Great title, eye-catching cover, marvelous writing! This book is a Wow!

If you are a bit cynical like me, your first thought about this book might be, “another hippy-dippy failure drops out of corporate life and wanders off and gets high on a beach.”

Wrong!!

The author was indeed successful in business. Ever hear of Grand Theft Auto? He was the CEO of Take-Two Interactive. He had a talented and successful wife, and 4 great kids at home. When his wife pointed out that his hard-driving business style was hurting the family, he paused and took stock. “I reached the top of an organization only to discover the view was not what I’d imagined.”

So, the author and his wife decided to try a different view and they carefully put together a plan to take a family sabbatical. Bali Hai called them. As the sabbatical unfolds, readers will get caught up in the family’s adventures, and the new changes they added to their lives. I liked that we not only learned of the author’s experiences, but also how his wife and children fared.

This book is a blend of memoir, inspiration, mindfulness, travel and life and career management. I highlighted so many parts of this book. Did you know that “happiness is a teachable mental skill”?
I highly recommend this readable, entertaining, thoughtful and life-enhancing book.

Sabbatical in Bali

Ben Feder loved the excitement of his job, taking over companies and making them profitable. His coup was the takeover Take Two Interactive, publisher of the video game, Grand Theft Auto. Once the takeover was successful, someone had to run the company, and Ben was elected. For awhile it was great, but after four years he was suffering from burnout. His wife was unhappy with their lack of communication, and his kids hardly knew him.

After much discussion and soul searching, Ben and his wife, Victoria, hit on an idea. Why not take a sabbatical in a foreign country. After searching a variety of locations, they settled on Bali. There was a school, the Green School, for the children, the weather was great, and it was affordable. The time in Bali changed their lives.

This book is the author’s first hand account of the family’s eight-month sabbatical. It follows them from the decision to take a break to the changes in lifestyle they experienced in Bali. Instead of going to the office every day, Ben was free to focus on yoga and meditation. The diet consisted of much fresh food and at the end, they felt healthier.

The book also follows what happened after the magical time in Bali. It’s not always easy to reintegrate with your company after an experience like that, but Ben had grown and was able to find a way to a more successful life. If you’re feeling burnout in your job, this is a great read.

I received this book from Net Galley for this review.

Opening line:
"I wrote this book for my children."

I love the idea of taking a sabbatical and slowing down. Ben did just that, though it was scary at first. He and his wife and kids left America to travel through Africa and finally settle in Bali. I believe getting outside of your home, your country, your comfort zone would be life changing and is a fantastic idea.
I skimmed some of this book and didn't really care about some of the story, though I firmly believe many, many readers will enjoy it.

Thanks to netgalley for the early read!

"Take off Your Shoes" is a story of one year sabbatical of Ben Feder and his family. Ben was a successful CEO of a company in New York. He is always on travel for business. He was not able to spend time with his family and was suffering on the personal front.  The term "Take Off Your Shoes" is used as a metaphor in this book.  

His wife, Victoria plants a seed of taking a family sabbatical for a year. Initially, it was difficult for Ben to agree to this plan. Later on entire family takes a sabbatical in Bali. In the book, Ben writes about his journey of self-discovery. He learns meditation, painting and yoga in Bali. He spends more time with his family and reconnects to his children. 

The cover of the book has some calming effect. Ben and his family return to New York after a year but with a different perspective towards life.  You can read more about Ben Feder on https://benfederauthor.com/author

Thank you, NetGalley for giving me an opportunity to read and review this wonderful book.

I enjoyed reading this book. It is about a CEO that goes to Bali to find himself & the deeper meaning of life. It is a very interesting story that is filled with hope, if one is willing to be open to life.

Take Off Your Shoes is a recount of Ben Feder who unplugged himself from the corporate world to find balance in his family by taking a sabbatical.
The title of the book actually meant 'rebirth' or shedding off the old skin.
He talked about his journey and the the things that he picked up like yoga, meditation and drawing helped to give him a new perspective about life.
It is an easy read as i was able to finish it in 1 day.
This book is especially helpful to the corporate rat-racers who are not finding meaning in their life or blindly chasing the next achievement.