If you’ve noticed that things have been a bit quiet around here of late, I’m thrilled to share with you the reason why. Needless to say, I’m incredibly excited and cannot wait to get your feedback on the end result!
Earlier this year I decided to embrace a new experiment and to explore the potential of expanding my writing in book form. Now, 50,000+ words and 210 pages later Practical Curiosity is live and will launch this Monday, November 6th globally in print and ebook form.
Key elements of the book are an extension of content here on VirtualWayfarer. But, instead of creating yet another travel guide, or a composite of my travel advice and travel stories I decided to take a step back and to focus on something quite different. As the title suggests, about 1/4th of the book is still travel-focused and has a compilation of some of the most pivotal realizations and advice that I’ve distilled from my travels. It’s also much more than that and a look at how travel is just one rich piece of the puzzle which informs and shapes other aspects of who we are and the lives we live.
Travel is a fundamental part of who I am. It has expanded and shaped my interests, my sense of self, and exposed me to a life full of incredibly rich experiences and realizations. But, beyond even travel is something deeper. That is my burning sense of curiosity. For my book, and as the title suggests, that’s what I chose to focus on – the core tool and world-view driver that guides me through life and which shapes my perspective. Through that lens, I then aspire to share what equates to a large cross-section of my worldview, observations, and revelations which have been pivotal for me and those around me.
Practical Curiosity is, in essence, an opportunity to gain relatively extensive access to another person’s frame of reference, worldview, mentors, extensive research, and pivotal realizations. To explore them, digest them, and then see how they may change, shape, re-enforce and enrich your own musings. I aspire to tackle and highlight the normal nature of many things highly curiosity and driven people struggle with in silence – things like imposter syndrome, or the sense of indecision that goes with being a generalist. I simultaneously provide a framework for understanding the people in your lives – from friends or romantic partners to grandchildren or colleagues who you’ve always struggled to relate to and understand.
Practical Curiosity also contains several thought exercises which I’ve found are instrumental to shaping and enriching the way I engage with the world and which are pivotal tools for being more centered as an individual, exploring my place in the universe, and for nurturing my inner curiosity. I also draw on more than a decade working in the commercial world, where I’ve had the opportunity to advance a professional career across leading companies in transformative industries in the United States and Europe.
For this book I’ve set out to create a resource that is, at its heart, a “self-help” book, but for people with an aversion or lack of trust in traditional or overly topically focused self-help books. Where many books in the genre tend to miss the forest for the trees, my goal is to deliver observations and food for thought that inspire you, realizations that put your mind at ease and quiet some of your inner struggles, while also opening up a smorgasbord of reflective tidbits that will have you re-evaluating and exploring aspects of your career, personal, relational and travel endeavors.
The Book
Like Dim Sum for the curious mind
Practical Curiosity delivers a collection of easily consumable insights into what it means to be a well rounded, curious and passionate individual. From carefully crafted professional advice to altering how you engage with your peers, Practical Curiosity is passionate, and unlike any other inspirational book you’ve read.
Alex Berger combines a series of grounded thought exercises with comical and insightful life advice drawn from first-hand experiences and tailored directly to explaining many of the key challenges that arise in the lives of driven individuals.
This is the perfect read for polymaths with a thirst for knowledge or if you’ve been attracted by the ideal of being a renaissance man or woman and often struggle with the complexities that result from being a highly driven generalist.
In Practical Curiosity, you will gain new ways of exploring and relating to key parts of a life well lived. At the same time, you will gain tools and strategies for explaining topics you’ve long struggled to communicate with friends, loved ones, and colleagues.
How to Order
The book is available in both Print and eBook versions through your Amazon portal of preference. So, if you’re reading this from Europe, the UK or Asia, make sure to navigate to your Amazon.?? page of choice and to search for “Practical Curiosity” which allows you to order locally.
One Request!
I would love your help in spreading the word about Practical Curiosity. That means word of mouth, gifting the book to people who you think might enjoy it, reviewing it on Amazon, Goodreads or whatever local resource you use. I’d also absolutely love your feedback on how you liked the book, what resonated with you, what you disliked, or what didn’t click. Your feedback and questions are very welcome!
Have you read Practical Curiosity? Would you like to contribute a testimonial? I would love to have it!
Reach out directly via e-mail.