Flourish: The Extraordinary Journey Into Finding Your Best Self

by Antonia Case

What is a meaningful life? What does it mean to flourish? Antonia Case, the co-founder of New Philosopher and Womankind magazines, quits her corporate job in the city and, with her partner, travels across the world in search of meaning. In a quest to find answers, she turns off the soundtrack of the media, rids herself of technology, and with little more than books as carry-on luggage, she journeys from Buenos Aires to Paris, from Barcelona to Byron Bay, seeking guidance from ancient philosophers and modern-day psychologists on what is a good life, and what is a life worth living. Along the way she discovers why winning the lottery doesn't make you happy, why making is better than having, and how love and belonging are vital to our sense of selves.

Packed with insight into life's big questions, Flourish will take you on a riveting journey in search of what matters most.

Genres: Memoir, Philosophy, Nonfiction, Self Help

288 pages, Hardcover

Published June 13, 2023

Reviews

[Becky Flynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I truly wanted to like this book more than I did. I so admire Antonia and her work on both Womankind and New Philosopher. In actuality, while there was some great philosophy and snippets of insight, something about her writing here fell flat for me. A few reasons for this I think: 1)I really wanted her to address that most of the philosophers she cites are men, and attempt to incorporate some feminist perspective 2)At certain points a lot of judgment is passed on characters she meets and how they live their lives and I felt a lack of empathy 3) The writing is so intellectual, I wanted some more of Antonia’s personal voice and perspective.

[Aimee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished it. I'm now going back to the beginning to start all over again - there's so much to take in that it definitely needs a second read. Within the book there are endless nuggets of wisdom and ideas that make me want to shout ‘yes!’. Such a wonderful mix of lived experience coupled with philosophical questioning. A must read.

[Eliatan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Without a doubt one of the most timely, and delightful books I’ve had the pleasure to fall into. There are so many nuggets of wisdom here, and the intertwining of Antonia & Zan’s story with some some of the best thinkers on living a good life, was superb.

I’ll be going back into this one for a deeper re-read soon. It was that good, it’s worth reviewing and revisiting.

[Ingrid Weir · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book stimulating. The author comes across as a deep reader, and the way she applies philosophy of different eras to today's world is fascinating. She comes across as a strong, individual thinker. I actually looked up to see if she is doing any book events as it would be interesting to hear her in conversation

[Berit · Rating 1 out of 5]

Was initially really positively surprised that this book is more philosophy than self help but got increasingly annoyed with is.

Did really enjoy the bits of philosophy initially which were set out really clearly and accessibly, and did make me think. But the link of the philosophy bits applied to her observations of people she encountered was very simplistic, judgemental and often unkind. Sometimes, she also falls into the "everything was better before" conservativism that is careful to never define "before" too clearly, and she can sound a bit conspiracy adjacent when talking about the media.

For my taste, there's way too much critical observation of others and just smugness instead of critical self reflection.

The connection between money, work and "the good life" is discussed at length and she describes other people's material circumstances and what choices they make on the back of them but at no point specifies her own. How is it possible for her to jet around the world completely disconnected and without a plan for years, move to Paris on a whim with two small children to study fashion, then "enrol the girls into an alternative preschool" in Barcelona while not working and later open a bookshop that is not intended to actually sell anything (venture that includes paying multiple employees and buying twelve tonnes of tea, books, french antiques and paintings)? Nothing wrong with any of this but left me asking "you judge other people for both their trust funds and pursuit of money, but how do YOU afford this lifestyle?". Kept reading until the end to see if there would be an answer but just more puzzled. For a book that is centred around her own journey and has "pursuing money is not all that" as maybe the key message, I think it's quite a significant omission.

The book finishes by her saying that 'flourishing' is "a personal journey that doesn't require other people's approval" but disapproving so vehemently of other people's 'personal journeys' (or the ones that she projects onto them) for an entire book isn't really bringing that point home.


Extra highlights:

- judging people for buying overpriced organic groceries whilst shopping in exactly the same shop

- berating an immigrant cab driver for reading business books and planning to build a property empire instead of looking out the window, enjoying the scenery and living in the moment like she is during her cab ride

- casually comparing influencers to arms dealers

- lengthy unfavourable description of people who move to Byron Bay and what they're like without acknowledging that the author and her partner have done exactly the same thing

- meaningless similes e.g. "At the end of the day, fame and wealth are illusions. On the other hand, a rock, stripped of its context, is still a rock."

- being what sounds like at the very least very chaotic employers, not sure how much "tenacity" should really be required to work in a shop that's not planning to sell anything ("There's only one staff member, Jess, who has the tenancity to stay on.")

- making endless assumptions about people's values, life choices, inner lives, priorities etc. purely on superficial observations or conversations that last mere seconds. E.g. within the same three-ish pages, judging one person for not maintaining their mansion enough ("But why is it in such disarray? Owning such a grand house, surely one would wake every day committed to the art of maintaining it?") and another one for doing just that. Particular shout-out to this lady with the nice front garden who told her that the kids birthday party was next door and gets absolutely slated for it ("While her 'success' yells from the front lawn, she is notably silent. Had she used this wealth to take up lessons in oration, or cordon bleu cooking, or the manufacture of plastic boat-sized poodles to decorate her lawn, how much more she could have offered to her neighbours on the street.") a) hard disagree on the plastic poodles and oration, and b) leave this lady alone, you've literally had a two-word interaction and she told you what you needed to know. You know absolutely nothing about her and how she spends her time, and none of it is any of your business!!

- making no explicit connection whatsoever between her search for the perfect home/desire to own land and any of her narrative around how bad our pursuit of consumerism and ownership is

[Blair · Rating 2 out of 5]

When New Philosopher magazine first came out some years back I was excited that something like that was being published in Australia, but I soon tired of it and especially the many pieces that founder Antonia Case would write for it herself, which were quote heavy but light on insight and depth. I'm teaching a course on The Good Life to high school students at the moment so thought I'd check out what she could do with a full-length effort on that topic, but it's just like a series of magazine articles stitched together. Instead, check out AC Grayling's latest book, Philosophy and Life, if you want to actually get some insights into living the good life.

[Kelly Pramberger]

Lots of interesting philosophical questions here! Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. Four stars. It was a bit wordy for my taste but still an excellent book that Case has crafted. The cover is just so beautiful and that’s what I was drawn to.

[Kirra Marshall · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Excessive love for one thing is often a form of escape; it must be tempered.”

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love that Antonia Case created Womankind and New Philosopher magazines. I regularly enjoy her contributions. I was so excited when I first heard about this book, and I was delighted with the audiobook version.

Antonia Case what a gem! I'm truly impressed and eager to reread this. I agree with other reviewers about this feeling impersonal at times. I wanted to be more grounded in Antonia Cases life, and have more of a sense of them all around, but I understand writing something like this in a way to be less personal. I didn't think it detracted from the book. I didn't think there was a lack of depth to Antonia's personal relationships. I also didn't think that it sounded overly judgmental, merely reflecting on thoughts we all have from people we meet. I thought of it as getting a sense of direction, and how they wanted to be seen, or purely just wanting to learn the language that surrounded them.

Despite any shortcomings, as we all have them, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I felt like I was living out different adventures as they travelled and explored philosopher's ideas that provided them with guidance throughout their journey. I came away with more questions for myself, which has given me more understanding behind the decisions that I make from day to day, as well as providing a path forward into giving myself my ideal "everyday" that I crave in life.

I would like to hear a more critical evaluation combating the idea that someone needs to have a raison d'être (reason to be, aka life's purpose) to truly flourish in life, as I don't truly prescribe to this idea.

I understand and appreciate all the research mentioned in this book and get so much from Antonia Case's work. I am very interested in reading more and more, thank goodness for her magazines!

[Libby · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m an avid reader New Philosopher and desperately wanted to enjoy this new book by Antonia Case. The world travel offered enjoyable content, yet for me, I couldn’t quite get past the glaringly unaddressed privilege that silently underscored her and Zan’s lifestyle and underpins the philosophy.

I found reading about their loss-making retail venture in Bangalow (near Byron Bay) really jarring. I understand the anti-capitalist ideology, but there's this unanswered question: What kind of financial cushion allowed them to do that? Once again, a notable absence in the writing was an examination of systemic structures and societal constraints that render the lifestyle that they advocate as only a privilege attainable only by a select few. Given this backdrop, the moments of judgment for those they encounter felt starkly critical and lacking in empathy.

I did enjoy reading this book but it felt a little self-involved and lacking in perspective.

[Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wandering hike into the forest of how-to-life-your-life.

Antonia Case is best here at getting lost in the questions, embracing the reality that it is a bespoke quest to find your way. Case is less convincing when they veer into preaching soap box territory, although it's not often. Most of the book is chock full with words and perspectives from philosophers as well as people that Case encounters in their travels, these select findings are quite the feast, and walking through the buffet of quotes and stories I felt over-encumbered with words that resonated deeply with me. This is where I understood why my wife was wanting to re-read it with me, picking up on sentiments they missed the first time.

I particularly admire the way the book is structured, sectioned off in a way that one could read any chapter and walk away with plenty to chew on (although I had more favorable chapters, chapter 10 for example). The chapters don't necessarily build on each other, for the better.

In the end, Flourish is no good for answers, but it's plenty good to re-ignite an inquiry and passion into what on earth you're doing with your life.

[Eirini · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was craving a philosophy book, and being familiar with Case's work through Womankind, I had expected it to be a great read.
Except that it is more of a self-help book and less philosophy; and while it is not as indulgent and shallow, it certainly feels a little dogmatic and judgmental at times.

[Tim · Rating 3 out of 5]

I came to this book through New Philosopher, a publication I have subscribed to for years.

Overall disappointed in this book. I admire the topic selected and interesting perspectives shared over years of exploration. The fundamental frustration is that I was more moved by the ideas of other thinkers mentioned throughout and wanted more about the author and her community.

More time and energy is spent musing about the imagined deficiencies of strangers, then sharing quotes from other thinkers on the topic, instead of diving deeper into the vulnerabilities that can honestly be shared- the author’s own. The formula is off when the main characters are not the most open and vulnerable and curious.

The author is clearly talented and interesting. I wish I read more about her story in this book. This book did stir up emotions and inspire me to write a rare review, which is why I give it 3 instead of 2 stars.

[Jane Recchia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a book I needed to read. Flourish brought together my thousands of thoughts/books read/journaling done/ about purpose. Not that I found my purpose by reading this, but it served to tie up all the loose ideas and thoughts I have about and I feel more peaceful about the whole concept.
Big fan of Antonia Case .. and even more of a fan now.

[Nat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this journey into what makes a life worth living. I loved the essay kind of vibe with quotes from philosophers without the wank. This book reminds me, I have much more to do and I would be wise to do it with intention and purpose. Great reminders in here about the scourge of digital/social media. The more I read the more I distance myself from social media. That's a win.

[Sarah Kynard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Why am I left feeling this book misses the mark? It has elements of things I love: travel anecdotes intertwined with philosophical gleanings and urgings to avoid the capitalistic traps of pursuing material wealth and social status in favor of seeking adventure and self actualization…

The anecdotes piece together into a story of the author leaving her corporate job behind on a whim to haphazardly travel the world with her partner. Along the way she gives birth to 3 children, all of which she refers to blandly as “the children” almost as if they are a piece of luggage (and inconvenience) she is carrying along with her (not much different than the typhoid they picked up and endured along the road). The people they meet and interact with along the way are psychoanalyzed and judged: plagued by inertia, too pretentious, etc (although it seems to me you could say the same about the author). There is zero thought given to constantly uprooting the children, and little attention given to how an important overlooked element of “Flourishing” in life lives in the relationships we cultivate with others and community we invest in. The author just keeps hopping from one thing to the next (art school, fashion school, a new home or poorly planned and halfway executed business project…) in search of the next hit of novelty but never fully immersing or engaging. She repeatedly frowns upon material wealth but doesn’t acknowledge the cost of jet setting around the world or all the projects she invests in. She romanticizes the “simple life” but never seems to actually engage in these things due to her own insatiable discontent.

So what I’m saying is: Buyer, Beware. I love travel and adventure (and even spent a year on the road with my kids when they were young) but the author’s sprinkling of philosophical quotes does not hide her immaturity. She still has some work to do before she has any substantial wisdom to impart.

[C Planko Read · Rating 2 out of 5]

Readers of the editorials (read: Case's articles) in New Philosopher and Womenkind will recognise the writing is exactly the same stylistically in this piece.
It is an objectifying tour through Case's limited insights (perhaps overtly dehumanising at times) into the lives of others mashed up with vague generalisations about woes in society and some useful quips on finding happiness and purpose through perspective taking and revisiting individual choice.
That is not enough to claw more than 2 stars as the treatment of noneuropean cultures is unforgiveable, and Case seems determined to other anyone who doesnt willfully abandon real life considerations for her own narrow view on what constitutes meaningful action.
Similar to New Philosopher, this memoir is awash with again generalised insights from white euro philosophers. the only references to eastern thought are also provided via the publications of other white academics 'specialising' in 'asia' and 'asian philosophy'.
Does not add to self-help sections, and would have benefited from literally any intersectionalist though (not belief, but at least reflection in editing and redrafting with fresh sources/new ideas following that step). The reference list enclosed for further reading indicates no such efforts were made.
2 stars only because it made me think about why I was so annoyed most of the time. I finished it at great pains to my sense of enjoyment of reading.

[Helen Blunden · Rating 2 out of 5]

(2.5 stars) Not bad but I would have preferred more stories from a personal perspective in her true authentic voice. There were so many unknowns too that she didn’t explain. Also, the writing style was more like reading an essay in New Philosopher (which I love by the way. It’s a superb publication).

I came away from this book with an odd feeling it came across as judgemental and left the reader with more questions which I listed below.

Why were they travelling so much?
Who is her husband? What’s he do? What prompted the “no plan, no map, no internet” when travelling?
How did they fund themselves?
What had she learned about herself (and NOT from observing the lives of others who came into their lives and making assumptions of their life to be a springboard into a philosophical lesson);
Where were the difficulties? The pain? The hardships? The lessons?
What did she feel?
Why did they choose those specific countries?
Who is the real Antonia Case?
Why did they sell the business?
If they travel this often, why get a cat (as she gives them away)….twice.

The lesson of Flourish came in the last paragraph but even then, I could have come up with it without reading this book.

I also caught myself thinking a few times, “eek, imagine the person she wrote about read this about how she perceived them!”

I also liked the idea of travelling with philosophy books so there’s a great bibliography at the end for some great further reading.

[Marina Wensveen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I bought the book because I loved Antonia’s Womankind magazine and the attractiveness of the cover.
I am sorry to say, this book felt like another tick ✔️ on Antonia’s extensive list of places to visit, things to do, experiences to live… Why not write a book now whilst I have time to do so ?
There is nothing wrong with that, except that it lacked both literary value and depth of philosophical insight despite a multitude of quotes and concepts presented in it.
I felt it was something in between Eat, Pray,Love and a dissertation of a Philosophy college student mixed together, failing to properly amalgamate.
Her stance as a writer felt so detached, devoid of emotion and at times empathy, that it made me wonder if I am willing to receive any pearls of wisdom coming from the pages.
Having said that, Antonia’s journey to Flourishing is truly multifaceted and diverse. Her eagerness to explore and courage deserve a lot of credit.

[Sarah’s Prismatic Musings · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book started out strong, but became tiresome. The author moves, has babies, and quotes philosopher’s throughout the book. I wanted to hear more about her personal experiences and feelings in all of these places, but feelings were hardly discussed. I read this after moving to a new State and it caused me anxiety. Moving is anxiety and saying goodbye and heartache. None of these emotions were discussed until the last chapter. This book was long winded and a chore to read. I should have DNF’ed it halfway through.

[Mai H.]

Memoir March TBR

📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Bloomsbury Continuum

[Chiara Risi · Rating 5 out of 5]

According to the psychologist Maslow, when we head towards our unique and authentic self, a transformative process unfolds. We find contentment in pursuing our own goals, free from external influences. We experience peace in doing what feels right for us, following our own flow. We are comfortable being alone. We are true to ourselves rather than being liked. We appreciate the beauty of simple things. We become more caring, compassionate, and attuned to others.

Flourishing is this journey we embark on to become our best selves, discovering what makes us unique and brings us joy. It's our process of growth. And during this journey, the magic unfolds—I can profoundly feel it.

The author, Antonia Case, shares her unique journey to flourish. She left her old life and travelled worldwide, seeking her true self. To fully embrace this quest, she consciously removed influence from her culture, challenging herself to view things from diverse perspectives. Moving between countries was also useful for that purpose, exposing her to new habits, languages, and ways of thinking. We might not find an exit plan if we continue to think as usual. She even decided to avoid using phones, clocks, compasses, maps, and computers, and making plans. Nietzsche's idea, that “if we continue to be a product of our culture, we cannot rise above its values,” resonates strongly in her approach.

This book is more than a travel story. Every page is packed with deep thoughts and ideas. Antonia doesn't just talk about her travels; she dives into the meaning of each experience, using wisdom from old philosophers and modern psychologists, and sociologists As she said, she was not just a traveler of places; she was a traveler of the self.

Reading this book brought me genuine joy. It was her personal and unique journey, and while each of us has our own unique path, this book has undeniably nudged me a step closer to my best self. Much like her Womankind Magazine, which has enriched me over the past few years.

Thank you, Antonia 😊

[Zara · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a fan of the two magazines that Antonia Case co-founded, Womankind and New Philosopher, and as a fellow full-time traveller, I was so looking forward to this book, but was left feeling a bit disappointed.

Where this book shines is when Antonia is sharing the wisdom and insights that she’s gleaned from some of her favourite philosophical thinkers, however these great minds are almost exclusively male, and all are Western thinkers, which felt quite surprising when much of the travel Antonia’s been doing over the past couple of decades has been through South American countries.

With a title like ‘Flourish’, I was also expecting the stories of Antonia’s travels to feel joyous and exciting, but I didn’t get this sense at all, and it felt as though Antonia and her partner Zan spent most of their time drifting from place to place, passing judgement on almost everyone they encountered along the way. Zan also received only the occasional mention throughout the book, leaving the reader with no sense of their relationship, and no sense of the relationship they have with their four children. On the rare occasion when their children are mentioned, they’re referred to as “the children”, and there are no reflections in the book on relationships or parenthood at all with regard to the idea of “flourishing”, which felt like an odd oversight.

I always enjoy reading stories by others who are travelling a different path (literally and figuratively), but there's a certain detachment to Antonia’s observations and writing style that seemed at odds with the central theme of the book, and it certainly felt like the book needed a better editor to help address some of these issues and bring the personal narrative and philosophical insights (which are very interesting for the most part) together in a more cohesive and engaging way.

Overall, I enjoyed reading this book – but didn't love it as much as I hoped I would.

[aseed2inspire · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was so excited to get this book. I LOVE Antonia's magazines, Philosophy Now and Womankind, which I highly recommend! So the idea of getting a glimpse into the brain of the woman who created and produced something so glorious in all the important ways was just too exciting.
But I am left with a strange aftertaste after reading her latest book, Flourish. It is not bitter, but maybe under-sated. I didn't get the nourishment from Flourish that I desired. But perhaps that was my fault.
I chimed with the desire to leave the overworked life we are all told to desire at this age (I have personally not experienced the high salary dilemma). The dream is to get on the road and explore. I have done this myself and discovered Antiona's excellent magazines on my path. But I couldn't continue this life because our world is built upon money, and you need to earn more at some point. As Antiona's family grew and they continued to move around the world with incredible insights, musings and philosophical reflections, I couldn't help thinking, 'Where is all the money coming from.' We would all love to leave the daily grind and explore, but money is vital to sustain such an adventure. I don't regret reading or buying it; what she has done is a brilliant exploration and resulted in some life lessons and understandings. Maybe I am just jealous that I can't pack up my meagre belongings, hire a van and travel, buy a shop where I don't care about making rent, create a bookshop and magazine and then do it all again. Maybe I missed the point, or whilst reading was also juggling with the pings and pongs of my working life. Perhaps I took it too seriously or expected it to give me answers it wasn't trying to provide. I wanted to love it. I hope you do.

[Jindalee BubbleTea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I borrowed the book from the library after reading an excerpt in the new philosophy magazine that Antonia created. Sometimes excerpts are misleading hence why I borrowed it but the book was every bit as good so I will now buy it as I want to reread and take notes and make reflections.

The book takes the reader on her journey to living a “flourishing” life. Starting off disillusioned in the sales job she and her partner travel the world, setup tea shops, have children, finally purchase a house only to leave it, start the magazine ( new philosophy and womankind). Interspersed with this is biggest of philosophy, psychology and sociology research/stories.

My only issue with the book is that she intersperses her journey with a few “parables” or observations of the lives of the people she encounters in her journeys and I felt that these were a little too surface and didn’t delve into any depth in their lives so her assumptions and observations are not very nuanced and could even be wrong.

She writes beautifully and I was never really bored or wanting to skip sections even when she goes more heavily into the philosophy.

There is also a great list of references and resources at the back as a suggested reading list if the reader wants to delve deeper into the concept of flourishing.

I read this slowly over about 5 weeks.

[Bruno Simon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ya conocía a la autora por la revista NewPhilosopher de la que es editora y colaboradora y eso me animó a leer el libro. Siempre me ha parecido una pensadora brillante que no se pierde en pedanterias sin dejar de ser rigurosa y con un enfoque muy pragmático y analítico conectando las ideas de los grandes filosofos de la historia con el tema del que este hablando. Aquí no es menos.
Aunque orientado como un libro de auto-ayuda, es mitad autobiografia, mitad ensayo filosófico. Es cierto que esta orientado a su busqueda por todo el mundo de su identidad pero no ofrece soluciones sino que abre más preguntas enlazando sus aventuras con los conceptos a lo largo de la historia de la filosofía que le inspiran estas. Es muy interesante ver como, a lo largo de los años en los que transcurre su periplo personal (el cual se entiende en el último capítulo que no ha acabado ni acabara) va acotando sus reflexiones de una manera muy natural. Se nota un aprendizaje y una evolución en su manera de afrontar el tema central del libro que no sería otro que buscar tu propia identidad y tu lugar en el mundo.
Perdonen la chapa si alguien ha llegado hasta aquí. Un gran libro que introduce al lector a un montón de filosofos.

[Rebekah Allen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m currently stuck in the strange part of early adult life, post-grad but with no career prospects, I’ve found myself traveling and doing odd jobs to try to learn something about what I want from life. This book was given to me by my cousin, who knows the author through mutual friends, and thought I would benefit from the philosophical turmoil that takes place in this book.

As far as inspiring self-help books go, this one is not too bad. It’s an easy read, though very fast-paced in terms of how the author jumps around the world and through life, reinventing herself over and over. “Philosophy 101 meets Eat, Pray, Love,” is how Sam described it to me, and I am inclined to agree.

Still, sometimes you just need to read those words of reassurance, as cliche and over-played as they may be. That life is not a linear path, that striving for material and social success is fruitless when compared to cultivating love, and friendship, and intellect, and contentment. That to reach Maslow’s self-actualization is not some mountain peak to climb to, but a process of finding joy in every day. For now, that is enough to strive for. I will set aside my obsessive planning and let my mind flourish.

[Karly Innes · Rating 5 out of 5]

There's so much rubbish produced these days when it comes to books that purport to help us live a better, happier life. This definitely isn't one of them - in contrast this is a wonderful, enlightening adventurous book that delves into what it means to flourish and what each and every one of us can do to take steps to living life to the fullest. The answer lies in us, and that's not to say that it should be all about us - in fact, Case shows that it's quite the opposite: it's by collaborating with others in those areas of life that matter most to us that we'll be most likely to be on the path to flourishing. A book for people of all ages looking for answers to some of the big questions in life. One that I'll be going back to over and again, that's for sure, there are so many ideas to mull over and chat about to friends.

[Terry Maguire · Rating 4 out of 5]

Antonia Case, co-founder of the New Philosopher magazine, explores what it takes to flourish and live a meaningful life in this memoir. She and her partner travel through South America, part of Europe, and Australia - reading the works of various philosophers and considering the cultures with which they interact through some of those lenses. The memoir is well-written but doesn't offer anything new in this genre. A similar read but one I thought was a lot stronger was The Geography of Bliss by Eric Weiner.

[Kun Xu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spending such a long time to finish it. Very surprised that the author took her whole families with her to explore and experience different countries and cultures, they met a lot of different kinds people, all of them has their own unique and interesting opinions. Sometimes I need to recall back and think more about the person’s mind in the book, from different angle shifting my thoughts. Of course there are some many philosophical descriptions and analyses, combined with the family’s journey, seems very matched!