Since he was a boy, Holt dreamed about traveling to India. His determination to do so increased during his years at Dartmouth College. He joined the Army CounterIntelligence Corps with the agreement that following Intelligence School he would be a Special Agent in Germany. He knew that from there he could launch his journey into Asia.

After fourteen months in Asia as told in this book, he worked for the International Division of his company making it possible for him and his family, with four daughters, to live in Europe and be able to travel to Egypt and East Africa.
Retiring at 62, he continued his adventure travels with his solo circumnavigation of the world in a 35 foot sailboat. You can read about it in his book Around the World in Six Years.