Bewildered Travel

Frederick J. Ruf

18 ratings by Goodreads

Language: English

Published by University of Virginia Press, US, 2007

0813926742 / 9780813926742

Series: Book 5 of 15 - Studies in Religion and Culture

  • Softcover
  • New
See all details

Seller: Rarewaves.com USA, London, London, United KingdomRarewaves.com USA

5-star seller

AbeBooks seller since June 11, 2025

Softcover

Condition: New

£ 26.05

 Free Shipping 
Ships from United Kingdom to U.S.A.

Quantity: Over 20 available

Add to basket
Free 30-day returns

Item description from seller

Why do we travel? Ostensibly an act of leisure, travel finds us thrusting ourselves into jets flying miles above the earth, only to endure dislocations of time and space, foods and languages foreign to our body and mind, and encounters with strangers on whom we must suddenly depend. Travel is not merely a break from routine; it is its antithesis, a voluntary trading in of the security one feels at home for unpredictability and confusion. In ""Bewildered Travel"", Frederick Ruf argues that this confusion, which we might think of simply as a necessary evil, is in fact the very thing we are seeking when we leave home. Ruf relates this quest for confusion to our religious behavior. Citing William James, who defined the religious as what enables us to ""front life,"" Ruf contends that the search for bewilderment allows us to point our craft into the wind and sail headlong into the storm rather than flee from it. This view challenges the Eliadean tradition that stresses religious ritual as a shield against the world's chaos. Ruf sees our departures from the familiar as a crucial component in a spiritual life, reminding us of the central role of pilgrimage in religion. In addition to his own revealing experiences as a traveler, Ruf presents the reader with the journeys of a large and diverse assortment of notable Americans, including Henry Miller, Paul Bowles, Mark Twain, Mary Oliver, and Walt Whitman. These accounts take us from the Middle East to the Philippines, India to Nicaragua, Mexico to Morocco - and, in one threatening instance, simply to the edge of the author's own neighborhood. ""What gives value to travel is fear,"" wrote Camus. This book illustrates the truth of that statement.…

Seller Inventory # LU-9780813926742

Title
Bewildered Travel
Author
Frederick J. Ruf
Publisher
University of Virginia Press, US
Publication year
2007
Condition
New
Binding
Paperback
Language
English
ISBN 10
0813926742
ISBN 13
9780813926742
Item weight
309 grams
Series
Book 5 of 15: Studies in Religion and Culture

Rarewaves.com USA

London, London, United Kingdom

5-star seller

AbeBooks seller since June 11, 2025

Shipping rates from United Kingdom to U.S.A.

Item9 to 14 business days9 to 14 business days
First item£ 0.00£ 0.00
Delivery times are set by sellers and vary by carrier and location. Orders passing through Customs may face delays and buyers are responsible for any associated duties or fees. Sellers may contact you regarding additional charges to cover any increased costs to ship your items.

Payment methods

  • Visa
  • Mastercard
  • American Express
  • Apple Pay
  • Google Pay

Seller's business information

RAREWAVES.COM LIMITED

Elsley Court, 20-22 Great Titchfield Street
London, United Kingdom W1W 8BE