's snapshot-style; like Matt's dances, it gives a moment of person with backdrop or other people, then moves on. It could be useful for discussing how a fantasy, not fully thought out, about "going abroad" or "studying overseas" might evolve from self- to other-focused. ( )

This quick but enjoyable book is a great companion to Matt's joyful Youtube videos and website. After the release of Matt's fourth dancing video in 2012, I wanted to know more about his journey, his motivations and his experiences. This book provides all of that and more behind the scenes information. I only wish the book were longer, and that it had a sequel detailing his latest adventures. ( )

I'm a huge fan of Matt's videos and blog, so I was pretty excited to read this book. It goes into the background stories behind most of the shots, and sheds light on the history and stories of the people and places that show up in the videos. He's a very engaging writers as well, and I enjoyed his accounts thoroughly. ( )