Dan Perry's life is great. He has a cushy job at IBM, dines at fancy restaurants and drives a shiny black Corvette. He's living the American Dream. But is it his dream?

After much agonizing, Dan realizes that he values experiences over possessions. And the experience he wants most is to travel the world. But his lifestyle has left him broke and his job keeps him tethered to his desk. He decides to make some big changes.

Dan claws his way out of debt and begins to save. When he has enough money, he quits his job, sheds his fancy stuff and buys a one-way ticket for Peru. He...