So much of life is consumed by fears and a desire to stay within the convenience of comfort zones that give the illusion of fulfillment. Feeney’s personal narrative is the type of work that shows the beauty of immersing oneself in what life offers and treating it like a life-long exploration. Perhaps what makes this book so intriguing is Feeney’s refreshing authenticity and intent to really communicate with his audience, not as readers, but his own peers. As a result, readers will experience an intimate, conversational writing style that is endearing in its own right.

Essentially a comprehensive autobiography/memoir that takes readers from Feeney’s humble beginnings in Pittsburgh to the unlikeliest of destinations and experiences, the work is a testament to Feeney being a poster child for the philosophy of carpe diem. Despite being deemed a “slow learner” as a child, Feeney has been shedding labels and creating new identities at every turn and in all twenty-four of the locations he has one time or another called home. From constantly probing the nature of God with nuns during his Catholic school days in childhood to his time with the Air Force and eventually being a diplomat for the Department of State, Feeney’s is a life of constant action.

The author’s journey reflects numerous iconic moments throughout American history. Early on, he references that his parents are a byproduct of the Great Depression and inevitably destined for economic inequity. Then, as the book progresses, Feeney brings to light overlooked yet monumental experiences like Mazeroski’s walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth inning of the decisive seventh game of the World Series against the Yankee juggernaut. Thus, individuals of all ages will have something to revel in from this text. However, while the “what” is enriching, it is not nearly as entertaining as the “why” that spearheads Feeney’s excursions. Specifically, it is a coin toss with his first wife, Jill, that prompts Feeney into seven weeks of training from hell at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas. What ensues is Zweibrucken Air Force Base in West Germany, where during downtime, Feeney enjoys the food, music, and company during wine fests that Germany is famous for.

Transporting readers through iconic Paris through the lens of architecture like the Notre Dame Cathedral and the artist colony that housed the likes of Van Gogh and Toulouse-Lautrec, Feeney embodies the work hard play hard spirit that helps him accrue seemingly infinite life experiences and individual accolades that see him earning a master’s degree from USC in systems management. For an individual that has called places like Australia, Hawaii, Agrigento, Greece, and Turkey, among many others, home, it is not surprising to see the charisma and wisdom that exudes from his storytelling. It is almost as if a little piece of each place resides in his memory and in his heart, and that experience carries over in his conversations with the audience. Overall, the adventures in Feeney’s memoir steal the show, Audiences will feel an adrenaline rush from vicariously soaking in Feeney’s journey in an undeniably thorough, enriching, and entertaining manner.

RECOMMENDED by the US Review

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