Critical Acclaim for Belonging to the World
—Midwest Book Review
“The memoir hones a crisp, clear set of observations and wide-ranging contrasts that are rare even in the world of adventure travel literature, placing Belonging to the World in a class of its own. Delightful in its travelogue, pointed in its psychological and philosophical observations, and totally immersive in its approach, Belonging to the World is a treasure highly recommended for libraries, individuals, and book clubs alike.”
—Foreword Clarion Reviews (4 out of 5)
“A whirlwind memoir of grief, discovery, and extreme travel, Belonging to the World captures renewed purpose through beauty, kindness, and adventure while visiting some of the most remote countries on earth.”
—BookLife Reviews (A)
“Hoffner lays bare the underlying, and often overlooked, ties that bind us to each other, regardless of our origins, and transforms seemingly dead-ends into brilliant moments of meaning and purpose.”
—SPR Review (★★★★½)
“Few travelogues offer this level of vulnerability and honesty with such expansive geographic and emotional range, Belonging to the World is uniquely compelling and hard to put down.”
—San Francisco Book Review (5 out of 5)
"One of those rare memoirs that manages to balance emotional honesty with sweeping adventure. On the surface, it’s the story of a man’s quest to visit all 193 countries after the tragic death of his wife. But at its core, it’s a deeply human exploration of what it means to heal, to reconnect, and to find belonging not just in places, but in people. Fans of travel writers like Paul Theroux or memoirists like Cheryl Strayed (Wild) will appreciate Hoffner’s mix of introspection and exploration.”
—Readers’ Choice Book Awards (5 stars)
“A deeply moving memoir that explores grief, healing, and the transformative power of travel.”
—IndieReader (4.8/5 stars)
“Poignant, moving, and filled with striking details about the globe’s out-of-the-way places, Belonging to the World is an uplifting celebration of life and travel.”
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Papua New Guinea
Bourse Jackie Scholarship recipients in Bamako, Mali
"Connection for me, in my travels, is the sense of reaching a common understanding and feeling of mutual care between people
despite coming from different places, cultures, religions and stages of life."
- Barry
Baghdad, Iraq night café scene
School girls in Sri Lanka
"Connection for me, in my travels, is the sense of reaching a common understanding and feeling of mutual care between people
despite coming from different places, cultures, religions and stages of life."
- Barry
The Friday Mosque in Herat, Afghanistan
Gift picture book from the President’s office in Palau
"Connection for me, in my travels, is the sense of reaching a common understanding and feeling of mutual care between people
despite coming from different places, cultures, religions and stages of life."
- Barry
Monks in the Punakha Dzong Monastery in Bhutan
Wedding party near Harar, Ethiopia
"Connection for me, in my travels, is the sense of reaching a common understanding and feeling of mutual care between people
despite coming from different places, cultures, religions and stages of life."
- Barry
Haircut in Shiraz, Iran
Hanging with students in Masawa, Eritrea
"Connection for me, in my travels, is the sense of reaching a common understanding and feeling of mutual care between people
despite coming from different places, cultures, religions and stages of life."
- Barry
My 63rd surprise birthday party in Damascus, Syria
Guide to a grove of Dragon Blood Trees in Socotra
"Connection for me, in my travels, is the sense of reaching a common understanding and feeling of mutual care between people
despite coming from different places, cultures, religions and stages of life."
- Barry
Pakistani truck drivers along the Karakoram highway
School inauguration Timbuktu, Mali
"Connection for me, in my travels, is the sense of reaching a common understanding and feeling of mutual care between people
despite coming from different places, cultures, religions and stages of life."
- Barry
Syrian refugee family in the Bekaa Valley, Lebanon
New friend in Chad
"Connection for me, in my travels, is the sense of reaching a common understanding and feeling of mutual care between people
despite coming from different places, cultures, religions and stages of life."
- Barry
Saudi tourists from Riyadh in Southern Saudi Arabia
Sharing a coffee in Port Sudan, Sudan
"Connection for me, in my travels, is the sense of reaching a common understanding and feeling of mutual care between people
despite coming from different places, cultures, religions and stages of life."
- Barry
Security detail in Hadramawt Valley, Yemen
Students at a mudbrick Mosque in Hausa village in Niger
"Connection for me, in my travels, is the sense of reaching a common understanding and feeling of mutual care between people
despite coming from different places, cultures, religions and stages of life."
- Barry
My guide Rogers in the Okavango Delta, Botswana
With Bushmen in the Kalahari Desert, Botswana
"Connection for me, in my travels, is the sense of reaching a common understanding and feeling of mutual care between people
despite coming from different places, cultures, religions and stages of life."
- Barry
Sure, it has the best hiking trails, up rugged jungle peaks, in the Caribbean, waterfalls, rivers and hot-springs flowing everywhere, the nesting place of the Sperm Whales, but is the people who made Dominica Conde Naste’s friendliest country in 2023, that make this place special.
DOMINICA
A sampling of countries
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Mongolia is a compelling country: its vastness, Buddhism, rugged beauty, fascinating cultures and history of the Mongols. I will not soon forget the scale of expansiveness I felt driving through Western Mongolia, leaving impressions of awe and stunning beauty.
MONGOLIA
A sampling of countries
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