Book Review - Belonging to the World: A Journey from Grief to Connection in Every Country on Earth

About the Book
Some journeys we choose. Others choose us.

In Belonging to the World, you are brought into the book in the aftermath of tragedy, where Barry Hoffner wanted to feel the pulse of the world again. The whole world.

When Barry Hoffner lost his wife and travel partner, Jackie, in a sudden tragedy, his grief was a black hole that consumed everything. But amid the quiet wreckage of loss, something unexpected stirred: the call to move, to reconnect, and to live fully again.

What began as a reluctant return to the road became an audacious mission to visit all 193 countries on Earth-not to escape his pain but to transform it. Along the way, Barry discovered a world with far more depth and complexity than headlines suggest-one full of unexpected joy, even amid hardship and struggle. From war zones to mountaintops, refugee camps to ancient ruins, he found people whose kindness and openness brought him back to life.

Belonging to the World is a deeply felt memoir of healing from grief, finding resilience, and forging human connection across the globe.


My Take on the Book

Belonging to the World: A Journey from Grief to Connection in Every Country on Earth is a powerful meditation on loss, movement, and the quiet ways human connection restores meaning. After the sudden death of his wife and travel companion, Barry Hoffner does not set out to outrun grief—but to sit with it while re-entering the world. His decision to visit every country becomes less about geography and more about reawakening curiosity, trust, and presence.

What makes this memoir especially compelling is its emotional steadiness. Hoffner writes with humility, allowing grief to coexist with wonder, fear, kindness, and joy. The encounters he describes—often brief, sometimes profound—reveal how generosity and shared humanity transcend borders, languages, and circumstance. The book balances reflective inner work with vivid observations of places rarely centered in mainstream travel writing.

Belonging to the World is ultimately about choosing engagement over withdrawal. It’s a moving reminder that healing doesn’t erase loss—it expands life around it.

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Book Review - When a Good Man Cares Enough to Change Something Crucial

About the Book

In this book you will find a creative new breakthrough and methods for handling the stressful moments at home, at work, and in your relationship

If you are a good man (or you know a good man) who sometimes gets impatient, distant, or tense during stressful moments, these nine quick, non-judgmental chapters can give you the most effective breakthrough methods for definitely improving your daily mindfulness and creative teamwork (at home, at work, and in your key relationships).

Bestselling author and psychologist Len Felder, PhD, doesn't waste time on vague theories or jargon. In this highly practical new book, you will discover:

• How to handle the tense moments in your daily life far more creatively and compassionately than your dad or previous generations knew how to do.
• How to deepen the two-way caring, playfulness, and intimacy in your love life.
• How to make sure you don't alienate someone you don't want to lose (in a relationship or at work) as a result of slipping back into some old, retro, or impatient ways.
• How to clean up the unintentional hurt feelings and misunderstandings that happen in even the best relationships and work settings.

My Take on the Book

When a Good Man Cares Enough to Change Something Crucial is a grounded, accessible guide for men who want to respond differently when pressure, conflict, or misunderstanding show up in everyday life. Rather than diagnosing flaws or revisiting old patterns with blame, Len Felder, PhD, focuses on awareness and choice—what happens in the exact moments when patience runs thin or connection feels at risk.

The book’s strength lies in its practicality. The chapters are brief, focused, and written in a tone that feels supportive rather than corrective. Felder uses relatable scenarios from work and personal relationships to show how small shifts in presence, listening, and intention can prevent unnecessary damage and even repair it when things go sideways.

This is not about perfection or suppressing emotion; it’s about learning how to pause, recalibrate, and respond with care. A valuable read for men committed to growth—and for anyone invested in healthier, more collaborative relationships.

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