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No Destination: An Autobiography
Written with a penetrating simplicity, No Destination is an exhilarating account of an extraordinary life. When he was only nine years old, Satish Kumar renounced the world and joined the wandering brotherhood of Jain monks. Dissuaded from this path by an inner voice at the age of 18, he became a campaigner for land reform, working to turn Gandhi's vision of a renewed India into reality. Fired by the example of Bertrand Russell, he undertook an 8,000-mile peace pilgrimage, walking from India to America without any money, through mountains, deserts, storms, and snow. It was an adventure during which he was thrown into jail in France, faced a loaded gun in America, and delivered packets of “peace tea” to the leaders of the four nuclear powers. In 1973 he settled in England, taking on the editorship of Resurgence magazine, and becoming the guiding light behind a number of ecological spiritual and educational ventures. Following Indian tradition, in his 50th year he undertook another again without any money, he walked to the holy places of Britain—Glastonbury Lindisfarne and Iona. All of this and more is recounted in this fascinating autobiography.
320 pages, Paperback
First published March 12, 1992
16 people are currently reading
425 people want to read
About the author
Satish Kumar
254 books69 followersSatish Kumar is an Indian, currently living in England, who has been a Jain monk and a nuclear disarmament advocate, and is the current editor of the magazine Resurgence, founder and Director of Programmes of the Schumacher College international centre for ecological studies and of The Small School. His most notable accomplishment is a "peace walk" with a companion to the capitals of four of the nuclear-armed countries-- Washington, London, Paris and Moscow-- a trip of over 8,000 miles. He insists that reverence for nature should be at the heart of every political and social debate. Defending criticism that his goals are unrealistic, he has said, "Look at what realists have done for us. They have led us to war and climate change, poverty on an unimaginable scale, and wholesale ecological destruction. Half of humanity goes to bed hungry because of all the realistic leaders in the world. I tell people who call me 'unrealistic' to show me what their realism has done. Realism is an outdated, overplayed and wholly exaggerated concept."
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
July 21, 2017
Great guy. I did worry as, having seen this chap, it spoilt my image of him. When he was young I thought he was more selfish than I expected. However when I read about him at 50 and 60 I realised that he had matured, like all of us, I was right all along. He is great.
November 27, 2017
Inspiring - a combination of Hindu philosophy/spirituality, environmental aand green issues. I loved it, but felt that the solutions that the author makes seem so simple just wouldn't be scaleable to a global solution. That said, I agreed with almost all of the ideas
March 16, 2022
I got this book a few years ago from the mother of a guy I went out with when I was a teenager. Nice that she thought of me decades later.
Indeed it was in many ways my kind of book - lots on Eastern religions and philosophy, travels through interesting lands, and it fits in with my organic and green ethos. I'd heard of the author (Satish Kumar) because I've read quite a few copies of Resurgence magazine which he is the editor of. Of which he is the editor.
In this memoir he describes his life in India, growing up in a Jain family and becoming a monk at the age of 9. Then at 18 he moved on from monkhood to the land reform movement, helping implementing Gandhi's vision of landless peasants (and the "untouchable" caste in particular) having their own land rather than being serfs.
Then he went on a peace march - against nuclear weapons - to visit the four leaders of the nuclear nations (USSR, France, UK and USA). He walked pretty much all the way (obviously not across the Atlantic). He also travels with no money, which gives people along the way the opportunity to be generous and help out, but also lands him in a few spots of bother.
Eventually he settles in England, where he meets his life partner June, has children, founds Resurgence - and goes on more pilgrimages.
Kumar comes across as a seeker and a thinker, always searching for peace and guided by a strong sense of ethics and humanity. He also has an abiding love for simple living, including baking your own bread, gardening and crafts, making things with local materials, keeping local economies thriving, and finding little moments of joy and companionship.
I did wonder though what happened to the wife and two children he left behind in India, as he never talks about them again after that.
Indeed it was in many ways my kind of book - lots on Eastern religions and philosophy, travels through interesting lands, and it fits in with my organic and green ethos. I'd heard of the author (Satish Kumar) because I've read quite a few copies of Resurgence magazine which he is the editor of. Of which he is the editor.
In this memoir he describes his life in India, growing up in a Jain family and becoming a monk at the age of 9. Then at 18 he moved on from monkhood to the land reform movement, helping implementing Gandhi's vision of landless peasants (and the "untouchable" caste in particular) having their own land rather than being serfs.
Then he went on a peace march - against nuclear weapons - to visit the four leaders of the nuclear nations (USSR, France, UK and USA). He walked pretty much all the way (obviously not across the Atlantic). He also travels with no money, which gives people along the way the opportunity to be generous and help out, but also lands him in a few spots of bother.
Eventually he settles in England, where he meets his life partner June, has children, founds Resurgence - and goes on more pilgrimages.
Kumar comes across as a seeker and a thinker, always searching for peace and guided by a strong sense of ethics and humanity. He also has an abiding love for simple living, including baking your own bread, gardening and crafts, making things with local materials, keeping local economies thriving, and finding little moments of joy and companionship.
I did wonder though what happened to the wife and two children he left behind in India, as he never talks about them again after that.
June 6, 2017
Humble and modest. A breath of fresh air, written with such kindness.
February 11, 2021
The book is balanced, so to say... A first great half, and a not so great other half.
It depends on each individual's quest. I was looking for inspiration and I found it. I was looking for philosophy and resources, I found them.
Kumar did his thing and as for myself, he fulfilled his task as a man of this world. No doubt of that. Now you cannot have everything from one man can you?
I can imagine he's a better speaker than writer, but again, read your book knowing what you're looking for.
It definitely taught me how to read better, for honestly, after 200 pages, I skipped pages and was using the book as a source for research. I knew what I was looking for... There is very good content for insight in the root of the sickness of our western civilization, extending from politics to morals and ecology.
The book ends perfectly; Satish could have found no better way of ending it than stating his gratitude for his influences and mentioning them even. The 11 principles stated by Gandhi. This is high quality content.
It depends on each individual's quest. I was looking for inspiration and I found it. I was looking for philosophy and resources, I found them.
Kumar did his thing and as for myself, he fulfilled his task as a man of this world. No doubt of that. Now you cannot have everything from one man can you?
I can imagine he's a better speaker than writer, but again, read your book knowing what you're looking for.
It definitely taught me how to read better, for honestly, after 200 pages, I skipped pages and was using the book as a source for research. I knew what I was looking for... There is very good content for insight in the root of the sickness of our western civilization, extending from politics to morals and ecology.
The book ends perfectly; Satish could have found no better way of ending it than stating his gratitude for his influences and mentioning them even. The 11 principles stated by Gandhi. This is high quality content.
March 3, 2024
I loved this at the start, his childhood stories are very interesting. The biggest issue I have was that I could not get over the abandonment of his first two children, who are never mentioned again in the book. I guess because I am a foster mom and deal with abandoned and abused children, I see him as no different than those parents. He changed in my mind to a narcissistic adventurer who just wants to have freedom from his own life.
When he takes advantage of his friend and refuses to move from her property was also a big red flag of his selfishness. The cherry on the top was presenting himself as a caring father by starting a school, yet never again mentions the children he abandoned.
The book goes downhill after he moves to England.
I was really looking forward to this book but the author true self left a bad taste in my mouth.
When he takes advantage of his friend and refuses to move from her property was also a big red flag of his selfishness. The cherry on the top was presenting himself as a caring father by starting a school, yet never again mentions the children he abandoned.
The book goes downhill after he moves to England.
I was really looking forward to this book but the author true self left a bad taste in my mouth.
July 9, 2020
As others have opined, this is a book of two halves for me. The first half compromising the author's early life in India and his peace walk is fascinating, but the second half drags in places (though I enjoyed his UK pilgrimage).
Also, I'm not totally in love with the travelling without money pilgrimage which satish undertakes. Doesn't spending money when travelling help local businesses, especially the small ones that he is so fond of?
Overall this is a good book and definitely worth reading, particularly up to halfway
Also, I'm not totally in love with the travelling without money pilgrimage which satish undertakes. Doesn't spending money when travelling help local businesses, especially the small ones that he is so fond of?
Overall this is a good book and definitely worth reading, particularly up to halfway
April 19, 2020
Loved it at the beginning
Then gradually fell out of love as the author seemed to progressively get mire self satisfied which it totally legitimate he’s done great things! But can seem condescending and there’s only so many books by self satisfied men that I can read that hardly mention women at all!
Then gradually fell out of love as the author seemed to progressively get mire self satisfied which it totally legitimate he’s done great things! But can seem condescending and there’s only so many books by self satisfied men that I can read that hardly mention women at all!
December 23, 2019
Life lessons, inspiration, lots of details (maybe too many?)
December 29, 2022
An extraordinary book, beautifully written, what a wonderful, inspirational read.
July 15, 2023
“Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind.”’
So the principle of sarva dharma samanatva is to let the thousand flowers bloom.
So the principle of sarva dharma samanatva is to let the thousand flowers bloom.
March 3, 2015
I stuck this book on my wishlist after hearing about the author's peace walk around the world on Radio 4 as it sounded pretty interesting and I wanted to find out more. The early part of Kumar's life was pretty interesting and I was hooked probably up until he settled in Britain. Hearing about how he was trying to learn Welsh and raise a family were less interesting. However, I think the problem is that I fundamentally disagree with Kumar's basic philosophy on life. Despite some good points about using fewer resources, his philosophy is what I would call woo. He's happy using homoeopathy and crystals and all that jazz, and that distracts from his other points.
In saying that, I'm also fundamentally in favour of our high-technology civilisation and understand that things like intensive farming are a requirement for that. Indeed, the green revolution that underpins it is what is keeping most of the world fed today. I'm happy that he's content with a simple life, milking his cow and lots of manual labour, but frankly that sort of life sounds like hell to me.
He also seems to have a very idealised view of country life and while I agree with him that closing country schools in the name of "efficiency" is a terrible idea, I disagree with his implication that it must be the only way. Centralisation has its benefits, meaning that, at its best, wider ranges of subjects and more and better teachers can be found than would be available in a small community.
On the positive side, the book is well written and mostly engaging. The writing style is the simple and careful style of someone for whom English isn't his first language, making the book very easy to read. The only exception to this is the last (real - there's another chapter after it, but since it consists of a single page, I don't think it counts) chapter, where he stops talking about his life and starts talking about the principals of his beliefs. This was quite dry, academic and somewhat pompous in tone, very unlike what had gone before.
So an interesting read by someone who has a very different outlook on life to myself but worth it for the chapters on his early life in India and the peace march.
In saying that, I'm also fundamentally in favour of our high-technology civilisation and understand that things like intensive farming are a requirement for that. Indeed, the green revolution that underpins it is what is keeping most of the world fed today. I'm happy that he's content with a simple life, milking his cow and lots of manual labour, but frankly that sort of life sounds like hell to me.
He also seems to have a very idealised view of country life and while I agree with him that closing country schools in the name of "efficiency" is a terrible idea, I disagree with his implication that it must be the only way. Centralisation has its benefits, meaning that, at its best, wider ranges of subjects and more and better teachers can be found than would be available in a small community.
On the positive side, the book is well written and mostly engaging. The writing style is the simple and careful style of someone for whom English isn't his first language, making the book very easy to read. The only exception to this is the last (real - there's another chapter after it, but since it consists of a single page, I don't think it counts) chapter, where he stops talking about his life and starts talking about the principals of his beliefs. This was quite dry, academic and somewhat pompous in tone, very unlike what had gone before.
So an interesting read by someone who has a very different outlook on life to myself but worth it for the chapters on his early life in India and the peace march.
May 25, 2009
The celebrity of Satish Kumar hinges on the great undertaking of the ''Peace Walk'', a journey on foot across Asia and Europe without pre-arranged means of support, to meet the four leaders of the nuclear armed superpowers of that time. What a story! Sadly, it was disappointing in the telling; I got the impression the author had either forgot and was too honest to embellish, or was reluctant in the first place. The two highlights we were prepared for in the blurb; the spell in French custody and the threatening by gunpoint in the US turned out to be fairly unremarkable in context. I mean, outrageous, yes, but equally expected, like racial discrimination and establishment response to civil disorder are.
Either side of this single chapter, we get a fond and often fascinating account of childhood and youth in India, and Kumar in the West which brings us up to date. This second portion takes up most of the book and is a mixed bag by way of interesting anecdotes. It really only begins to get exciting when he decides to acknowledge his half-century with a pilgrimage around Britain. Though undertaken in the same spirit and the same rules as the Peace Walk - on foot, no means of support - the telling of this is done with so much enthusiasm. We get the heart and bones of the man.
The book finishes with a detailed explanation of the tenets of Gandhi which the author follows and urges you to try the same. This is the ''life changing'' bit and had the story delivered what I had hoped, it might have succeeded. In as far as a butterfly's wings affects the course of a tornado it did ''change my life'', as all worthwhile books will. On the whole I think it is a worthwhile read.
Either side of this single chapter, we get a fond and often fascinating account of childhood and youth in India, and Kumar in the West which brings us up to date. This second portion takes up most of the book and is a mixed bag by way of interesting anecdotes. It really only begins to get exciting when he decides to acknowledge his half-century with a pilgrimage around Britain. Though undertaken in the same spirit and the same rules as the Peace Walk - on foot, no means of support - the telling of this is done with so much enthusiasm. We get the heart and bones of the man.
The book finishes with a detailed explanation of the tenets of Gandhi which the author follows and urges you to try the same. This is the ''life changing'' bit and had the story delivered what I had hoped, it might have succeeded. In as far as a butterfly's wings affects the course of a tornado it did ''change my life'', as all worthwhile books will. On the whole I think it is a worthwhile read.
December 21, 2010
A fascinating book by & about a remarkable man.
I can highly recommend the book for its content, but not for the way it's writtn: of particular irritation was the way that conversations were buried in the middle of paragraphs - at times it took a while to realise that it was a conversation & not just part of the narrative (which is written in the 1st person), & I found it very difficult to work out who said what. There were also too many cliched platitudes for my liking.
However, I'm very glad that I didn't let the style of writing deter me from finishing the book: I already knew a little bit about the author, i.e. that he'd travelled from India to Moscow to Paris to London to Washington, but I hadn't realised that he had WALKED ALL THE WAY, nor that he set off with NOT A PENNY (nor a rupee) IN HIS POCKET! The descriptions of the people & the scenery in that journey - and in his pilgrimage (again walked with no money) around the holy places of Britain - were very well written, and those in themselves made the book worth reading, as did learning more about the mand & his achievements.
I can highly recommend the book for its content, but not for the way it's writtn: of particular irritation was the way that conversations were buried in the middle of paragraphs - at times it took a while to realise that it was a conversation & not just part of the narrative (which is written in the 1st person), & I found it very difficult to work out who said what. There were also too many cliched platitudes for my liking.
However, I'm very glad that I didn't let the style of writing deter me from finishing the book: I already knew a little bit about the author, i.e. that he'd travelled from India to Moscow to Paris to London to Washington, but I hadn't realised that he had WALKED ALL THE WAY, nor that he set off with NOT A PENNY (nor a rupee) IN HIS POCKET! The descriptions of the people & the scenery in that journey - and in his pilgrimage (again walked with no money) around the holy places of Britain - were very well written, and those in themselves made the book worth reading, as did learning more about the mand & his achievements.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 5, 2008
After a very promising start, as a wandering monk, then in an ashram, and then working with the landless movement,and finally, walking from India to the US on a peace march, the book ends, and begins again. The second half is a homely account of the second half of his life, in England and about various journeys and pilgrimages here and there. Rather dull. Wish he had wrote more about walking across eastern europe and asia minor - that was very interesting stuff.
September 5, 2016
Excellent book.
Sathish Kumar is an outstanding personality, whith a contemporary life history, as unique as it can get. I got to know first time about the book several years ago, and somehow it met me again. This time it felt right, and I would consider it one of the most inspiring autobiographic reads of my life. It is just about embracing, calmnes, little and big adventures, just happening. Genuinely heartful.
Sathish Kumar is an outstanding personality, whith a contemporary life history, as unique as it can get. I got to know first time about the book several years ago, and somehow it met me again. This time it felt right, and I would consider it one of the most inspiring autobiographic reads of my life. It is just about embracing, calmnes, little and big adventures, just happening. Genuinely heartful.
April 1, 2019
A lovely walk with Satish Kumar as he recounts his life. We walk with him as he works to understand what the deep meaning of a spiritual person means to him and in what ways he interweaves social justice, education, family and teacher. A book well worth reading to understand Gandhi and Jain and Buddhist philosophy.
November 5, 2014
Exciting autobiography book - loved every single bit of it! Story of the romantic nature's lover and at the same time very practical person,throughout all his life of changes,aspiring for peace and spirituality.
October 28, 2012
Be the change you want to see and this will inspire the journey
September 19, 2014
I wish everyone would read this book, or at least something with similar sentiments. The world needs to hear this point of view more.
April 24, 2017
Great book that highlights the power of humanity and a philosophical journey. Satish Kumar accomplished so much through simplicity and perseverance.
April 25, 2017
Really liked this book, gives a good impression of peacefulness. I've seen Satish Kumar speak twice, and found him very inspirational, especially his focus on people and the environment over economy - and hat we've got them the wrong way round - economy should be a subset of society.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews