When I saw the description of this book, I knew I had to read it. My husband and I grew up in the Christian church and he is now meditating and studying Eastern religions, so I felt hopeful about reading someone else’s journey that led back to (or, in Joyce’s case, stayed with) Christianity.

The book took me a little bit to get into; it was not especially organized at first, and some of the biographical details felt less interesting to me - but that definitely makes this feel like an authentic memoir. I appreciated Joyce’s honesty and direct references to the sources that inspired him (the Bible, Jung, and Simone Weil, to name a few).

Kudos to Joyce for acknowledging wisdom can be found outside of the Bible - while still recognizing the Gospel of Jesus as “the way, the truth, and the life.” I am impressed with the way Joyce thoughtfully and respectfully explores Eastern religions while remaining steadfast in preaching the Gospel. One example is his explanation of the difference between transcendental meditation and Lectio Divina, which I found very helpful. Even though Joyce is Catholic and we disagree on some things (such as priests needing to be celibate), he does not focus on one’s works, but on the grace of Jesus. For that reason, I think any Christian would be able to get a lot out of this book. In a time when many Christians are deconstructing, or seen as judgmental of other religions, this book is an illuminating, respectful, and refreshing memoir. I give it 4.5 stars rounded up to 5.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crossroad Publishing for the free eARC. I post this review with my honest opinions.