Pilgrimage to the End of the World: The Road to Santiago de Compostela Book

I've already read a book about an atheist taking the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostella, but until reading this second book of the kind I didn't consider it necessarily a drawback. Rudolph treats the subject well and he draws on his background in medieval art with sensitivity and respect for what the way once was. His lack of belief wouldn't have hindered the book except that he seemed compelled to repeat it early and often. What's more, he doesn't state it simply as his lack. Rather, he continually reminds us that modern man simply doesn't believe. He doesn't sufficiently address the question (at least not early on ... I have to admit I eventually gave up on this short book) of why he's taking a pilgrimage he has no belief in, nor does he recognize that the vast majority of modern men and women don't share his lack of belief in the supernatural. He ends up a man out of touch not only with the ancient pilgrimage, not only out of touch with those around him walking the Camino Real, but also out of touch with most of the modern world he claims to be so much a part of. As eloquent as his description and even appreciation of the pilgrimage is, he weakens the book by constantly reminding us of his lack of faith (as if to reassure his colleagues in academia, "It's okay, I'm writing about this stuff but I know it's all bunk) without exploring it.