The Voluntourist

Ken Budd’s The Voluntourist is a remarkable travel memoir about losing your father, accepting your fate, and finding your purpose by volunteering around the world for numerous worthy causes: Hurricane Katrina disaster relief in New Orleans, helping special needs children in China, studying climate change in Ecuador, lending a hand—and a heart—at a Palestinian refugee camp in the Middle East, to name but a few. Ken's emotional journey is as inspiring and affecting as those chronicled in Little Princes and Three Cups of Tea. At once a true story of powerful family bonds, profound grief, and life-changing self-discovery, The Voluntourist is an all-too-human, real-life hero whom you will not soon forget.

Budd’s six-country quest to live a life that matters is a story of:

• Inspirational Travel: A raw, funny, and unforgettable journey around the globe as one man grapples with his father’s legacy and the unexpected path to living a life that matters.
• Volunteering Abroad: From rebuilding New Orleans after Katrina to assisting in a Palestinian refugee camp, Budd throws himself into challenges far outside his comfort zone.
• A Powerful Father-Son Story: A heartfelt exploration of trying to measure up to a father’s life, and finding a new way to define fatherhood and family.
• Finding Meaning in Midlife: An honest look at confronting a childless future and trading a comfortable life for one of purpose, adventure, and connection.