Jan 21, 2015

Waiting on Wednesday: Wide Open World

Wide-Open World: How Volunteering Around the Globe Changed One Family's Lives Forever

Wide-Open World 

John Marshall 

PD: 02.10.15 by Random House

Summary: 

For readers of Three Cups of Tea; Eat, Pray, Love; and Wild comes the inspiring story of an ordinary American family that embarks on an extraordinary journey. Wide-Open World follows the Marshall family as they volunteer their way around the globe, living in a monkey sanctuary in Costa Rica, teaching English in rural Thailand, and caring for orphans in India. There’s a name for this kind of endeavor—voluntourism—and it might just be the future of travel.
 
Oppressive heat, grueling bus rides, backbreaking work, and one vicious spider monkey . . . Best family vacation ever!
 
John Marshall needed a change. His twenty-year marriage was falling apart, his seventeen-year-old son was about to leave home, and his fourteen-year-old daughter was lost in cyberspace. Desperate to get out of a rut and reconnect with his family, John dreamed of a trip around the world, a chance to leave behind, if only just for a while, routines and responsibilities. He didn’t have the money for resorts or luxury tours, but he did have an idea that would make traveling the globe more affordable and more meaningful than he’d ever imagined: The family would volunteer their time and energy to others in far-flung locales. 
 
Wide-Open World is the inspiring true story of the six months that changed the Marshall family forever. Once they’d made the pivotal decision to go, John and his wife, Traca, quit their jobs, pulled their kids out of school, and embarked on a journey that would take them far off the beaten path, and far out of their comfort zones.
 
Here is the totally engaging, bluntly honest chronicle of the Marshalls’ life-altering adventure from Central America to East Asia. It was no fairy tale. The trip offered little rest, even less relaxation, and virtually no certainty of what was to come. But it did give the Marshalls something far more valuable: a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to conquer personal fears, strengthen family bonds, and find their true selves by helping those in need. In the end, as John discovered, he and his family did not change the world. It was the world that changed them.

Thoughts: 

Titles are always so interesting. They give you one snippet about the synopsis of a book. One piece of the puzzle. Wide-Open World. It could be about anything. Endless possibilities. Endless opportunities to learn. Books are meant to broaden horizons. Experience is the best teacher. I hope his experiences teach me something new :)

13 comments:

  1. This looks like an interesting book to read, I guess I should add it to my to-be-read list then. Great choice by the way.
    My Waiting On Wednesday!

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  2. Love this kind of book. I spent a while obsessed with auto-biographical non-fiction, so I love these stories. Thanks for featuring in your WoW so I could discover it too :)

    Kat @ Readiculous Blog

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  3. I like this sort of book when it's well done. I am adding it to my TBR to find out. Hope we both like it!
    Thanks for coming by My WoW

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  4. This isn't my type of book, but it sounds like a good one!

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  5. This looks like the type of story which would inspire people and I like the idea of it. I don't usually read non-fiction but this might be a good break from fiction!
    My WoW
    Naomi @The Perks Of Being A Bookworm

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  6. Hmmm... I'm not sure if this is my kind of read, but I really hope you enjoy it!!

    Here's my WoW!

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  7. That's a new to me one! Not sure it's my kind of read but I do hope you absolutely love it once you read it!

    Here's my WoW

    Have a GREAT day!

    Old Follower :)

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  8. I like books that change people's world view. I hope you enjoy it! And thanks for stopping by :)

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  9. Sounds very inspirational, I hope you love it ;)

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  10. I hope you enjoy. Thanks for stopping by earlier and leaving such a lovely comment. I think this sounds good especially if as you say inspires you.

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  11. I don't usually read this type of book, but it sounds so interesting!

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  12. This isn't something I would normally read, but I hope you enjoy it! Thanks for stopping by My WoW.

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  13. This book sounds interesting! Thanks for stopping by my blog. Have a good weekend!

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