The Perseus Books Group Podcasts

About the Book

The Compass
Hardcover
$23.95 U.S.
$27.95 Canada
ISBN 9781593155421

The Compass is a life transformation parable that guides the reader through his or her own personal journey of self-discovery. At the core of The Compass are specific life lessons about belief systems, authenticity, and understanding who you really are in order to live out your destiny, and your role and connectedness to the world. As humans, we are all connected. By love, by pain, and sometimes even by tragedies or events. The philosophy that we are all connected is a major thread within the story of The Compass. Each one of us travels a very specific and unique path, yet we are linked by experiences and emotions. In this connectedness, there is life.
Jonathan, the main character of The Compass, escapes his suburban life and leaves his career, friends, family and house behind to set out on a journey across the earth. After a life altering tragedy Jonathan feels there is no other choice. He has nothing but a backpack, and he travels from the dry desert in Nevada to the pristine mountains in the Adirondacks, and then on to a medieval village in Romania, and then to Holland. Each destination is vastly unique with a diverse mix of people that he encounters, a metaphor that represents the kaleidoscope of our individual lives. In every location Jonathan meets one pivotal person that offers a crucial life lesson. Each individual represents a specific element of life. One character represents Wisdom, another Sorrow. Yet another character is Anger, Prophecy, Love, Forgiveness, and Joy. These hidden elements are a common thread throughout the book. Throughout Jonathan’s journey of discovery, the reader will contemplate his or her own life, gaining valuable transformational lessons along the way. This is more than just a book or a movement. It’s a personal life journey for the reader.

About the Authors

John Spencer Ellis is America's leading expert on fitness, personal development, and healthy living. John has been featured on ABC, NBC, CBS, PBS, FOX, FOX Sports, FOX Reality, SPIKE and ESPN. He is the fitness and lifestyle expert on Bravo's The Real Housewives of Orange County and Daybreak OC. John is a Fellow of the National Board of Fitness Examiners, the author of "How Badly Do You Want It? - Your Ultimate Guide to Optimal Fitness," and a contributor to "Power of Champions" and “Peak Vitality.” He is the producer of the documentary The Compass (Jan. 2009), and hosts The Fit Show, PersonalTrainerTV.com, The OC Body, The Spencer Power Hour, and the Ms. Fitness U.S.A and World pageants. John stars in the workout DVDs Playground Boot Camp and Kung-Fu Fitness, and has created fitness programs used by Cirque du Soleil, the U.S. Secret Service, Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard. John was nominated for induction to the Fitness Hall of Fame. John is the CEO of NESTA (National Exercise & Sports Trainers Association), the Spencer Institute for Life Coaching, and the Get America Fit Foundation. He is on the Advisory Boards of the National Health, Wellness and Prevention Congress, Exercise TV, Sleep Number Bed, Medical Wellness Association, and Health Journal Television among others. He created Adventure Boot Camp, the largest fitness boot camp system in the world. His TriActive America signature series of outdoor exercise equipment is used worldwide. Tammy Kling is an international author and literary coach to the world's leading CEO's, celebrities and individuals who want to pursue their dreams of writing a book. Her work has been featured in the NY Times, Wall Street Journal, Dateline NBC, Extra and Primetime. She has co-authored and collaborated on books with NFL players/ other athletes and the CEO’s of Dial, First Command, and executives at other major corporations such as Wrigley, The John Maxwell Group, and Wal-Mart. Her most recent release is There’s more to Life than the Corner Office; the secret to total life prosperity, (McGraw Hill/2009) Tammy guides executives, entrepreneurs, athletes, and individuals at all levels to achieve life and business transformation. The clarity of her life’s purpose is to write books that change lives.
John Spencer Ellis is America's leading expert on fitness, personal development, and healthy living. John has been featured on ABC, NBC, CBS, PBS, FOX, FOX Sports, FOX Reality, SPIKE and ESPN. He is the fitness and lifestyle expert on Bravo's The Real Housewives of Orange County and Daybreak OC. John is a Fellow of the National Board of Fitness Examiners, the author of "How Badly Do You Want It? - Your Ultimate Guide to Optimal Fitness," and a contributor to "Power of Champions" and “Peak Vitality.” He is the producer of the documentary The Compass (Jan. 2009), and hosts The Fit Show, PersonalTrainerTV.com, The OC Body, The Spencer Power Hour, and the Ms. Fitness U.S.A and World pageants. John stars in the workout DVDs Playground Boot Camp and Kung-Fu Fitness, and has created fitness programs used by Cirque du Soleil, the U.S. Secret Service, Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard. John was nominated for induction to the Fitness Hall of Fame. John is the CEO of NESTA (National Exercise & Sports Trainers Association), the Spencer Institute for Life Coaching, and the Get America Fit Foundation. He is on the Advisory Boards of the National Health, Wellness and Prevention Congress, Exercise TV, Sleep Number Bed, Medical Wellness Association, and Health Journal Television among others. He created Adventure Boot Camp, the largest fitness boot camp system in the world. His TriActive America signature series of outdoor exercise equipment is used worldwide. Tammy Kling is an international author and literary coach to the world's leading CEO's, celebrities and individuals who want to pursue their dreams of writing a book. Her work has been featured in the NY Times, Wall Street Journal, Dateline NBC, Extra and Primetime. She has co-authored and collaborated on books with NFL players/ other athletes and the CEO’s of Dial, First Command, and executives at other major corporations such as Wrigley, The John Maxwell Group, and Wal-Mart. Her most recent release is There’s more to Life than the Corner Office; the secret to total life prosperity, (McGraw Hill/2009) Tammy guides executives, entrepreneurs, athletes, and individuals at all levels to achieve life and business transformation. The clarity of her life’s purpose is to write books that change lives.