About
John Hymus
What happens when a young man leaves home with little more than a sleeping bag, a thumb for hitchhiking, and a deep sense that life must hold more meaning? That question lies at the heart of Take My Hand, the remarkable memoir by Welsh author and linguist John Hymus, recently discussed on the PublishU Podcast.
In this deeply personal and inspiring conversation, John shares the extraordinary experiences that shaped his life — from hitchhiking across Europe in the 1960s to travelling overland through Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India, all while searching for truth, identity and purpose. His story is one of adventure, faith, language, curiosity and ultimately transformation.
Before becoming an author, John Hymus spent much of his professional life teaching languages. A gifted linguist, he taught English as a foreign language and also became fluent in German, French and Russian, while learning to read or decipher several other languages including Hebrew, Arabic and Hindi. During the podcast, he jokingly refers to himself as “a good parrot”, but his passion for language clearly runs far deeper than mimicry.
John and his wife later founded a British Council-accredited language school in North Wales and even developed English-learning programmes for kindergarten children in Germany. Yet despite his impressive academic and professional background, John never viewed himself as extraordinary.
That humility becomes one of the defining themes of Take My Hand. The book is not written from the perspective of someone trying to impress readers. Instead, it is the honest reflection of a man trying to understand life itself.
As John explains during the podcast, it was actually his children who encouraged him to write the book. They believed his life experiences deserved to be documented for future generations. Initially, he intended the manuscript purely as a family memoir. However, after connecting with PublishU, the project evolved into a fully published book intended to inspire a wider audience.
The title Take My Hand carries both emotional and spiritual significance. Throughout the podcast, John reflects on his younger years, describing an inner restlessness and confusion that drove him to travel and search for meaning.
Growing up in post-war Britain, surrounded by men returning from the Second World War, John struggled to understand the purpose of life. He recalls the fear surrounding the Cuban Missile Crisis and questioning why humanity simply existed to work, study and eventually die.
Rather than accepting a conventional path, he began hitchhiking across Britain and Europe while still a teenager. He travelled alone through countries including Sweden, Yugoslavia and Greece, sleeping rough in fields, parks and beaches along the way.
These journeys were not merely acts of youthful rebellion. They represented a deeper search — an attempt to discover whether life held something beyond routine and survival.
The phrase “Take My Hand” reflects this longing for guidance. As John explains, it was almost like a silent plea for help directed toward something — or someone — he did not yet fully understand.
One of the most compelling aspects of John’s story is the sheer scale of his adventures. During the podcast, listeners hear about experiences that seem almost unimaginable today.
At one point, John hitchhiked alone from Wales to Yugoslavia following an earthquake in Skopje. Later, after meeting strangers on a beach in Thessaloniki, he joined them on a multi-day climb up Mount Olympus.
He also recounts travelling overland to India through Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan during a period when such journeys were still possible. Living simply and often sleeping rough, John embraced uncertainty in a way that few modern travellers would dare attempt.
These stories give Take My Hand the feel of both a travel memoir and a spiritual pilgrimage. Readers are not only taken across physical landscapes but also through the emotional and philosophical development of a young man trying to understand himself and the world around him.
Although Take My Hand contains adventure and humour, its deeper foundation lies in faith.
John shares how, while studying at University of Cambridge, he became a Christian after years of confusion and searching. At the time, he had been preparing for work linked to the British government during the Cold War and had even been trained in Russian by émigrés connected to intelligence work.
Yet instead of pursuing that path, he chose a life of Christian mission and service.
The book traces this spiritual awakening gently and honestly. Rather than presenting rigid answers, John speaks openly about doubt, fear, curiosity and discovery. His journey resonates because it feels authentic and deeply human.
For readers who enjoy memoirs centred on personal growth, spirituality, travel and identity, Take My Hand offers a rare combination of sincerity and adventure.
In a modern world often dominated by noise, speed and distraction, John Hymus’ story feels refreshingly reflective. His experiences remind readers of the importance of curiosity, courage and meaningful connection.
At its core, Take My Hand asks timeless questions:
The podcast conversation reveals that John never intended to become an author or public figure. Yet that authenticity is precisely what makes his story compelling.
His humility, humour and honesty transform Take My Hand from a simple memoir into something far more universal — a story about the human search for meaning.
This article is based on an interview with Matt Bird, founder of PublishU, helping first-time and serial non-fiction authors to write, publish and market books worldwide.
Connect with Matt on Instagram 👉🏼 CLICK HERE or LinkedIn 👉🏼 CLICK HERE
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