Amazing Adventures of a Nobody [Paperback]

Leon Logothetis (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 15, 2011

Tired of his disconnected life and uninspiring job, Leon Logothetis leaves it all behind-job, money, home even his cell phone-and hits the road with nothing but the clothes on his back and five dollars in his pocket, relying on the kindness of strangers and the serendipity of the open road for his daily keep. Along the way, Leon offers up the intriguing and charming tales gathered along his one-of-a-kind journey: riding in trains, buses, big rigs and classic cars; sleeping on streets and couches and firehouses; meeting pimps and preachers, astronauts and single moms, celebrities and homeless families, veterans and communists. Each day of his journey, we catch sight of the invisible spiritual underpinning of society in these stories of companionship-and sheer adventure-that prove that the kind, good soul of mankind has not been lost.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Amazing Adventures of a Nobody was written by indefatigable Leon Logothetis elicits generosity and kindness, on his endearingly frugal journey" We also get some great travel tips too" Kyle Wagner, Travel Editor Denver Post 

"An amazing read from an amazing and truly inspiring guy!" Christy Cahela, Executive Producer/Co Host, Daybreak USA 

"A compelling and rich travelogue that ultimately opens our eyes to the human connection." --Sharrie Williams, author, The Maybelline Story--and the Spirited Family Dynasty Behind It 

"A great read, and who knows, you may find your true calling by the end of it all!" -- Stephen Viscusi, America's Workplace Guru and bestselling author of Bulletproof Your Job: 4 Simple Strategies to Ride Out the Rough Times and Come Out On Top at Work 

"Masterful story telling! Leon begins his journey as a merry prankster and ends a grinning philosopher. Really funny--and insightful, too." --Karen Salmansohn, Oprah.com relationship columnist, AOL career coach, and NY Times bestselling author of Bounce Back Book: How to Thrive in the Face of Adversity, Setbacks and Loses 

"Leon Logothetis takes budget travel to another level…in his wry and hopeful new book." -- New York Post

"A gem of a book: Endearing, Engaging and Inspiring!" -- Catharine Hamm, Los Angeles Times

"Leon reaches out to every one of us. If you're looking to find meaning in this disconnected world of ours, this book contains many clues." -- Psychology Today

Review

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT THIS BOOK.....

* A gem of a book; endearing, engaging and inspiring. —Catharine Hamm, Los Angeles Times, travel editor

* Masterful storytelling! Leon begins his journey as a merry prankster and ends a grinning philosopher. Really funny—and insightful, too. —Karen Salmansohn,  Oprah.com Relationship Columnist, and AOL Career Coach

* A great read, and who knows, you may find your true calling by the end of it all.—Stephen Viscusi, America's Workplace Guru and Best-selling Author of Bulletproof Your Job

(LEON LOGOTHETIS THE AMAZING ADVENTURES OF A NOBODY )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 268 pages
• Publisher: Bettie Youngs Books (October 15, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 098430813X
• ISBN-13: 978-0984308132
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #740,475 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I have always had a passion for interacting with people. I loved the camaraderie of making new friends and treasured the adventure of travel. This passion prompted me to swap my life as a city broker to pursue my dreams of traveling the world. My nomadic spirit has taken me across the globe to exotic locations like Nepal, Mongolia, Gallup New Mexico and the Galapagos Islands.

My first foray into the Television world was with the Discovery Channel's hit show "Destination Future." My involvement in this show allowed me to combine my love of travel and television, which I later turned into a hit series with the creation of "Amazing Adventures of a Nobody." I created the reality-travel format and funded the first edition of 'Nobody' with the hopes that it would be picked up by a major television network. I like taking risks it seems...

The UK's Sky TV was the first to air 'Amazing Adventures of a Nobody' and following a successful first season; the show was licensed to National Geographic International and aired in over 100 countries around the world, including the United States on the Fox Reality Channel and Canada's OLN.

In each series, I am tasked with traveling across countries and continents on just $5 a day. I am allowed to accept gifts from strangers and work for food or lodging but I am not allowed to beg for money or go over the agreed daily sum of $5. I can only stay in each city for one night, adding heightened drama and intensity to the journeys. In season one I crossed the UK traveling from Land's End to John O'Groats. In season two I traversed the USA starting in New York's Times Square and ending at the fabled Los Angeles' Hollywood Sign. Season three sees me take on Europe. I began my journey in the nostalgic city of Paris and attempted to make my way to the infamous 'Red Square' in Moscow on only 5 Euros a day.

I live in L.A these days, where I spend my time writing and working on creating new and interesting adventures...

My new book, titled Amazing Adventures of a Nobody is IN STORES October 3rd. For more info visit this page.

I am thankful you enjoy the experience.

Leon Logothetis

Follow me on Twitter @LeonLogothetis
Visit my Website www.LeonLogothetis.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 'I was at the mercy of the one thing no human can go without for long: relationships.', November 4, 2011

By 

Grady Harp (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Amazing Adventures of a Nobody (Paperback)

AMAZING ADVENTURES OF A NOBODY is that kind of book that is infectious: once the reader reads the first page the drive to follow this extraordinary tale has begun and attempting to put the book aside for spot reading is impossible. Leon Logothetis has not only found clues to the path of rediscovering humanity thought withered, he proved himself a powerful writer. Very briefly the book relates the adventures of a young British lad who confronts his meaningless, mundane, uninspiring life and decides to do something to change it. Watching the movie 'The Motorcycle Diaries' in which Che Guevarra travels across South America observing the innate goodness in mankind stimulates Leon Logothetis to discard his ordered march toward boring security, leave his worldly goods behind, and start out on a trek to America where he sets his rules to travel form Times Square to Hollywood with only $5 a day, completely depending on the kindness of strangers for food, transportation and lodging. 'Everything. It was all I had. The only thing I had done with my life so far that even resembled a raison d'etre. This wasn't a trip. This was my life.' 'My inability to follow my true dreams [primal fear] being a major way that fear infiltrated my life. I feared change. I feared rejection. I feared failure.'

The surprises come as Leon attempts the 'impossible', meets all manner of people, and is constantly surprised how sharing his story of his mission gains him friends and respect and sustenance. 'Each person I met along the way was contributing something of themselves to my odyssey. The roles they played composed my own narrative, and without their moving in my life, that narrative collapsed, and I would be left alone, just as before, with no story worth telling.' And throughout this book are little crystals of phrases that want to memorize. ' 'All along the way, we have connected less and less. Now, we don't talk at all. We don't see the point. Now, the journeys are just about speed - getting someplace as fast as possible. Efficiency is the enemy of connection.' The number of people who responded to Leon's story and odyssey provide tremendous character creations of the story and they are all true, as odd and disparate as they seem. 'There is a great potential in each and every one of us to love and be gracious. I never realized this until I embarked on this odyssey. I was always looking at life from the dark side, yet there is a light that so many of us fail to see.'

He gains appreciation for military personnel, for the elderly, for the unsuspected generosity form people who offered their homes and key, from truckers, cabbies, motorcyclists, poor people, neighborhood gatherings of folks bonded by Christian love - and in encountering these many types and unsuspected friends Leon makes it to Los Angeles. He gets a call from home demanding he return because lab tests there prove he is a borderline diabetic who could succumb to his disease without medical intervention, and when his father insists he 'straighten up and return. Leon muses 'I had reached the turning point. A point where it became crystal clear to me that there was no turning back. My future did not lie in the family business, or the stultified world of corporate finance. My future was in the arts. My future was in the rarefied world of writing. My future was in Los Angeles. My future was in reclaiming the lost soul that had floundered for so many years. My future was in giving back to people. My future was in giving whatever gifts I had acquired through this trip. MY future. Not someone else's perception of my future....I felt free.'

Here is a book that restores our faith in the pioneer mind. The book is full of hilarious diversions as well as deeply and profoundly touching connections. It restores that faith in humanity that has been so bruised by the invention of impersonal 'communication', by endless wars across the globe, the growing disparity between the wealthy and the middle class sliding down the hill toward the lower class status. Here is another opportunity to visit joy - to admit that a book is still capable of causing a lump in the throat. Yes, there is a backstage aspect of Leon Logothetis' journey, but it never gets in the way. Leon Logothetis has lighted the lamp for us. The rest is our own commitment to living. Grady Harp, November 11

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book was really lovely!, October 18, 2011

By 

Jackie Smith, Surrey - See all my reviews

This review is from: Amazing Adventures of a Nobody (Paperback)

A quick, intimate read that reminded me of recapping a life-changing journey I had with an old friend. I'm not sure if it was the stories he related, the simple and engaging way he communicates, or just his sunny optimism that makes even the silliest stories charming. It definitely leaves you looking forward to the next adventure! I actually bought one for my husband! He is reading it as I write this...

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Amazing Adventures, October 18, 2011

By 

angelblue25 - See all my reviews

This review is from: Amazing Adventures of a Nobody (Paperback)

Through his book, Amazing Adventures of a Nobody, Leon has opened my eyes to the reality of everyday life. I mean, you see it in movies, the news, sometimes even on the streets, but to read about it and visualize it in your mind is like being there and living it. I couldn't leave it all behind, but I genuinely thank Leon for taking his journey on our behalf, and letting us share, and learn from, his discoveries. It was excellent!