Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
Entrepreneur and bestselling author, Jesse Itzler's next adventure takes him to a monastery where he learns to unplug, pray, and live like a monk.
Bestselling author and motivational speaker Jesse Itzler just can't seem to sit still-ever. He has four kids, three different to-do lists, two ideas for new companies and one full-time job. In his down time he's more likely to be in a water balloon fight with his eight year old than he is to be sitting alone in thought. The daily multitasking was catching up to him and he found himself overwhelmed and underperforming. But it wasn't until he challenged his wife to a game of rock-paper-scissor during the exchanging of vows at a friend's wedding ceremony that he realized he needed an adult timeout.
LIVING WITH THE MONKS takes us to a remote monastery in Cambridge, New York with the world's most unlikely visitor-Jesse Itzler a professional can't sit stiller.
What ensues is the equivalent of a two week slumber party with the Dalai Lama, Yoda and Cesar Millan the dog whisperer-filled with robes and reflection. The follow up adventure to "Living With a SEAL" is a hilarious journey through the minds and practices of the monks of New Skete. In the end, Itzler unlocks key ingredients to less stress, being fully present and most importantly-ultimate happiness.
Synopsis
Entrepreneur and bestselling author, Jesse Itzler's next adventure takes him to a monastery where he learns to unplug, pray, and live like a monk.
Thinking all monasteries were like the ones he saw in the movies, Jesse Itzler arrived at the New Skete religious community in remote Cambridge, New York, with a shaved head and a suitcase filled with bananas. To his surprise, New Skete monks have most of their hair. They're Russian Orthodox, not Buddhist, and they're also world-renowned dog breeders and authors of dog-training books that have sold in the millions.
Wait, what? Jesse Itzler living with monks? And dogs? How could that happen?
Between his entrepreneurial endeavors, motivational speaking engagements, charities, and FOUR KIDS, plus running ultra-marathons and other assorted involvements and activities, Jesse doesn't have a lot of free time on his hands. In his downtime, he's more likely to be in a water balloon fight with his eight-year-old son than in anything close to quiet contemplation. But his daily turbo-tasking was catching up to him, and he found himself overwhelmed and underperforming. When he challenged his wife to a game of rock-paper-scissors during a friend's wedding ceremony he realized he needed an adult time-out.
Most people would take a short vacation, cut back on some daily activities, or get a massage. Not Jesse. He came up with his unique answer to the building stress and dwindling time in his life. In LIVING WITH THE MONKS, the hilarious follow-up to his New York Times bestselling Living with a SEAL, Jesse takes us on a spiritual journey like no other. Isolated in a snowbound mountain monastery surrounded by German shepherds, an intern who walked right off a page from a Stephen King novel, and an odd but lovable bunch of monks who are a cross between Tony Robbins and Cesar Millan, Jesse finds the key to unlocking a life with less stress, more self-reflection (gulp), and greater happiness. (And, as he learns, the key to happiness isn't running. Say what?)
Synopsis
Bestselling author Jesse Itzler could easily be voted the least likely to sit still. The successful entrepreneur, endurance athlete and father of four only knows one speed: FULL BLAST. He's also one of the most unconventional people you'll ever meet. So, when Jesse felt like the world around him was getting too hectic, he didn't take a vacation or get a massage, he moved into a monastery and gave himself a self-imposed time-out. In LIVING WITH THE MONKS, the follow-up to his New York Times bestselling LIVING WITH A SEAL, Jesse Itzler takes us on a spiritual journey like no other. Jesse doesn't believe in traditional resumes-he believes in life resumes: collecting experiences and creating memories. His life is full of business success and adventure. Jesse went from being a rapper, to starting the world's largest private jet card company to running 100 miles non-stop in under 24 hours, to becoming an owner of the Atlanta Hawks basketball team. And now, it's all about to slow down. Thinking all monasteries are like the ones he sees on TV, Jesse arrives at the New Skete religious community in the isolated and snowy mountains of upstate New York with a shaved head and a suitcase filled with bananas. To his surprise, New Skete monks have most of their hair. They're Russian Orthodox, not Buddhist, and they're also world-renowned German shepherd breeders and authors of dog-training books that have sold in the millions. As Jesse struggles to fit in amongst the odd but lovable monks, cheesecake-making nuns, and the strange professional intern in the room next to his, self-doubt begins to beat like a tribal drum and he questions his motivation to embark on this adventure, missing his family and phone. But in the end, Jesse discovers the secrets of the monks and their wisdom, the power of shutting off, being alone and taking time to simply think. Equal parts memoir and road map to living a less stressful and more vibrant life, LIVING WITH THE MONKS is an illuminating, entertaining, and unexpected trip for anyone looking to feel calmer and more controlled in our crazy, hectic world.
Synopsis
Equal parts memoir and road map to living a less stressful and more vibrant life, bestselling author Jesse Itzler offers an illuminating, entertaining, and unexpected trip for anyone looking to feel calmer and more controlled in our crazy, hectic world.
Entrepreneur, endurance athlete, and father of four Jesse Itzler only knows one speed: Full Blast. But when he felt like the world around him was getting too hectic, he didn't take a vacation or get a massage. Instead, Jesse moved into a monastery for a self-imposed time-out. In Living with the Monks, the follow-up to his New York Times bestselling Living with a Seal, Jesse takes us on a spiritual journey like no other. Having only been exposed to monasteries on TV, Jesse arrives at the New Skete religious community in the isolated mountains of upstate New York with a shaved head and a suitcase filled with bananas. To his surprise, New Skete monks have most of their hair. They're Russian Orthodox, not Buddhist, and they're also world-renowned German shepherd breeders and authors of dog-training books that have sold in the millions. As Jesse struggles to fit in amongst the odd but lovable monks, self-doubt begins to beat like a tribal drum. Questioning his motivation to embark on this adventure and missing his family (and phone), Jesse struggles to balance his desire for inner peace with his need to check Twitter. But in the end, Jesse discovers the undeniable power of the monks and their wisdom, and the very real benefits of taking a well-deserved break as a means of self-preservation in our fast-paced world.