Belonging to the World
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Product Details
Publisher: GFB
Release Date: March 3, 2026
Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, Ebook, Audiobook
ISBN: HC: 978-1-967510-45-0; PB: 978-1-964721-41-5; EB: 978-1-967510-21-4; AUD: 978-1-967510-59-7
Trim: 6 x 9
Page Count: 344
A Journey from Grief to Connection in Every Country on Earth
Barry Hoffner
Some journeys we choose. Others choose us.
In the aftermath of tragedy, Barry Hoffner wanted to feel the pulse of the world again. The whole world.
When Barry Hoffner lost his wife and travel partner, Jackie, in a sudden tragedy, his grief was a black hole that consumed everything. But amid the quiet wreckage of loss, something unexpected stirred: the call to move, to reconnect, and to live fully again.
What began as a reluctant return to the road became an audacious mission to visit all 193 countries on Earth—not to escape his pain but to transform it. Along the way, Barry discovered a world with far more depth and complexity than headlines suggest—one full of unexpected joy, even amid hardship and struggle. From war zones to mountaintops, refugee camps to ancient ruins, he found people whose kindness and openness brought him back to life.
Belonging to the World is a deeply felt memoir of healing from grief, finding resilience, and forging human connection across the globe.
About the Author
Barry Hoffner is the founder and executive director of Caravan to Class, a foundation that brings access to education for youth in West Africa. The foundation’s anchor program, Bourse Jackie scholarships for young women, is named in honor of his late wife. Hoffner lives in Sausalito, California, and is the proud father of two adult sons, Benjamin and Daniel.
Reviews
“A memoir of loss that becomes a chronicle of awe.” —Literary Titan (4)
“Few travelogues offer this level of vulnerability and honesty with such expansive geographic and emotional range, Belonging to the World is uniquely compelling and hard to put down.” —SPR Review (★★★★½)
“Poignant, moving, and filled with striking details about the globe’s out-of-the-way places, Belonging to the World is an uplifting celebration of life and travel.” —IndieReader (4.8/5 stars)
“Hoffner lays bare the underlying, and often overlooked, ties that bind us to each other, regardless of our origins, and transforms seemingly dead-ends into brilliant moments of meaning and purpose.” —BookLife Reviews (A)
“A whirlwind memoir of grief, discovery, and extreme travel, Belonging to the World captures renewed purpose through beauty, kindness, and adventure while visiting some of the most remote countries on earth.” —Foreword Clarion Reviews (4 out of 5)
“Belonging to the World is much more than the story of the tragic loss of a spouse or stepping foot in every country. It is the joy of connecting to the familiar as well as the gratification of learning cultures and fellowship with our broader sense of humanity. This book is an inspiration, a map that leads the reader toward positive affirmation of change.” —Julia Roberts
“In Belonging to the World, Barry Hoffner transforms profound personal tragedy into a remarkable journey of meaning and connection. His story resonates deeply with anyone who has seen both the beauty and the brutality of the world and still chooses hope. This book is a testament to resilience, empathy, and the belief that through understanding others, we rediscover ourselves.” —Bill Browder, author of New York Times bestsellers Red Notice and Freezing Order
“Barry reminds us of the beauty of human connection and the power of using grief to reimagine instead of to detach.” —Luke Russert, author of New York Times bestseller Look for Me There
“This moment in time is our most precious resource. . . . I’m reminded of that this morning by Barry Hoffner, who writes . . . about how, after losing his wife, he decided to spend his time traveling—discovering and rediscovering places—and sharing what he learned along the way. That’s how he chose to spend his time, and I’m so glad he took the time to share his learnings with us.” —Maria Shriver, in her introduction to Hoffner’s article in the “I’ve Been Thinking” column of The Sunday Paper