Customer Reviews

The Mindful Traveler: A Guide to Journaling and Transformative Travel

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I read The Mindful Traveler during my subway commute to Manhattan. Last week, on my way home to Brooklyn from the office, I finished it. I was struck by how much it has spoken to me and opened up new ways of thinking and approaching... well, everything.

I bought the book at Barnes & Noble in Union Square one Friday night when I'd just finished deciding that I was going to shed most of my possessions and obligations and go traveling. It was a crisis of sorts, and I'd really reached a point of no return in terms of wanting to transform my life. I bought this book because it offered exactly what I was looking for: a travel guide for the inner-self, drawing on respected eastern philosophy but laced with humor and playfulness, practical tips, and a pretty doable-looking methodology. Something I needed right away, to begin my journey many months before I even started packing.

The book delivered exactly what it promised, and was delightful to read. I couldn't wait to get on the subway every morning! Let me tell you, the commute hasn't been the same since. Now, as I continue to plan my open-ended wandering of the South Pacific and leave everything behind (I'm often pretty freaked about about the idea -- there's that fear of letting everything go, because there might not be anything left), the book this author has shared with us provides me with inspiration and a structured way of turning this life-adventure into a truly meaningful -- and dare I say powerful -- one. I'm [...] excited! Yikes!

This book'll be one of the most prized tools I carry in my backpack.

- HT, Media Producer (soon to be former rat), New York City

This is a timely book, full of wonderful insights and practical advice. Jim Currie does his reader a service with his journal organization system and other down-to-earth time and hassle savers. What I like most of all, however, is the whole concept of the book, the truth that all of our travels are opportunities to expand the spirit and grow out of our accumulated baggage. Jim Currie has written a great guide to truly wise travel, getting to the heart of what makes taking a journey such a universal metaphor for living a conscious life--and he does so with wit and candor.

Currie has developed a journaling technique that is sure to bring a deeper, richer and more insightful texture to one's travel experiences. Written as a journaling technique this book is useful even to those who don't keep a journal while traveling as it is full of thought-provoking questions. He advises us to think about our spiritual touchstones - those core beliefs that guide us through life experiences. He then tells us to consider our intentions and objectives in chosing a travel destination. With touchstones and objectives in mind we spend time each day writing about our travel experiences. How are they in keeping with those touchstones, intentions and objections, how are they not in keeping and why? In such self-evaluation, in looking at how we deal with the vagaries of travel we gain many insights into ourselves, and in the end this is why we travel. Currie suggests a debriefing period at the end of our trip - a time for reflection upon what we have learned about ourselves and how to apply it to our life at home. The book is written with a liberal dose of Buddhist philosophy, but is worthwhile even for those who are not on the path of the dharma. In addition there are many practical tips for preparing for a trip as well as dealing with the ups and down of traveling.

This book has very specific ideas and guidelines, so if you are a more free-flowing kind of person, it could be irritating. I liked the drawings and the general tone of the book. I'll try out the specifics this October when I go to the Mayan Ruins in the Yucatan.

If you've ever asked yourself why you are heading for the road, this could be your kind of book; and if the answer is not just to see strange places, eat different food and take photos to torture your friends, even more so. If you sometimes find yourself in a funk or frustrated or furious when things don't work out during your trip, this book could help.

Currie describes how to set up a journal, what to note, how journaling is helpful to the inner journey. If you want to follow his format, try reading at least the first part before you start because he has specific ideas for the first 16 pages (see p.21). While the book provides a short description of "mindful travel", some of the suggestions in his own examples, such as "practice meditation" will be easier for someone with a background in meditation. Highly recommended.

This book was not what I expected and therefore the low rating.
The introductory segment about an adventure in Ireland was excellent. I would have liked to have more illustrative segements such as that one.
Some of the tips for organzing a travel journal were helpful. But that was it. I passed the book on to someone who may get more out of it. I don't want to get in touch my inner Budha. I do want to be more mindful of my travels. This book didn't do it for me.