Africa Books

Mike Main provides a complete snapshot of the people and cultures of Botswana. It is not the usual tourist guidebook of only places to visit. This small book packs a large amount of essential information for a traveler who wishes to understand the people, their history and avoid embarrassing moments. I would highly recommend this book as an essential read before a visit to Botswana. Its small size means that you can also take it with you!

We have recently returned from Botswana and had the very good fortune of spending three days in the Kalahari with Michael Main. He is extremely knowledgeable, entertaining and most importantly very well informed - just as he is in his book about the culture in Botswana.

For those travelers who are going to Botswana and are interested in more than just seeing the "Big Five" this book is for you. After all, the people are just as much, if not more, a part of the travel experience and Michael Main knows the people of Botswana.

This guide provides as excellant overview to Botswana's history, cluture, and travel options. The descriptions of the private game concessions were very helpful in planning my trip.

I've been waiting for this book for a long time!! None of the other guides on the area even comes close. It is the most detailed guide I've read on the Okavango, Chobe, Makgadikgadi, and the northern Kalahari. In my view the information seems to be very up-to-date (which is not true for Bradts second edition on Namibia!). This book is suitable for people going on an organized safari (I envy them their $'s and the luxury that awaits them :-) ), and those planning an independent self-drive. The maps are good, and a number of useful GPS coordinates are included. The descriptions of off some of the beaten track sites that I have visited are very accurate. If you are a self-drive tourist you might want to look at Mike Mains: "African Adventurer's Guide to Botswana". It has many trails that are more detailed in the same region, but lacks the overview given in this guide describing the many concession areas surrounding the Okavango. The book also includes a very useful section on Livingstone in Zambia, telling you how to get the most out of your visit to the famed Victoria Falls. What do I miss? Talking to Elein Drotsky, she mentioned that here sisters company could arrange boat trips from Shakawe to Maun, water levels permitting. There is no mention of this or any other such service in the book, guess I'll have to do some digging on that one myself. All in all, your $'s, £'s, €'s or Rand's will be well spent on this guide.

A fascinating read, it filled in for me a part of WWII I knew little about, women coming to the USA as war-brides from Algeria. Goetinck's writing held me as she tells the story of the courage of those women as they sailed into an unknown future.

I like this book for its moments of honesty and for the story itself. The story is so interesting, but in its telling, Monette Goetinck is able to stimulate the imagination beyond the page. This is a quality so often missing in much of today's "entertainment".

Ian Knight was inspired to study the Anglo-Zulu conflict in the same way I was: by watching Micahel Caine in the movie "Zulu". Readers may be surprised at just how accurate the movie was. And that's just one of several fascinating battles between two mighty warrior nations. There is no better author on the subject and this may well be the best of his work. READ IT!

The Anglo-Zulu War is a subject often obscured from history and put under the broader picture of colonialism. But this book proves that the Anglo-Zulu War is something that requires in depth study; not only for its social and military implications but for its unique place in history. It has plenty of pictures, the most I have ever seen of the Anglo-Zulu War, and is well written with clear and concise information that historians and non-historians can enjoy alike.

Before taking a trip to Kenya, I was recommended this book. It was helpful how the author described the dangers in Nairobi and the troubles the Kenyans face with Aids on the rise and the effects that it has on the children with their parents dieing. The insight was also nice on how the locals live in the villages, foods they eat and traditions, which tourists rarely get to view. The author has a good sense of humor with the difference in cultures. As a world traveler I found the information helpful, entertaining and heartfelt for the people of Kenya.

This was a very interesting book. It was very informative about the culture the author was a part of and the customs of the people.I enjoyed the humor in the storytelling. The details of the situations that occured were quite entertaining.I would read more books by this authors on his missionary adventures.

This is the best field guide to European butterflies and not just by default. Although there is currently no other decent European field guide to butterflies, this has undoubtedly set the standard for many years to come.

All 440 species of Europe and North Africa are fully described and illustrated with male and females depicted and - where there is significant variation - subspecies.

The text itself is accurate, concise and oriented at the field observer. A monochrome thumbnail map accompanies the detailed range / distribution section. Under "Description", it is heartening to see comparative comments rather than a re-hashing of what can be seen on the plates - something that used to occur often in field guides. Habitat is described in great detail. Life history includes a list of larval food plants.

The 104 plates do not accompany the text, but are found together in the centre of the book. They are, of course, superb. Extremely lifelike, wonderfully helpful for identification and pleasing to the eye, they are everything we have come to expect from Richard Lewington's brush.

This is a "must have" for anyone travelling to Europe and no British naturalist will want to be without it either. In 1970, Higgins & Riley were the pioneers. This book is the worthy successor to that groundbreaking first guide, taking the art of identification to even higher levels.

This book has over 500 pages, about half of it is drawn pictures of butterflies (Rhopalocera). Each plate has a load full of butterflies, drawn in ground and side plan. Along with species there are possible forms or subspecies. The families are organized from Papilionidae to Hisperiidae. Quality paper, hard cover which is useful, due to common use out in the field. Along with a picture there is a portion of text for each species. The author gives information on range, distribution, variations, flight-period, habitat, life-history, conservation, behaviour, food plants... A map of Europe marked with distribution. Useful to hobbyist or a professional alike. Highly recommended.

Cooper creates a fascinating portrait of experience of the British and Egyptian residents of Cairo during WWII. "An engrossing book with all the readability of a novel. Cooper ranges from the desert battles to Cairene fashions, from the murky waters of Egyptian politics to literary and social gossip, from intrigue and espionage to the number of clients serviced in an average night by Egypt's overworked prostitutes (35). Wartime Cairo was a cosmopolitan cauldron in which eccentricity and indulgence flourished side by side with a sometimes desperate struggle that nearly lost Britain the war. Cross-currents of Arab nationalism clashed with the last gasp of British imperialism. Embracing a cast of colourful characters like King Farouk, Orde Wingate, Randolph Churchill, Olivia Manning and Lawrence Durrell, Cooper captures their high jinks with super-octane energy. Entertaining and enlightening in equal portions." - BBC History Magazine

A must for anyone with an interest in the reality and romance of a truly romantic city between 1939 and 1945.
One can feel the heat of the afternoon, smell the perfume of comfortable ladies and almost taste the cocktails in Shepeard's Hotel.
For those of you interested in the other reality, there are more things happening behind the scenes in this little book than the average fictional thriller.
My father once told me that Churchill is reported to have said "If the Germans do cross into Egypt, they will be thrown back by sheer weight of officers in Shepeard's Hotel". Perhaps he was right! 'Cairo in the war' is a wonderful read.

The secret of life is Aline Benayoun's mint soup. Trust me, this book is fabulous and if the only recipe you do is the mint soup, you're way ahead. But don't stop there. The thing is, I'd marry someone who makes mint soup like this. Come to think of it, I did... her! Bon appetit. /JR

I'm giving this book 5 stars, and that's still not enough. The recipies are simple to make yet delicious. The meals are healthy and well balanced. Trust me, it's really very good. I definately recommend it to anyone who likes to eat good food.

Africa holds some of the most amazing cats on Earth but rarely are these given full-page embellishment and in-depth discussion as they are in Cats of Africa: Behavior, Ecology, and Conservation. The oversize stature makes CATS OF AFRICA look like a coffee table guide but the abundance of text and natural history promises both general-interest and college-level libraries a satisfying blend of color and fact. From feline anatomy and evolution to populations, social systems, threats and cooperative hunting patterns, CATS OF AFRICA is a 'must' for any collection serious about representing African natural history - and will find its home on many general-interest library shelves as a fascinating addition for the general public as well.

This book has alot of information on the cats of Africa and the pictures are awesome. I recommend this book for studys on the cats in Africa.

Fantastic depth and color on each page of the this fine "coffee table" book. Mary Lovein has a way of capturing unreal colors in nature. The pages are thick and glossy. Most pictures are set in a deep black background, that brings out rich color.
You don't have to love chameleons to love this book.

I also own CHAMELEONS IN THE GARDEN, and I have been priviledged to visit Mary's garden many times!! Mary's sanctuary, perched on the side of Hualalai volcano, is a special and totally natural haven for the residing chameleons. Jacksons Chameleons came to Hawaii totally legally, and have survived in this special environment, which is fortunate -- because they're in danger of extinction in their native Kenya. Hawaii is the last bastion of hope for this species, and Mary's Garden, an especially special enclave for these wonderful creatures. No one should miss the opportunity to observe these magical creatures, and Mary's book is the next best thing to being there.