Surfing the Torrent is about a quest for truth, goodness, and beauty in a world that increasingly questions their very existence. The first of the two parts consists of poems derived from experiences in Greece revealing the birth of love for the place, and a woman of that place, the author's wife. The second part expands to journeys to Europe, India, Taiwan, China, Japan, and through the US, all of which contribute to the winding road. The poems explore varying worldviews and religions, eventually discovering theosis and spiritual growth. Humor plays a role, as it too can be revelatory. The reader is invited to enjoy the poems in a way that is elusive in much modern poetry.

Jonathan Chaves is a scholar and translator of Chinese poetry whose books have been awarded the American Literary Translators Association's Lucien Stryk award for best Asian translation and nominated in the translation category for the National Book Award. He is professor of Chinese literature at The George Washington University.