Ripon Public Library

The longest way home, one man's quest for the courage to settle down, Andrew McCarthy

eng

autobiography

illustrations

no index present

non fiction

The longest way home

759913666

Andrew McCarthy

one man's quest for the courage to settle down

The author, a travel writer and actor, delivers a memoir about how travel helped him become the man he wanted to be, helping him overcome life-long fears and confront his resistance to commitment. From time immemorial, travel has been a pursuit of passion, from adventurers of old seeking gold or new lands, to today's spiritual and pleasure seekers who follow in the footsteps of Elizabeth Gilbert. Some see travel as a form of light-hearted escapism while others believe it has the power to open your mind, forcing you to confront your demons, and discover your true self. The author belongs to this second category of traveler. His memoir follows his excursions to Patagonia, the Amazon, Costa Rica, Baltimore, Vienna, Kilimanjaro, Dublin, and beyond. He uses his wanderlust to examine his motives and desires, and explore his ambivalence about commitment. He ponders his personal life, his acting career, and his impulse to leave home, all building toward one of the most significant moments of his life: his wedding day. His message about the transformative power of travel is universal, and his exploration of the nature and passion of relationships, both fleeting and enduring, strikes a chord with every man and woman who has ever wondered at the vicissitudes of the human heart

New York: "Wanted, eighteen, vulnerable and sensitive" -- Patagonia: "I hope you like to be alone" -- The Amazon: "A dirty trick life plays" -- The Osa: "People said to avoid this place" -- Vienna: "Leave the man some privacy" -- Baltimore: "The best thing that you could do is show up" -- Kilimanjaro: "What do you say we get the hell off this rock?" -- Dublin: "Everything you ever dreamed of?"