The author's message is practical, effective, and remarkably profound. Using his hike of the Pacific Crest Trail as the backbone for both his learning and the structure of the book, he describes his intellectual journey and lays out a blueprint for any reader hoping to: Speak knowledgeably on any number of topics, develop relationships quickly with strangers, grow acquaintanceships into strong friendships, have an appreciation for cultures and perspectives outside of their own, grow in empathy and gratitude... among a multitude of other gems of wisdom. Eric weaves in childhood anecdotes, excellently selected quotes from the 70+ books he read on his journey from Mexico to Canada, and has a knack for identifying the turning points in the development of his learning theories. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and it has lead me to reevaluate a number of things about how I use my time, and the things that I wish to accomplish. I am grateful for having read it, and highly recommend it to anyone seeking to live with a greater sense of intention, and connection to the world around them.

Here is an uninhibited musing for all lovers of learning and those who desire to change their experiences in order to maximize self-growth. Equal parts pop psych and personal memoir, it is neither preachy nor authoritative; Travis presents intuitive educational tools at a level at which anyone can reach them. These are not doctrinaire findings of a distant expert but practical, intimate tips from a journeyer like you who is simply seeking meaning in life. At its heart, Wander Purposefully is a reflection on what it is like to be daily synthesizing the ever-variable information in the world around us. By seeing the author do just that throughout - to increasing degrees of critical thinking and introspection - we gain a bit of confidence in our own efforts to do the same. You'll find yourself rethinking the aphorism 'learn something new every day.' You'll find yourself counting your interests and idiosyncrasies, and also your blessings.