Belonging to the World: A Journey from Grief to Connection in Every Country on Earth - Hardcover

Readers' Choice Book Awards Bronze Winner, Adult Nonfiction

The BookFest 2026 First-Place Award Winner, Self-Discovery & Travel Journals

2026 Nonfiction Book Awards Silver Winner

2026 Finalist for Author of the Year, International Impact Book Awards

2026 Indie Reader Discovery Award Winner, Best Travel Book

"More than a travel memoir, this is a powerful story of grief, resilience, and finding belonging in a world that keeps opening its doors." -Nonfiction Author's Association

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.