Sit Down Young Stranger, One Mans Search for Meaning

by John Graham

"What an inspirational, enlightening and captivating autobiography. I couldn't put it down." -Steve Cambridge, entrepreneur, former VP of AtriCure, Inc. Sit Down Young Stranger is an often intense, sometimes funny, always honest exploration of the most important questions for any of us-what is the path to a meaningful life? How do I find the courage and skill to walk it? This book is the story of one life-and of the challenges facing every life. John Graham shipped out on a freighter when he was sixteen, took part in the first (and only) ascent of Mt. McKinley's North Wall at twenty, and hitchhiked around the world at twenty-two, covering every war he found along the way as a stringer for the Boston Globe. A Foreign Service Officer for fifteen years, he was in the middle of the revolution in Libya and the war in Vietnam. To the young Graham, adventure was everything, and each brush with death only pushed him to up the ante-and to bury ever deeper the emotional life needed to make him whole. Then it changed, sometimes slowly, sometimes dramatically. Over the last quarter century, Graham has been actively involved in peace-building initiatives all over the world. He's helped end apartheid in South Africa, avert a major strike in Canada, save what's left of the Everglades, settle a war in the Sudan and find long-term environmental solutions in the Pacific Northwest. Today he works with international donor organizations to promote ethical, accountable and effective leadership worldwide. John Graham has been a leader in the global work of the Giraffe Heroes Project, giraffe.org, an international nonprofit organization moving people to stick their necks out for the common good. The Project's work has included everything from supporting the transformation of the Soviet Union to helping a quarter-million young people lead lives as courageous and compassionate citizens.

280 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.

See also:
John Graham*, Leadership, Memoirs
John Graham*, Children's Books
John Graham*, author Voidstalker series
John Graham, BBC audio serials
John Graham, 1776-1844
John Graham, 1813-1845
John Graham, 1822-1879
John Graham, Amazon and Kindle Help
John Graham, author Plantation Theory
John Graham, dating
John Graham, 1648–1689

Authors marked with an asterisk (*) are Goodreads authors.

Reviews

[Carolyn Bivens · Rating 5 out of 5]

If ever anyone doubted the importance of the way we choose to respond to circumstances, this book will eliminate the questions. I read an re-read this profound and well-written book filled with indisputable insight; each time there is something new which teaches and touches me.

[Darshan Dorsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliantly written bio of a tortured youth turned world adventurer. From exotic sea voyages to the Imperial Palace in Hue, John builds a bullet proof reputation within Beltway circles, reporting to the Department's of State & Defense on dicey political-military missions abroad. "No assignment too dangerous" came with costs; a surreal home life filled with apathy & disillusionment.

Graham's perspective through these exploits is a feat of living history. With a mind still razor sharp, he raises scenes only appropriately described as photo-literary. His voice is the conductor, the world his stage.

Whether you enjoy swash-buckling, epic ascents, or Tom Clancy's finest, John Graham's manifesto will have you wishing for more...

Encore!