PRAISE FOR OFF COURSE ON PURPOSE:
“A celebratory memoir about mixing obsession, creative thinking, and hustle to turn passion into a career.”
— Foreword Clarion Reviews
“A memoir that asks the ultimate question: 'What is a person supposed to do with a whole life?’”
— BlueInk Review
“Berry engagingly demystifies the world of professional juggling with detailed scenes and humorous anecdotes.”
— Kirkus Reviews
“A thoughtful, well-crafted meditation on reinvention.”
— Alana M. Kelley, IndieReader
“It’s less about giving you answers and more about showing you what it looks like to figure things out in real time.”
— Kathryn Dare, Los Angeles Book Review
“Many aspire to operate outside of safety nets, but few accounts follow the process of how this can be achieved.”
— D. Donovan, Midwest Book Review
“An expansive and deeply personal memoir that blends coming-of-age storytelling with entrepreneurial grit and an unconventional philosophy on success.”
— Jack Davis, San Francisco Book Review
“Where the book really shines is in its honesty about chasing something unconventional.”
— Kyle Eaton, Manhattan Book Review
“A substantive and thoughtful memoir… a realistic portrayal of success that acknowledges the time, effort, and resilience required to achieve meaningful goals.”
— Scott Olsen, Chicago Book Review
Off Course On Purpose is the unlikely journey of Bill Berry, who walked out of high school in 1995 with no diploma, no prospects, no plan, and quickly found himself buried in long hours, dead-end work, and the kind of grinding routine that leaves you exhausted with nothing to show for it. By every measure, he was headed toward a forgettable life. Then he dusted off a childhood skill he had picked up in fifth grade, juggling, and something unexpected happened. A spark caught.
That spark became a fire that eventually carried Berry to all 50 states, 85 countries, and multiple world championship titles. It opened doors to perform on cruise ships, college campuses, military tours, and corporate stages. More than that, it gave him the keys to build a full-time life as an artist, something most people are told is impossible.
This isn't just a performer's memoir. It's a raw behind-the-scenes look at how a kid with nothing but stubborn grit and a "foolish" dream learned the hidden skills that separate amateurs from professionals. Communication. Social dynamics. Promotion. Resilience. The willingness to keep going long after the novelty wears off, and what actually happens when you refuse to quit.
Berry's story is equal parts underdog memoir, field manual, and manifesto for anyone who has ever felt trapped by circumstance, overworked, overlooked, or quietly convinced there had to be something more. In a time when old-school values like hard work, integrity, and curiosity are often dismissed, his life argues otherwise.
With humor, honesty, and hard-won insight, Off Course On Purpose offers not only the story of a young man who refused to compromise, but a roadmap for dreamers who are ready to turn passion into purpose, and purpose into a life worth living.
Guinness World Record holding sword swallower, three time world champion juggler, professional entertainer, yoga instructor, and author. Bill Berry has entertained on dozens of cruise ships, at 100's of colleges, countless corporate events, and 11 MWR military tours. With over 7,000 shows to his credit, he's visited 85 countries and every state in the US. And while he was doing all that, he wrote down the interesting things that happened along the way. Millions of words flowed from his fingers, and now he's opened the vault. With a focus on allegorical non-fiction and the moments in life that move, his style has been described as "Chicken Soup for the Soul" meets "The Endless Summer." He currently resides in Saint Petersburg, Florida, with his wife and two tuxedo kitties. www.mrbillberry.com Find on social media: mrbillberry
