In "Traveling off the X," Jo Patti Munisteri takes readers on an extraordinary journey spanning five decades and six continents. From her groundbreaking fellowship as the first female Circumnavigator to her work in conflict zones like Afghanistan and Pakistan, Munisteri's memoir explores what it means to deliberately move away from danger—to "travel off the X"—while paradoxically seeking out challenging environments that test her resilience.

With unflinching honesty, Munisteri recounts her experiences teaching in Saudi Arabia's largest women's university, navigating political tensions in Ukraine, and confronting corruption in international aid programs. Throughout these diverse adventures, she weaves the deeply personal story of losing her son in a mountain climbing accident and how this profound grief reshapes her perspective on risk, purpose, and connection.

Munisteri's narrative offers rare insights into closed societies, humanitarian challenges, and the complex geopolitical realities that shape our world. Her unique positioning as both insider and outsider provides a nuanced perspective on cross-cultural understanding during pivotal historical moments. As she moves through Romania during the Cold War, witnesses a bloodless revolution in Morocco, and confronts gender restrictions in the Middle East, Munisteri demonstrates how travel can be both an escape and a pathway to greater self-awareness.

If you enjoyed "What I Was Doing While You Were Breeding," "The Impossible Will Take a Little While," or "Emergency Sex (And Other Desperate Measures)," you'll love "Traveling off the X."