The book is an autobiography of Radhanath Swami of ISKCON. It is based on the travel stories of a 19-year-old boy. Richard Slavin heads out on a Europe trip to realize his calling for the spiritual needs of his soul. On the way, he makes friends with various people, shares their food, lodging, and transport to make a circuitous path from Europe to India. Sometimes even making solitary journeys on foot. He has met helpful people, cheats, sadhus, and even some frauds. The book essentially brings out if you have clarity of thought, the world will make way for you to realize your goals. After an exploration of two long years, he meets Swami Prabhupada of the ISKCON order in Vrindavan. Thus, he decides to commit to him as his spiritual master. Unlike other autobiographies by other Gurus, this is not a book about realization. Rather a long experience of battles one needs to go through in finding the spiritual master for yourself. His progress in the ISKCON order is not part of the book. The book is essentially well written, has lots of elements of the hippie culture of the period. Youthful abandon and engagement with drugs, sex, and other unhealthy practices and the ability to keep it off for one's spiritual progress are given due importance. The benevolent commoners and deriding power-hungry sadhus who cheat hapless devotees are mentioned in the book. Then there are people whose main aim is to help others at the cost of affecting themselves are covered in some details as true love to humanity. Lucid language and style make the book an easy read.
