We introduce a straightforward, single-ensemble, path sampling approach to calculate free energy differences based on Jarzynski's relation. For a two-dimensional "toy" test system, the new (minimally optimized) method performs roughly one hundred times faster than either optimized "traditional" Jarzynski calculations or conventional thermodynamic integration. The simplicity of the underlying formalism suggests the approach will find broad applicability in molecular systems. (C) 2004 American Institute of Physics.