"A rip-roaring read, filled with death-defying adventures — fighting off grizzly bears; avoiding a charging bull moose; nearly freezing in an ice-encrusted tent... Smith is a good storyteller. [The Way of the Hermit] flows smoothly, with just enough of the vernacular to give it personality."—The Washington Post

"Moving...The Way of the Hermit feels qualitatively different from other hermit-related books… They are the basic stuff of existence, the point at which Smith makes daily, intimate contact with the natural world and his own human needs. His ability to appreciate them despite their repetitious quality is worthy of a zen monk… Few of us can say as much, and it feels like a blessing to have spent this time with someone who can.”—Slate

"A Thoreauvian account of solitary life in the Scottish Highlands….[a] spry memoir….A delightful manual for would-be back-to-the-landers, if not hermits in training.”—Kirkus

"[A] kernel of kindness and an idea for a society built on warm, good-natured reciprocity with each other and all the beings among whom we live. Smith seems to stand like a shy, modest trailblazer." – Geographical

"Refreshingly candid and humorous... For anyone who feels they are merely going through the motions, this book will make an inspiring read." – BBC Countryfile Magazine
 
"Moving... Any book that leaves you with more questions than answers is a good thing."– The Scotsman
 
"An extraordinary existence... [A] book that Smith hopes will enable others to connect with 'the hermit that sits within.'" – The Telegraph