The Remembering

A Journey Back to Self

Non-Fiction - Self Help
236 Pages
Reviewed on 05/15/2025
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    Book Review

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

The Remembering: A Journey Back to Self by Peter Kennedy is a raw, introspective memoir-meets-guide that explores the spiritual and emotional transformation of a man disillusioned by the trappings of corporate success. Kennedy doesn’t offer a perfect formula for change but instead invites readers into the messy, unpredictable terrain of true growth, marked by synchronicity, surrender, and profound inner shifts. This is a story of peeling away societal masks, rediscovering buried truths, and listening to the quiet voice within. As Kennedy’s journey unfolds, it becomes an invitation to readers to embark on their own path of remembering and of reclaiming authenticity, peace, and connection with something deeper. Gentle, vulnerable, and inspiring, this book speaks to anyone navigating their own awakening.

Author Peter Kennedy has a keen talent for bringing readers into his world with confidence and gentility, and he writes with honesty and spiritual depth from cover to cover of this comforting read. This is bound to be useful to those amid personal reinvention, but it’s also a great starting point for anyone who’s feeling lost and wants to slow down, listen inward, and live with greater intention. Kennedy’s writing is naturally warm, but it also has a quiet confidence that allows readers to feel they’re in safe hands, and his soulful and courageous invitation to look inward was genuinely inspiring to read. I felt there was a lot to take from the journey that reflected on my own life, and this book will certainly resonate well beyond the author’s personal experience for its blend of memoir and universal truth. Overall, The Remembering: A Journey Back to Self is a highly recommended read and a beautiful companion for those seeking meaning beyond external success and certainty. I’m confident it’s a read that will bring peace to many.

Asher Syed

The Remembering: A Journey Back to Self by Peter Kennedy details his transformative journey, which began with a powerful experience in a Brazilian sweat lodge that forced him to confront his fears and emotional vulnerability. Through meditation, therapy, and introspection, Kennedy identified self-inflicted suffering driven by the pursuit of external validation and a fixation on future success. His journey led him to embrace emotional expression and integration of all aspects of himself, including confronting the "Man," a part of him that masked vulnerability with perfectionism. Kennedy's subsequent work in meditation, retreats, and somatic therapy facilitated deeper self-awareness. Kennedy shifted his understanding of success, moving from external achievements to internal fulfillment. His reflections culminate in a commitment to transformation through daily practices, radical self-love, and the embrace of discomfort as a catalyst for growth.

In The Remembering: A Journey Back to Self, Peter Kennedy gives us a wonderfully authentic and uniquely personal account of his transformative journey from a successful tech entrepreneur to a more self-aware and grounded individual. The way he writes comes across as conversational, and the result is like a discussion with a friend. Kennedy hides nothing in his candid and thoughtful approach and is successful in drawing us into the problems most of us have in prioritizing worldly, materialistic “success” with actual fulfillment. I like that he's able to capture the nuances of a man up against the emptiness behind success and leaning into the power of reframing one's sense of purpose. Kennedy's vulnerability and openness in sharing his path are both inspiring and relatable, making The Remembering not just a memoir of entrepreneurial triumph but a guide to understanding the deeper dimensions of success and personal transformation. Recommended.

Mansoor Ahmed

The Remembering is a powerful, deeply personal memoir that follows author Peter Kennedy’s emotional and spiritual awakening. It begins with a life-changing experience in a Brazilian temazcal, a traditional sweat lodge ceremony, where Kennedy is physically and mentally pushed to his breaking point. That moment becomes the catalyst for a much deeper journey—one that peels back layers of ego, fear, and control to uncover the truth about who he is. As the story unfolds, Kennedy reflects on his past, his family, and the unspoken pressures that shaped his identity. Through his raw storytelling, he explores themes like surrender, masculinity, vulnerability, and purpose. This is not a step-by-step guide to healing—it’s a companion for anyone who’s been brought to their knees by life and is trying to rise again with intention.

Peter Kennedy’s writing is honest, emotional, and immersive. The memoir is more than a collection of memories—it reads like a journey through the heart and mind of someone waking up from a life driven by fear and expectations. The narrative flows naturally, balancing introspection with vivid storytelling, especially during the intense temazcal scene. The pace is steady, allowing the reader to absorb each lesson and moment of clarity. There isn’t traditional “action,” but the emotional and psychological movement is profound. Kennedy’s voice is both vulnerable and grounded, and his reflections are relatable, especially for readers grappling with identity, success, and inner peace. The Remembering is heartfelt, insightful, and likely to resonate with anyone on a path of personal growth.

Emma Megan

The Remembering: A Journey Back to Self is a valuable book about the importance of evolving with intention, purpose, and authenticity. In it, Peter Kennedy shares when and where his journey of raw transformation began, the truth it revealed about himself, the people who helped him, and the lessons he learned along the way. He talks about his moments of surrender, confronting the fears holding him back, and how he learned to let go of control and surrender to allow something extraordinary to unfold. Most importantly, he reveals how he became trapped in a painful and never-ending cycle, always chasing the next thing, never feeling satisfied or fulfilled. This book shows how Peter reclaimed the parts of himself he buried and finally accepted the one that always pushed him to strive for the next external achievement, fear failure, and be perfect, as well as the vulnerable and soft part.

The Remembering: A Journey Back to Self is one of the finest and most powerful reminders that growth is never linear. With riveting personal details and meaningful insight, Peter Kennedy discusses the real work of love, the illusion of detachment, the trap of attachment, somatic therapy, the power of language, the ultimate Hero's Journey, the hamster wheel, the power of daily practice, and more. This book can spark a lasting transformation in the reader's life by helping them gain a fresh, brilliant perspective on what transformation really means. This book is ideal for those interested in an inspiring story of someone who embarked on a transformation journey that will make them rethink growth, take an honest inventory of their lives, and let go of the illusion of control.

Luwi Nyakansaila

The Remembering: A Journey Back to Self by Peter Kennedy is a self-help guide that chronicles the author's journey of self-discovery and awakening. Raised by wonderful parents who embodied kindness, humility, and hard work, and recognizing the tremendous success achieved by his grandfather, Kennedy felt compelled to chase wealth and success. As a child, he faced discouragement from someone who was supposed to guide him. This experience, combined with his desire to prove himself, led him on a path of great success in the influencer marketing industry. However, despite his achievements, he felt unfulfilled, trapped in a cycle of seeking meaning and failing to live in the present. This led to misery and depression. Determined to find answers, Kennedy embarked on a journey to discover the truth, freedom, purpose, and contentment in being himself, free from the need to prove his success, measure his worth, or exert control over everything.

The Remembering is a raw and honest exploration of personal transformation. It emphasizes that growth is nonlinear, often uncomfortable, and occurs at precisely the right moment. Throughout our lives, we search for meaning and purpose, pushing ourselves to the brink and losing our identity in the process. Peter Kennedy’s life illustrates this struggle and raises the question of whether we are pursuing success for the wrong reasons. It makes us consider if we have lost or hidden parts of ourselves that could help us understand our true purpose. His story is relatable and encourages readers to reflect on their own journeys. The narration is captivating and immersive. Just when you think he has found an answer, he delves even deeper into his search. This memoir takes you on an emotional rollercoaster and imparts vital lessons about meditation, daily practices, breath control, and finding freedom in silence. It is a powerful read that conveys an essential message about self-acceptance, discovering meaning beyond achievement, and living an authentic life grounded in gratitude, freedom, and love.