2 comments about Africa.

1. Leni Riefenstahl's book Africa is simply a huge compilation, a massive photo journal; page after page after page of full sized photographs depicting both the people / their culture and the land of Africa. (Other than the photos, the book is quite spare of words, chapter titles, that's it.) Riefenstahl's work is very strong but not particularly arty or glossy. True to her filmmaker's voice however, every picture tells a story. (*An important side note, it's ALL photographs. There is very little text to critique.)
   
   I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves similar photography as what you would see in National Geographic or Angela Fisher's books such as Africa Adorned and African Cermonies.



2. When I first saw this book the first thing that came into my mind was that I need it badly. I was simply astonished by the amazing pictures Leni Riefenstahl composed. If someone wants to see the beginning of our civilization and feel it up, close and personal, then this book is a must. Other than having a picture about how man survives in harmony with Mother Nature, one can see how beautiful the human body is in itself.

5 comments about Gullah Home Cooking the Daufuskie Way: Smokin' Joe Butter Beans, Ol' 'Fuskie Fried Crab Rice, Sticky-Bush Blackberry Dumpling, and Other Sea Island Favorites.

1. This was the perfect gift for my sister who lived on Dafuskie island for several years. She personally knew Sallie Ann and was sad to leave her east coast home and the lovely people she met there. The book brought back memories of a delightful period in her life.



2. I grew up in St. Helena Island (Frogmore). Having and using this book brings back those memories



3. One of my favorite episodes of Sara Moulton's cooking show featured the author and included a visit to her childhood home. I was THRILLED that Ms. Robinson washed her green leafy vegetables in warm water. What a shame such wisdom (do Americans even know the term "nightsoil" anymore???) has been disregarded in the wake of carnival barkers who demonstrate their cooking ability by ripping open a bag of greens (prewashed, My Aunt Fanny!) and cooking raw meat straight from their styrofoam and plastic packaging. Ewwwww, you know no amount of cooking heat can clean that up. EWWWWWWWWWWWWWW.
   
   Thank you, Ms. Robinson.



4. I have tried to catch Ms. Robinson's t.v. shows when I was able. Having grown up poor and having to make ends meet by stretching the food, you appreciate any attempt to liven up the meals. Ms. Robinson has done this very well. I enjoy her, and I enjoy the book.



5. I remain fascinated by Gullah and Daufuskie cooking. This book is a welcome addition to my ever-expanding collection. I'm glad I found it.

1 comments about Waterproof Kenya Map by ITMB (International Travel Maps).

1. The map of Kenya is certainly waterproof, but does not show as much detail as I would like for traveling in Kenya

2 comments about Rifts World Book 4: Africa.

1. A small book for such a big country. It really leaves alotout maybe the make a follow up book. It mainly tells aboutthe Phoenix Empire based in north Africa. Also the main adventures is to save whats left of the world form the Four horsemen, who are joining up here. I liked the info on the Egyptian gods and there minions. there are a few R.C.C. Mind melter (a long awaited RCC), a few minor one pluse the minions of the Egyptian goods. Death magic is introduced and optional OCC with it.



2. This book is very time-oriented, and is now very, very out of date. It contains very little world information (the best part of any book) and spends far too much time discussing the four horsemen of the apocalypse, various pantheons, and monsters than it does anything else. some rudimentary geographical information is given, as is some minimal source information on the phoenix empire. A one-star book, not even worth the reduced price tag.

No comments about The Congo and the Cameroons (Penguin Great Journeys).

1 comments about Geldof in Africa.

1. I am a Geldof fan, however, I didn't let this prejudice my review of this amazing book. From the beginning I felt like I could not put the book down! It has amazing pictures and the many stories of tribesmen was uniquely written.
   
   I think if you know anything about Africa and its people - or do not know a thing - you will find this book amusing, sad, and unique in its story of a continent that has abundant physical beauty and, sadly, also has tragedy as part of its history. Very interesting view of modern Africa and some of its people, told by a incredibly interesting individual who has does more for powerty in the past 20 years than some countries have done to date.
   
   Well worth reading!

3 comments about Cameroon: The Bradt Travel Guide.

1. This book describes Cameroon as the armpit of Africa. Seriously. It said that. At least 1/3 of the book is on all the different types of diseases one is sure to catch being there. It says that Cameroon is unique in that there is a type of malaria that will KILL you in 24 hours of the first symptom. This book scared me so much that I went to Egypt alone instead of going with my friends to Cameroon. There arent really any books just on Cameroon. Lonely Planet has one on West Africa which I should have gotten. My friends went and had a wonderful time. The book should have talked about the good things this country has- which as it turns out there are other things there that Malaria! Perhaps if I would of read a different book then I would have not canceled my flight to Cameroon.



2. I have just returned from 3 weeks in Cameroon and this book made the trip with me. My trip was not the usual tourist excursion, as I traveled with expat Cameroonians and lived exclusively with africans. I could go for days without seeing another european and when I did they were usually zipping past in a tour bus or in an NGO vehicle.
   
   First, the positives. The book is well organized and the local Cameroonians were usually impressed that someone would write so much about their country. The advice presented in the book is generally sound and the descriptions accurate. Douala is an "armpit": shrouded in smog during the dry season, scented by the smoke of burning garbage, and made all the more enjoyable by sweltering heat and oppressive humidity. On the basis of the positives, I would award the book 4 stars.
   
   The negatives? Much of the information regarding accommodations is quite dated. For instance, the description of the Skyline Hotel in Bamenda is at least five to seven years old. It has been years since the pool had water, the night club is closed, the hotel is frequently without electricity and is in a general state of disrepair and decay. Of course, this is merely symptomatic of the overall decay prevalent throughout Cameroon. Do not rely on the phone numbers listed for the hotels, as many may have changed. On the basis of the negatives I would award the book 2 stars.
   
   Overall, however, I can recommend the book as a serviceable resource for planning a trip and as a useful tool while in country.



3. I used this guide in Cameroon for one year while I was on a Fulbright grant from 05-06. I have to say that the guide was surprisingly accurate for about 90% of things I wanted to know: lodging, restaurants, and museums. I toured much of the country when my family visited, and it helped us immeasurably in our travels. I would take the sections regarding trails and nature sites (waterfalls, caves, etc.) with a grain of salt. We spent a day or two in Western Cameroon fruitlessly searching for some caves that the book mentioned. All in all a great guide, but hold out for the revised edition if you can!

No comments about Cape Town Travel Map (Globetrotter Travel Map).

5 comments about Through the Dark Continent:Volume 1.

1. As noted already by another reviewer, if you do read this book, please read "King Leopold's Ghost" by Hochschild. The latter is a wonderfully written account of a nightmare society that was built with Stanley's willing cooperation (Stanleyville was named after him). Moreover Hochschild's account is the result of years of research in libraries to reconstruct a history that King Leopold, Stanley's backer, sought hard to obliterate. When you read headlines today about atrocities in the Congo today, be aware that Stanley is very directly responsible for what has happened. To give you an insight into the man, his contemporaries report that he enjoyed shooting Africans for sport. Conrad's "Heart of Darkness" is based on his own first-hand experiences in the Congolese slave society that Stanley helped to build. Too many good people sacrificed lives and careers to bring this to light, for people to now ignore the truth.



2. Startling book that should be read by everyone interested in the history of Central Africa. Probably, the greatest adventure book ever written.

   Interesting that Stanley, back in 1875, was aware that the Muslims from Arabia were "fanatical" as compared to other Muslims. To Arabian Muslims, everyone who didn't believe in the Koran was an infidel and should be killed.

   Have only read a little more than half the book and can hardly put it down. The previous two posts are way off base. Probably written by Muslims or those of African decent who have little pride in their history.




3. Of course this book of full of lies, but that is what makes it so great. If you are reading this book through the eyes of a historian, and can't get past the lies, your eyes aren't open all the way. Stanley's "Through the Dark Continent" shows us the European idealogy of African colonization. All his lies are not produced simply for the purpose of lying, or hiding the truth. He lies to give Europe what it wants: a perfect arena for the civilizing mission. These savages that throw themselves at the feet of Stanley are perfect for conversion. This book helped propel imperialization in its own time, and now shows us how they did such.
   When reading this book, use your knowledge of Stanley's deception to get in the mind frame of a late 19th century explorer, not just to experience the adventures; that is the true joy of reading primary sources.



4. Yes, this book is full of lies and it's the least PC thing I've ever read, and for that it is worthy of interest. The voice is the thing here, and it really adds a dimension of understanding how the Europeans could have been so stupid and so entrepreneurial at the same time.

   Of note: It is lacking in the delicious details that make up a good adventure read, a-la Cherry Gerards's "Worst Journey in the World." After reading this book, I know little about the lower classes on the expedition, nor have I learned anything about the how's and what's of the everyday life of the explorer. But what I did get was invaluable insight into the mind of a quite exceptional (American) imperialist of the time, unfiltered through the lenses of modern sensibilities or morals. Yes, Stanley was a colossal a-hole, but just because he is so objectionable doesn't make his accomplishments any less extraordinary or this book any less valuable.




5. The natives of Africa who worked with Stanley called him Bulla Marari - "The Rock Breaker", and with good reason. It is really very hard to appreciate Stanley's accomplishments from today's perspective. In 1874, Stanley left Zanzibar. By 1877, he had crossed the continent and reached the Atlantic Ocean. There is nothing modern man can do that would equal this accomplishment. Today's daring adventurers climb rocks or mountains or go bungee jumping. Stanley was traveling into the unknown. Not even space exploration today holds the quality of the unknown, as did Africa in Stanley's time. The hardship he faced during this time was unbelievable by today's standards. His circumnavigation of Lake Victoria alone contained a constant stream of near death scrapes that not only required staggering amounts of physical courage, but a mental toughness as well. A lot of the reviews I have read on this work focus on Stanley's political incorrectness. I urge a closer reading of the work. Stanley was actually extremely open minded and, more than anything, fair in his views and certainly very progressive. When discussing the character of the African natives, Stanley was of the opinion that "they are, in short, equal to any other race or colour on the face of the globe, in all the attributes of manhood." Stanley was an insightful enough observer to draw comparisons between African legends and Christian beliefs, giving each equal respect and recognizing their similarities. Stanley even at one point performs the ceremony of blood-brotherhood with the famous chief Mirambo, which involved the sharing of blood by mutual cuts on the leg. I would suggest that Stanley was not only a progressive during his own time, but for any time. He judged men simply by deeds, nothing more or less. If only Stanley recieved the same standard of judgement. In Stanley's time, so much was unknown, and the world seemed so large and rich. In our time, so much more is known, and yet our world has become so narrow, specialized and petty. There can never be another man like Stanley. We are all far more interested in watching a teenager eat a plate of worms on "Fear Factor."

No comments about Ethiopia, Eritrea and Djibouti Map by Cartographia (World Travel Map).