The Call of the World: A Young Man’s Journey of Discovery

Trent Newcomer
iUniverse (2009)
ISBN 9780595506231
Reviewed by Laura Johnson for Reader Views (7/09)


“The Call of the World: A Young Man’s Journey of Discovery” chronicles the journey of the author, Trent Newcomer, as he travels the world over a period of a year and a half.  Newcomer, at the age of 25, decided to quit his job and throw what he could fit into a backpack and take off.  The book is a compilation of the journals from the experience, yet it is beautifully crafted into an easy to read, personal dialogue that I had trouble putting down.  From near death bus rides, to having a gun pulled on him, to experiencing bed bugs, and the beauty of the animal kingdom on safari, the experience is one that many only dream of.  

Newcomer engages the reader to catch the travel bug and leave on their own journey of discovery.  Yet, the reader only needs to delve into the pages of this book to start on that journey.  The book is written for all of those that love to travel and all of those that just want to take a trip without leaving the comfort of their own home.  The journey is ultimately about discovery, and the author realizes that discovery does not come just from traveling the world. 

While reading “The Call of the World: A Young Man’s Journey of Discovery,” felt as if Newcomer was talking to me in a private conversation, rather than me reading the written words. I was at times jealous of his travels, at times sitting on the edge of my seat to see what would happen next, yet, always engaged and sad when I reached the last page.  However, I realized that although the travel journey was over in the pages of words, I would still continue on into my own journey of discovery.

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