"Jet Lag Junkie" Adventure Travel Memoir available now!
On a blustery and cold evening in early 2019, days after we settled in Amsterdam after a whirlwind, 180-day trip around the world, I turned to Anne and said, “I want to write a book". She turned directly at me and said, “Then write one.”
Over the next five years, through settling into a new country, a global pandemic, a new job, and the birth of two children, I have worked tirelessly throughout nights, weekends, holidays, and on airplanes and early mornings to write “Jet Lag Junkie” and I am beyond thrilled it was finally released on September 9th, 2024.
“Jet Lag Junkie: Unfiltered Tales of a Compulsive Wanderer”
Available in ebook & paperback now!
What started as a frantic and desperate attempt to jot down random travel memories and minute details of the adventures that happened in between, expanded into a lengthy manuscript that spanned over twenty years, nearly 100 countries, and followed me from a young twenty-year-old boarding a plane alone to Thailand to sitting in my office in the Netherlands about to turn forty with two small daughters asleep in their rooms above me.
Tracing back my earliest desires to see the world, explore what was out there, and chase every experience I was certain my father never had in his sheltered upbringing made me realize the incredible journey I have been on and the multitude of unique, and harrowing, experiences I have had a long the way. With the arrival of our first daughter in 2020, I was more determined than ever to ensure not only that the travel adventures of the last twenty years, and everything Anne and I did together, were documented, but that they had meaning to them too.
Travel has been the greatest teacher of my life and while the lessons I have learned may not be all that unique for the average person between the ages of 20 and 40, mine have come by way of some thrilling experiences - and involved a lot more jet lag than most.
"Jet Lag Junkie" isn't just a collection of exciting travel stories, it is years of reflection, growth, struggle, and triumph to better understand myself, my comfort zone, and what makes me me. It is a love letter to travel, a love letter to getting lost and discovering your next step by leaping from the previous one, and it is a love letter to the strangers, the random acts of kindness, and the rooftop bars and sunset views from Bangkok to Bolivia, Sudan to Serbia.
Travel has forced me to confront painful areas of my life I have never fully understood - in the most unexpected ways. Filled with stories and moments of anxiety, battling ADHD, combating imposter syndrome, negative body image issues, and loneliness, “Jet Lag Junkie” is always vulnerable, bitterly honest, and often humorous as I learn to stumble my way around my own mind, country by country.
The goal of "Jet Lag Junkie" is to inspire you to get off your couch and see the world, to renew your passport or apply for your first ever, to buy a one-way ticket somewhere that scares you, and to take the road less traveled, for you never know what you'll find. I started telling stories with photographs, expanded to video production and TV, and then traveled the world telling adventure travel video stories with Anne and What Doesn't Suck?
"Jet Lag Junkie Unfiltered Tales of a Compulsive Wanderer" is the next step in storytelling and adventure travel inspiration. The ebook is out now, paperback on September 9th and I cannot wait to share the highs, lows, hard truths, and exhilarating highs with you all.
““Jet Lag Junkie” offers a gripping, honest portrayal of what it means to search for meaning through travel. Jeff’s adventures are thrilling, but the book’s real strength lies in its vulnerability. From struggles with body image to moments of danger, it’s a deep reflection on growth through discomfort. A must-read for anyone chasing more than just miles.”
Jet Lag Junkie Book Description:
"Jet Lag Junkie shares, with admirable candor, the incredible highs and crushing lows of travel and untethered experiences. A must-read for anyone who feels the irresistible urge to get out, and a great reminder that the greatest joys of wandering come when you leave yourself fully open to all that doesn’t suck!"
Jeff, an overweight and insecure college student on the verge of dropping out, follows an uncontrollable urge ending up alone nearly 10,000 miles from home weeks after the 2004 Tsunami in South East Asia. Desperate to chase every experience possible, 'Jet Lag Junkie' is the vulnerable and raw journey behind one man's quest to find meaning, belonging, and love amidst an ever-changing backdrop of the most unique places on Earth.
Through deeply personal struggles with severe ADHD, imposter syndrome, anxiety, body image, and burnout, Jeff’s two-decade journey through nearly 100 countries reveals issues seldom discussed in a world that worships perfection and happiness on every screen. Brought to life through adventures from Mount Everest Base Camp in Nepal, being held at gunpoint in Malaysia, being impossibly lost in Bangladesh and detained by military police in Tajikistan, ‘Jet Lag Junkie’ inspires readers to experience life more deeply, and to get a bit uncomfortable while doing it.
Often humorous, always intimate, ‘Jet Lag Junkie’ reveals the compulsive search and painful struggles of growing up. Testing the limits of what Jeff is capable of, how much he is willing to sacrifice before stopping long enough to find someone to enjoy it all with?
“An emotional and inspiring book about the author’s younger years. A restless soul lost and traveling on a whim, dealing with inner demons, outer concerns, and the weight of the unknown. Truly heart-bearing and soul-touching. I found a much deeper connection than I expected at the outset. One of those books that lingers, leaving an indelible mark upon one’s psyche. Worth a read.”
Embark on a Journey That Will Change Your Life
What does it mean to truly live? To step out of the ordinary and embrace the extraordinary? In 'Jet Lag Unfiltered Tales of a Compulsive Wanderer', a gripping adventure travel memoir, you'll join Jeff Johns as he journies across nearly 100 countries over 20 years, discovering not only the world but also the depths of his own spinning mind.
This isn't just a tale of travel—it's a story of transformation, resilience, and self-discovery. It's about facing the world head-on, confronting the fears and insecurities that hold us back, and finding the courage to embrace the unknown, even if it comes with jet lag.
A Journey Through Every Corner of the
From the breathtaking peaks of the Himalayas to the bustling markets of Beirut, from the desolate expanses of the Sahara to the serene waters of Bali, 'Jet Lag Junkie' takes you on an exhilarating ride through some of the most stunning and remote places on Earth. Each chapter is a new adventure, filled with vivid descriptions, fascinating cultures, and the unpredictable challenges that come with life on the road, along with a few life lessons often learned the hard way.
A Deep Dive into the Human
But 'Jet Lag Junkie' is more than just a travel memoir. It's a deeply personal exploration of the struggles that many of us face and are often left unsaid:
Depression: How the dark times were illuminated by the beauty of the world and the kindness of strangers along the road.
Love: The fleeting yet powerful connections made along the way, and the heartaches that left a lasting impact. ADHD: The restless energy that drove Jeff to seek out new experiences, and how it became both a challenge and a gift.
Feeling Lost: The moments of doubt and confusion, and the paths that led to self-discovery.
Imposter Syndrome: The constant battle with self-doubt, even while living a life others might envy.
Anxiety: The fears that threatened to derail the journey, and the inner strength found to keep moving forward.
"Jet Lag Junkie" is available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Ingram Press and Apple Books across the US/EU/AU/CA and many additional markets.
