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Pushups in the Prayer Room

by Norm Schriever (Goodreads Author)

4.18 of 5 stars 4.18 · rating details · 45 ratings · 17 reviews

Available at www.NormSchriever.com In the spring of 1999, Norm Schriever leaves his old life behind and backpacks around the world for a year, not returning to the US until the spring of 2000. Throughout his journeys he touches down in more than 20 countries in 6 continents, spanning 70,000 miles total, or the equivalent of almost three times around the equator.

There is n...more

Paperback, 230 pages

Published March 1st 2012 by Authority Publishing (first published February 22nd 2012)

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Dec 14, 2012 Sadie Forsythe rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I don't usually read travel journals and normally if I was going to pick one up it would probably be one by a woman so that I had more in common with the author. For example, any way you look at it, the dangers of picking up women in San Juan isn't relevant to me. Much of what Schriever does in his year long journey would be inaccessible (or at least highly inadvisable) for women. But I'm glad to have read this one and I'll tell you why. The man can write. The book is easy to read and quite funn...more I don't usually read travel journals and normally if I was going to pick one up it would probably be one by a woman so that I had more in common with the author. For example, any way you look at it, the dangers of picking up women in San Juan isn't relevant to me. Much of what Schriever does in his year long journey would be inaccessible (or at least highly inadvisable) for women. But I'm glad to have read this one and I'll tell you why. The man can write. The book is easy to read and quite funny. It also addressed some vague and hard to conceptualise subjects, like the effects of the media on fear. You can't really quantify it and it can be hard to explain. Schriever's first person account easily highlighted it.

I also love the title. It has panache. It has wit and hints at a meaningful intersection of otherwise incompatible cultures. I think Schriever tried very hard to address ethnocentrisms and cultural discrepancies he encounters on his journey. Sometimes he was more successful than others, but I absolutely appreciate that he made the effort. It is so much more than some would do. I was disappointed that he felt the need to explain the title though. It took a lot of the mystery out of it and made me wonder if I wasn't expected to be smart enough to 'get it.' The incident leading to the name could have still been relayed without making the point so disappointingly blatant. I know that might not be fair. It's probably not fair, but that's how I feel. A person can't always be responsible for how they feel about something, but I can sure be accountable for it and that is how I feel.

Other than being far more relevant to men than women, my only real criticism is that I didn't see much of the spiritual growth that was referred to. He essentially got drunk, high and laid in over 40 countries. I'll admit he definitely seemed to grow as a person, possibly even discovered adulthood in his travels. While that is an important transition and worthy of a book in and of itself, it didn't strike me as particular spiritual. Now, this may be a subjective argument, but there it is. If you are looking for an interesting account of someone's travels around the world this one is worth reading.
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Jul 02, 2012 Lisa rated it 5 of 5 stars

Stimulating! Norm Schriever , is an incredible writer, who lights up every one of your emotions as he carries you along on his journey. He captivates your attention with his charm, strength and courage. Intrigues your mind, with his thoughts, feelings, adventurous nature and love for life (all kinds). Invades your soul with his humor and moments of despair, and steals your heart each time he meets yet another person just trying to make it one more day. Pushups in the Prayer Room is beautifully w...more

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May 03, 2012 Jasmine rated it 5 of 5 stars

A book that transports your soul to destinations unknown and adventures at every turn. Author Norm Schriever embarks on a quest to find purpose and truth in human existence amoungst a populace of over 7 billion with scarce posessions and a mind begging for life expereinces. Exotic lands, breathless scenery, trials and tribulations, laughter and the reminder that every second of every day is a chance to make your life memorable. Giving up the social regulations of settling down and riding it out,...more

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Apr 08, 2012 Joellen rated it 5 of 5 stars

I am in the middle of reading Pushups in the Prayer Room. It is a wonderful, educational, funny book that anyone that is traveling in third world countries should read. My son is in Thailand and I bought him an ebook copy of this book! My son loved it and read it in about 36 hours. I saw that he was on Skype in the middle of his night and asked him why he was up. He said he was reading Pushups in the Prayer Room and could not put it down. He was reading a lot of it aloud to his roommate because...more

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Sep 20, 2012 Adrienna rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: author-request-read, ebook

The author asked to be on the Adrienna Turner show a couple months ago and allowed me to get a copy from Smashwords to read/review.

Two men with backpacks travel the world, and were able to get a world ticket for a couple thousand dollars; unbelievable. The book reads as a journal or diary of the accounts on their travels. Usually, I am not a fan of these type of books but some of the life accounts shared is a "wake-up call" to what is going on in the third-world countries.

Prostitution is widely...more

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Jan 29, 2013 Christine rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: first-reads

First and foremost, WOW! This certainly was an incredible journey. I found myself laughing most of the way through this story. There were times I was also shocked and thought to myself, what a sheltered life I've lived. Of course there were points where tears came to my eyes as I realized what a truly remarkable experience Norm had and how much he had absorbed, and also given, through his life changing journey.

I would certainly recommend this read to anyone who is looking for some truthful exper...more First and foremost, WOW! This certainly was an incredible journey. I found myself laughing most of the way through this story. There were times I was also shocked and thought to myself, what a sheltered life I've lived. Of course there were points where tears came to my eyes as I realized what a truly remarkable experience Norm had and how much he had absorbed, and also given, through his life changing journey.

I would certainly recommend this read to anyone who is looking for some truthful experiences, and even those who could use some soul searching encouragement.

My take on the book-

This begins as many would imagine, a young man wanting to travel the world and enjoy himself in every new destination. As though he were leaving for a year long "vacation".

While his trip did begin this way, it soon transformed into a shocking experience. Not only did Norm, and his travel companion (for most of the journey) Shane, get to be a tourist in each of these destinations they visited but they began to immerse themselves in thier local ways. Meeting hundreds of new pals and learning an incredible amount of history and culture along the way.

Most of the heartfelt experiences came later in his year of travel, after he and Shane had parted ways on thier journeys because they were looking for different things. While I don't know what Shane went on to discover, Norm had discovered himself through his excursions and the many people he encountered along the way. I can't say that he changed the lives of anyone he met, however, he certainly made in impact, even if only for a brief time, by befriending several of those he came in contact with. He was always willing to lend a hand. Even while getting the odd looks and quizzical expressions by the other locals, sometimes even the person he was assisting. As he ended his journey, he visited his land of heritage. Thus bringing his journey to a wonderful completion where he was able to spend time with some of his own family and learning more of his personal culture before heading back to the U.S. to become "normal" again.

In the next ten years, Norm realizes that his journey is not actually complete. While he had made a good living for himself and at this point owns a home and a couple vehicles and has many material possessions, this is not what he wants. To be "normal". As he remembers a particular person he met along the way, he decided that he wanted to have a much simpler life and that he needed to be the "voice" for this person and many others who could not share thier own stories. Norm decides to sell/donate ALL of his possessions. He leaves the states once more to settle in Costa Rica and now has only a few clothes, a surfboard, and a laptop to his name. Now deciding that he needs to tell his story, more like the story of all those he encountered, he begins writing.

His creation being a beautiful compilation of his experiences. In my opinion, an honest and enlightening masterpiece.

Thank you Norm for this wonderful journey that you have shared with us all!(less)

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Jun 22, 2012 John Otto rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads

I got this book for free after a Good Reads give-away program (although I didn't win, the author contacted me later and offered me a free book if I would promise to review it.) So, never look a gift horse in the mouth is what I've learned from my father. I've read the book and now I have to keep my end of the bargain.

It would not be good form to trash a free book. So, I will be as kind as I can. Norm Schreiver seems like a fun guy to have a beer or two with. I would stop at two because, accordin...more I got this book for free after a Good Reads give-away program (although I didn't win, the author contacted me later and offered me a free book if I would promise to review it.) So, never look a gift horse in the mouth is what I've learned from my father. I've read the book and now I have to keep my end of the bargain.

It would not be good form to trash a free book. So, I will be as kind as I can. Norm Schreiver seems like a fun guy to have a beer or two with. I would stop at two because, according to the book, he can get pretty wasted after more. He has some stories that he could tell about the year he took traveling to various parts of the world. Most of the trip is with a friend and for most of the trip, Schriever and his friend stay in one sleazy hotel after another, get wasted in one sleazy bar after another, try to find a basketball court to shoot some hoops and try to pick up women. Those are the kinds of stories that really go over a little better in a bar than in a book. In a bar, you can kind of tune in and out of the conversation, depending on how loud the music is and what's on the television monitors. As a book, you're pretty much stuck with reading every word, and in this one, an editor would probably have eliminated some of the words. (Depending on the toughness of the editor, maybe some of the chapters.)

The book is not all about partying though. About three-fourths of the way through, Schreiber has an epiphany of sorts when he sees on a train platform a boy in raggedy clothes, whom he assumes is an orphan, eating out of trash containers. The boy touches him to the point that he gives him all of his cash (the $31 he has on him) and some clothes. He also decides that there is a higher purpose to life, mainly saving the world with his writing. So, he finishes the trip, goes back to California, goes into business of some sort involving real estate and law (I would not be at all surprised if he is a lawyer, as they seem to be particularly susceptible to the need to express themselves in writing) makes a lot of money, and then, 10 years later moves to Costa Rica where he writes this book. He has now apparently moved on to Nicaragua where he is working on a sequel.

The book is not a religious book despite the title. According to the preface, the title comes from a time when Schriever was in Thailand and was in a hotel room so small he couldn't do his daily pushups so he went to some kind of meditation/prayer room down the hall and did them. It's a catchy title, and I would have liked to see a little more exposition about the incident, but it is not included in the chapter on Schriever's stay in Thailand, which is a bit odd, I thought.

The book shows the blessing and perils of self-publishing. The world would never have seen the book if the author had been forced to find a traditional publisher. You can count that as a blessing or a curse, depending on your personal inclinations. I'm going to give this book two stars because I got it for free and I pledged not to trash it. I don't think I underpaid for it.(less)

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Feb 19, 2013 Katyak79 rated it 5 of 5 stars

Pushups in the Prayer Room sucked me in right from the intro. I've thought it so many times...what would it be like to be able to just drop everything and travel for some time? The author was able to do just that, and this book is peiced together from the journals that he kept during his travels abroad. The stories are told in a very conversational, casual tone but the author sure does know how to tell a story. He is often very funny, and just as often provides great insights into what it was re...more

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Jun 29, 2012 Nealie rated it 5 of 5 stars

I found myself not wanting to put the book down at times just to find out where Norm's next adventure led him. I laughed out loud at times and was sad at times. I really felt like I was traveling with him instead of reading about his journey many years later. Norm's writing style is witty and authentic. I love that he says some things that we all think, but would never say out loud. It is a must read. I bet you will feel just a little different (in a good way) after reading "Pushups in the Praye...more

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Apr 03, 2012 Mary Louise Picerno-Kmeto rated it 5 of 5 stars

I had so much fun reading Pushups in the Prayer Room! It was just what the doctor ordered. The perfect tonic to cynical, hyper-modern times, this book is funny, inspiring, and full of surprises... Living vicariously through Norm's world travels is such a fun adventure that you will feel like you quit your job, sold your stuff, and bought yourself a round-the-world-ticket! Pushups in the Prayer room is a must-read for anyone planning to travel or "backpack" extensively!

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Mar 24, 2012 Lisa Depino rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book was incredible - the author took me on such a wild and crazy ride for the whole year he was travelling like I was in his back pocket. The writing is sizzling with energy, fast paced, and sexy, but authentic and raw at the same time. When it was over I was drained, like I had gone on this dangerous, exhausting, enlightening adventure myself. I highly recommend reading this book and I can't wait for the next one to come out!

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Jul 02, 2012 Jodi rated it 5 of 5 stars

Wow~ What a ride! Follow along on one man's journey through self discovery. Each amazing adventure each propelling him through self discovery and a deep understanding of his life's purpose. Witty, warm and wild this book will have you laughing and crying as you "see" the world through the eyes of someone destined to make a difference in not only his own life but the lives of others as well. Honest and raw. A must read!

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Jan 19, 2013 Morgan Matz rated it 3 of 5 stars

Lots of books like this end up being mostly about the author trying to sleep with exotic women, and there's a little of that in here, but I felt like Schriever genuinely had his mind open while he was traveling, and let his experiences change his outlook and help him grow into a better person. Lots of honest talk about the nature of beauty (and the beauty of nature) and what human life is like all over the Earth.

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Jun 30, 2012 Marissa Estes rated it 5 of 5 stars

It's not very often you come across an author that makes you feel as though you are right there in the midst of his story. The book is not only well written, but full of entertaining and heartwarming adventures. His experiences and genuine compassion for humanity will leave you wanting to be more appreciative of the life you have and have more compassion for others. I can't wait for his next book!

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Nov 25, 2012 Stefanie rated it 3 of 5 stars

This book could definitely benefit from a more careful edit, and I wasn't a fan of the many references to "hot chicks" and the like throughout the book, but I did appreciate the insights into his travels and certainly learned new things about unfamiliar places - namely where I'd still like to go, as well as where I might now avoid.

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Jun 29, 2012 Greg Williams rated it 5 of 5 stars

Read this book! Adventure of a lifetime & anyone who can't do it themselves can live it through the author. I'm not a huge reader but this book had me hooked from start to finish. You will not be dissapointed.

I have encouraged others & have found everyone agrees. Great read!

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Apr 17, 2013 Kristin Shafel Omiccioli rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: own-need-to-read

Read my review of Norm Schriever's Pushups in the Prayer Room at mylittleheartmelodies.com.

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Jan 15, 2013 Daytripper rated it 1 of 5 stars

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About Norm Schriever

Norm Schriever is a Amazon best-selling author, humorist, cultural mad scientist, and enemy of the comfort zone.

He grew up in Connecticut and graduated from the University of Connecticut, where he was never accused of over-studying, and went on to live in North Carolina, Colorado and most recently in Northern California.

Dissatisfied with a conventional existence, Norm sold or donated all of his p...more

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