Book excerpt: What wisdom can equip us best for the journey of life? A young boy and his uncle are traveling with some friends across the desert in Egypt in 1934, on their way to Cairo. During a rest at a beautiful oasis, the older man decides that the time is right to begin preparing his nephew for the future. So, as the days pass, they talk about such things as inner peace, the challenge of change, the dynamic nature of balance, how things can help or harm us, the true power of the mind, the hidden structures of our world, the importance of wisdom, the elements of human nature, the necessity of love, the requirements of success, and the world's strangest gift of all - uncertainty. The boy keeps a diary. And what he learns on this journey may be as life changing for readers as it is for him. Philosopher Tom Morris has produced a gem of a book that's packed with wisdom for life and work today. You'll find in this short tale a profusion of vivid images, profound reminders, and new perspectives that can help greatly as you grapple at the interface of desire and difficulty throughout your life. There is profound and simple wisdom to be gained about how to deal with the opportunities and obstacles that are everywhere in this world. You'll find much of it here, in this brief but rich account of one remarkable trip. We can all cultivate the oasis within, of which this book speaks, and it will provide a source of peace and power that can lead to remarkable outer results.