Harris’s journey from what he calls mindlessness to mindfulness through his embrace of meditation embodies the traditional hero’s quest in which the protagonist leaves the familiar landscape to go on an unexpected but necessary journey. Once on the journey, the hero’s challenges and trials help them to eventually return to their former world with a wiser outlook. By having his journey unfold in this manner, Harris also helps the reader imagine their own participation within similar circumstances. As he notes, “[I]f it can work for a restless, skeptical newsman, it can work for you” (2019 Preface, xix).

In a traditional quest narrative, the hero receives a call to adventure and generally has a period in which they refuse the call due to fear or doubt. Harris receives his call to adventure when Peter Jennings asks him to take over the religion beat for ABC News in 2001. Initially, Harris hesitates since he doesn’t have much personal faith or regard for those that do. Additionally, the events of 9/11 and his new gig as a war correspondent add to Harris’s delay of embracing a quest that would prove life changing.