Escaping Expectations follows the adventures of Beverly Palmer, a psychologist, during her six months in Borneo. Starting as a frightened American whose bank and credit cards were frozen, to becoming a professor who embraced, enjoyed, and lectured at a foreign university will thrill and entrance you. Dr. Palmer shares how she worked on her core belief that a good life isn’t about doing what others expect but about having the courage to follow your adventurous nature, wherever it might lead. Her passion is infectious! This is a 5-star read!
Art Smukler MD, psychiatrist and member of the UCLA faculty.
In Escaping Expectations, Dr. Beverly Palmer brings the rare combination of an academic researcher’s inquiry, a painter’s eye, and a psychologist’s sensitivity to vividly recount her journey in colorful and clashing Borneo when it was still exotic, pre-Sept 2011. I feel like I am right there with the author, visiting colorful Borneo, in awe and wonder. This book reads fast and smart, blending personal and universal truths, questioning inner and outer limitations and expectations through the lens of social upbringing and in the context of diverse cultural values. I found the book to be beautifully written and impactful, full of practical advice and psychological insight that is especially relevant and important for anyone who wishes to navigate today’s changing and divisive times peacefully.
This adventure is full of emotional insights and psychological truths about inner and outer expectations. One phrase especially resonated with me: “I did not want others’ expectations imposed on me, nor did I want to depend on others’ opinions for my view of myself.”
Joann Ng., MD