Finding Michael: A Journey in Search of My Soul

During his teenage summers, Michael Barnett discovered his passion lay far from the monotonous environment of a UK shipping company office where he observed the disheartened older employees.

Choosing to pursue a love for the outdoors and a talent in mathematics and sciences, he embarked on a civil engineering career that took him around the globe. This first instalment of a two-part memoir spans his life and career from 1943 to 1984, detailing his adventures and professional growth from advanced studies in Chicago to diverse construction sites worldwide, including Samoa, Spain, Saudi Arabia, and more.

Through journal entries and letters, Barnett shares the rich tapestry of emotions and experiences that shaped his journey.

Michael Barnett is a retired Civil Engineer from Wellington, New Zealand. Initially, he worked as a geotechnician before moving to Chicago in 1967 to undertake advanced studies in Civil Engineering. During a career spanning fifty years, he travelled extensively in the 1970s, working in countries as diverse as Samoa, Spain, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, Indonesia, the UAE, the USA, Australia, and latterly in Chile, Peru, Columbia, and Southeast Asia.

Michael is a writer and a thinker with a special interest in national and international affairs. He reads extensively and writes about the political issues of the day, including their historical context.