Planetwalker: How to Change Your World One Step at a Time [Hardcover]

John Francis (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 2005

“Even more difficult for me to understand is the burgeoning feeling of something spiritual and sacred in the ordinary act of walking. I start to feel that each step taken is part of an invisible journey, for which there is no map and few road signs. I am not sure I am prepared, and the discomfort both frightens and excites me.” In 1971, after witnessing an oil spill in San Francisco Bay, John Francis gives up motorized transportation and starts walking. A few months later, he takes a vow of silence that last 17 years. Through his silence and walking, he learns how to listen and his pilgrimage begins. Planetwalker is the inspirational and engaging story of one man's silent walk across America to raise environmental consciousness and promote world peace. Born the son of a West Indian immigrant in north Philadelphia, John overcomes seemingly insurmountable obstacles on his walk from the California coast to the New Jersey shore. In silence, he earns a college degree and begins walking through the West to America's heartland where he earns a Ph.D. in land resources. When he reaches the East Coast, the United Nations Environment Programme names him a Goodwill Ambassador and the US government recruits him to write oil spill regulations following the Exxon Valdez disaster. Chronicling a young man's call to public service, Planetwalker addresses complex issues of environmental and social justice in America. It encompasses both John's interior journey as he confronts questions of life and death as well as his experiences of life on the road. John encounters people of all walks of life who illuminate the social and physical geography of his journey from the kindness of an Idaho rancher who leaves jugs of water for him on desert roads to the racist violence of an off duty deputy sheriff, who puts a gun to his head. We grow with John as he develops the qualities of character that give him the will and courage of his conviction to act on the deepest voice within him and allow his destiny to unfold. Along with John's haikus, watercolors and drawings, Planetwalker is filled with practical ways in which we too can become earth stewards and take our own pilgrimages both great and small. And as we discover with John on his extraordinary walk, pilgrimage can lead to knowing our kinship with all of life and the all embracing goodwill that unfolds from that realization. John Francis lives in Point Reyes Station, California with his wife and son. He is the founder and director of Planetwalk, a non-profit environmental education program. He travels around the world speaking on pilgrimage and change and is developing Planetlines, an environmental studies curriculum based on the walking pilgrimage for high schools and universities. This is his first book.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 280 pages
• Publisher: Elephant Mountain Press (March 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0976019205
• ISBN-13: 978-0976019206
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,038,370 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Talking the talk and walking the walk, December 26, 2005

By 

Pamela Flowers (Wasilla, Alaska) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Planetwalker: How to Change Your World One Step at a Time (Hardcover)

Witnessing a tragedy has often been the catalyst that changed someone's life and sent them in a direction that would ultimately be a force for good in the world. Such is the case of John Francis, who witnessed an oil spill in San Francisco Bay in 1971. He was so moved by the consequences of the spill that he stopped using all forms of motorized transportation and began a 20+ year odyssey on foot that took him across America. He became a tirelss advocate for the environment and earned a bachelor, masters, and Ph.D. along the way.

The expression "He talks the talk and walks the walk" unequivocally applies to John Francis, Ph.D.

His writing is lyrical, easy to read and expresses his philosophy as well as his strong and continuing commitment to the environment. I would recommend this book to anyone seeking a story of adventure, commitment, and beautiful use of the English language.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great book, inspirational, July 28, 2005

By 

John G. Curington - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Planetwalker: How to Change Your World One Step at a Time (Hardcover)

John Francis writes an important story about the quest of a young man to live ethically in our complex world. Young John gives up using any form of gasoline-powered vehicle and deals with the consequences of his decision. He writes gently and movingly about the criticism and misunderstanding he received as a consequence of eschewing the automobile. Though he does not romanticize his decision, he writes lovingly of the quiet and peace of walking. I was inspired by this book.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Planetwalker, January 3, 2008

By 

S. Baker (Pacific Grove, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Planetwalker: How to Change Your World One Step at a Time (Hardcover)

John is a friend of mine and therefore it'd be hard not to love his book, because this book IS John and he's pretty amazing. Genuine, humorous and inspiring. But I can also tell you I bought quite a few copies and gave them to people who aren't biased. And guess what. They loved it too.