Oh the Effen Places You'll Effen Go

Oh The Effen Places You'll Effen Go is a gift book for anyone commencing on a journey through the dynamic depths of life and change. With all the planning that it takes to go places (in the outside world), Oh The Effen Places... poetically describes how it is one’s personal “inner” journey that gives direction to life’s adventure. As a mirror shows you what you look like on the outside, a journal shows you what you look like within. In this book, we follow a walking journal as he sheds, crumples, burns, folds, faces and eventually embraces all of the pages of himself. Originally a poem given to his nephew on his high school graduation, YUJ evolved his words into a vivid, whimsical cartoon companion to his nieces and nephews as they embark upon their own journeys to the inevitable Effen places life presents. This book is the perfect gift for a graduation, career advancement, military deployment, surfacing from addiction or depression, or anyone going through a transition that could use a little self reflection.

Your Uncle Josh has been an uncle since the age of 9. Poetry began at 12 out of the tragic loss of his young nephew, but beyond words and rhyme - poetry became more of a world view for YUJ. Life is a poem lived. YUJ is also known as Joshua Kobak, an actor, singer, aerialist, poet, illustrator and conceptualist who grew up in Medina Ohio. Primed for expression due to the depths of loss, YUJ eventually made his way to Cincinnati where he attended CCM, a college-conservatory for Musical Theatre. It was there in which his performance skills were honed, and his masterful ability to connect inner and outer worlds artistically was practiced, culminating in his first theatrical invention - The Colors of Love, which combined his songwriting, poetry and story telling concepts into a fully fledged production at The Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati. In the years that followed, YUJ moved to New York City, and co-created another show, Subway Train - Beat Poetry Musical, about life underground in NYC. at the same time recording and releasing two albums of original music with his band, SWIM. In addition to creating his own shows, he also performed on Broadway in over 22 roles (as an original cast member in 3 of them) Rent, Tarzan, American Idiot, Spiderman - Turn Off The Dark, and in the immersive experience Fuerza Bruta. Sadly, in 2011 while performing as the aerial Spiderman on Broadway, YUJ sustained several injuries that put a halt to his professional performing career. It was during this challenging time that Joshua discovered the purpose and importance of becoming Your Uncle Josh; as a means to heal and move on personally, while passing along his newest life lessons to his ‘nieces and nephews’ all over the world with the hope that others will benefit from his journey through the things he wasn't told, but has found to be true. YUJ’s work focuses on the beloved, yet too often ignored, golden rules we all grew up with, exploring love, kindness, compassion, generosity, and karma as some of his prominent themes.