The Voluntourist bookcover

The Voluntourist

A Six-Country Tale of Love, Loss, Fatherhood, Fate, and Singing Bon Jovi in Bethlehem

Ken Budd 

(Author)
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Description

Ken Budd’s The Voluntourist is a remarkable memoir about losing your father, accepting your fate, and finding your destiny by volunteering around the world for numerous worthy causes: Hurricane Katrina disaster relief in New Orleans, helping special needs children in China, studying climate change in Ecuador, lending a hand—and a heart—at a Palestinian refugee camp in the Middle East, to name but a few. Ken's emotional journey is as inspiring and affecting as those chronicled in Little Princes and Three Cups of Tea. At once a true story of powerful family bonds, of sacrifice, of self-discovery, The Voluntourist is an all-too-human, real-life hero whom you will not soon forget.

Product Details

PublisherWilliam Morrow Paperbacks
Publish DateMay 08, 2012
Pages464
LanguageEnglish
TypeBook iconPaperback / softback
EAN/UPC9780061946462
Dimensions8.0 X 5.3 X 0.7 inches | 13.4 pounds

About the Author

Ken Budd has written for The Atlantic, The New York Times, The Washington Post Magazine, National Geographic Traveler, Travel + Leisure, Smithsonian, and many more. His work appears in the 2020 edition of The Best American Travel Writing. Ken lives in Burke, Virginia, near Washington, D.C.

Reviews

“One of the best-written travel memoirs...this book spins a compelling yarn, linking six varied experiences into a cohesive narrative. Recommended for anyone who has been, or is interested in becoming, a ‘voluntourist.’ ” — Library Journal

“Readers of this unique travel memoir will undoubtedly be inspired to take a voluntour of their own, and the author includes helpful tips on how to do just that.” — Booklist

“A solid introduction to the world of volunteer tourism and a pleasant diversion for those who don’t mind a wandering road.” — Kirkus Reviews

“In his sincere and subtly written memoir, Budd gracefully--and often humorously--records how he changes ‘emotionally, physically, spiritually’ as he travels to work with ‘people with real problems and different perspectives.’” — Publishers Weekly

“Heart-warming...tempered with exactly the right amount of acerbic wit...Unless you’re comfortable laughing loudly in publis, you don’t want to read this on your daily commute.” — Vertge Magazine

“For those of you who haven’t read Ken’s book yet, get your copy NOW! It’s really that good.” — Jae-Ha Kim, syndicated travel columnist, Chicago Tribune

“Funny, touching, insightful and compelling.” — The U.S. Center for Citizen Diplomacy

“Lively...Entertaining...The author’s intelligence and autobiographical honesty engage the reader...Budd is a skilled writer with a good ear for dialogue.” — PerceptiveTravel.com

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