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Follow the Joy: A Memoir
At 27, I bought a one-way ticket to India. I had no idea what I'd do when I landed, but in the past my most rewarding experiences came when I let intuition be my guide. So, I traveled without an itinerary and found myself searching for an elusive monkey temple, teaching Tibetan monks to sing, "You Are My Sunshine," and holding the hand of a dying man at the Mother Theresa Homes for the Destitute and Dying. Throughout, I followed an inner sense of joy. I could not be sure it would lead me to the happy life I dreamt of, but it was the only choice I had.
294 pages, Paperback
First published August 16, 2013
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727 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
October 16, 2013
I interviewed the author, Jason Kurtz, for an article for Spirituality & Health magazine and, during the course of the interview, he shared two stories from his self-published memoir. I'm usually wary of self-published books. They haven't been vetted by an agent or a big house. But every once in a while, there's a gem, one that big publishers should have noticed. After the interview I could not stop thinking about what Jason had told me. His stories were powerful and moving. Could his book be such a gem? I went to amazon and read the free preview of Follow the Joy. It was gripping. How could I not buy the book? I downloaded and for about a week, I could not put the book down. I kept telling myself, "Just one more chapter.... just one more chapter..." Each chapter was full of moving tales, all with a meaningful message. The details are exquisite, so much so that I felt I was right there with him during his travels through India. Follow the Joy is a well told yarn, one with a important message about true happiness.
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October 2, 2013Follow The Joy is a book that will take you places - to an exotic world in India, but also to that deep place inside yourself where positive change happens. Jason Kurtz has done a masterful job sharing his story with readers so that it resonates and inspires.
-- John McCaffrey, Author, The Book of Ash (Boxfire Press)
-- John McCaffrey, Author, The Book of Ash (Boxfire Press)
March 2, 2014
At the beginning of his fantastic and thought-provoking new memoir "Follow the Joy", Jason Kurtz is a shy and nervous young man. Follow the life of this insightful and introspective author, and you will be amazed at his ability to grow by helping others. You will learn from a poet-impressing, Tibetan-monk-teaching young American who travels to India pursing his own path.
Imagine traveling to Costa Rica without concrete plans. Imagine getting invited to an gathering of esteemed Costa Rican writers. Imagine wowing Laureano Alban, the famous poet. You would think that the author's youth and lack of self confidence would make that sort of story unlikely. Already deeply introspective, Jason impresses the Costa Rican poet. Early on the reader is treated to many pearls of wisdom that Jason never dares utter. As his wisdom and confidence develop, you will be compelled to continue reading to see until both Kurtz and the reader realize how much he has to offer by speaking his mind.
As I followed along on this journey with Kurtz, it was his stay in a Buddhist monastery which struck me passionately. His ability to improvise and teach language so successfully appealed to me intellectually. The fact that he was able to bring happiness to these men from the other side of the world would connect with anyone emotionally, and keep them reading for more.
If you gain self-confidence, you can use your inner strength to help others. Kurtz shows us this with the moving climax set in a Catholic mission for the sick and dying. He confronts his own worries about not being a Catholic, and about facing death and disease. With these tests passed, true joy is found by fully giving himself to helping others. It's a powerful lesson and an example we can all learn from.
Jason Kurtz went on a spiritual quest and ended up discovering his own abilities and his own calling. In an era when many of us struggle with life’s hardest questions, "Follow The Joy" can serve as a beacon of hope and happiness. If you have ever wanted to find more contentment in your life, this is the book for you!
Imagine traveling to Costa Rica without concrete plans. Imagine getting invited to an gathering of esteemed Costa Rican writers. Imagine wowing Laureano Alban, the famous poet. You would think that the author's youth and lack of self confidence would make that sort of story unlikely. Already deeply introspective, Jason impresses the Costa Rican poet. Early on the reader is treated to many pearls of wisdom that Jason never dares utter. As his wisdom and confidence develop, you will be compelled to continue reading to see until both Kurtz and the reader realize how much he has to offer by speaking his mind.
As I followed along on this journey with Kurtz, it was his stay in a Buddhist monastery which struck me passionately. His ability to improvise and teach language so successfully appealed to me intellectually. The fact that he was able to bring happiness to these men from the other side of the world would connect with anyone emotionally, and keep them reading for more.
If you gain self-confidence, you can use your inner strength to help others. Kurtz shows us this with the moving climax set in a Catholic mission for the sick and dying. He confronts his own worries about not being a Catholic, and about facing death and disease. With these tests passed, true joy is found by fully giving himself to helping others. It's a powerful lesson and an example we can all learn from.
Jason Kurtz went on a spiritual quest and ended up discovering his own abilities and his own calling. In an era when many of us struggle with life’s hardest questions, "Follow The Joy" can serve as a beacon of hope and happiness. If you have ever wanted to find more contentment in your life, this is the book for you!
July 23, 2014
I could feel India. That’s how vibrant the writing was for me. The smells, the sights, and the people all were in front of me. The writer is suffering from wanderlust with a desire to find himself. This leads him to India. The characters he meets along the way are like any people you would meet in any part of the world. Everyone has the same needs: to learn and to tell their story. I enjoyed this book as I learned so much about India. I think anyone reading this book will come away with a deep sense of gratitude for life.
May 20, 2016
I won this in a Goodreads giveaway. My opinion is just that...mine...and completely unbiased.
Enlightening, humbling and masterfully written. From the over-crowded trains/buses, and the language barriers, to helping the devastatingly ill in hospices, I felt like I was experiencing the culture first-hand. You'll count your blessings and be more careful about what you take for granted after reading this!
Enlightening, humbling and masterfully written. From the over-crowded trains/buses, and the language barriers, to helping the devastatingly ill in hospices, I felt like I was experiencing the culture first-hand. You'll count your blessings and be more careful about what you take for granted after reading this!
August 10, 2014
At age 27, the author bought a one-way ticket to India determined to let intuition be his guide. If that sounds like the introduction to a travelogue, you’d be right. But this book is indeed memoir, because the story is less about Jason’s travels than it is about a spiritual journey he undertakes as he strives to find meaning in his life.
I don’t read many memoirs. Perhaps I should, because I certainly enjoyed this one.
I selected the story because I’ve always found Eastern religions—in this instance, Buddhism and Hinduism—fascinating. They seem to embody the concept of selfless love and a search for oneness with the infinite but without the social, structural (and financial) trappings I associate with Christian religions.
Jason’s trip started in a most inauspicious manner, and rapidly went downhill from there. From the minute he landed, he was harassed by beggars and hustled each time he attempted a financial transaction with the locals. His failure to plan for or even anticipate what he was undertaking exposed him to a raw edge of Indian society far removed from glossy tourist posters featuring the Taj Mahal, or idealized Bollywood movie scenes.
Throughout, I admired his ability to look again, to challenge his initial impression of each place, or each person he met. This patience often enabled him to penetrate the superficial layers and gain a better understanding of why a person behaved as they did, or why a cultural structure existed.
Jason started his journey in the hopeful belief that in India he would find a purpose in his life. He was driven by a need to address certain character weaknesses that he believed were holding him back from achieving happiness.
Did he succeed?
Yes and no. Of course, everyone has their own route to happiness, but through Jason’s experiences, I came away with a better understanding of what is really involved in a search for inner-peace. His route would not be mine, but I’m glad he shared his journey with me.
Disclaimer: This review was originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. I may have received a free review copy.
I don’t read many memoirs. Perhaps I should, because I certainly enjoyed this one.
I selected the story because I’ve always found Eastern religions—in this instance, Buddhism and Hinduism—fascinating. They seem to embody the concept of selfless love and a search for oneness with the infinite but without the social, structural (and financial) trappings I associate with Christian religions.
Jason’s trip started in a most inauspicious manner, and rapidly went downhill from there. From the minute he landed, he was harassed by beggars and hustled each time he attempted a financial transaction with the locals. His failure to plan for or even anticipate what he was undertaking exposed him to a raw edge of Indian society far removed from glossy tourist posters featuring the Taj Mahal, or idealized Bollywood movie scenes.
Throughout, I admired his ability to look again, to challenge his initial impression of each place, or each person he met. This patience often enabled him to penetrate the superficial layers and gain a better understanding of why a person behaved as they did, or why a cultural structure existed.
Jason started his journey in the hopeful belief that in India he would find a purpose in his life. He was driven by a need to address certain character weaknesses that he believed were holding him back from achieving happiness.
Did he succeed?
Yes and no. Of course, everyone has their own route to happiness, but through Jason’s experiences, I came away with a better understanding of what is really involved in a search for inner-peace. His route would not be mine, but I’m glad he shared his journey with me.
Disclaimer: This review was originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. I may have received a free review copy.
August 21, 2021
Awesome Indies Book Awards is pleased to include FOLLOW THE JOY: A MEMOIR by JASON S KURTZ in the library of Awesome Indies'
Badge of Approval
recipients.
Original Awesome Indies' Assessment (5 stars):
‘Follow The Joy’ is a true story of what happened when, at 27, Jason Kurtz bought a one-way ticket to India and let intuition be his guide. He studied meditation, taught English to Tibetan monks, and volunteered at the Mother Theresa Homes for the Destitute and Dying. He learnt to live day to day, be open to unexpected possibilities and ultimately to follow his joy.
The thing that is immediately and wonderfully apparent in this memoir is that the author knows how to write well. This book is a real pleasure to read. The author skilfully teases out the theme of how to live a compassionate life and imbues it with the kind of tension we expect in a novel. We share Jason’s hopes and fears, and his struggles with the reality of life for a foreigner in India and with his own insecurities. India comes alive on the pages of this book, and the story itself reflects the extremes of spiritual peace and bustling activity of India itself. This ultimately spiritual journey builds to the point where Jason finds himself holding the hand of a dying man in one of the Mother Theresa Homes. The whole section of Jason’s experiences in the Homes is highly moving.
I could talk about how well-drawn Jason is, and how alive are the other characters; I could talk about how good the prose it, how well described the settings, and how well-constructed the story is, or I can simply say that I cannot fault this book. It is, quite simply, an excellent example of a memoir.
I received this book free of charge from the author in return for an honest review.
Original Awesome Indies' Assessment (5 stars):
‘Follow The Joy’ is a true story of what happened when, at 27, Jason Kurtz bought a one-way ticket to India and let intuition be his guide. He studied meditation, taught English to Tibetan monks, and volunteered at the Mother Theresa Homes for the Destitute and Dying. He learnt to live day to day, be open to unexpected possibilities and ultimately to follow his joy.
The thing that is immediately and wonderfully apparent in this memoir is that the author knows how to write well. This book is a real pleasure to read. The author skilfully teases out the theme of how to live a compassionate life and imbues it with the kind of tension we expect in a novel. We share Jason’s hopes and fears, and his struggles with the reality of life for a foreigner in India and with his own insecurities. India comes alive on the pages of this book, and the story itself reflects the extremes of spiritual peace and bustling activity of India itself. This ultimately spiritual journey builds to the point where Jason finds himself holding the hand of a dying man in one of the Mother Theresa Homes. The whole section of Jason’s experiences in the Homes is highly moving.
I could talk about how well-drawn Jason is, and how alive are the other characters; I could talk about how good the prose it, how well described the settings, and how well-constructed the story is, or I can simply say that I cannot fault this book. It is, quite simply, an excellent example of a memoir.
I received this book free of charge from the author in return for an honest review.
August 20, 2022
The ever-present begging run by criminal organizations seems a salient part of a dirty, uncomfortable society that would send me screaming back home. The author soldiers on despite being taken advantage of, including basically being kidnapped, and visits a meditation center/retreat, temples, and volunteers at some of the Missionaries of Charity (Mother Teresa's organization). Kurtz admits to having much of the thin skin and lack of graciousness I would have to confess to as he stumbles around seeking direction and purpose.
February 18, 2015
Follow the Joy is not your usual travel memoir. It starts with young Jason, unsure of himself and what he wants to do with his life, travelling in search of ‘something’.
The story smoothly develops as Jason begins his travels. The reasons for his travel choices may have been uncertain initially, but as he moves from one place or experience to the next he is conscious that he is following the joy.
His story becomes increasingly more engrossing as he continues to seek fulfilment and happiness. He realises that each time he “follows the call of his inner voice” he “felt that inexplicable feeling of joy” telling him he actually wanted to go.
Kurtz’s writing skills draw the reader further and further into his story as we move from one deeply moving experience to the next even more poignant.
Whether he is writing about the quiet monastery and temples; the hustle and bustle of busy streets with merchants and beggars; the unexpected happiness and caring within an aged care facility and a leper colony or the sadness of the street urchins and the dying; the sights, sounds, smells and emotions become real and alive.
Apart from the story line itself, I also found the information about Hinduism and Buddhism extremely interesting.
This review is also on my website with my other book reviews www.pam.id.au.
The story smoothly develops as Jason begins his travels. The reasons for his travel choices may have been uncertain initially, but as he moves from one place or experience to the next he is conscious that he is following the joy.
His story becomes increasingly more engrossing as he continues to seek fulfilment and happiness. He realises that each time he “follows the call of his inner voice” he “felt that inexplicable feeling of joy” telling him he actually wanted to go.
Kurtz’s writing skills draw the reader further and further into his story as we move from one deeply moving experience to the next even more poignant.
Whether he is writing about the quiet monastery and temples; the hustle and bustle of busy streets with merchants and beggars; the unexpected happiness and caring within an aged care facility and a leper colony or the sadness of the street urchins and the dying; the sights, sounds, smells and emotions become real and alive.
Apart from the story line itself, I also found the information about Hinduism and Buddhism extremely interesting.
This review is also on my website with my other book reviews www.pam.id.au.
March 30, 2014
Unhappy with his job and life in the States, Jason makes the decision to buy a one-way ticket to India in hopes to find himself and find spirituality.
Read the rest of my review here!
Read the rest of my review here!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews