Misadventures Of A Garden State Yogi: My Humble Quest To Heal My Colitis, Calm My ADD, And Find The Key To Happiness (2012) - Plot & Excerpts
I like the alternative healing going on in this book. There remains a deep chasm in-between this readers' comprehension of Brian Leaf's quest and what his parents reeaally may have thought about their Georgetown University graduated son's trek down a path adjacent to the well-worn groove of more obvious success along the route he was to take following a win as a high school debate champ of New Jersey (likely arguing for the opportunity to seek his own bliss). But after all, the book is a story about himself and his personal process, only, and remains a bit of a contradiction in terms of the yogic ethos of interconnectedness, but i digress.Yet perhaps his extended family gave him no real friction over this path, at the advent of, and also during his health seeking and finding path through the beat bush. But the sixties are so far over that I cannot picture this lack of friction. However this is just to say the larger context was truncated by this lack . This is a book written with humor and kindness to his yogic audience and one's self. I appreciate the skill he uses in highlighting the absurdity where one man's earnest efforts connect with the weirdness of ordinary reality. Eh. I thought I would enjoy this book a lot more--overachieving pre-law student with a gastro issue turned yogi seemed right up my alley. There was a lot of good insight on the yogic front and a couple "a-ha" moments. But Brian's constant need to include pithy pop-culture references (most often to Seinfeld) was distracting. When I got to the part where a good friend hurts him by revealing the truth that he tries too hard to entertain and make people like him, it suddenly clicked that this was my issue with the book. Generally a light & enjoyable read, but I suspect there are far better yoga memoirs out there.
What do You think about Misadventures Of A Garden State Yogi: My Humble Quest To Heal My Colitis, Calm My ADD, And Find The Key To Happiness (2012)?
LOVED this book! I've been inspired to take a similar cross-country yoga journey.
—tootie
I liked some of the wisdom in this book, but didn't like the extreme narcissism.
—Serina
