Africa Books

Book lived up to all expectations and is a valuable research resource. Postage was prompt and effective except at this end (Australia) the postal service provided delivery to destination by contract courier who left the article in an exposed situation and it was badly affected by heavy rain. Claims have been made on Australia Post - the book is barely usable and will not last because of the damage - none of which is attributable to Amazon.
Thank You
Barry HARRISON

General Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck was the commander of the Imperial German armed forces in East Africa during WWI. At the outbreak of hostilities he realized that he could not possible hope to defeat the combined military might of Britain, France, and Belgium in Africa so he chose to use his small force to threaten British interests in Africa and tie down a much larger number troops that might have been used more profitably at the decisive Western front. Almost completely isolated from Germany (he only received additional supplies a few times, and never after 1916), he nevertheless tied down more than 100,000 British (and allied) troops and led them around East Africa, inflicting several crushing defeats, and never being defeated himself. He initially defended the borders and threatened English colonies, later as the English manpower grew he evaded a pitched battle and fought a guerilla war surrendering several days after the armistice on the Western front.

This book is Gen. Lettow-Vorbeck's memoirs of the events of the Great War in Africa. This book contains a wealth of information about the military details of the campaign, but there is so much more. There are several points (beyond the strictly military) that may be of interest to potential readers. First, Gen. Lettow-Vorbeck is constantly concerned about the supply situation. Particularly later in the war, the German army is often on the move and cannot easily maintain and defend fixed supply depots, so one of the primary concerns about maneuver has to be the availability of food in the new district. It is said that amateur generals talk about tactics, real generals talk about logistics, a point brought home in this book. Reading through this book, I constantly thought about the campaigns of the Napoleonic wars in which the armies lived off the land. I don't know of any other military campaign in which growing crops and big game hunting played a critical role! Second, the General presents a can-do, duty first attitude throughout this book that is as relevent today as it was in 1914. The German soldiers were far from home in a backwater, but General Lettow-Vorbeck was determined that they would do their utmost for their cause and maintain a positive attitude at the same time. The General's sense of duty and positive spirit are written on every page. Third, this book presents an interesting slice of life into colonial Africa of the early 20th century and what life was like under German colonial rule. Americans often view the British as the most enlightened of the colonial rulers, but in fact the locals were probably much better off under the Germans (or French). There are some interesting insights into the relationships between the colonial government, the German immigrants, and the natives.

The reasons that I give this book only four stars are three-fold. First, the writing is extremely dry, and the maps are entirely inadequate and some are nearly illegible. I've read a great many dry military histories in my time (see my other reviews), but this one took some discipline and effort on my part to get through. There is an enormous amount of detail about Lt. Such-and-such being sent here, and Capt. So-and-so being sent there without any discussion of the higher level picture. Many of the places can't be found on the maps in the book, and many of the names of the towns have changed so that it is difficult to follow with a modern atlas. Second, the price is rather steep at $32 for a paperback. This is not a book that one will return to again and again and unless you are a hard-core aficiando of the Great War, this book is probably not worth spending that kind of money on (borrow it from the library). Third, you really need to already know a fair amount about the Great War in Africa to put this work into context. Do not read this as an intro. I knew very little about the events of the war in Africa before approaching this book, and I've now bought Farwell's work to fill in the gaps, but I feel that I would have been much better off having read Farwell (or a similar text) first. You should read this book to learn about Gen. Lettow-Vorbeck's view of his role in the campaign, not to learn about the campaign itself.

The bottom line is that this is an absolute must read for any serious student of the Great War in Africa, you cannot possibly claim to be well read about this era without having read von Lettow-Vorbeck's memoirs. However, I would not strongly recommend this book for the more casual reader, as I've described in detail above. The short five-star reviews given to this book do not, in my view, adequately describe this work.

Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck was the German general who handicapped allied forces during the First World War in East Africa. His exploits are legendary. With only several thousand men he defeated, and then harrassed, several hundered thousand British troops.

Lettow-Vorbeck recounts his experiences in this landmark book on guerilla warfare with proud satisfaction. Although his writing style is technical and antiquated, the historical significance of his account is monumental. Never suffering a major defeat, Lettow-Vorbeck only surrendered his highly skilled German and native troops after the war in Europe ended.

Lettow-Vorbeck gentlemanly remarked in his concluding paragraphs that "everyone seemed to think that we had preserved some part of Germany's soldierly traditions." Indeed he did.

I recommend that those interested in this book first try Byron Farwell's "The Great War in Africa".

A memoir of a forgotten war by a great man, should be read anyone who in uniform, who was in the service or as any interest in the military what so ever.

Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck was the German general who handicapped allied forces during the First World War in East Africa. His exploits are legendary. With only several thousand men he defeated, and then harrassed, several hundered thousand British troops.

Lettow-Vorbeck recounts his experiences in this landmark book on guerilla warfare with proud satisfaction. Although his writing style is technical and antiquated, the historical significance of his account is monumental. Never suffering a major defeat, Lettow-Vorbeck only surrendered his highly skilled German and native troops after the war in Europe ended.

Lettow-Vorbeck gentlemanly remarked in his concluding paragraphs that "everyone seemed to think that we had preserved some part of Germany's soldierly traditions." Indeed he did.

I recommend that those interested in this book first try Byron Farwell's "The Great War in Africa".

I've been using this guide in Southern Africa for the last 6 years, and it's never let me down. Great book for those traveling to the region, but keep in mind that most guides at the wildlife parks will already have a copy, so you could save the weight and space in your luggage.

Have not actually been to southern Africa yet, but plan to do so next summer. I have been an avid birder for 3 decades, and it looks like the format of this book will be very useful for my trip.

this is the best bird guide for birds of the region. I have carefully looked over others on the market.

Excellent book with very good graphics and organization. Just what is needed to confirm your observations or identify your sightings.

Now in a fully revised eighth edition, Newman's Birds Of Southern Africa is a field guide to 125 species of Southern African birds illustrated throughout with realistic full-color artwork. Each species has an entry with a map indicating their distribution, their common and scientific name, a brief paragraph with a basic physical description and notes on distinguishing characteristics, and a gorgeous, realistic color illustration. A revised introduction teaches the reader step-by-step how to use the guide to quickly identify avian species, and a glossary, index and birdwatching checklist round out this first-class resource. A treat for bird lovers due to the top-quality artistry alone, as well as being a quintessential identification guide, Newman's Birds Of Southern Africa is enthusiastically recommended for amateur birdwatchers and professional biologists alike.

Ms. Itano's work makes the complex challenge that HIV/AIDS poses to southern Africa and the world at large understandable to the lay reader. She blends personal stories with lessons on history, culture, and medicine, making AIDS personal for her readers. Her characters are compelling, and her personal relationship to and concern for them is evident. I'm looking forward to her next book.

I visited South Africa in 2006 so I feel this book is very relevant to my experiences there. If you want to learn about truth and suffering, and step back into reality, this is the book that will help you do that. There is truly no place left to bury the dead in South Africa.

I am amazed I haven't heard more buzz about this book ... it's a great book and I'm so happy I read it. But it's not the happiest of subject matters obviously.

Despite the No Place Left to Bury the Dead title, this book details the struggles people, particularly women, LIVING with HIV/AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa experience.

HIV/AIDS in Africa is no longer an automatic death sentence but there are too few people getting HIV/AIDS tests, too much stigma and far too many people are not getting the treatment they need due to a number of issues including money, lack of knowledge, stigma and most importantly lack of a proper health care infrastructure.

It may frustrate the reader that the book doesn't have an official ending or happy notes on the book's main characters ... but I guess that's reality unfortunately.

Buy this book!

Pamela Appea

Itano's extraordinarily personal reporting and the powerful narrative it produced makes this book seem like a movie on paper. You have the sense that one day you'll see characters like Rich Uncle Isaacs, Adeline, and Bongy come to life on the silver screen. It packs a powerful emotional wallop and brings Africa to life in all its amazing colors. Could easily be the next Constant Gardener.

The story of HIV/AIDS is, in the end, the story of people. Nicole Itano's wonderful book brings that truism to life on each page, explaining how a slow-burning virus changes the lives of three people in southern Africa, the epicenter of the pandemic.

I spent eight years in Africa and found AIDS one of the hardest stories to tell. How do you write the same story from a new angle? How do you keep people interested when it's so easy for them to turn away? With news stories there's a definite beginning, middle and end. The story of HIV/AIDS is more like a terrible, melting glacier. We can take snapshots of it as the story changes but getting an idea of its unremitting destruction---and our attempts to slow that destruction---is much harder. A book actually lends itself much better to explaining AIDS and its effects. Read this one. Deeply researched and well written it adds a lot to our understanding of one of the most important stories of our time.

(Full disclosure, I'm a friend of Nicoles and am thus a little biased. Doesn't stop me from recommending this book, though!)

This book, written by a personw ith long standing attachment and interest int he Bushmen of the Kalahari is a good summary of what they were like in the l950's and how they have (beenforced) changed and moved into today south Africa and Bostwana.

An interesting and unique group of people, the Bushmen give links to what early human life was like. Ms Thomas does do a little interpreting about violence and drinking and gender roles, but it is plausible and interesting to reflect upon.

I first heard of the Bushmen through National Geographic's Genographic Project (Spencer Wells "The Journey of Man") which found genetic evidence suggesting Bushmen are one of the oldest, if not the oldest, peoples in the world--a "genetic Adam" from which all the worlds ethnic groups can ultimately trace genetic heritage. Within the face of a Bushmen one can see all the genetic expressions of the world (Asian eyes, African nose, Indian skin, etc..) So I was delighted when this new book appeared by bushmen expert Elizabeth Marshall Thomas who, along with her brother and parents, were one of the first westerners to live with and scientifically document the Bushmen in the 1950s (when Elizabeth was a teenager). Her parents and brother went on to become famous Bushmen experts and proponents in their own careers.

Older members of the Bushmen tribe were valued and respected for their wisdom, likewise Elizabeth is passing down her knowledge and experience for later generations. The Bushman way of life she saw in the 1950s, perhaps as old as 150,000 years, no longer exists - all it took was one generation and the long unbroken chain known as "The Old Way" has disappeared. It is the same sad story told the world over from Native Americans to Tibet to Eskimos. Yet Elizabeth reveals a deeper lesson, which is the "myth" that the Bushmen ever wanted it any other way - they want the comforts of modernization, just as we would prefer not to hunt and gather food each day. Bushmen want to travel, see the world, be a part of wider humanity, and for that we can celebrate and welcome all they have to teach. This book provides that introduction.

Thomas, anthropologist and author of such diverse bestsellers as "The Hidden Life of Dogs," and two excellent pre-history novels, "Reindeer Moon" and "The Animal Wife," began her writing career with the study, "The Harmless People," based on her youthful sojourn among the Bushmen of the Kalahari Desert. The Bushmen may be the only people who ever lived without war. But more on that later.

With "The Old Way," she returns to the subject of that first book - a title that has been in print since 1959. Marshall first encountered the Ju/wasi, one of the five groups of Bushmen, in 1950 when she was 18, on the first of several Kalahari trips with her parents and brother.

Her father, a founder of Raytheon, was a highly organized, take-charge sort of person, with versatile skills. Her mother, a former ballerina turned teacher, became a noted anthropologist over the course of these (and more) trips, and her brother devoted most of his life to the Bushmen.

In the 1950s the Ju/wasi maintained their ancient nomadic culture in near isolation. Except for bits of metal they obtained in trade and used for arrowheads, the Ju/wasi made everything they needed from local material. They did not farm and had no domestic animals, but obtained all their food from hunting and gathering. They were the last people on earth, says Thomas, to follow the "Old Way," a way of life that depends on knowledge handed down one-to-one from generation to generation. The Old Way depends on intimacy between habitat and humanity.

Thomas' book is not a scientific study or a memoir, but a bit of both, as well as a celebration and lament for a culture now gone. It's also a thoughtful reflection on how the Old Way shaped our species from the time we came down out of the trees and stepped on to the Savannah.

Water, says Thomas, controlled the size of human hunter-gatherer groups, and that remained true among the Ju/wasi. Rain was scarce, and water holes passed down through families. Though children were betrothed young, they did not cohabit until the girl reached menarche - about age 17 - and the average age for bearing a first child was 19.

Similarly, though no birth control was used, women bore children about four years apart and seldom had more than four. This was just what could be sustained, without starvation or overburdening the mother or group.

Alliances were complex, all going to foster the strength of the group. Survival depended on group cohesion and the force of their culture went into strengthening those bonds, subsuming, smothering, the desires of the individual.

The sharing of food, for instance, had little to do with who actually killed or gathered the food and the complex system was worked out before the gathering or hunting trip began. Periodic dances also reinforced ties and helped to dispel repressed tensions.

Repression was the usual means of maintaining harmony. Temper tantrums, even among children, were frowned upon - for one thing childish noise could attract predators. Arguments flared, of course, but were almost always settled without violence.

War, to the Ju/wasi, was unknown. Not because they were right thinking pacifists, but because they had developed the perfect weapon to make war - or murder - unthinkable.

The Ju/wasi had only one real weapon - the poisoned arrow. It was all they used to hunt (though they finished off game with a spear). The poison was invariably fatal. A man who settled an argument with a stab from an arrow couldn't take it back - but he would have days to watch his victim die. And the victim, facing certain death, would be perfectly healthy for a day or more and quite capable of wreaking revenge.

The lack of suitable weapons, and even more, the lack of any kind of shield, convince Thomas the Ju/wasi have never known war. She makes a convincing case.

By the 1980s, however, the Ju/wasi were being forced into villages. Many of those Marshall knew as children are now dead - killed in fights, often fueled with drink. Today, alcohol and violence have decimated the Ju/wasi.

While the book's conclusion is wrenching, most of it is a celebration of their intricate culture. Marshall captures the imagination with anecdotes - many from her old journals - that illustrate the matter-of-fact resourcefulness of a people who know the intricacies of all the plants and animals of their desert home.

Some of her anecdotes simply demonstrate the odd commonalities of humanity: "Although I will eventually learn enough !Kung to stumble along in the language...at this point I am at the stage where the Ju/wasi either address me in baby talk or raised voices, or both."

She describes gathering trips that take all day, but don't get going until mid-morning, baffling her own Yankee work ethic. Until she realizes the wisdom of waiting until lions and other nighttime predators are well and truly asleep.

The lion stories are horrifically thrilling. She describes a lioness coming to the edge of their small encampment and roaring threateningly: "The roar was so deep and so loud that it had no direction. It seemed to be coming from anywhere, everywhere." Yet, scary as they were, the lions never hunted or preyed upon the Bushmen.

Marshall does not try to provide answers for all her questions. Some things are "unknowable." This eloquent, passionate book does foster a sense of wonder at our own evolution. Though we've traded much of our intimacy with the earth for modern civilization, Marshall shows how many traces of the Old Way linger on in our blood.

After reading the super review on Amazon of this book, we ordered it for our son as a Christmas gift. He is a college senior Anthropology major. He was glad to have it and read it on the way home from FL to AZ. He said the book was very insighful and a good read.

I have all her books but two and I have been a fan for years and years. Starting with reindeer moon and then The hidden life of dogs, Tribe of Tiger, Certain Poor Shephards and everything else except Warrior Tribesman and The Harmless People which I plan to order. The books I have ordered or which were bought for me online were ordered by my best friend. I hope Elizabeth Marshall Thomas writes many more books. If I did not already have the most wonderful mother, I would wish that she was my mother. I really love her view of life, people and animals and nature. She is my favorite author of all time and I would'nt even loan her books to anyone else for fear of losing them. Keep it up EMT I'm forever your fan and I will always reread your books.

This book should be standard issue to any candidate officer at both Sandhurst and West Point.

There are a ton of lessons here that could/should have been used in Iraq.

This book should be a mandatory read for Non-commissioned officers and Officers serving in special mission units or special operations the world over. In the counter-insurgency / low-intensity conflict arena there are many valuable lessons to be learned from this text, and for the armchair historian or casual reader the story is still gripping enough to keep you enthralled to the last page. Basically this is story of the birth and death of one of the most feared insurgency units of the time, as told by the founder of this outstanding unit; Ron Reid-Daly. It covers the units training, selection, operations, and personalities of the unit with the war being the tool that propels the story and evolution of the unit. One of the most remarkable aspects of Selous scouts was their employment of pseudo-terrorist techniques, which were used to melt into know terrorist cells, to either eliminate the terrorist themselves or direct other assets to the known cells to be neutralized. While conducting these type operations the Selous Scouts maintained the cover of being a combat tracking (mantracking) unit, as to keep their true purpose under wraps from the rest of the Rhodesian Security Forces. I would also like to point out they were truly all trained tracks and maintained this capability to superb levels of proficiency. This book is a re-release and completely revamped version of "SELOUS SCOUTS - Top Secret War" (original title). If you read the original edition you will enjoy this one much better. Many areas in the book have been rewritten and their many additions and details added to the text. Many of the names of individual have added into this text, originally kept exempt for security and safety reasons. Also there are many new photographs added and the Illustrations are a lot crisper. One of the biggest treats in this edition is the added appendix covering; roll of honor, wing nominal roll, awards and citations. Bottom line is this version truly opens the door to this once `Top Secret" organization of combat trackers turned pseudo-terrorist specialist.

Pamwe Chete is without question one of the most interesting accounts of counter-insurgency operations ever written. LTC Reid-Daly formed the Selous Scouts in the early 1970s' at the behest of the Rhodesian Army Chief of Staff. What follows is the most famous (or infamous) counter-insurgency campaign in recent history. The Selous Scouts were the finest counter-insurgency force ever to take to the field and hunt down guerillas. LTC Reid-Daly has written an honest, detailed account that draws the reader's interest on the first page and never lets go. This book is a must read for any military historian. Reid's engaging book is chocked full of incredible stories about the incredible challenges the Selous Scouts overcame and the unbelievable but true successes they achieved.

LTC Ron Reid-Daly has written a superb book on the finest killing machine in Africa, the Selous Scouts. LTC Reid-Daly was the founder and commanding officer of this psuedo counter-insurgency force. The author gives us the insight into the bravery, courage, and brutality of his men while performing their operations. This group of highly skilled black and white operators wrecked havoc on the guerilla forces inside and out of Rhodesia. Because of his availability to intelligence Reid-Daly also gives the reader a overview of the conflict and the politics behind the decisions. This is a great read on special operations and Reid-Daly gives a great narrative of the missions and the background for them. This is a great story of an exceptional group of men written by an exceptional soldier and is a must read!

This is an excellent and comprehensive book on the Selous Scouts - a special forces unit based in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) during the 1970's. The book covers the history of the unit from the time its founder, Ron Reid-Daly, spent in Malaysia with C Squadron 22 SAS, to the end of the war. What is interesting is the high level of racial integration in the unit, and the use of 'turned' guerillas. In some cases captured guerillas were turned, briefed and back in the field within hours of capture.

While the unit's informal approach to standard military discipline made it shunned by the high command the unit had stunning military successes, especially with cross-border raids to target enemy bases.

This book is a must read for anyone interested in the bush wars in Southern Africa in the 70/80's and terrorism in general. Special forces soldiers could learn a lot from this book.

Stephen Lewis writes an excellent and readable account of his experiences with AIDS in Africa and the UN. He was not afraid to name names and hold people accountable including himself. I read the entire book in less than a week and would have finished sooner if I had the time. I recommend this book to anyone interested in global health.

This book was a riveting read. I think the combination of Stephen Lewis's excellent oratory skills mixed with a pertinent topic has created a powerful, compelling book. In this book the author takes the reader inside major organizations such as the UN, WHO, etc. showing the reader the workings and failures of the international response to Africa's needs and crisis's concerning famine and HIV. He successfully intertwines his professional and personal experiences in the UN and Africa.

I really enjoyed reading this book for a number of reasons. First of all, Stephen Lewis has such a vast and unique perspective on Africa the UN as well as HIV/AIDS. I thoroughly enjoyed learning about what is going on with the G8 concerning Africa as well as the Millennium Development Goals. Don't get me wrong, I was horrified to hear the unfortunate details, I was just intrigued as well as enlightened by his narration of current day events. I also whole-heartedly agree with his perspectives on women and his desire to see an international representation of women's rights.

What gives Stephen Lewis such authority to adequately articulate this tragedy is his incredible 30 years of international experience, he is the UN Secretary-General's special envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa, a former Canadian ambassador to the UN, as well as former deputy executive director of UNICEF. Although I did not agree with all of his policy views on solutions, I did agree with the vast majority of his perspectives and highly recommend this book for insight into Africa and the horrendous impact of HIV/AIDS.

The credentials of the author add a unique dimension to the subject of the pandemic of aids in Africa. He puts a tender "face" on the problem. He did an interesting job of presenting the political aspects of the situation by weaving in the personal stories of those directly affected by the decisions made by the governing bodies. I was persuaded to help the suffering. My family and some friends (29 of us in all) are organizing a trip to SA in October 2007 to volunteer our help with the situation.

In June 2005, the new deputy prime minister of Namibia said that the nation was "on its knees." In Race Against Time, Stephen Lewis discusses the causes of the African AIDS epidemic. Through wrenching personal stories, he describes the problem and how horrible its effects are to individuals and to communities in Africa. He faults individuals and organizations who place their own economic or moral agendas ahead of ending the suffering and then offers suggestions to get both the international community and private groups involved to end the epidemic. This book will frustrate you over what little has been done so far, yet it still offers hope for the future of Africa.

Stephen Lewis is an amazing articulator of the imperative race against time to fight the AIDS epidemic. His book is at times angry, hopeful, practical and inspiring. I can't imagine the grief he has seen and experienced to write with such power and urgency. The book is an easy read yet so powerful, definitely recommend it for everyone who is interested in learning more about the HIV/AIDS pandemic and why it is so imperative for the global community to respond and care.

Riding in Africa is a wonderful combination of wit, high adventure, literature, history, zoology, geography, lions, camels, hyenas, black rhinos, bad holes, the personal transformation that can come from near death experiences, the importance of following your heart and oh yes, riding horses in Africa. You will do well to keep a dictionary near by as you read it as you will encounter words such as: apoplectic, haruscipation, mescaline, eisbein, and lighour just to name a few. You will also learn about THE place to eat in the Mfuwe airport, haute cuisine d'Afrique, where Flamingo's get their wonderful color, the importance of life saving drugs developed by the now often villainized pharmaceutical industry, the model/inspiration for Bram Stoker's Dracula, the relationship between the average number of individuals with whom an animal can maintain social relationships and the ratio of cortical volume to the volume of the rest of the brain and most importantly, the relationship between the social structure of primates and the size of male testicals relative to their body weight. Its prose is a delight to read and is descriptive to the point of making you really believe, right down to the dust, sweat, sore buttockses, bugs, elephant dung, tall grass that rustles, African nighttime sky and sunsets, that you are actually riding with Dr. Williams in Africa. However, all of the above and the book's first 136 pages are nothing compared to the last two pages and a half pages of the book which I found to be incredibly riveting, informative and the best of any book that I have read in sometime.

Whether you have an interest in riding, horses and Africa or not, this book is a must read for anyone who as ever pondered the meaning of life or thirsted for adventures and challenges which can allow for greater self awareness and understanding.

Happy reading and riding!

Ted T. Ashburn
Boston, MA
May, 2006

Ian Williams work about riding in Africa shows deep insights into human nature, the beauty of Africa and horses as well as making you laugh at nearly every page. He has an eye for detail and a knack for writing. His love of language can clearly be seen on every page and the average reader (like me) will get educated beyond his wildest dreams by getting introduced to the myriad of expressions for a group of animals. After reading this book one even begins to understand why one spends a lot of money to be hot, dirty and sore for a long period of time every year.

Riding in Africa provides the reader with multi-layered journeys. On the foremost level are the horseback riding safaris throughout Africa, during which the author entertains as he recounts the many adventures and misadventures with his "punter" companions and guides. Within these treks, Ian Williams, always the scientist, leads us along an educational trail, pausing to inform and enlighten us on the varied plants, animals, and places he encounters. Williams, moreover, reveals a more intense journey as he probes the very birth of the earth and its ultimate demise. Within this cosmic framework , the "travels" cover the beginning of human life and its development into societies on the African continent--and beyond. By doing so, the author undergoes a "rite of passage", affirming for him what constitutes the true values of life. In effectively conveying these various themes, Williams proves to be not only a scientist but also a poet. This fact is evidenced by the deft range of writing styles he utilizes to enhance the different emotions and moods throughout the book: from somber to fanciful; ironic to lyrical; didactic to delightfully amusing. Since I am as likely to saddle up a black rhino as ride a horse, all my safaris have to be taken vicariously. Thanks, then, to adventurers like Ian Williams who share their experiences.

Although I have only been on horseback twice in my life (and am unlikely to do so again) I thoroughly enjoyed this riding adventure in Africa. The author provides an intriguing look at Africa and portrays a harsh but exciting country. The people encountered sound more like characters from a novel and certainly add a colorfull picture to the journeys. I also enjoyed the personal insights that added a sense of humor as well as drama. Good entertainment for anyone who enjoys personal challenges.

I have often thought of going to Africa to ride (badly) but did not know if I could survive it. Now, I am certain I must go and that I have about a 50/50 chance of coming back. Ian Williams has given would-be adventurers a kick in the pants and a journey for the soul. Riding in Africa is a delight on many levels, particularly as an instruction manual for life. There are at least two recipes for martinis, one involving arranging a ray of sunlight through a bottle of vermouth such that the martini is only barely violated ("Immaculate Conception" we are told). In addition to this fundamental instruction, there are many learn-it-the-hard-way lessons for the serious rider, especially for steering around dangerous animals. Knowing nothing about black rhinos before reading this book, I am indelibly imprinted with images of retreat when considering a trip to the Lapalala Wilderness in South Africa. Yet if you read this book, you will likely conclude (as I have) that you must go. And in case you find yourself on foot more than planned, there are some important pointers on how not to lead a horse (and a whore for that matter). We meet so many wonderful characters: Dutch and German immigrants with risk running through their veins, rugged guides, and kind African nurses. Williams has us teetering back and forth between laughing and crying for fear of his death and imagining our own. Reading through his experience, we are called to realize our own, whether it is riding in Africa, surviving a near-death experience, or teetering on the edge of our next adventure.

If you are serious about understanding power, and healing in community. This is a good book to read.

An absolutely fabulous book, which reads like a novel. Malidoma brings a lot of wisdom, and really get's you thinking. The contents of the book has it's application to life, but certainly also to leadership and the corporate world. If you only want to read one of his books, I definitely recommend this one.

I cannot stop reading Malidoma Patrice Some's accounts of his life and the lives of the Dagara people of Burkina Faso. The strong linkages between community, spirit, rituals, and individual growth are compelling and very engrossing. I first read "The Healing Wisdom of Africa: Finding Life Purpose Through Nature, Ritual, and Community," with awe and a realization of the connections that my own people lost when my ancestors were transported from this part of the world by slave traders.

However, Malidoma, through works like this one, opens our eyes to the possibilities that all is not lost to us, and that even in this modern westernized culture, there are ways in which we can begin to make some of those connections again, through the way we relate to community and our loved ones.

I found the chapter titled "a ritual sampler:The funeral and language of grief especially interesting and thought provoking.

I can hardly wait to read more of your books Malidoma. Thank you.

This man has considerably more skill both as a thinker and as a writer than the average philosopher, or anthropologist, or even 'New Age prophet'. He really lays everything bare, like it or not, about the advantages of living in a subsistence community (as against our modern society). And further, he explains how the rituals work which those folks use to maintain links with the spirits of their ancestors, as well as with the earth and with each other.

Malidoma's brief but cogent exposition on the reasons behind how animal sacrifice works would flay apart the average modern-day monotheist's supposedly reasoned rants against such practices.

His chapter-length analysis of the Dagara's typical 3-day funeral ceremony is probably the most cogent dissection and analysis of a societal function that I have ever read, and coming from a true insider makes it that much more accurate as well as poignant, and believable. There's not a wisp of mere speculative cogitation coming from this man.

This book opened/cleansed my eyes and my soul about African culture at least as much as Gary Snyder's 'Earth House Hold: Technical Queries to Fellow Dharma Revolutionaries' did as regards Asia, way back in 1969. I tend to think that those who approach this discussion with an open mind and heart will find themselves changed in very profound ways, not necessarily painlessly, but possibly, very thoroughly, and for the better.

I met Mr. Some and his wife, and worked with them for a couple of hours around 12 years ago at a Michigan Medicine Wheel Gathering hosted by Sun Bear and his Bear Tribe. He is all that he seems, and then some. His laughter and sense of humor have almost a madcap quality that seems to reach far into the Otherworld, maybe even stemming from there. Yet he still feels to be very localized/grounded in the world of flesh and bone, as if the two (this world and the 'next') are not all that remote from each other. He's fun to be around, in addition to being bathed with a glow of dynamic, benign power.

Malidoma Patrice Somé, author of Of Water and the Spirit, describes a broad spectrum of ways in which rituals can be helpful. His perspective is that of a shaman trained in the West African Dagara cultural tradition, now living and teaching in the US. He eloquently shares his experiences of powerful shamanic healing practices.

For Somé, rituals are potent interventions on many levels. At the social level they are forms for expression of religious beliefs, or communal celebrations. Rituals affirm our connection with our community. A healing ritual may draw together relatives from the immediate and extended family, as well as from the community at large.

"Where ritual is absent, the young ones are restless or violent, there are no real elders, and the grown-ups are bewildered. The future is dim." (p. 12)

Industrial society has lost much of its awareness of rituals.

"Indigenous people are indigenous because there are no machines between them and their gods. There are no machines barring the door to the spirit world where one can enter in and listen to what is going on within at a deep level, participating in the vibration of Nature. Where machines speak in place of gods, people are hard put to listen, even more hard put to vibrate with the realm of Nature." (p. 17-18)

Healing rituals, properly performed, are tools to achieve specific healing effects. People performing the rituals may enhance the power of the rituals through their innate gifts for healing, through their learning in apprenticeship the ways of a shaman, and through the assistance of various natural energies and spirit assistants.

This is a book to be savored, rich in healings on many levels.

Gave more information than my local guide had on many subjects. I gave her the book when I left Rwanda.

Comprehensive and interesting. Also seems to be the only one on the market.

The Bradt Guide is by far the most comprehensive guide to Rwanda that I was able to find. I don't know what I would have done on my trip without it. The book is a mix of background info and travel tips. One good thing to know is that Kigali has added a "5" in front of all the phone numbers since the guide was published.

To travel to Africa without a guide, paper or flesh, is a bit looney. But, this month, I found myself in Rwanda in said (and sad) condition. For the first few days I managed to blunder along, until I found and bought this great guide at a hotel side store (of course at a significant mark up).

For the next two weeks Briggs and Booth did a superb job of guiding me along the dirt roads and winding byways (This is the "Land of a thousand hills"). They always explained clearly the world where I wandered. They consistently helped me uncover destination gems that I would have surely overlooked.

Most impressive were their cultural, economic and ecological commentaries. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to traveling with the Office of Tourism across this country while I was working on a medical project for the President's office. I can say that the insights and comments of Briggs and Booth regarding Rwanda are extremely competent and on the mark. Their insight alone makes this book a needed purchase for those that will visit or work in Rwanda.

The 1994 genocide is, of course, briefly covered and the history, heath, culture, people, planning and preparing sections are all informative and full of needed information. Also, for an outstanding book on the 1994 genocide do read; 'We Wish to Inform You That Tomorrow We Will Be Killed With Our Families' by Philip Gourvitch.

I found Janice Booth's caring and engaging story of her friendship over the years with Peter - a Rwandan Tutsi a wonderful and caring addition. This story is found in the preface and concluded in the epilogue.

The only notable shortcomings are the maps. In today's competitive world of travel guides, good maps are essential. The maps are very basic on only fair. That said this guide is a 'must have' for all who journey to this beautiful and bewildering destination. Highly Recommended. 4.5 stars.

Janice Booth's Rwanda guide not only is the most updated travel guidebook on Rwanda, but it also goes culturally/historically where the other guidebooks do not go. I spent several weeks in Rwanda in 2003, finding almost all the information in other guidebooks almost completely useless or irrelevant. Due to the genocide, and subsequent arrival of international aid, the entire infrastructure of the country, especially Kigali, had changed, and so the nuts and bolts information of hotels, transport, and other practicalities found in the Bradt guide were of great use.
The personal relationship of the author with Rwandans made it easier for a post-war visitor to understand what the average Rwandan had been through, and the section on "giving back," and what a traveller who had been affected by the country and people could do AFTER visiting the country is something that should be included in a lot of guidebooks.
The only bit of impractical information was that regarding traveller's checks. They are not accepted in banks unless one has an account there, and this is a bit of an obstacle to be surmounted (the national parks office does, and can help with other needs).

This book was an amazing read. I recommend that anyone that likes reading should read it. I'm normally a very slow reader, but this book was so good that it only took me an hour to read.

Churchill's Vol. 3, `The Grand Alliance' covers the time frame from Jan 1941 to Jan 1942 and what a time frame it was. The term `Grand Alliance' comes from Britain, America and Russia joining together to fight the triple-Axis Germany, Italy and Japan. During this time much was transpiring especially in the Mediterranean. Japan was watching and planning. Pearl Harbor fell on America with a vengeance and war had now awaked the sleeping giant. Germany was driving into Russia under operation `Barbarossa' and Rommel's tanks were moving in the North African desert. The Greece and Crete campaigns were breaking full upon Great Britain and the mighty Bismarck, with its' enormous structural strength, was out on the Atlantic. U-Boats were taking their toll on shipping and the oil fields of Iraq and Russia were being threatened.

It is interesting to read Churchill's correspondence now with victory and hindsight. He stood in the enviable position to see and write about the events that took place, and what could have happened if certain plans had or hadn't been implemented. His relationships and history, with Stalin and especially FDR, really make these volumes worth the read. He doesn't hold back the disasters that fell to all three of the Allies. Stalin's blindsided problems in trying to slow down Hitler until Allied supplies could get through. America and British combined Navy losses made for serious problems on the ocean. He writes about the curious events surrounding Rudolf Hess' flight to Scotland and gives his opinions about that incident. The disaster and triumph over the Bismarck certainly solved and created problems for the British Navy. While much relief came, with America's new found wartime role, much anxiety still lay ahead.

As he writes down this history, Churchill doesn't hide his enthusiasm about America now joining in the fight against the evil axis. This was one of the greatest joys of his wartime career. He now felt more than ever that victory `no matter how long' was sure. It is interesting to note how much influence the Atlantic Charter carries over into this day especially in policing the world. Well worth reading and adding to the history shelf.

Volume 3 of The Second World War sees Churchill continuing to lead Britain in a lonely battle against the German onslaught. With the conquest of Europe largely complete, Britain's efforts focus mainly on the Mediterranean fronts in a desperate attempt to slow or turn back Hitler's surge. The second half of the volume concerns events that occur as first Soviet Russia and then the United States are dramatically and decisively pulled into the war. Their entry is slow to provide immediate benefit, but the tide begins to change.

As in the first two volumes, this is Winston Churchill's story. From his point-of-view telling and his notes and memos reproduced verbatim, we see the actions and operations of the British wartime government firsthand. Even as the focus of Allied operations begins to expand to include the Russian and American efforts, it is still primarily Britain's story. Lest the reader believe this represents a flaw in the writing, it does not. Simply put, as in earlier volumes, Churchill's work here is never intended to be a general and detached overview of the war. These things are found elsewhere in literature. What the readers of this volume find in a continued bird's eye, fly-on-the-wall perspective of Britain's angry and defiant stand against the Nazi assault.

Covering calendar year 1941, this third volume of Churchill's six volume Worl War Two history begins with Greece, Yugoslavia and Bulgaria falling to Germany, covers the Gernam invasion of the Soviet Union, and ends with the U.S. Mobilizing to join the battle after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor.

In between, England largely fought what was truly a world war without meaningful allies. England had to protect itself from invasion, as Germany relentlessly strengthened its armamaent of the French coastline; fought an ongoing desert battle in North Africa to hold/protect Egypt; joined in the defense of the Balkans; protected the Middle East's Eastern flank by invading Iraq and holding Iran as a partner; and had to wrry about Japanese attacks on Burma and other far east countries--not the least of which were Australia and New Zealand. At the same time, England was fighting the Battle of the Atlantic--securing its supply line from constant attacks by German submarines.

At the center of this entire conflict was Churchill, who held BOTH the posts of Prime Minister (Britain chief executive) AND Defense Minister (roughly equivalent to the american Secretary of Defense). This required that he make strategic decisions about the allocation of extremely scarce military resources, but at the same time was responsible for reorienting the entire British economy to not only support the war effort, but to ensure basic necessities were available for civilians living in the British Isles--which after all is a very small area, largely dependent on imports for food.

Reading Churchill's account, one can not help comparing the scope of his responsibilities with the current Global War on Terror, and the actions of our current President in pursuing that "war". During his trip accross the Atlantic to meet with Roosevelt immediately after Pearl Harbor, Churchill not only continued to coordinate far flung military and economic decisions, he produced a series of monograms, laying out the allied war strategy--which in fact became the blue print for ultimate victory. Contrast that with Bush's use of the two day retreat, with all Cabinet, to review the basic strategy in Iraq, which turned out to be nothing more than a cover for a photo-op with the new Iraqi President! How would WWII have ended had Bush been the PRime Minister of England in 1940?

Churchill writes spectacularly, yet I had to give this volume only 4 stars. Why? Because (like Vol. II, but unlike Vol. I), Churchill relies far too much on contemporaneous documents. While these are almost all written by him, they do not give his prose a chance to shine like it does in the first volume.

These six volumes should be, in my opinion, MANDATORY reading for anyone interested in (a) WW II (b) HISTORY (c)increasing their knowledge of the English language. Having read the entire set over 50-60 times, I am still fascinated by new material I discover with each re-reading. It comes as no surprise that Sir Winston was awarded the NOBEL PRIZE IN LITERATURE for this masterpiece.