+1 to the guy who highlighted "privilege"

...so in reality, sabbaticals only work if you:

1. Are young
2. Don't have a family
3. Can afford to lose a paycheck or two for an unpaid vacation
4. Live somewhere (like Switzerland) that gives you multiple weeks of paid vacation time
5. Have money to travel

I'm in the USA and happen to work for a company that does allow sabbaticals in addition to the standard PTO, but that's definitely the exception rather than the rule. I'm sure most of us would absolutely love to do what the author is describing, but it's probably not realistic unless you meet most—if not all—of the conditions above.

Basically: Don't be poor ya big dumb dumbs...

Future TED and Creative Mornings talk.