Tips from a travelling soul-searcher

by Tim Costello

Back of book:
Thousands of Australians can't hear enough from the Reverend Tim Costello. In times when rapid change, materialism and competitiveness threaten to overwhelm so much of what we used to hold dear, Tim Costello senses a common cry across Australia: what can we do?

Tim Costello believes there are some things we can do, like re-asserting the humane values necessary for genuine progress. His inspiration is his Christian tradition and the aspirations of people he encounters on his travels. He swaps stories with homeless youths and CEOs, Aboriginal elders and Hanson supporters, school children and religious leaders, graziers and drug addicts. In candidly exploring experiences of friendship, ambition, risk, public-versus-private identity, home, ritual, grace, he shares moments of confusion as well as moments of new meaning and growth.

Tim Costello offers his reflections as tips to fellow soul-searchers. His stimulating mix of personal wisdom and street-wise humour leads us to reflect on what we most truly value, not only as individuals but also as families, workmates and fellow citizens.
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334 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

Reviews

[Phil Princey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tim Costello writes like a man with dust on his boots and wonder in his eyes. His prose flows like a singing river—lyrical, unhurried, and quietly profound. Each chapter offers a fresh bend in the stream, inviting readers to pause, reflect, and consider what it means to live with purpose.

The book is structured as a series of soulful tips, each nestled within a story that entertains as much as it enlightens. Costello doesn’t preach; he meanders. He shares moments from his travels, encounters with strangers, and flashes of insight that feel both personal and universal. His reflections are rich with emotional texture—sometimes whimsical, sometimes sobering, always sincere.

One of my favourite chapters is titled Be a Citizen and Catch a Tram. It’s a deceptively simple suggestion, but in Costello’s hands, it becomes a meditation on belonging, humility, and the quiet dignity of shared public space. It’s emblematic of the book’s charm: ordinary acts reframed as spiritual practice.

This isn’t just a guidebook for soul searchers—it’s a companion for anyone who suspects that meaning hides in the margins, and that wisdom often arrives wearing scuffed shoes.

[Tim · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have known of and liked Tim Costello since the 90s. Some of the ideas here are 4 or 5 star worthy, some less convincing. I took a star off for deficiencies in the structure. But hearing how busy Tim was makes me thankful he got books written at all.

[Ernest · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tim Costello demonstrates, if he needed to, why he is appropriately an Australian Living Treasure. Containing stories to entertain and provoke thought in equal measure, Tim Costello’s self described tips to fellow soul searchers are well worth a read for anyone, not just the religious (whatever that word means).

[Karen Hunt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good. Thought-provoking. Great stories