Tales of a Female Nomad

Living at Large in the World

By: Rita Golden Gelman

Narrated by: Rita Golden Gelman

Tales of a Female Nomad is the story of Rita Golden Gelman, an ordinary woman who is living an extraordinary existence. At the age of 48, on the verge of a divorce, Rita left an elegant life in Los Angeles to follow her dream of connecting with people in cultures all over the world. In 1986, she sold her possessions and became a nomad, living in a Zapotec village in Mexico, sleeping with sea lions on the Galapagos Islands, and residing everywhere from thatched huts to regal palaces. She has observed orangutans in the rain forest of Borneo, visited trance healers and dens of black magic, and cooked with women on fires all over the world. Rita's example encourages us all to dust off our dreams and rediscover the joy, the exuberance, and the hidden spirit that so many of us bury when we become adults.

©2001 Rita Golden Gelman (P)2014 Tantor

Critic reviews

"An idiosyncratic but exuberant homage to wanderlust." ( Kirkus)

A must listen for any woman over 35

How wonderful to be given the gift of FREEDOM! Freedom to travel as you wish, freedom to allow serendipity to dictate your next move and freedom from calendars. What a great and fulfilling book. The author's voice has a fantastic cadence and I will miss our long drives together.

Amazing story, lovingly told

I’ve read this book several times, and enjoyed hearing it read by the author even more. She has changed my life and my daughter’s as well. We’ve always been avid travelers, but her perspective and attentiveness to people have given us a deeper appreciation of the places we’ve gone and will go. Rita is such a joy I consider her a friend even though I’ve never met her.

What an inspiring read!

Gelman's book speaks to the possibilities for building bridges instead of walls. Should be required reading for our government leaders. The audible version is especially good because we hear the writer's voice in a way we can hear how approachable she is. I highly recommend this book to others. I guess I am an armchair traveler who will tell potential readers that your life will be enriched by reading Tales of a Female Nomad!

An Amazing Journey

I really identified with the wanderlust of the author. I'm not sure I have the courage to live the life that she has led, but I appreciate her sharing her story with u
me

A great book that will likely impact me for the rest of my life

I cannot say enough good about this book and all I can really say is that I strongly suggest you read it. I don’t think you’ll regret it and you may even feel deeply changed by it like I have.

Loved this book

Love love love this book.. her life is so unusual an outstanding An makes you feel like it's never to late to do anything you want to

Left me wanting more more more!!!

What made the experience of listening to Tales of a Female Nomad the most enjoyable?

The authors honesty about herself and the situations she finds herself in.

What did you like best about this story?

I liked how she made me feel hopeful about turning 50 and starting something new.

Which scene was your favorite?

Too many to list

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

This book had some very funny and happy moments as well as some very sad ones. I really loved this author and story, I went looking for more from her as soon as I finished.

Any additional comments?

Really a great listen, thank you to the author.

Tales of Human Nature

What did you love best about Tales of a Female Nomad?

I love how this story shows us that people are just people, no matter where you go. Rita puts a lot of work into her relationships with people and she gets a lot out that.

What did you like best about this story?

Tales of a Female Nomad goes beyond a travel book in that it's not about getting somewhere, it's about being somewhere with your whole self. She inserts her mind and soul into a place and tries to explain what it feels like to be an outsider learning about a culture. Sometimes she succeeds and sometimes she struggles. In the end the triumph is in the attempt...the will to try and not give up.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I have experienced this moment with many travel based books and it's this realization, the world is not as scary and dangerous as we are led to believe and if you are kind and put the work in to get to know people as they are and accept them they will likely accept you in return.

Any additional comments?

There are moments in this book where Rita takes an anthropological approach to situations that she doesn't want to interfere in personally that can be upsetting to some readers that can not emotionally distance themselves. Keep in mind that she is just one person and she does do a lot of good with her life, so if in the book you find she isn't acting when you would remember that we are each our own person and try to enjoy the book for what it is.

Fun and fascinating!

This book is unique, vivid and I think very honest. The author is clearly adventurous and she makes you feel like you're along on her remarkable journeys.

Loved it!

I'm an armchair traveler but Rita made me feel like I was there. Her perspective and philosophy is wonderful - more people should do this. It's what I would do if I could and I'm so glad someone is able, and that she's been hospitable enough to take us along for the ride.