A Curious Year in the Great Vivarium Experiment

by Tim Shields

On the morning of his thirty-sixth birthday, Thomas Furey finds himself alone and jobless. Devastated by the recent loss of his mother, he feels untethered, like he is falling into the depths of something he can’t describe. On a whim, he buys a one-way ticket to India. Possessed by fear, armed with hope, protected by naïveté, and guided by intention, when Thomas learns to operate in alignment with his true self, serendipity intervenes.

402 pages, Hardcover

Published May 2, 2018

Reviews

[Daniel Siegel · Rating 1 out of 5]

A Curious Something in the Big Whatever is a pretentious, badly written slog about a narcissistic jerk whose idea of character development is learning to spout banal clichés about spirituality instead of addressing his numerous character flaws. Also, how conceited do you have to be to open a book with a quote from your own self-insert character?

[Chris Walton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes you find just the right book at the time for you.

[Daniel Mangena · Rating 5 out of 5]

In my blog, I recently shared that I had fallen off with not only my blogging about the book a week challenge, but the challenge itself.

I have been "back on it" this last few weeks and have set myself the accountability of marking my progress not only on my Goodreads account, but also on my weekly newsletter.

This week I wrapped up "A Curious Year in the Great Vivarium Experiment" by my friend Tin Shields.
This book has sat half read for more than a month as I used work on the launch of www.doitwithdan.tv and my next group coaching class as an excuse for just not sitting down and having a good read.

In A Curious Year, We follow our hero Thomas on his adventures around the Asia following the loss of his mother.

We join him in love, loss, learning and libation as Tim weaves in lessons in gratitude, intention and the unknown.

A great read and one that I heartily recommend.

[Jessica Jacobson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a modern soul and truth seeking journey through the lens of a man trying to heal himself from the loss of his parents. It is a real, raw, vulnerable, explicit and yet touching story of finding meaning in life. Outrageous adventures set against the alluring backdrop of some of southeast Asia’s most jaw dropping sites. It is a travelers tale but also a love story in which a man moves through many obstacles to find love for himself and deeper understanding for what it means to be a human in this day and age.

[Julián Torres · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book. Full of color, adventure and valuable insights for life.

If you’re looking for something deep, that makes you reflect and think on life, but also travel with your imagination to exhilarating places where thrilling adventures take place, this is the book for you.

[Leila A · Rating 1 out of 5]

Tedious and boring