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

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

Readers' Choice Book Awards Bronze Winner, Adult Nonfiction Some journeys we choose. Others choose us. In the aftermath of tragedy, Barry Hoffner wanted to feel the pulse of the world again. The whole world. When Barry Hoffner lost his wife and travel partner, Jackie, in a sudden tragedy, his grief was a black hole that consumed everything. But amid the quiet wreckage of loss, something unexpected stirred: the call to move, to reconnect, and to live fully again. What began as a reluctant return to the road became an audacious mission to visit all 193 countries on Earth-not to escape his pain but to transform it. Along the way, Barry discovered a world with far more depth and complexity than headlines suggest-one full of unexpected joy, even amid hardship and struggle. From war zones to mountaintops, refugee camps to ancient ruins, he found people whose kindness and openness brought him back to life. Belonging to the World is a deeply felt memoir of healing from grief, finding resilience, and forging human connection across the globe. "One of those rare memoirs that manages to balance emotional honesty with sweeping adventure. On the surface, it's the story of a man's quest to visit all 193 countries after the tragic death of his wife. But at its core, it's a deeply human exploration of what it means to heal, to reconnect, and to find belonging not just in places, but in people. Fans of travel writers like Paul Theroux or memoirists like Cheryl Strayed ( Wild ) will appreciate Hoffner's mix of introspection and exploration." -San Francisco Book Review (5 out of 5) "A deeply moving memoir that explores grief, healing, and the transformative power of travel." -Readers' Choice Book Awards (5 stars) "Poignant, moving, and filled with striking details about the globe's out-of-the-way places, Belonging to the World is an uplifting celebration of life and travel." - IndieReader (4.8/5 stars) "Few travelogues offer this level of vulnerability and honesty with such expansive geographic and emotional range, Belonging to the World is uniquely compelling and hard to put down." -SPR Review ( ★★★★1/2) "Hoffner lays bare the underlying, and often overlooked, ties that bind us to each other, regardless of our origins, and transforms seemingly dead-ends into brilliant moments of meaning and purpose." -BookLife Reviews (A) "A whirlwind memoir of grief, discovery, and extreme travel, Belonging to the World captures renewed purpose through beauty, kindness, and adventure while visiting some of the most remote countries on earth." -Foreword Clarion Reviews (4 out of 5) "The memoir hones a crisp, clear set of observations and wide-ranging contrasts that are rare even in the world of adventure travel literature, placing Belonging to the World in a class of its own. Delightful in its travelogue, pointed in its psychological and philosophical observations, and totally immersive in its approach, Belonging to the World is a treasure highly recommended for libraries, individuals, and book clubs alike." -Midwest Book Review " Belonging to the World is much more than the story of the tragic loss of a spouse or stepping foot in every country. It is the joy of connecting to the familiar as well as the gratification of learning cultures and fellowship with our broader sense of humanity. This book is an inspiration, a map that leads the reader toward positive affirmation of change." -Julia Roberts "This moment in time is our most precious resource. . . . I'm reminded of that this morning by Barry Hoffner, who writes . . . about how, after losing his wife, he decided to spend his time traveling-discovering and rediscovering places-and sharing what he learned along the way. That's how he chose to spend his time, and I'm so glad he took the time to share his learnings with us." -Maria Shriver, in her introduction to Hoffner's article in the "I've Been Thinking" column of The Sunday Paper "Barry reminds us of the beauty of human connection and the power of using grief to reimagine instead of to detach." - Luke Russert, author of New York Times bestseller Look for Me There Barry Hoffner is the founder of Caravan to Class, a foundation that brings access to education for youth in West Africa. The foundation's anchor program, Bourse Jackie scholarships for young women, is named in honor of his late wife. After earning his MBA from Columbia University, Hoffner worked in investment banking across the globe. A midcareer sabbatical transformed him, as he fell in love, traveled the world, and started a family. After losing his wife in 2017, Barry devoted himself to a new chapter-traveling to every country in the world. He lives in Sausalito, California, and is the proud father of two adult sons, Benjamin and Daniel.