The Journey Home is a commendable read by Radhanath Swami, an American Gaudiya Vaishnava guru and International Society for Krishna Consciousness member. Born Richard Slavin, an American Jew, Radhanath chronicles his journey from his typical all-American family in Chicago to the pinnacle of his journey home, the experience of Vrindavan, or Paradise.

The book's author

Counter-culturism was infesting America at the time when Radhanath was about to leave on his spiritual quest, and he writes about how he was influenced by the anti-ism that was growing on the American youth.

Dissatisfied with what he was experiencing, and wanting a change of scene, Radhanath and his best friend go on a backpacking-hitchhiking journey through Europe into the Middle East and India, which would eventually lead to the separation of the two men into their own paths.

The author explains every step in vivid detail, so descriptive it almost reads like a novel. Reading about the pain of giving up new-found love for spirituality, the anguish of walking through landmines and death traps with absolutely no money or protection, and the joy of attaining spiritual enlightenment and experiencing Paradise was like peeking into a pensive of Radhanath’s thoughts.

Radhanath Swami was meant to write this book, I am sure, and although research tells me he wrote it only because it was the request of a revered guru on his deathbed, God definitely wanted the world to know of Radhanath’s unique step into the world of spirituality and Krishna consciousness.

Reading this book has not made me more spiritual, but it has definitely opened my eyes to the world of spirituality. Now I know some people do get a literal calling from God, and He has a plan for all of us and shows us that in subtle ways.

I recommend this book for those who seek their own spirituality within, those who are confused about their spirituality, those who do not believe there is a Higher Power omnipresent around us and of course to those who would like a good book to read.