Africa Books

A young girl tries to understand what makes her mother's tea taste so good, as she goes to the market with her mother. On the way, she goes through all the components of tea until she herself realizes that it is the sugar that gives it the taste -- and the sweetness cannot be perceived by the eyes alone.

The sweeping watercolor illustrations of the wide-eyed Fatuma and her mother are absolutely gorgeous, and the story is a sweet, gentle tale of mother/daughter love.

Fatuma and her mother plan to spend their day in the market. Along the way, various merchants suggest their wares make chai (tea) taste better, but she does not see how their offerings make the chai taste differently. Then at the cloth shop, Fatuma chooses a new kanga cloth from which her mother will make her dress. Each Kanga pattern is imprinted with a Swahili saying, many of which have more than one meaning. Fatuma chooses a kanga imprinted with this message: "Don't be fooled by the color. The good flavor of chai comes from the sugar." So she learns that just as surgery dissolves becoming something we cannot not see, so are the things make us special as impossible to see.

FATUMA'S NEW CLOTH provides not only an entertaining tale, but also a fascinating peek into a vastly different culture from most American children's. In America, we teach our children, "don't judge a book by its cover." In Swahili, the same lesson is expressed as "don't judge the tea by its color." Parents will welcome the message that the value of people lies on the inside where we cannot see. In addition, parents seeking to teach their children the lessons of acceptance of other people's beliefs and culture will find the story an excellent aid. In addition, authentic East African features and kanga patterns frame the pages, lending the text an extraordinary visually pleasing appearance as charming illustrations bring the text alive. An author's note at the end aids parents to further explain the nuances of the story. Also included is a recipe for chai, allowing young children to experience the story first hand. Very highly recommended.

Fatuma's New Cloth is an energetic and highly recommended children's picturebook about Fatuma, a young East African girl who learns about the complexities of the marketplace. There is even a recipe for East African chai (tea) included in this highly enjoyable tale by Leslie Bulion, whose engaging text is superbly complemented by the soft, watercolor-style illustrations by Nicole Tadgell.

The lesson tells us, "you can't judge a book by its cover." But the inviting jacket art for Fatuma's New Cloth makes a promise that is fulfilled by a story that is as lush and lively as its illustrations.

The dialog between Fatuma and her mother sings with love, gentleness and humor.The author creates a story that is appealing to both girls and boys and one that is useful to parents and educators.

This delectable slice of East African culture lingers like the sweet taste of chai. (By all means, try the recipe!)

I recommend Fatuma's New Cloth and I look forward to seeing more books by Leslie Bulion.

This is a great book, written by a guy who has more combat jumps than ANYONE in the US or UK military (well, that's unsubstanitated...but I'm pretty sure.) The book's about a conscript who signs on to become a regular in the Rhodesian Security Forces, Rhodesian Light Infantry. These guys jumped in combat several times a week. The American Paratroopers who had the most jumps in WW2 had maybe 5 combat jumps. The author had close to 40. I cannot say enought good things about this book. It's well written and easy to read. Very informative and full of good information. I'm reading these books to get insight on how to win against guerillas. The Rhodesians won militarily, but lost due to politics. It's the typical story of how the military does the right thing, fights well and wins, but is held back by gutless politicians. OK enough rant from me. The book is good. Lots of action, lots of detail. I'm not a professional reviewer (as if you couldn't tell), but this book was great! One of those that I didn't want to be over! The only better book I've read on the Rhodesian Bush War is At The Going Down Of The Sun, by Charlie Warren, another trooper that served with the author in the same unit. Both books are good and highly reccomended.

The first time I could find this book at a reasonable price I jumped right on it. For some reason I have a fascination with the Rhodesian Bush War, so I was really happy to see this edition available. The story and the writing are compelling. Chris Cocks does a very good job of making you feel like you're jumping on to helicopters and going on patrols with him -- and the frustration at every turn. Highly recommended.

Story of a time when the world looked the other way and a lot of good people got s*****d over by Politicians, as usual. This is the inside detail of one of the finest Regiments ever to exist.
Spot on Chris, could see the barracks gates again and, almost smell it.
Good job.

For those (like me) who are not familiar with the war in Rhodesia, this is a good introduction. It's readable, interesting, and insightful. Worth the $.

I adore this book; I have as of yet not been to Morocco but dream of going and I refer to this book often to fuel my daydreams. I do travel fairly often, however, and I know how very useful a travel guide can be. When I plan a set date, I will purchase a "real" travel guide to get me through the country. So while I highly recommend this book for the idle pleasure read, don't buy it thinking that you will get an in-depth look at the country.

I went on vacation in Morocco 3 years ago and this book just makes me want to go back . I thought i saw everything there is to see there but there are just so many beutiful places i havent seen that are in this book i am planning to go back again next summer or spring

If you've ever dreamed of watching the sun set over the Sahara Desert, of visiting an oasis where dates drip off graceful palm trees or climbing up through green valleys to the peaks of snow-covered mountaintops, then "Escape to Morocco" will give you a taste of the possibilities. The poetic text written by author Pamela Windo renders the sensual quality of this mysterious North African country, while the stunning photographs of Simon Russell capture the diversity of the Moroccan landscape. The reader is taken by the hand and guided through one exotic experience after another, through twenty chapters, each one a gem, a world until itself. The titles themselves reveal the scope of the book and of the country: "A Desert Day and Night", "Fez the Mysterious", "Beaches and Sea Bastions", "The Pink Wild West". The book takes us on a journey into Morocco where few people have been. I recommend the book not only for those planning on going to Morocco, but for armchair enthusiasts as well. "Escape to Morocco" strikes a neat balance between art and travel. The text and photographs dazzle us but it is also a genuine travel guide with solid information for the serious traveler.

It's not a guide book per say as others by Cadogan or Lonely Planet. However it is a beautiful book full of gorgeous colorful pictures of Morocco. For those who are interested in travelling to Morocco, I'd recommend that you pick up this book or even look through it at your local bookstore. The pictures are very selective in what they want to show you of Morocco but very alluring!! I'm currently planning a trip to the mystical country and have used this book as a source - where to go and stay. The descriptions are brief but the pictures says it all!!

In fact, I think it's safe to say that the pictures is this book are so beautful that even if you never thought about going to Morocco, the pictures will surely inspire to take that trip someday.

Happy reading and travelling!!

Through a year as a journalist on the front lines of various African wars, Ian Stewart allows us into the person behind the byline -- the struggle to remain a detached observer while still remaining human, and then through the struggle for life and recovery itself after he is shot in the head while on assignment in Sierra Leone. While Stewart is the continuity from chapter to chapter, the stories that brought him to Africa in the first place are always front and centre. The background to each war zone is woven in, to ensure that while we are reading about his observations and struggles, we also are reading the stories that were (often) ignored by our daily papers in the first place. Stewart's writing style manages to turn what are sometimes very heavy, heart-wrenching and tragic events, into a fascinating read, one that is hard to put down. I definitely recommend this book.

This is an exciting, sad, funny and compelling book about a war correspondent - adrenaline junky who chases his dreams of being a big time journalist. The first part of the book is about his adventures, and he writes with great respect and care, as well as humor, about people in war torn countries, about historical conflicts, about civilians caught in the crossfire. The second part of the book (and this isn't a big secret but don't miss the amazing x-ray of his head!!!) is about how he was shot in his head covering a story in Sierra Leone and his tough recovery. He's introspective, thoughtful and nice. This book will keep you up at night, and you'll definitely be passing it from friend to friend, saying 'You've got to read this.'

This book gave me new insight into what makes journalists tick and a new understanding of African politics. I must admit to paying little attention before.
A thoroughly good read filled with moments of horror, excitement and humor.
The author offers us a glimpse of what it is like to suffer a brain injury and the road to recovery.
If you like adventure and human interest written in a crisp style this book is for you.
Looking forward to the next one.

Freetown Ambush offers a rare mixture of the excitement and adventure of "on the edge" journalism (and a sprinkle of travel writing), with cultural and personal sensitivity. The story Stewart tells of his year as a war correspondent and bureau chief for the Associated Press in West Africa takes us through horrors of war that most of us (thankfully) will never experience, but with an awareness that we (the public) need to know more than the events - we need to know the local people, and hear their voices. Stewart adds to this compelling mixture his own personal journey from surviving a rebel ambush that lodged a bullet in his brain, through recovery from brain injury and ultimately to reclaiming his life. Although the book educates us about "small African countries and distant wars" that most of the public doesn't know exist, in the end, the book inspires us to reclaim life, as Stewart, and the citizens of those far off countries do.

An extensive set of ruminations on his journey from Cameroon to the United States of America. The kid from Cameroon tells all that needs to be said about love, loss and separation, about `why the tortoise's back is cracked, why snakes feel slippery, and why snakes' saliva is poisonous.'

Herman Yenwo explains the meanings of customs around the family, cultural, religious, and about the nature of goodness and simplicity. He uses the meanings of images, his experience of love and bond with his family and friends. In short, a summary of meanings of reciprocity in a relationship, and what it means to sustain bonds of trust and commitment.

He writes exactly as he talks, `extremely funny, must read it.'

Kathy Hannah, an avid reader, November 19, 2004,
An Educational Book!
Expect to read FOLK TALES on why the tortoise's back is cracked, How IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO RAISE A CHILD, The differences in HOBBIES between children in so called 'THIRD WORLD' countries and those in the WEST, EDUCATIONAL Hand-Me-Downs, CULTURE as it relates to Births, Deaths and Burials.....Then proceed to Herman's ARRIVAL in Philadelphia in Fall 1987...The CULTURE SHOCK...The FIRST WINTER of a kid from the Tropics...His SUMMER Odd JOBS, DATING in the USA {One girl he dated is said to have been: 'A christian by day, and a hypocrite by night'. How this author survived 13 CARS in 10 years, will amaze you. From Africa, With Love, is both educational and entertaining.

FROM AFRICA, WITH LOVE
Herndons
US VIRGIN ISLANDS (6/23/2004) Referred by: PA Message Boards Comments: Hi Herman! "From Africa, With Love" sounds like a great--as well as enlightening--read. We wish you the best of luck! S&H

FROM AFRICA, WITH LOVE
Joan
USA (6/22/2004) Review by Joan DeMarle-Obe: "Herman: As an educator, your book - FROM AFRICA, WITH LOVE, has caught my attention. I recommend this book to any school district. -Joan."

FROM AFRICA, WITH LOVE
Cynthia Borris
U.S.A. (6/22/2004) Reviewed by Cynthia Borris (author) 6/14/2004 "Herman: Isn't it amazing how one event starts another in motion? Great success on your newest work. Cynthia Borris"

FROM AFRICA, WITH LOVE
Cynthia Borris, commenting on
U.S.A Today(6/22/2004) on How FROM AFRICA, WITH LOVE came about.
Herman writes: "One evening my wife to be, literally dragged me to attend a TOASTMASTERS meeting as a guest. She assured me that I would not be called upon to make an impromptu speech at the podium in front of the distinguished members of this elite club. Under those circumstances, I agreed to go. Little did I know that the idea to write a concise account of my life would be born in a small meeting room full of strangers. One of the distinguished gentlemen - 50'ish in age, introduced himself as a "Retired Navy", and went on to give an account of his travels through the Cape of Good Hope all the way to the horn of Africa, and on to the Mediteranean. I thought his presentation was interesting but limited as far as the depts of African culture. I suddenly realised that I was overflowing with information regarding some African miths. Thus, the idea of my book: FROM AFRICA, WITH LOVE, was born."
In Cythia's review (6-14-04) she says: "I am amazed at how one event can lead to another tantalizing event. This book is a must read"

FROM AFRICA, WITH LOVE
Rita Gerlach.
United States of America (6/18/2004)
As readers are inundated with books from romance to true crime, a story of a boy born in the African savannah to a single mother elbows its way through the ranks. Fiction gives readers a chance for escape, while Herman X's autobiography From Africa, With Love, reminds us that the human spirit truly can rise above the adversities of life. FROM AFRICA, WITH LOVE, brings readers a glimpse of how it was to grow up in Africa and then face the challenges of life in America. Rita Gerlach Author of Historical Fiction Website: http://users.starpower.net/rpkg/index.htm http://gerlach.ineedabook.net

Mr Toks Goncalves:
From Africa, with Love, takes you to the heart of Africa, through the life of Herman X. A young man born to a single mother in central Africa. He grows up poor with his grand parents. His youth experiences are facinating, informative, thrilling and exiting. After his grand father's death, he is sent abroad for further studies. Dispite some very interesting odds he excels in his education and now lives the American dream. This book is an easy and enjoyable read.

FROM AFRICA, WITH LOVE
Michelle R. Kidwell
U.S.A. (6/18/2004) From Africa With Love: From Africa with love is a book that can serve as an educational as well as an inspirational read, one of those books that you can both enjoy and get educated from, it is a wonderful autobiography that gives you a glimpse into the authors life both in Africa as well as America, and the cultural shock he experienced when he first arrived in America, and his experiences since then. Michelle R Kidwell Reflections On Life A Collection Of Memories

"From Africa, With Love", takes you straight to the heart of Africa through the true life story of Herman X. Born to a single mother in the late 50s, he grows up with his grand parents from whom he learns some very high moral character. His youth experiences are facinating, informative, thrilling and exiteting.The death of his grand father is a turning point in his life, as he is sent abroad, where dispite all odds he focuses on his education, excels, and now lives the American dream.
This book is and easy and entertaining read.

There is no question that Colonel Kingseed has captured the spirit and essance of Capt. Joe Dawson and has provided the reader with personal insights that are properly spaced to elevate this book to one of the best books written on World War II. Every American should read this book and give thanks to men like Joe Dawson and his company of men that gave more than any of us who were not there, cannot even remotely appreciate their achievments.
It is also a credit to Colonel Kingseed that he had the foresight to see the importance of having this story told and get permission from Capt. Dawson to publish some very personal letters to his family for all of us to read. The eloquence that Dawson was able to write in some of the most trying times during the war could be the best memoir that I have read!
With the quality of this book now available for all to read, I cannot wait until the Major Winters book is released.

This book is a splendid addition to the library of anyone interested in World War II. Joe Dawson was an inspiring member of "The Greatest Generation" and his story is vividly told here in his own words and the descriptions of Cole Kingseed.

The letters Dawson sent home reveal the tremendous strains and demands placed on a small unit infantry commander. In "From Omaha Beach to Dawson's Ridge" we find a courageous, reflective and compassionate young soldier from Texas who reacts quickly, professionally and humanely under the most adverse and crucial conditions.

The First Infantry Division was constantly thrust into intense fighting and harrowing situations. Dawson shares his most personal thoughts before and after the Big Red One's engagements from North Africa, Sicily, Normandy and the bloody road to Germany. Kingseed adds key perspective along the way.

Joe Dawson's hunger for mail from home should encourage anyone who has a loved on in harm's way to pick up a pen and start writing to them now.

This country has truly been blessed by the likes of so many wonderful veterans like Joe Dawson and so many other brave World War II veterans. We are fortunate that Cole Kingseed discovered and published this treasure from Joe Dawson. I can't wait to read Kingseed's forthcoming book written with Dick Winters of "Band of Brothers" fame.

Capt. Dawson was was the company CO of G Company, 2nd Battalion, 16th Regimental Combat Team, of the Big Red One. He went into Omaha Beach at H-Hour, D-Day. He was the first off of his LCVP, followed by his communications sergeant and his company clerk. Then an artillery shell struck the boat, wiping out the remaining thirty-three men. That was Omaha.

Of course they didn't land where they intended, but began the war where they landed. They were among the first ashore, among the first to move off the beach, among the first to scale the ridge behind the beach and start cleaning out the German defenders firing down on the beach. They fought across France and into Germany.

Five months later Company G spent thirty nine days defending a ridge along the outskirts of Eilendorf, Germany that has gone down in the history of the Big Red One as Dawson's Ridge.

This book was put together by Col. CC Kingseed, former chief of military history at West Point, from the letters Capt. Dawson wrote home. It is a tale of the very best of small unit leadership.

This is a well written memoir with excerpts from letters home and a wealth of information about the combat experiences of Captain Dawson. He was very articulate and had a keen eye for observing the details and emotional struggles around him (as well as his own inner moral struggles with the war he was fighting). If you're looking for remembrances of D-Day and the fighting in Normandy, as well as a part of the campaign in N.W. Europe that has not previously been published, I highly recommend this book.

This interesting historic document allows the often ignored voice of the Rwandan people to be heard. Witness testimony is horrifyingly poignant when the victim is made known so clearly to the reader. It is as if I could see their faces and feel their fears. I have read many reference works on the genocide in Rwanda but none so accurately put me in the shoes of the victims. The killers are also represented, as are the international community and their failures, the actions of the church, the former government, the current government and members of the Rwandan Patriotic Army. This book really made me feel for the writers, the Rwandans themselves who have suffered so much through the failings of the international community.

For anyone with an already-primed interest in the terrible events of 1994 in Rwanda, this book is tremendously valuable.

It seeks to filter as little as possible the views of Rwandans. There are, in this book, some deeply disturbing survivor's accounts of the genocide, transcribed, unvarnished, from their own testimony. It is all the more powerful for the directness of its expression.

Most valuable to me was the material explaining the colonial origins of the division between Tutsis and Hutus. It is extraordinary to me that when Rwanda and Burundi were "assigned" to Germany in the 1880s, no European had even set foot in those lands. When they came, their pursuit of control caused divisions where previously - on this evidence - none had existed. Blame for the genocide must be seated in the Belgian colonial rulers in general (they took over after 1916), and the missionary churches in particular. This book explains why.

Rwanda, more than any other event since WW2, makes us consider the question put eloquently here by one of the witnesses: what is humanity? Who is included? Who is left out? For the world not to have acted effectively to have prevented the Rwandan cataclysm stands to its shame. Kofi Annan has admitted as much, but the real fault lies with everyone and we should all be ashamed.

The compilers of this book have acted bravely in including an apologia from the authors of the genocide. We hear their voices. We must be sickened by them. We must acknowledge that we were warned; the voices existed long before the worst of the genocide began.

Knowing what we know about the world, would we prevent it next time? Be honest now; would we?

Definitely intriguing and disturbing how humanity can be so cruel and evil to fellow humans. "Genocide in Rwanda" offers multiple views on the genocide from different people, not just the authors. The book is an excellent place to start if you are have not learnt much about Rwanda. You watch the genocide through various lenses and angles. Rwanda (and every other country in the world) should realize that only it has the power to change itself for the better or worse. Ultimately, they (Hutus and Tutsis) should take responsibiltty for what they did to themselves and to their own country.

The origins of the genocide in Rwanda started on the day the Germans colonized the country. The Belgians further polarized the once unified country into Hutu, Tutsi (and Twa). From then on the whole country was on a down-hill spiral. The culture of impunity set in, and the country was never able to recover. One thing let to the other...then BOOM, April 1994 came. UNAMIR was never meant to be their salvation. Neither was the "international community" - which heartily ignored the genocide. The Somalia situation is often used as an easy excuse as to why the world did not intervene...which is quite ridiculous. How does this same "international community" explain why the genocide in Sudan today has been ignored for decades? This should teach individual countries to resolve their own problems and to frown on external/foreign reliance.

This is the story of the genocide in Rwanda in all its power and horror expressed by the people who experienced it - Rwandans themselves. Therefore, it is the most important of all of the books on the subject. The others are also important and some may be more eloquent as literature, but none match Genocide in Rwanda for sheer unvarnished and unfiltered honesty and integrity. The book also provides an invaluable chronology of Rwanda that illuminates a vital perspective on the political and tribal conditions that precipitated the killing.

The previous reviewer,Rueben, is obviously basing his review on a personal dislike of the author. This book contains true facts about how communism infiltrates a society and the intimidation tactics they use to make people cooperate with them. It shows how they use class and race envy as a tool to motivate people to their cause. This book shows the atrocities committed to both the blacks and the whites, and those who call it racist have definitely not read the book too carefully.Even on the website, the author shows the horrible tragedy of the many lives lost amongst all races due to the communist thirst for power at any cost. There is more to this story than race; its greed. The book will serve as a warning to Americans not to listen to the Marxism that is touted in the country that supposedly makes everything equal. In this book he shows how communism creates crop failure, and how it prevents any country, not just African countries, from fully developing their rich resources. While they blame their economic failures on drought, it is easy to see by the evidence this man presents, that though many countries have drought, it is how the land is managed that makes is prosperous, something that communism has failed to do.If you really are open minded to truth, this book will provide a true history of the region. Whether or not one likes the author, is not the point.

It was with great interest I read the work of author Jan Lamprecht, a former Rhodesian who has lived in South Africa since the take-over by Mugabe in the early 1980's. I first read Mr. Lamprecht's work on the Rense.com website, and found it easy to read, personal and informative.

When Government By Deception was completed and offered to the public, I bought six copies for friends of mine. Two of them live in South Africa. The others are from the states. All have found the book to be an interesting and informative read. They are glad to see someone offering some real information on southern Africa. Mr. Lamprecht has good sources of information and some very interesting interviews are scattered throughout the book.

If you like history, you will find interesting historical facts on southern Africa. The book was carefully researched and has many quotes by well known political players in this bloody and tension filled arena. Due to this book and articles by Mr. Lamprecht, the American people will, if they choose, see the many similarities between our countries. They will learn how the communists have pitted the blacks and whites against each other in a war that neither will benefit from. The destruction and suffering going on in southern Africa at this time will serve only a few who seek power and wealth for themselves alone. There is a message here for American's. This book will help you understand more clearly the signifigance of how little truthful news we are exposed here in the states, regarding southern Africa. How much do we hear regarding the brutal murders of some 1400 white Afrikaner farmers in South Africa? More recently the farm murders and the takeover of white farms in Zimbabwe are at last getting some attention. You will read about the workings of socialism and the potent weapon of white guilt. The importance of detecting the mind games and psychological warfare being used on the American as well as the African people each and every day.

I believe you will be surprised and perhaps shocked at some of the information presented in this book. It is an excellent buy, and a great effort by someone who KNOWS first hand what it feels like to see your beloved homeland painted "RED" with the blood of her people.

My suggestion to fellow Americans is to buy the book, read it, learn from it, and act on what you have learned.

The Author of this book has a website, with the latest news, photos, etc regarding Southern Africa.

It is: http://WWW.AfricanCrisis.org

I have read the book Government by Deception by Jan Lamprecht. I found the book had good information on the present day situation in South Africa. Jan is a computer-programming expert and used his talent to give a great analysis of the situation. He lays out the situation with an open mind gives credit where credit is due even though he may not agree with the results. He grew upon farm in Zimbabwe and left there when Mugabe came to power. He now lives in South Africa and has been in the middle of all the changes in Government. He is a great writer and has written a very interesting book

...

This book was probably one of the most relevant, gripping and epic history books I have ever read. The numerous parallels between the Iraq war and the Boer War make it all the more powerful.
Most Brit academics are long on tangential, spurious fact and short on prose. This is were Farwell parts with his contemporaries. It can be read by the casual historian (skip some of the long sieges) or the consummate soldier, as Byron fully illustrates the flaws and strength of each protagonist at every major turning point. He does not hold back personal judgment which adds much needed context. He imbues these real characters with life allowing this to become more Epic than history book.
As an avid reader of insurgent doctrine this ranks up there with: Learning to Eat Soup with a Knife, A War Like No Other and Guerrilla Warfare (Che not Mao).
While it is a hefty read I dare you to put this down after the first couple chapters. You will not be disappointed.

Simply put, one of the greatest, most detailed and yet most readable histories, military or otherwise, to ever have been published. If you have even a passing interest in history, this book is for you. The parallels that can be drawn to our present day situation in the middle east are shocking, and this book was written quite a while ago.

Quite easily the best book on the topic of the second Anglo-Boer war. If there were but one book you read concerning this timely subject, it is this one. The author leads the reader on a fast-paced but thorough and enjoyable tour of the people and places involved. The intermixture of battlefield strategic and tactical decisions are interspersed with human stories of the men who carried out the orders and the political forces that fueled the conflict. A must have for the panoramic big picture with detail enough to satisfy the most avid military historian. It is a work I come back to again and again.

This is an absorbing, well written account of a neglected (by American readers anyways) war at the turn of the last century. Rather than being a dry academic text, Farwell's writing style serves to bring the war to life 100 years after the fact.

Coupled with other accounts of the war, like Goodbye Dolly Gray (another excellent book) written by Rayne Kruger, the average reader can understand some of the causal factors of South Africa's apartied system and gain an insight into the history of a long troubled region.

I wholeheartedly recommend this book to any reader looking for a fast-paced non-academic history of the Boer War. You won't go wrong.

In preparing for a trip to Ethiopia, I found information about the country both scarce and scant. Phillip Briggs' guide has become a valuable tool for planning and introduction to this remote area of Africa. The fourteen chapters cover everything from history and culture to tourist information, health preparations and travel specifics for nine distinct areas of the country. Though Mr. Briggs admits that he found it very difficult to find pertinent information about Ethiopia, the factual portions of the book are both readable and accurate. It is, however, the specific information for the traveler in Ethiopia that is most valuable. In a very readable style, the author relates, for each area, information about climate, routes, sightseeing, transportation, accommodations, food, religion, local practices, parks, wildlife, and specific topics of interest. The humor of the writer makes this guide very interesting and readable. His maps of each of the areas a! re most often of his own making, as regional maps for many remote areas seem to have been nonexistant. The treatment of the "Faranji," or "foreigner," in Ethiopia is dealt with throughout the book. The author tells of his encounters with friendly, but nonetheless, persistent children who accompanied him everywhere with pushing, touching, staring, screaming and, on occasion, rock-throwing. Briggs' humor keeps him and his reader going as both progress through the book. For example, in his introduction, Briggs tells of his own introduction to Ethiopians while visiting Nariobi: "A troupe of white-robed musicians approached our table and erupted into smirking discord. Then, signalled by an alarming vibrato shriek, all hell broke loose in the form of a solitary Ethiopian dancer. Her mouth contorted into the sort of psychotically rapturous grimace you'd expect from Jack Nicholson at his most hammy. Her eyes closed. Her shoulders jerked a! nd twitched to build up a manic, dislocating rhythm. Benea! th her robe--driven, presumably, by her metronomic shoulders--a pair of diminutive breasts somehow contrived to flap up and down with an agitated regularity suggestive of a sparrow trapped behind a closed window. I left that room with one overwhelming impression: Ethiopians are completely bonkers. I knew, too, that I had to visit their country." ...and visit he did. And he has left an account for the reader of a remarkable journey into an area of the world that the reader will certainly want to get to know better. I look forward to his upcoming revision of this indispensible travel guide, to be published soon.

Although I haven't yet travelled to Ethiopia, I have read the book several times to enable me to plan an itinerary. The book is essential reading for those wishing to travel to Ethiopia. ANY information on Ethiopia is scarce and the excellent conversational style of the author makes for an enjoyable and, at times, humorous read. Compared to other travel books on Ethiopia, this book is unsurpassed in providing positive down-to-earth information without glossing over the negative aspects of travel in this country. I am sure the 'mud maps' of major towns, accommodation and dining out information will prove invaluable to the independant traveller. And if you are interested in wildlife the author obviously has a sound knowledge of this topic, particularly the birdsof East Africa. He provides comprehensive summaries, scattered through the body of the text, on the birdlife (and other wildlife) you can expect to see in different habitats of the country.

This is a very useful travel guide. Some of the information is outdated (several new regional airports have been constructed and roads paved since this edition was published) but presumably the forthcoming edition will bring the descriptive material up to speed. What really makes this guide, though, (and why I think it is superior to the Lonely Planet guide)is the background material on Ethiopian history and culture. Since it is for historical and cultural reasons (as opposed to say viewing wildlife) that many travellers will visit Ethiopia, this part of the book is a real strength, as is the chapter on intercultural interaction. Reading this guide you get the sense of real human beings writing it, not some generic "three stars for this castle and here is a good restaurant." Definitely recommended.

I haven't read the second edition, but I read the first edition before and during my trip to Ethiopia 5 years ago and found it to be a wonderful and very accurate guide. In addition to the practical nuts and bolts of managing in this unfamiliar culture and language, I liked his attitude about situations he (and I) encountered there.