In this absorbing narrative of personal evolution, Robert V. Hardy begins by sharing his small town experiences growing up in postwar Oregon. The author lays bare the thoughts and feelings of a young boy setting out on his long journey into manhood. Significant events lead him to forge a singular path through life, experiencing an extraordinary series of trials. The integral pieces of this mosaic ultimately come together, pointing the way for his later investigation of the world at large. This volume could easily be perceived as a truth-seeker's handbook. In it Hardy effectively captures...

In Circular Passage, Robert V. Hardy shares both the tender parts of adventure and the near misses of tragedy in this endearing, funny, and truly awe inspiring memoir of his travels. Twenty-four and filled with wanderlust and naivete, Hardy goes the extra mile in defining survival, resilience-and luck. His is the story of two expeditions, one the inner voyage of the soul, the other the globe-trotting journey from his native Oregon through Europe, the Middle East, and across Asia to way Down Under. He stakes a claim on life, forging a wide path that few would choose. He is a man obsessed with...