Candy Bowden, former editor of Random House

Steinar Karlsen’s The Gift of the Wind is a must read for anyone facing a crisis of thought. It is a manual aimed at human beings who are questioning modern society, the meaning of success, materialism, religion, politics and who are seeking true happiness and individual fulfillment. It masquerades as the simple story of an American Indian hero, Strong Elk, who has achieved everything considered valuable by people he respects, admires and fears, but who finds himself deeply dissatisfied and empty. The tale tracks Strong Elk as he faces considerable obstacles on his quest to regain the happiness he lost at birth. This is a complex, deeply spiritual process which wrenches Strong Elk, and the reader out of our comfort zones which we have bought and collectively paid for at the price of apathy, our desires to be liked and to “fit in”, and our fear of change.

This is not a Native American tradition “wanna be” book. It will not persuade you to buy a more economical automobile; it will not convince you to build a teepee in your backyard; it will not teach you how to make compost. What it might do is challenge all of your assumptions and force you to look at yourself. It is a self help book unlike most self help books. It is not a “how to” book of steps to take to become the best that you can be, but rather a journey through the subconscious which, whether you want it to or not, will change you because it will transmit a message to you on a subconscious level.

In some ways this is a dangerous book. It might change your life. It might force you to make sacrifices. Much like Jason’s search for the Golden Fleece, Strong Elk’s quest and yours might inform you that true happiness can only be achieved when each individual has the courage to become just that, an individual.

This slim book is very readable and will hold your interest from beginning till end. I strongly recommend it to everyone, young and old. Whether you are desperately looking for meaning in your life, merely curious or simply bored, you will undoubtedly take something from this experience and if you are really lucky you will find the Golden Fleece at the end of your journey, a journey only you can make.

Remember, it’s the journey that counts.