Where the Heart Isn’t is a poignant account of cultural itinerancy. Part memoir, part essay and part survival manual, it deconstructs the notions of “home” and “heart” and chronicles the author’s quest to bring the two together.
The author weaves episodes of injustice, rebellion and awakening, which span several decades. Her remembrances, offered at first through the lens of a scientist, lead the reader to profound reflections on the importance of cultural exchanges. We are reminded that people who leave their homeland by choice or by necessity bring a unique perspective that is so important for social change. Finally, a powerful lesson: sometimes defeat can be a better teacher than success.
This is a tale for the present and the future, one that transgresses the cultural zeitgeist and geographical boundaries. It is a coming-of-middle-age story for Generation X and all other generations who are on the path of life.
Trained as a Biophysicist, Ileana Stoica obtained her PhD from Cornell University, USA. She went on to produce many scientific publications, first as an academic researcher and later as a medical writer. Ileana has led her own consultancy, SciLogism Ltd, since 2015.
SciLogism won the Medical Writer of the Year 2024 award by Corporate LiveWire and the 2023/2024 Most Innovative Healthcare Communication Consultancy by Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) News. When not writing, Ileana offers career coaching to professionals exploring their options after academia. In this capacity, she was recently awarded Best Bespoke Career Coaching Company 2024, Greater London by SME News.
Find out more at http://www.scilogism.com.
Victor –
For a Gen Z reader, this is a very insightful commentary on the years in which we grew up and a few decades before. It gives a lot of context to the Gen X world view, but also lessons for anyone now entering academia, the young professional scene and looking to find identity in a different country and continent. I appreciate how the author has condensed 40 years of life stories into a quick read on a few metro rides, while still being able to stick.
Hans N. –
Having followed a very similar trajectory as the author, and being Gen X myself, I relate to most of the experiences described in this memoir. Moreover, as I don’t have the talent to write a book like this myself, I am glad to see that someone brought to light the experiences of our generation. We are supposed to be the silent ones, and this book gives us a voice without shouting from the top of the lungs. It is a beautifully written testimonial. About time!