Belonging to the World

A Journey from Grief to Connection in Every Country on Earth

By: Barry Hoffner

Narrated by: David Bryant

Readers' Choice Book Awards Bronze Winner, Adult Nonfiction

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.

©2026 Barry Hoffner (P)2026 Barry Hoffner

What we need now

Barry Hoffner travels the world with an open mind and an open heart. The news is so daunting these days is was a joy to read a book about connecting with our fellow human beings. It gave me hope . And he's funny!Thank you Barry😊

More Than A Travel Memoir

Belonging to the World is an insightful and deeply personal exploration of one man's journey through grief. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to it as I continue navigating my own grief. His profound connection to the people and places he encounters has inspired me to pursue my own journeys into unexplored corners of the world.

He provides just enough historical context to bring even the most remote regions to life without slowing the narrative. What makes his travels especially meaningful is his genuine desire to improve the lives of those less fortunate, transforming the book from a travel memoir into a story of purpose and human connection.

A thought-provoking and inspiring listen that left me wondering whether I, too, still have time to explore every corner of this remarkable earth.

Belonging in the Give Away Pile

This title was described as the story of a man who lost his wife
and decided to travel to all the countries in the world.

It is actually a narrative about
the unremitting bereavement of
a self absorbed, self described “valley jew.”

While tragic and emotionally draining the author’s descriptions of his loss dominate
the book to the point of monotony.

The author’s style of travel is of the boutique version —with organized guided
trips, Marriott, and Starbucks.
It becomes more of a tabulation
of borders crossed. The descriptions of culture and experiences seem perfunctory
and the reader finds the author
has moved on before they realize
it.

He makes sure to describe his
foundation and name drop the
the Wall Street companies he worked with.

This is not the work of Paul Theroux or even Bill Bryson.
The writing style is mundane.
I thought of just leaving this a few times but I stuck with it,
to learn more about the interaction of a jew in the Arab
world—the most interesting part
of his experiment.