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The No. 9 Bus To Utopia
The Video
The Pitch
This book is the record of a quest.
A few years ago I came out of a relationship, heartbroken. I was dumped and replaced by someone my ex described as 'younger but more mature'. Realising I had a thing or two to learn about giving, I took a year off and journeyed through Europe and America seeking out extraordinary communities that could teach me about how to share.
Why?
I had a few questions I wanted to answer. Is modern life rubbish? Why do so many of us feel lonely and unfulfilled despite a high standard of living? Are there communities out there who hold the key to happi ness? And if so, why do so many of their inhabitants insist on dressing in tie-dye?
Where?
On my travels I visited an anarchist community in the heart of Copenhagen, had some hair-raising experiences in several free love communities, had an epiphany in a spiritual caravan park in Scotland and thought I'd found paradise in a Californian community dreamed up by Aldous Huxley. Most impressive of all was Damanhur, a 1000-strong science fiction-style community in the Alps with an underground temple the size of St Paul’s Cathedral, a village of tree houses and a ‘fully-functioning time machine'!
What happened?
Inspired by the people and places I visited, I returned home with a desire to change. Not just myself but also my neighbourhood and city. In an attempt to re-connect people in their community I helped set up a unique and hugely successful event in Brighton called 'Zocalo'. Involving no funding or permission, just posters, it gets people outside on the street talking to their neighbours. Some dragged out barbecues, some brought sofas and rugs. One heroic household on Islingword Street set up their entire living room on the pavement, complete with the obligatory stag’s head. This year we’re planning to run it across the whole of Brighton.
With this book, I hope to inspire more people to do the same and revolutionise their cities.
The Excerpt
Here's a new passage, taken from my account of the extraordinary community of Damanhur in northern Italy.
The Author
Dr Bramwell is a one-man cottage industry: the author of the best-selling Cheeky Guide to Brighton; creator of the Brighton's much-loved Catalyst Club, a spoken word club where everyday people are given 15 minutes to talk about their passions; a music teacher and singer-songwriter in the band Oddfellows Casino (Pickled Egg records).
His live shows have garnered praise, awards and five-star ratings. Together with singer Eliza Skelton, he has entertained festival and cinema audiences with Sing-along-a-Wickerman and performed his one-man show about utopia for TEDx, Alain de Botton’s School of Life, The Idler Academy and the Port Eliot Festival. In 2011 he won a Sony Award for his mischievous Haunted Moustache programme for Radio 3 and has also won 'Best Comedy' and 'Outstanding Theatre' Awards for his storytelling shows.
A typical northerner, he is perversely proud of being born in Scunthorpe and raised in Doncaster.
N.B. He is not a medical doctor.
'Frankly genius' Guardian
What you get when you support a book:
All supporters get their name printed in every edition of the book. All levels include the e-book and immediate access to the author's shed. Supporters of books that don't reach their target receive a FULL refund.
£10
DIGITAL
e-book edition, access to the author's shed and your name in the back of the book
£20
HARDBACK
1st edition hardback (including free UK delivery)
e-book edition, access to the author's shed and your name in the back of the book
£50
COLLECTORS EDITION
Signed and personally dedicated 1st edition hardback (including free UK delivery)
e-book edition, access to the author's shed and your name in the back of the book
£120
YOUR OWN PERSONAL UTOPIA
Everything up to and including Collector’s level plus two tickets to hear David perform his Utopia show at the legendary Bom-Bane's in Brighton (meal included).
£200
ZOCALO
Everything up to and including Collector’s level plus David will visit you anywhere in the UK to help set up a Zocalo-style community event.
£350
ZOCALO + SHOW
Everything up to and including Collector’s level plus David will visit you anywhere in the UK to help set up a Zocalo-style community event and give a public performance of his Utopia show (venue permitting) to help raise funds.
