Home Inside the Globe

Home Inside the Globe takes its place beside some of the best travel memoirs, but it stands on its own as a new kind of reading experience. Gail Straub’s writing is infused with the pace of a poet and the grace of a mystic.
-- Elizabeth Lesser, cofounder of Omega Institute and author of Broken Open

In a world run amuck with seemingly irreparable differences, divides, and conflicts, Gail Straub’s memoir Home Inside the Globe offers an antidote. As a seeker on pilgrimage across the Sahara in camel caravan with indigenous Tuaregs, trekking off the beaten trail high in the Himalayas and in Timbuktu in Mali, or participating in the sacred rituals of Bali, the intrepid Straub seeks out all that is different so that she can become whole. And this impulse toward differences guides her to its perfect opposite, a boundless realm where our common humanity unifies us. As an activist Gail is deeply immersed in the
era of Gorbachev’s Russia and Deng Xiaoping’s China, working with leaders who are empowering sex-workers in India, Syrian refugees in Jordan, and among isolated Berber villages in the High Atlas in Morocco. Here out beyond man-made political borders, she again finds a much larger, freer place where we connect as human beings transcending nationality, skin color, gender, socio-economic status, and religion.

Along with traveling the exterior landscape of these countries, we also journey through Gail’s interior terrain as she matures through the stages of girlhood, womanhood, and cronehood. We witness how various cultures shaped her, helping her through times of grief, crisis, and confusion. Throughout Gail’s ever so human journey, we can find ourselves and our own longing for wholeness. Home Inside the Globe is a dynamic synthesis of memoir, travelogue, and life lessons. It is an invitation to awaken as individuals so that we can fully participate in creating a better world for all people.

This discussion guide was shared and sponsored in partnership with Wonderwell Press and Greenleaf Book Group.

Book club questions for Home Inside the Globe by Gail Straub

Use these discussion questions to guide your next book club meeting.

Home Inside the Globe explores Gail’s calling to travel the world and connect with different cultures. How did her understanding of her calling evolve throughout her life? And how did this deep yearning to understand others shape her journey?

A central theme of the book is the idea of finding unity within diversity. Gail Straub suggests that "the world, too, can only complete itself by finding unity within its diversity." In Gail’s travels and interactions, where did she most powerfully experience this sense of connection despite apparent differences? For example, reflect on her experiences in West Africa, China, or Jordan.

The Empowerment Institute and the IMAGINE Initiative are significant parts of Gail’s life's work. How does the book illustrate the development of the "empowerment methodology" from its origins at Gail’s kitchen table to its implementation in diverse global communities like Russia, India, and Morocco?

The "garden metaphor" is presented as a foundational concept in the Empowerment Workshop. How does this seemingly simple metaphor effectively communicate complex ideas about personal growth and transformation, even to those who are nonliterate?

Gail’s life, as described in the book, involved balancing intense outer effort (like organizing the First Earth Run) with the need for inner retreat and renewal. How does the book portray the challenges and importance of nurturing an interior life alongside outward-focused work? For example, chapters seven and eight on Bali and Ireland describe the development of Gail’s interior
life so that she is prepared for the outer work of China and Russia in chapters nine and ten.

Gail describes becoming a "citizen diplomat" particularly during her experiences in China. How did traveling and working in countries like China and Russia challenge her perspectives and help her look beyond cultural stereotypes or political tensions?

The narrative highlights moments of facing adversity and geopolitical challenges, such as the decision to travel to China after the Tiananmen Square incidents, or whether to proceed with a conference in Jordan despite a recent terrorist attack. How does the book explore the concept of resilience and finding ways to "keep the faith" when working in challenging environments?

Across various cultures, Gail encounters individuals who become important teachers or "wisdom keepers." Who were some of the most impactful people she met, and what specific lessons did they teach her about life, spirituality, or the human condition?

The book discusses Gail’s process of passing on the legacy of her work through the IMAGINE Certification Program and the IMAGINE leadership team. What does this transition signify and what does it suggest about the sustainability and impact of grassroots social change?

How did reading Home Inside the Globe make you reflect on your own connection to the world and your understanding of global citizenship?

Home Inside the Globe Book Club Questions PDF

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