In "Lost in the Cosmos: The Last Self-Help Book," Walker Percy explores the idea that individuals often seek transformation through travel. Many believe that relocating to a new environment will lead to personal reinvention and fulfillment. This expectation creates significant pressure, as it suggests that one's sense of self is contingent on external circumstances rather than internal growth.

Travel, in this context, becomes a burden rather than a liberating experience. The notion that simply changing locations can unlock a new identity overlooks the complexities of the self. Percy emphasizes that true transformation must come from within, rather than relying solely on the physical act of moving to a new place.