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The Kindness Diaries: One Man's Quest to Ignite Goodwill and Transform Lives Around the World
The incredible journey of one man who sets out to circumnavigate the globe on a vintage motorbike fueled by kindness.
Follow the inspirational journey of a former stockbroker who leaves his unfulfilling desk job in search of a meaningful life. He sets out from Los Angeles on a vintage motorbike, determined to circumnavigate the globe surviving only on the kindness of strangers. Incredibly, he makes his way across the U.S., through Europe, India, Cambodia, and Vietnam, and finally to Canada and back to the Hollywood sign, by asking strangers for shelter, food, and gas. Again and again, he’s won over by the generosity of humanity, from the homeless man who shares his blanket to the poor farmer who helps him with his broken down bike, and the HIV-positive mother who takes him in and feeds him. At each stop, he finds a way to give back to these unsuspecting Good Samaritans in life-changing ways, by rebuilding their homes, paying for their schooling, and leaving behind gifts big and small. The Kindness Diaries will introduce you to a world of adventure, renew your faith in the bonds that connect people, and inspire you to accept and generate kindness in your own life.
Follow the inspirational journey of a former stockbroker who leaves his unfulfilling desk job in search of a meaningful life. He sets out from Los Angeles on a vintage motorbike, determined to circumnavigate the globe surviving only on the kindness of strangers. Incredibly, he makes his way across the U.S., through Europe, India, Cambodia, and Vietnam, and finally to Canada and back to the Hollywood sign, by asking strangers for shelter, food, and gas. Again and again, he’s won over by the generosity of humanity, from the homeless man who shares his blanket to the poor farmer who helps him with his broken down bike, and the HIV-positive mother who takes him in and feeds him. At each stop, he finds a way to give back to these unsuspecting Good Samaritans in life-changing ways, by rebuilding their homes, paying for their schooling, and leaving behind gifts big and small. The Kindness Diaries will introduce you to a world of adventure, renew your faith in the bonds that connect people, and inspire you to accept and generate kindness in your own life.
248 pages, Hardcover
First published December 30, 2014
62 people are currently reading
1945 people want to read
About the author
Leon Logothetis
9 books119 followersLeon Logothetis is a global adventurer, motivational speaker & philanthropist. It wasn't always that way. He used to be a broker in the city of London where he felt uninspired and chronically depressed. He gave it all up for a life on the road. This radical life change was inspired by the inspirational movie The Motorcycle Diaries.
The days of living and working behind his 'slab of wood' (or desk to the layman) are well and truly over. His new passion: Finding ways for your inner rebel (that voice that tells you, you are worth so much more than you think) to come out and play.
The inner rebel tells you that your life is yours. And anything you dream of is possible. Anything. And that the fuel for all this delicious potential is simple: Kindness and harnessing the power of human connection.
Leon has visited more than 90 countries and traveled to every continent. He is the host of the TV series Amazing Adventures Of A Nobody, which is broadcast across the world by National Geographic International and, over the course of three seasons, sees Leon cross America, the United Kingdom and Europe on just 5 dollars, 5 pounds, and 5 euros a day, respectively.
He recently returned from filming his new TV show The Kind Way Around, in which he circumnavigated the globe on his vintage yellow motorbike Kindness One, giving life changing gifts along the way to unsuspecting good Samaritans. All of this whilst relying on the kindness of strangers.
Leon is no stranger to adventure. He teamed up with First Book® & drove a car from London to Mongolia raising money to buy 10,000 books for underprivileged children in America. He also drove a vintage London taxi across America, giving free cab rides to the needy and working with Classwish to bring hope back to the schools of America.
Leon has documented his travels for numerous media outlets including Good Morning America, Los Angeles Times, San Francisco Chronicle, Outside, Good, Psychology Today, and The New York Times.
His book, Amazing Adventures of a Nobody, is in stores now. His new book The Kindness Diaries, published by Readers Digest, will hit bookshelves in December 2014 and chronicles Leon's circumnavigation of the globe on kindness.
The days of living and working behind his 'slab of wood' (or desk to the layman) are well and truly over. His new passion: Finding ways for your inner rebel (that voice that tells you, you are worth so much more than you think) to come out and play.
The inner rebel tells you that your life is yours. And anything you dream of is possible. Anything. And that the fuel for all this delicious potential is simple: Kindness and harnessing the power of human connection.
Leon has visited more than 90 countries and traveled to every continent. He is the host of the TV series Amazing Adventures Of A Nobody, which is broadcast across the world by National Geographic International and, over the course of three seasons, sees Leon cross America, the United Kingdom and Europe on just 5 dollars, 5 pounds, and 5 euros a day, respectively.
He recently returned from filming his new TV show The Kind Way Around, in which he circumnavigated the globe on his vintage yellow motorbike Kindness One, giving life changing gifts along the way to unsuspecting good Samaritans. All of this whilst relying on the kindness of strangers.
Leon is no stranger to adventure. He teamed up with First Book® & drove a car from London to Mongolia raising money to buy 10,000 books for underprivileged children in America. He also drove a vintage London taxi across America, giving free cab rides to the needy and working with Classwish to bring hope back to the schools of America.
Leon has documented his travels for numerous media outlets including Good Morning America, Los Angeles Times, San Francisco Chronicle, Outside, Good, Psychology Today, and The New York Times.
His book, Amazing Adventures of a Nobody, is in stores now. His new book The Kindness Diaries, published by Readers Digest, will hit bookshelves in December 2014 and chronicles Leon's circumnavigation of the globe on kindness.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 175 reviews
December 30, 2016
1.5 stars -- I expected more from this book. It certainly had the potential to be engaging and inspiring. Leon travels around the world, allowing himself only $5 a day and the kindness of strangers to get by on.
Honestly? The whole experience was quite self-centered. He tries over and over to play it like he was doing this for others - he wanted to "give back" to the people who gave to him. But he didn't want them to know he would give back, because "you don't give to get" - yet he only gave after he "got," so that left me thinking, "Huh?," and he didn't give back to everyone, only a very select few. He hardly mentions any of these generous strangers in the book, even!
He spends most of the book talking about his yellow bike, and repeatedly would write something like, "I wasn't sure if I'd be able to go home. I wasn't sure I'd be able to leave this adventure. Maybe my girlfriend was right, and I am just running." And... it felt like he was really trying way too hard to force an "inspirational" and "personal growth" type of twist to the story.
The writing itself is not engaging. It reads something like, "Day 1, I hopped on my bike and crossed the border and then I did this and then I did that and somebody paid for my petrol and I asked a hundred people to stay the night and I couldn't believe how many people said no, and finally I met someone who was actually kind, and then Day 2, I hopped on my bike..." and it just repeats.
Had he really engaged with the people around him, and spent time serving them, and wrote in greater detail about their stories, it could have been a good read. At the end of the day, the book was all about how great he is (he mentions several instances where people give a banquet in his honor, a toast at a wedding in his honor, names an animal after him, etc. - I didn't see how these tidbits added anything to the story...), and I found it more awful than inspiring. I would not recommend that anyone else waste their time or money with this one.
I received this book free through Goodreads First Reads.
Honestly? The whole experience was quite self-centered. He tries over and over to play it like he was doing this for others - he wanted to "give back" to the people who gave to him. But he didn't want them to know he would give back, because "you don't give to get" - yet he only gave after he "got," so that left me thinking, "Huh?," and he didn't give back to everyone, only a very select few. He hardly mentions any of these generous strangers in the book, even!
He spends most of the book talking about his yellow bike, and repeatedly would write something like, "I wasn't sure if I'd be able to go home. I wasn't sure I'd be able to leave this adventure. Maybe my girlfriend was right, and I am just running." And... it felt like he was really trying way too hard to force an "inspirational" and "personal growth" type of twist to the story.
The writing itself is not engaging. It reads something like, "Day 1, I hopped on my bike and crossed the border and then I did this and then I did that and somebody paid for my petrol and I asked a hundred people to stay the night and I couldn't believe how many people said no, and finally I met someone who was actually kind, and then Day 2, I hopped on my bike..." and it just repeats.
Had he really engaged with the people around him, and spent time serving them, and wrote in greater detail about their stories, it could have been a good read. At the end of the day, the book was all about how great he is (he mentions several instances where people give a banquet in his honor, a toast at a wedding in his honor, names an animal after him, etc. - I didn't see how these tidbits added anything to the story...), and I found it more awful than inspiring. I would not recommend that anyone else waste their time or money with this one.
I received this book free through Goodreads First Reads.
September 3, 2015
Look at me! I'm so great! I thought this would be a good read after a week or so of what seemed like really terrible news and stress. A man decides his life is currently unfulfilling and wants to try to ignite kindness in the world. This is his journey.
Long story short? He mooches off of people but does repay them in some form or another. However, what this boils down to is a relatively well-off white man who can afford to travel around the world and pretend he's amazing by giving some of these generous gifts. Initially it's not so bad and it seems like an interesting experiment when he pays for a couple to attend their son's wedding and similar things.
But I got uncomfortable when he travels to places like India and describes the very poor people there. And yet: he had found "...it was difficult to find people to give me things they did not have." Uh, really? What else did you figure out, Captain Obvious?
And in the end, it's really more about himself than it is about these people's circumstances. While I understand this was his experience, that he was not looking to become an expert or academic on the economic plight of some people in India (for example), overall I just couldn't stand how narcissistic, how "Look at me, I'm so awesome by giving out all this money to people!"
Not to mention that he apparently had a camera crew, so he wasn't actually alone and helpless. Sometimes he wrote the book like he was actually alone, but that is apparently not true. I couldn't like the book. It was eye-rolling at times and while it's great that he did these things and helped these people, it seemed a lot more like what HE was getting out of it, rather than what happened when he gifted to others.
I got this ARC from someone who was donating some books, so luckily I didn't waste a dime on this. I wouldn't recommend it, especially as I don't know how many people could afford to do this AND feel comfortable/safe traveling the world so. There are many other similar stories out there, and better written ones too. Skip this one.
Long story short? He mooches off of people but does repay them in some form or another. However, what this boils down to is a relatively well-off white man who can afford to travel around the world and pretend he's amazing by giving some of these generous gifts. Initially it's not so bad and it seems like an interesting experiment when he pays for a couple to attend their son's wedding and similar things.
But I got uncomfortable when he travels to places like India and describes the very poor people there. And yet: he had found "...it was difficult to find people to give me things they did not have." Uh, really? What else did you figure out, Captain Obvious?
And in the end, it's really more about himself than it is about these people's circumstances. While I understand this was his experience, that he was not looking to become an expert or academic on the economic plight of some people in India (for example), overall I just couldn't stand how narcissistic, how "Look at me, I'm so awesome by giving out all this money to people!"
Not to mention that he apparently had a camera crew, so he wasn't actually alone and helpless. Sometimes he wrote the book like he was actually alone, but that is apparently not true. I couldn't like the book. It was eye-rolling at times and while it's great that he did these things and helped these people, it seemed a lot more like what HE was getting out of it, rather than what happened when he gifted to others.
I got this ARC from someone who was donating some books, so luckily I didn't waste a dime on this. I wouldn't recommend it, especially as I don't know how many people could afford to do this AND feel comfortable/safe traveling the world so. There are many other similar stories out there, and better written ones too. Skip this one.
May 15, 2017
3.5 Stars
I stumbled across The Kindness Diaries on Netflix. After watching the series with my family (I highly recommend you do the same!), my wife contacted Leon Logothetis to tell him how much we enjoyed his documentary. In return, he offered up a copy of his book for the kind words. Forgive me as I combine the two media in this review.
The book and documentary follow along nearly the exact same lines, touching upon the experiences Leon faced as he traveled the world fully dependent upon the kindness of strangers for food, gas and lodging. From wealthy towns along the European coast to the poorest slums of India, Leon shares his struggles to find someone willing to give a stranger help.
While this may not be the strongest literary work, it might be one of the more important ones. We all need a reminder of our place in the world, especially if we are in a place of comfort and provision. It seemed like the greatest assistance Leon found came from those who had the least to give. Let's just say there were some tears shed by those watching.
As with any book, it always provides more detail than the visual experience. But if you read the book first, you will want to see the documentary as it also provides details and experiences not mentioned.
There are a few curse words in the book that you will need to evaluate for age appropriateness (b.s., sh-- and damn) but nothing too vulgar or sexual. The documentary is very suitable for tweens and up.
Thank you, Leon, for providing such a wonderful and meaningful work in today's world where kindness is often overshadowed by other things. Keep up your life's work!
I stumbled across The Kindness Diaries on Netflix. After watching the series with my family (I highly recommend you do the same!), my wife contacted Leon Logothetis to tell him how much we enjoyed his documentary. In return, he offered up a copy of his book for the kind words. Forgive me as I combine the two media in this review.
The book and documentary follow along nearly the exact same lines, touching upon the experiences Leon faced as he traveled the world fully dependent upon the kindness of strangers for food, gas and lodging. From wealthy towns along the European coast to the poorest slums of India, Leon shares his struggles to find someone willing to give a stranger help.
While this may not be the strongest literary work, it might be one of the more important ones. We all need a reminder of our place in the world, especially if we are in a place of comfort and provision. It seemed like the greatest assistance Leon found came from those who had the least to give. Let's just say there were some tears shed by those watching.
As with any book, it always provides more detail than the visual experience. But if you read the book first, you will want to see the documentary as it also provides details and experiences not mentioned.
There are a few curse words in the book that you will need to evaluate for age appropriateness (b.s., sh-- and damn) but nothing too vulgar or sexual. The documentary is very suitable for tweens and up.
Thank you, Leon, for providing such a wonderful and meaningful work in today's world where kindness is often overshadowed by other things. Keep up your life's work!
January 17, 2016
Travelling around the world relying on the kindness of others and repaying them with gifts later is a nice idea, but I didn't feel that comfortable with it. For one thing, considering how expensive the gifts he gave were, he must have been extremely well off to begin with, yet here he is accepting clothes from homeless people and meals from families in Delhi slums. And even when he was accepting things from other tourists and people who seemed comfortably-off, it just made me wonder if those people were equally likely to give food/shelter/money to homeless people and others in need. Couldn't he have travelled around the world volunteering in orphanages/shelters/etc on every continent, thus also getting to know people and having a positive impact on their lives? In the beginning he frames it as a great way to give back to the world, but a few chapters later you find out that his idea for a TV show fell through, and this is basically his replacement idea.
I was tempted to look back through the book and count how many times he used the word "yellow", but I don't want to waste any more time on this nonsense.
I was tempted to look back through the book and count how many times he used the word "yellow", but I don't want to waste any more time on this nonsense.
October 27, 2015
I struggled to get through this book but pushed on as I liked the premise and was hopeful it would go somewhere interesting. It never did for me and the author lost all credibility with the lack of accuracy in his story when he says he makes a detour at the end of his journey and visits "Whistler, in the Canadian Rockies" (p 216).
Newsflash Leon Logothetis.....you still have not visited the The Canadian Rockies. You were over 1,000 kms away. Whistler, BC is part of the Coast Mountain Range. Although I realize his intent was not to write a book about history, geography or culture, whenever an author cannot get his facts straight (any real conversation with someone from Whistler would have set him straight on his geographical error - or a quick Google search!) it makes me question everything they said.
Newsflash Leon Logothetis.....you still have not visited the The Canadian Rockies. You were over 1,000 kms away. Whistler, BC is part of the Coast Mountain Range. Although I realize his intent was not to write a book about history, geography or culture, whenever an author cannot get his facts straight (any real conversation with someone from Whistler would have set him straight on his geographical error - or a quick Google search!) it makes me question everything they said.
November 15, 2014
While I found the message inspiring, I was a bit bored by this book. I was hoping to really be inspired to do more than I already too but I just couldn't connect. I didn't feel like I really got to know the people in the book. It was sort of a world wide smaller scale Secret Millionaire (if you have seen the show). While Leon is to be admired, there seemed to be more focus on his bike over the people.
August 8, 2015
what an adventure this man had! this book was about travel but it was also about the feeling you get when traveling, a feeling that I have gotten with every country I've spent time in, that there is something much bigger out there than ourselves and our "problems". I have been to many of the counties Leon traveled through so for me it brought back memories of me on my own journey. it's so refreshing to see someone who knows the importance of kindness no matter how big or how small the act is.
July 8, 2016
I’m very torn by this book, as are many who reviewed it. The idea of it sounded wonderful. This guy would travel around the world on a motorcylce (yes, Leon, a YELLOW motorcycle) with no money and basically live off the kindness of strangers. In return, he would give away generous gifts that could change lives.
Ok, good. So I’m sorry to be a cynic, but there is so much more to that. He could afford to do it; he didn’t have to live that way. At any point, he could have said “Screw this, I’m going home” and could have stopped depending on others. Before he left, he had to set up all kinds of visas and things to get to the places he wanted to go to, and some were difficult to get. Poor guy! Also, he gave gifts to some who helped him, but not all, and only if they gave him something first. That bothered me because some of the ones who didn’t buy him a tank of gas or a meal or offer him a couch to sleep on or free help with mechanical problems were probably not giving it because they were too worried about their own families and where their next meal would come from. So they don’t deserve his generous gifts? In many cases people couldn’t believe he was there from America and had no money.
Also, I am no fan of reality television shows--they are so far from reality that its a joke. Like you’re really going to be left to die on this island while the camera crew is right over there filming you? Right. So the moment he said there was a camera crew following him (even at a distance, and they came only if he called them), I lost a lot of the inspirational feeling I was hoping to get from the book. In fact, he admitted to using them at one point to pretend to have some celebrity when he thought it would help him. And where did they sleep when he was asking strangers to take him in for the night? No mention of it. Also, if he said one more time how magical his YELLOW motorcycle was, I might have stopped reading. He talked about that just a little too much.
I could go on and on with more. Sometimes he actually complained when nobody would help him. He spent a night or two in the sidecar of his (YELLOW) motorcycle. It broke down a few times. He was a little hungry a few times. He felt himself possibly in danger a few times. He had trouble getting thru certain border crossings. Still, he could stop all of this at any point, so I just couldn’t feel sorry for him. Its like when Gwynneth Paltrow “decides” to try living on food stamps for a while. Gimme a break! Whether she succeeded or not, it was like a game for her, and an insult to those who depend on them for their daily bread. This got to feeling like that. Besides the camera crew, I’m sure there were plenty of people who did the necessary work to provide the gifts he gave to those he deemed worthy of them, and maybe he didn’t even pay for them himself. Did he arrange for that to be a part of it? They were generous gifts, I won’t deny that--schooling, building a house, providing a family with a cow, big things-- but I just don’t think this adventurer was hurting at all by giving them, and he’s probably planning or already on his next big book-writing adventure already. Not that there’s anything wrong with that part. Its the “living off the kindness of strangers” who were mostly so poor themselves that daily life is a struggle, rather than just volunteering to go and help them out of his own kindness, that struck me the wrong way.
Ok, good. So I’m sorry to be a cynic, but there is so much more to that. He could afford to do it; he didn’t have to live that way. At any point, he could have said “Screw this, I’m going home” and could have stopped depending on others. Before he left, he had to set up all kinds of visas and things to get to the places he wanted to go to, and some were difficult to get. Poor guy! Also, he gave gifts to some who helped him, but not all, and only if they gave him something first. That bothered me because some of the ones who didn’t buy him a tank of gas or a meal or offer him a couch to sleep on or free help with mechanical problems were probably not giving it because they were too worried about their own families and where their next meal would come from. So they don’t deserve his generous gifts? In many cases people couldn’t believe he was there from America and had no money.
Also, I am no fan of reality television shows--they are so far from reality that its a joke. Like you’re really going to be left to die on this island while the camera crew is right over there filming you? Right. So the moment he said there was a camera crew following him (even at a distance, and they came only if he called them), I lost a lot of the inspirational feeling I was hoping to get from the book. In fact, he admitted to using them at one point to pretend to have some celebrity when he thought it would help him. And where did they sleep when he was asking strangers to take him in for the night? No mention of it. Also, if he said one more time how magical his YELLOW motorcycle was, I might have stopped reading. He talked about that just a little too much.
I could go on and on with more. Sometimes he actually complained when nobody would help him. He spent a night or two in the sidecar of his (YELLOW) motorcycle. It broke down a few times. He was a little hungry a few times. He felt himself possibly in danger a few times. He had trouble getting thru certain border crossings. Still, he could stop all of this at any point, so I just couldn’t feel sorry for him. Its like when Gwynneth Paltrow “decides” to try living on food stamps for a while. Gimme a break! Whether she succeeded or not, it was like a game for her, and an insult to those who depend on them for their daily bread. This got to feeling like that. Besides the camera crew, I’m sure there were plenty of people who did the necessary work to provide the gifts he gave to those he deemed worthy of them, and maybe he didn’t even pay for them himself. Did he arrange for that to be a part of it? They were generous gifts, I won’t deny that--schooling, building a house, providing a family with a cow, big things-- but I just don’t think this adventurer was hurting at all by giving them, and he’s probably planning or already on his next big book-writing adventure already. Not that there’s anything wrong with that part. Its the “living off the kindness of strangers” who were mostly so poor themselves that daily life is a struggle, rather than just volunteering to go and help them out of his own kindness, that struck me the wrong way.
February 3, 2016
"The next evolution step for humankind is to move from human to kind"
I was at an old bookstore, randomly picking some then saw "the kindness diaries" at the bottom of the shelf with no cover on it. At first I wasn't going to buy it if solely based on its appearance, but by the time i opened it, the quote above made me think again. And now, i feel so thankful for that second thought, for the decision i made on reading this instead of laying on bed all day long (yah!). Books never disappoint me and this one is by far a good example for that fact. It refreshes me.
what's in TKD is the genuine yet amazing and inspiring notes of a man with wacky dreams of "ignite goodwill and transform lives" worldwide (and he somehow nailed it!). This is A diary of A man, but should it be DIARIES, cause we all have a story to tell, a need to be met and kind acts to ignite, we can write our own story, it's not necessarily a travel cross continents, a gesture of goodwill will do.
And so far, I couldn't be more agreed. The world needs humanKIND to survive. Just like what we've been told: have courage and be kind, this man fulfilled both.
I was at an old bookstore, randomly picking some then saw "the kindness diaries" at the bottom of the shelf with no cover on it. At first I wasn't going to buy it if solely based on its appearance, but by the time i opened it, the quote above made me think again. And now, i feel so thankful for that second thought, for the decision i made on reading this instead of laying on bed all day long (yah!). Books never disappoint me and this one is by far a good example for that fact. It refreshes me.
what's in TKD is the genuine yet amazing and inspiring notes of a man with wacky dreams of "ignite goodwill and transform lives" worldwide (and he somehow nailed it!). This is A diary of A man, but should it be DIARIES, cause we all have a story to tell, a need to be met and kind acts to ignite, we can write our own story, it's not necessarily a travel cross continents, a gesture of goodwill will do.
And so far, I couldn't be more agreed. The world needs humanKIND to survive. Just like what we've been told: have courage and be kind, this man fulfilled both.
January 30, 2016
Is it possible to travel the world just on the kindness of strangers? Leo Logothetis was inspired to find out after reading Che Guevara’s account of touring South America by motorbike. Well, almost; The Kindness Diaries follows Leo from Los Angeles to New York, Spain to Turkey, and – after an airplane jump to India – down through Southeast Asia. Taking nothing for his journey, Leo’s every move is dependent on the kindness of others, from his starting tank of gas in L.A, to every meal and every night’s shelter. He does this not because he is personally poor and wants to see the world, but because depending on others opens his and the strangers’ lives to one another. He tells them his story; they tell him his. Along the way he meets with both good luck and bad – Indians adored his yellow motorbike, as one was the hero of a Bollywood film, whereas the Vietnamese government refused to allow anyone to enter the country with an object they could not carry. (One-ton bikes are notoriously difficult to tote by hand.) This is a book with the impress of a TV show, a highlight reel in text. Like modern reality shows, there’s a twist: Leo not only throws himself on the mercy of strangers and talks about the meaning of life with them, but he returns ordinary kindnesses with extraordinary ones. Throughout his trip, Leo changes lives by meeting people’s needs – giving a farmer a cow, a struggling rickshaw driver his own rent-free cab, free water filtration systems for a village in India, and so on. It’s nice, but between that and people exchanging their secrets of life (with aphorisms like“Live in the moment”), sometimes it felt gimmicky, especially with a film crew following the guy.
Related:
Disrupting the Rabblement, Niall Doherty. The manifesto of a man who quit his job and now travels the world with all his posessions in a 42-liter backpack, who makes a living as a tech consult, whose entire life is lived "in the moment". He often blogs, asking provoking questions (Socrates-like).
http://thisweekatthelibrary.blogspot....
Related:
Disrupting the Rabblement, Niall Doherty. The manifesto of a man who quit his job and now travels the world with all his posessions in a 42-liter backpack, who makes a living as a tech consult, whose entire life is lived "in the moment". He often blogs, asking provoking questions (Socrates-like).
http://thisweekatthelibrary.blogspot....
February 3, 2016
Though Leon Logothetis had the laudable goal of igniting goodwill throughout the world, his premise for this book is flawed.
Logothetis travels around the world on a decrepit motorbike, offering people sizable gifts (or money) to transform their lives. And that is great. But Logothetis only offers these gifts when strangers give him something first. And that is less great. Logothetis says he's rewarding random acts of kindness, but he begs for food, lodging and gas along the way, so by definition, the help extended to him is no longer a random act of kindness. Also Logothetis doesn't "reward" everyone, only those he deems worthy.
I'm highly uncomfortable with the ethics of an affluent Western man making the deliberate decision to beg from those who are less well off. I'm even more uncomfortable with the fact that he did this with a film crew. It feels like like an authentic attempt to ignite goodwill and more like a self-serving attempt to create a brand.
Logothetis travels around the world on a decrepit motorbike, offering people sizable gifts (or money) to transform their lives. And that is great. But Logothetis only offers these gifts when strangers give him something first. And that is less great. Logothetis says he's rewarding random acts of kindness, but he begs for food, lodging and gas along the way, so by definition, the help extended to him is no longer a random act of kindness. Also Logothetis doesn't "reward" everyone, only those he deems worthy.
I'm highly uncomfortable with the ethics of an affluent Western man making the deliberate decision to beg from those who are less well off. I'm even more uncomfortable with the fact that he did this with a film crew. It feels like like an authentic attempt to ignite goodwill and more like a self-serving attempt to create a brand.
December 27, 2015
Truly echoing and moving. I think it can reach out to you no matter where you're at on your journey of acknowledging the existence of others. Plus you can connect so aspect of Leon's (the author) journey to your own, in the simplest ways
I recommend it from the bottom of my heart.
I recommend it from the bottom of my heart.
July 18, 2018
Stop whatever you are doing and read this book. I have not read a book that made me feel so good and made me want to get out and travel the world so badly. I am in awe of Leon's journey and so insanely jealous he had the guts to get up and do that. He probably could have made the book 1000 pages longer but I loved the specific stories he chose. Actually I would have been just as interested if the story was 1000 pages longer.
He teaches readers about so many different things.
One of my favorite takeaways from the book is the importance of connections. Humans are just looking for connection with one another and he emphasizes the importance of finding that connection. Not just who you are going to marry or anything like that. He says it can be as simple as holding this door for one another or asking about their day.
The importance of stepping outside of your comfort zone because how else are you going to grow as a person without stepping outside of your comfort zone. He says you can do that by traveling, meeting new people, exploring new cultures. There are a million opportunities. I am booked a trip the day after I finished this book.
The importance of love. This book will make you so thankful for the people in your life. Also to have love for the humans race and humans you just make. He expresses how love is all around us and the importance of playing a part in the love across the world.
The importance of paying it forward. You never know how you can change or impact someone's life so never miss the opportunity to take it.
I think I am going to reread this book every year for the rest of my life. My life was changed for the better.
He teaches readers about so many different things.
One of my favorite takeaways from the book is the importance of connections. Humans are just looking for connection with one another and he emphasizes the importance of finding that connection. Not just who you are going to marry or anything like that. He says it can be as simple as holding this door for one another or asking about their day.
The importance of stepping outside of your comfort zone because how else are you going to grow as a person without stepping outside of your comfort zone. He says you can do that by traveling, meeting new people, exploring new cultures. There are a million opportunities. I am booked a trip the day after I finished this book.
The importance of love. This book will make you so thankful for the people in your life. Also to have love for the humans race and humans you just make. He expresses how love is all around us and the importance of playing a part in the love across the world.
The importance of paying it forward. You never know how you can change or impact someone's life so never miss the opportunity to take it.
I think I am going to reread this book every year for the rest of my life. My life was changed for the better.
April 7, 2015
First of all, I have to say that Leon Logothesis is about as different from me as night is from day. I'm all about order, predictability, and safety, and he is just the opposite. His way of looking at life and his desire for adventure would drive me crazy if I were his girlfriend, Lina (who plays a big part in this book, although she doesn't take the journey with him). I crave stability, so this book was a test for me, but maybe that's why I enjoyed it so much. It was fun to read about someone who did something I would NEVER even think of doing. In fact, I thought what he did was nuts! And yet, I admired his desire to do something bold and crazy, to see if it would work. It's people like Leon Logothesis who make this world interesting for the rest of us (the ones who like order and calmness).
After saying all of that, I'll just add that this is a fun, good-natured, uplifting, positive book about traveling all over the world on a bright yellow vintage motorbike named Kindness One. Oh, and the journey is made with NO money; Logothesis relies on the kindness of strangers, to supply his gas, food, and lodging as he roams from place to place. Crazy, huh? It's fun to read about his adventures in places as varied as Colorado and Cambodia, although at times I wished for a few more details along the way. (But I don't think his purpose was to give lots and lots of detail, just highlights.) The book is a reminder that people all over the world are good and kind, and that's a pretty good thing to be reminded of.
After saying all of that, I'll just add that this is a fun, good-natured, uplifting, positive book about traveling all over the world on a bright yellow vintage motorbike named Kindness One. Oh, and the journey is made with NO money; Logothesis relies on the kindness of strangers, to supply his gas, food, and lodging as he roams from place to place. Crazy, huh? It's fun to read about his adventures in places as varied as Colorado and Cambodia, although at times I wished for a few more details along the way. (But I don't think his purpose was to give lots and lots of detail, just highlights.) The book is a reminder that people all over the world are good and kind, and that's a pretty good thing to be reminded of.
March 12, 2017
I have started reading 7 books currently and this was not one of the however it was on my bookshelf and I decided to take a quick peak inside and 3 days later I finished reading it. I love road trips and so reading about this ultimate road trip was a pure treat. It was a simple easy to read book that left me considering what I could do to 1. spice up my life a bit more and 2. help others along the way. As a bonus you learn a bit about the world we live in and rarely ever experience.
November 3, 2015
A truly inspirational read of a man on a worldwide trip based on the kindness of others.
While we may often be self-centered in our needs, a glimpse upon another persons life may lead us to change our minds.
This journey around the world is filled with optimism, strength and influence yet at the same time contains themes of survival, sadness and tragedy.
While we may often be self-centered in our needs, a glimpse upon another persons life may lead us to change our minds.
This journey around the world is filled with optimism, strength and influence yet at the same time contains themes of survival, sadness and tragedy.
April 29, 2015
Enjoyable. Not terribly in-depth. Logothetis introduces us to some of the people he meets on the road who show him some kindness, but it seems very fleeting. What carries the book is the author's enthusiasm and optimism - ihe makes you feel good.
Read
February 17, 2017A little too self-centered at times but I still enjoyed the armchair travelling.
Leon is crazy, just like everyone. He is a person struggling with his own issues. Just like everyone on this planet. I like that and the message of this book is a good one.
Leon is crazy, just like everyone. He is a person struggling with his own issues. Just like everyone on this planet. I like that and the message of this book is a good one.
January 29, 2015
An enjoyable read but I felt it was lacking substance. He seemed to just brush the surface of his experiences leaving me wanting to know more details of his travel experiences.
February 23, 2017
Love this book! Excellent concepts, terrific stories about the wonderful power of kindness.
June 20, 2017
I LOVED THIS BOOK! It details one man's journey around the world on Kindness One, his happy yellow motorbike. He left with NO MONEY in his possession and his goal was 1) to survive on the kindness of strangers for gas, food and shelter but more importantly 2) to reward those that helped him with a gift that would change their lives. His stories inspire hope of a kinder world where we help others when we can. While some of his gestures were quite grand and financially not feasible for all of us, the message is universal: helping others brings joy.
July 3, 2017
I wasn't feeling all the feels.
I'm kind of materialistic, and I'm ok with that.
I'm kind of materialistic, and I'm ok with that.
January 3, 2021
Absolutely loved this book. Very easy reading snd POWERFUL message of relying on the kindness of strangers. Must read for everyone.
June 3, 2017
One day the author decides to drive a vintage motorcycle around the world. He was going to travel without money and would depend on the kindness of strangers for his food, shelter, and gas. In return he was going to give life changing gifts to people in need or had dreams they couldn't pursue. This was a fantastic book and it was inspiring to read how acts of kindness can change the world.
September 27, 2016
"Leon, please tell me this is just another one of your wacky ideas." This was the reaction of the author's girlfriend when he announced that he was going to travel around the world on a yellow motorcycle, finding people whom he could help and who would help him. If this is the worst thing that your girlfriend says to you in such a situation, that lady is a keeper.
Leon has had a lot of wacky ideas and gotten a lot of attention for carrying them out. He's a guy who can't seem to settle down to a hum-drum existence. He craves adventure and (to give him full credit) he's still trying to figure out what his life means and how he can make the most of the few years we have on earth. If he sounds a bit loony, that's because he IS a bit loony. His saving grace (to me, anyway) is that he has a genuinely kind heart and a fascination with all sorts of people and a huge curiosity about the world. In another time, he would have signed on with Columbus, or tried to find the North-West Passage. But America has already been discovered and there's no North-West Passage. So he travels around on a bright yellow, not-very-dependable motorcycle and explores the one thing that's still a mystery to us - people and why they do the strange things that they do.
The premise of this adventure is that he would rely on the kindness of strangers and, when he found someone in need, he would help THEM in return. So he helps a transplanted Scotsman go home for a family wedding and finds a home for a homeless man and helps two street performers kick-start their musical careers. Most of the people he meets have no need of his assistance. They're simply intrigued with his journey and happy to talk to him about their own lives and dreams.
He crosses the US and takes a merchant ship to Europe and then gets to the Middle East. At this point, he's persuaded that good intentions won't stop a bullet. So he and the yellow motorcycle take a plane ride to India to continue the journey. I think this is where the book really gets interesting. After all, there's nothing much to traveling through First World countries, where there are many who can help and a relative few who need help. But how can you make a dent in a Third World country, where poverty is so wide-spread and so deeply ingrained?
He does it the way we're advised to eat an elephant - one bite at a time. The great thing about kindness is that it spreads. The few families that he was able to help to a better life will (hopefully) some day be in a position to help others. Any child who is helped out of abject, hopeless poverty may grow up to be the adult who changes the world for the better. We must try and we are enriched by doing so.
I'm surprised that I liked this book and I'm surprised that I like Leon. I am by nature a cynic. The more he reveals about himself, the more the reader can understand how a kid from a well-to-do, successful family became a man with a relentless quest for self-knowledge. Yes, he's flaky. But he's kind and compassionate. He dares to get out and TRY and he's not content with mediocrity. And reading about his adventures leads you into places you would never experience otherwise.
He's a oner and that may be just as well, but the world would be a dull place without slightly wacky people. I know that the reviewers who call this book "inspirational" mean it as a compliment, but that makes it sound kind of boring and it's not. It's hilarious and sad and exasperating and thought-provoking and some other stuff, but it's damned sure not boring.
Disclosure: The author kindly sent me a free copy of his book to read and review. Thanks, Leon.
Leon has had a lot of wacky ideas and gotten a lot of attention for carrying them out. He's a guy who can't seem to settle down to a hum-drum existence. He craves adventure and (to give him full credit) he's still trying to figure out what his life means and how he can make the most of the few years we have on earth. If he sounds a bit loony, that's because he IS a bit loony. His saving grace (to me, anyway) is that he has a genuinely kind heart and a fascination with all sorts of people and a huge curiosity about the world. In another time, he would have signed on with Columbus, or tried to find the North-West Passage. But America has already been discovered and there's no North-West Passage. So he travels around on a bright yellow, not-very-dependable motorcycle and explores the one thing that's still a mystery to us - people and why they do the strange things that they do.
The premise of this adventure is that he would rely on the kindness of strangers and, when he found someone in need, he would help THEM in return. So he helps a transplanted Scotsman go home for a family wedding and finds a home for a homeless man and helps two street performers kick-start their musical careers. Most of the people he meets have no need of his assistance. They're simply intrigued with his journey and happy to talk to him about their own lives and dreams.
He crosses the US and takes a merchant ship to Europe and then gets to the Middle East. At this point, he's persuaded that good intentions won't stop a bullet. So he and the yellow motorcycle take a plane ride to India to continue the journey. I think this is where the book really gets interesting. After all, there's nothing much to traveling through First World countries, where there are many who can help and a relative few who need help. But how can you make a dent in a Third World country, where poverty is so wide-spread and so deeply ingrained?
He does it the way we're advised to eat an elephant - one bite at a time. The great thing about kindness is that it spreads. The few families that he was able to help to a better life will (hopefully) some day be in a position to help others. Any child who is helped out of abject, hopeless poverty may grow up to be the adult who changes the world for the better. We must try and we are enriched by doing so.
I'm surprised that I liked this book and I'm surprised that I like Leon. I am by nature a cynic. The more he reveals about himself, the more the reader can understand how a kid from a well-to-do, successful family became a man with a relentless quest for self-knowledge. Yes, he's flaky. But he's kind and compassionate. He dares to get out and TRY and he's not content with mediocrity. And reading about his adventures leads you into places you would never experience otherwise.
He's a oner and that may be just as well, but the world would be a dull place without slightly wacky people. I know that the reviewers who call this book "inspirational" mean it as a compliment, but that makes it sound kind of boring and it's not. It's hilarious and sad and exasperating and thought-provoking and some other stuff, but it's damned sure not boring.
Disclosure: The author kindly sent me a free copy of his book to read and review. Thanks, Leon.
April 24, 2015
"Never had I been so happy to have annoyed an entire country." (p. 208)
What a great book about adventure, dream-seeking, soul-searching, supporting and encouraging fellow man, 'dropping the mask, putting down the phone, reaching out to a complete stranger, and connecting in a way that forever changes [people] (p. 240),' home, and love. At first I thought it was too fast-paced--that he was going through his adventures too quickly--I wanted the author to slow down and spend more detail on his journey and the people who helped him and whom he helped, but I'm glad the book stayed fast-paced. It left my mind imagining great and wonderful things. I also am glad it included snippets of tender, teary-eyed moments--emotions of war, poverty and sadness, and the tender, teary-eyed emotions that kindness, generosity and happiness can bring.
I loved the message of kindness and charity, but I loved the message of "home" even more. Like this quote:
"But the place we are often most needed isn't across the world. We're needed right here." - monk from the Monastery for the Brotherhood of St. Francis of Assisi, p. 226
I enjoyed the writing style--frank, open, laugh-out-loud and tongue-in-cheek types of humor. It was a light read that I enjoyed on an airplane ride. I rarely recommend books to people, but I went out of my way to buy this for someone I work with. It's worth reading.
Favorite quotes:
"A man travels the world over in search of what he needs and returns home to find it." - George A. Morre, p. 221
Such is life:
"As much as this journey has been sponsored by kindness, it has been powered by adrenaline." p 222
Bill, a man married 63 years: "Sometimes the success of a relationship has as much to do with how much it can handle as it does how much you give it." p. 226
"We are free to dream the impossible." p 223
"...I realized that the true start and the true end were right here, in my home, with the person I loved, knowing that the river of kindness flows between all of us, but the tides of love run deepest. I was home." p 235
"I thought dreams were fulfilled through self-will and determination. What I learned is that it takes a village to raise a dream." p 238
What a great book about adventure, dream-seeking, soul-searching, supporting and encouraging fellow man, 'dropping the mask, putting down the phone, reaching out to a complete stranger, and connecting in a way that forever changes [people] (p. 240),' home, and love. At first I thought it was too fast-paced--that he was going through his adventures too quickly--I wanted the author to slow down and spend more detail on his journey and the people who helped him and whom he helped, but I'm glad the book stayed fast-paced. It left my mind imagining great and wonderful things. I also am glad it included snippets of tender, teary-eyed moments--emotions of war, poverty and sadness, and the tender, teary-eyed emotions that kindness, generosity and happiness can bring.
I loved the message of kindness and charity, but I loved the message of "home" even more. Like this quote:
"But the place we are often most needed isn't across the world. We're needed right here." - monk from the Monastery for the Brotherhood of St. Francis of Assisi, p. 226
I enjoyed the writing style--frank, open, laugh-out-loud and tongue-in-cheek types of humor. It was a light read that I enjoyed on an airplane ride. I rarely recommend books to people, but I went out of my way to buy this for someone I work with. It's worth reading.
Favorite quotes:
"A man travels the world over in search of what he needs and returns home to find it." - George A. Morre, p. 221
Such is life:
"As much as this journey has been sponsored by kindness, it has been powered by adrenaline." p 222
Bill, a man married 63 years: "Sometimes the success of a relationship has as much to do with how much it can handle as it does how much you give it." p. 226
"We are free to dream the impossible." p 223
"...I realized that the true start and the true end were right here, in my home, with the person I loved, knowing that the river of kindness flows between all of us, but the tides of love run deepest. I was home." p 235
"I thought dreams were fulfilled through self-will and determination. What I learned is that it takes a village to raise a dream." p 238
December 30, 2014
Logothetis is a sweet, kindhearted fella who sees the best in folks simply by looking for it. Urged by something in his gut (no, not his pancreas), he sets off to circumnavigate the globe riding a yellow motorbike-and-sidecar contraption and with $0 in his pocket. If it sounds familiar, it’s because he did pretty much the same thing in 2011 with The Amazing Adventures of a Nobody: A Life-Changing Journey Across America Relying on the Kindness of Strangers. He relies on the kindness of strangers for everything—gas, food, lodging—with one twist: he will return (not barter) kindness when possible. One dude who hosted him for a night gets a trip to England to see his son’s wedding; another, a kind homeless man who shared his sidewalk and blanket, gets cooking classes and more secure lodging. Some of the people in his life, including his longterm girlfriend, call his journey “running.” But he labels it “freedom,” and it’s undoubtedly true that Logothetis is genuinely happiest while meeting people and learning about them. He ignores scores of slights and humiliations, focusing instead on all the blessings he encounters, all the kind souls. As a result, the text can at times sound trite, as when he observes that “…change doesn’t come to us, we must go seek it.” But for every cheesy expression there are ten legit paeans, such as seeing joy “bouncing off” a new friend “like sunlight” and observing that “[t]he small moments, the small acts; they break the heart wide open.” VERDICT Odd. Brave. Energetic. Sidecar-tastic. More people should be this open to the world.
Find reviews of books for men at Books for Dudes, Books for Dudes, the online reader's advisory column for men from Library Journal. Copyright Library Journal.
Find reviews of books for men at Books for Dudes, Books for Dudes, the online reader's advisory column for men from Library Journal. Copyright Library Journal.
August 19, 2015
As a book - not super interesting. More memoir than inspirational when you get down to the details.
The concept: A rich man forsakes his wealth (temporarily) to travel around the world on a motorcycle on the kindness of strangers. He goes around occasionally giving thoughtful gifts to people who have helped him.
Inspiring? Sure. But it begs the question: what about people who don't have money to fall back on? What can we do for others to inspire or help them?
These questions weren't really addressed, let alone answered. Mr. Logothetis' answer (crudely put): throw money at them. Again - his gifts were thoughtful, but what about the rest of us?
The most interesting aspects of this book are the gifts provided by the author. He was very good at building up the backstory (for most of them), and providing interesting people with thoughtful gifts. But as a work, not that compelling and the whole concept is a bit unrealistic and a bit self-centered.
I was incredibly sad when he didn't ride his bike through Iraq, Iran, and other countries in the Middle East. Mr. Logothetis built up this part of his journey so well. I was incredibly excited to see how he helped individuals in those countries. Alas, we readers are left wanting - he found a plane to bypass the whole region (understandable, but not so interesting as the narrative went).
All said, I did find his gifts very heartfelt. Clearly Mr. Logothetis has a warm heart. If his journey had taken a bit longer and he had helped his benefactors earn their gifts by hard work along side them, I think it could have been much more compelling. As it was, the wealth aspect kind of took away from the experience of his journey and my reading of the book.
The concept: A rich man forsakes his wealth (temporarily) to travel around the world on a motorcycle on the kindness of strangers. He goes around occasionally giving thoughtful gifts to people who have helped him.
Inspiring? Sure. But it begs the question: what about people who don't have money to fall back on? What can we do for others to inspire or help them?
These questions weren't really addressed, let alone answered. Mr. Logothetis' answer (crudely put): throw money at them. Again - his gifts were thoughtful, but what about the rest of us?
The most interesting aspects of this book are the gifts provided by the author. He was very good at building up the backstory (for most of them), and providing interesting people with thoughtful gifts. But as a work, not that compelling and the whole concept is a bit unrealistic and a bit self-centered.
I was incredibly sad when he didn't ride his bike through Iraq, Iran, and other countries in the Middle East. Mr. Logothetis built up this part of his journey so well. I was incredibly excited to see how he helped individuals in those countries. Alas, we readers are left wanting - he found a plane to bypass the whole region (understandable, but not so interesting as the narrative went).
All said, I did find his gifts very heartfelt. Clearly Mr. Logothetis has a warm heart. If his journey had taken a bit longer and he had helped his benefactors earn their gifts by hard work along side them, I think it could have been much more compelling. As it was, the wealth aspect kind of took away from the experience of his journey and my reading of the book.
February 8, 2019
Posted first on my blog The Purple Booker
This is positively one of the best books I have read in 2018 or anytime at all. I of course followed is up by watching the limited series as well and it was amazing. Watching as one man works his way around the world only on the kindness of strangers. It is at times sad, seeing where people have come. Where society has come to where we don't go right to kindness. However, for the most part I smiled and I cried and I laughed and I was so happy to see that there is kindness there. One things that I could see within this story is that many times it is those who have the least that are the most willing to share. In other moments it was those who knew what it was like to have little who were the most willing to share what they had. There was a moment or two of those who had much who decided to share, but mostly it was the other genres.
I have had people call me a kindness warrior, so I suppose it should come as no surprise that I read this one. I can completely respect this project and I would love to see more people do it. The more people do it, the more attention will be brought to it as well. Kindness needs to be something that all of us remember and know about. If more people in this world took a minute to simply be kind in a moment when they were in a hurry or something else, the world would truly be a better place. Kindness matters.
As the 12th Doctor put it so well in a message to his 13th self..
Always try to be nice but never fail to be kind.
This is positively one of the best books I have read in 2018 or anytime at all. I of course followed is up by watching the limited series as well and it was amazing. Watching as one man works his way around the world only on the kindness of strangers. It is at times sad, seeing where people have come. Where society has come to where we don't go right to kindness. However, for the most part I smiled and I cried and I laughed and I was so happy to see that there is kindness there. One things that I could see within this story is that many times it is those who have the least that are the most willing to share. In other moments it was those who knew what it was like to have little who were the most willing to share what they had. There was a moment or two of those who had much who decided to share, but mostly it was the other genres.
I have had people call me a kindness warrior, so I suppose it should come as no surprise that I read this one. I can completely respect this project and I would love to see more people do it. The more people do it, the more attention will be brought to it as well. Kindness needs to be something that all of us remember and know about. If more people in this world took a minute to simply be kind in a moment when they were in a hurry or something else, the world would truly be a better place. Kindness matters.
As the 12th Doctor put it so well in a message to his 13th self..
Always try to be nice but never fail to be kind.
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