• No Baggage

  • A Minimalist Tale of Love and Wandering
  • By: Clara Bensen
  • Narrated by: Clara Bensen
  • Length: 7 hrs and 26 mins
  • 3.9 out of 5 stars (855 ratings)

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No Baggage  By  cover art

No Baggage

By: Clara Bensen
Narrated by: Clara Bensen
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Publisher's summary

No Baggage is a memoir that will resonate with adventurers and homebodies alike - it's at once a romance, a travelogue, and a bright, modern take on the age-old questions: How do you find the courage to explore beyond your comfort zone? Can you love someone without the need for commitment or any expectations for the future?

When Clara Bensen arranges to meet Jeff Wilson on the steps of the Texas State Capitol after just a few email exchanges on OKCupid, it feels like something big is going to happen. Clara, a sensitive and reclusive personality, is immediately drawn to Jeff's freewheeling, push-the-envelope nature. Within a few days of knowing one another, they embark on a 21-day travel adventure from Istanbul to London - with zero luggage, zero reservations, and zero plans. They want to test a simple question: What happens when you welcome the unknown instead of attempting to control it?

Donning a single green dress and a small purse with her toothbrush and credit card, Clara travels through eight countries in three weeks. Along the way Clara ruminates on the challenges of traveling unencumbered while realizing when it comes to falling in love, you can never really leave your baggage behind.

©2016 Clara Bensen (P)2016 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

What listeners say about No Baggage

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4 out of 5 stars
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Amazing Book

This book was amazing. The author opens herself to the reader (or listener) in a way that makes you feel a connection in terms of her feelings towards vulnerability and trying to enjoying the process, the journey. I enjoyed a lot listening to her story by her self. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a great read or looking to hear the introspective journey of a great author on an amazing trip.

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18 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Love, love, LOVE this book!

I can't say enough good things about this book. It made me think. It challenged me. It made me smile !
A must read! What an adventure!

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

So-So

This book was ok but I found I didn't really connect with the philosophy of the characters. Parts of it I found a bit annoying. I just can't wrap my mind around some of the choices but that's me.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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love

before a solo trip heading to the Pacific Northwest I randomly and coincidentally Came Upon This Book. it gave me strength and certainly lightened my pack!

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20 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Enjoyed this contemplative read.

Deeper than I expected. Experienced some real situations and expressions, and I even laughed aloud a few times.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Vicarious travel through Europe while navigating the internal world

An interesting story of healing, self discovery and love set against an unusually freeing story of overseas exploration. I really enjoyed the juxtaposition of losing oneself while travelling extremely light (no ten outfits from 6 pieces for this woman!) and of finding one's voice and identity after a time of personal struggles with mental well-being and wholeness.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Love this book!!

I like everything about this book and highly recommend a listen. I’m left with an even bigger desire to get rid of my baggage and set off on an unplanned adventure.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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Thought provoking

This book was interesting, it makes you think about whether or not you could do something so wild and how you would handle it. The readers tone was sometimes so sad it was a bit depressing, I know the story is rooted with that concept, but listening shouldn't make you feel sad! But that wouldn't hold me back from recommending it!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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my favorite book I've ever listened to!

Such a beautifully written story about love, travel, and living in the moment. Inspirational and encouraging!!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Sweet, Clever & Brave

Would you consider the audio edition of No Baggage to be better than the print version?

I haven't read the print version, but I guess I would have to say the print version because the author has some extremely clever one liner descriptions that I would have dog eared and underlined had I the print book in my hands.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Jeff and Clara equally

Which character – as performed by Clara Bensen – was your favorite?

Herself

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No. It was good in chunks of time because of her extremely descriptive prose.

Any additional comments?

Clara is brave for putting all of that out there for dissection. Her descriptions are killer and her romance and honesty with Jeff is a really great story.

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