Reviews (3)

Don't go to Burkina Faso without it.
I live in Burkina Faso and this book has tons more information than any other English-language guidebook on the country and seems to be more comprehensive than any French-language ones too.Days after receiving the book, I used it to plan and execute a very successful trip to the far north-east of the country.All of the practical information about where to stay and eat was spot-on.The maps of towns and regions were also very useful.I spent a night at a beautiful desert campsite, 30 kilometers from the nearest dirt road, and run by friendly Tuareg tribesmen because of this book.I'd be delighted with this guidebook even if there was nothing more to it.However, it also has the distinction of being extremely well written and interesting - be it concerning local transportation, customs, history, languages, etc.I enjoyed this book so much that when I recently visited Dogon country in Mali and met a group of Spanish tourists heading for Burkina Faso, I gave them my copy.When I got home, I ordered two more.

The only guide worth getting
This is the only really useful English language guide to Burkina Faso and should be standard issue for anyone coming here.Their attention to detail is mind-boggling.Even for someone who has already lived in Burkina for nearly two years, I've learned a lot from their writing.

An excellent guide to Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso is not (yet) considered among the top 10 tourist destinations in the world,but for those going there for travel, work, or to visit family/friends, this new book is an invaluable resource.We've just bought it after having just moved back to the US after over three years in Burkina Faso.It provides a great overview of the country, including the better-known destinations, but the authors have also made an effort to cover less-known towns and sites of cultural interest.Highly recommended ! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Africa    2. Travel    3. Travel - Foreign    4. Travel Guides    5. Burkina Faso    6. Travel & holiday guides    7. Travel / Africa   

Reviews (6)

More Colonial Nonsense
What most reviewers of "Riding the Demon" miss is the way in which the author metaphorizes Africa for his own "literary" ends.As non-Africans have done now for centuries, Chilson translates"Africa" into a useful tool for his own soul-searching-andpontificating. While in some respects the book may open western eyes to thecomplex that is "Africa," ultimately Chilson bends"Africa" to his purposes and authorial desires.

so, so...
This book was informative, but it is limited to "on the road".You'll hear about the bush taxis and their drivers, but will visit only a small part of the country.This book could have used a good editor --there's some repetition -- and a better map.The map in the front of thebook doesn't list all the towns, villages, etc. that were visited anddoesn't name the adjacent countries.I thought it was worth reading, butdisappointing.

Riding a Taxi
This book was very disappointing indeed. Niger is a large country, but the author only rode a few short stretches on the only real highway at the Southern border. Niger is endless sand dunes with tiny water holes that aretough to find. It has ghost towns and the salt oasis of Bilma. It has smalloases where the people never saw a doctor and where children will die frominfections when they step on an acacia thorn. It is a land of camelcaravans where natives get lost and die in the desert. And where, in themountains, live the blue men of the desert, the Tuaregs. On the desertsands, you can find fish skeletons. And in Agadez you see the world'soldest mosque and can shake hands with the sultan. And where was theauthor? Nowhere in sight of the real Niger.Forget it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th Century Description And Travel    2. Africa    3. Africa, West    4. Anthropology - Cultural    5. Automobile travel    6. Chilson, Peter    7. Description and travel    8. Essays & Travelogues    9. Niger    10. Travel    11. Travel - Foreign    12. Burkina Faso    13. Cultural studies    14. Ivory Coast    15. Journeys    16. Nigeria    17. Travel writing   

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    2. General    3. Burkina Faso    4. Travel / road maps & atlases   

Subjects:  1. Africa    2. Travel    3. Travel - Foreign    4. TRAVEL & HOLIDAY   

Subjects:  1. Africa    2. Burkina Faso    3. Guidebooks    4. Travel    5. Travel - Foreign    6. Area / regional studies    7. Places & peoples: general interest    8. Reference works   

Subjects:  1. Africa    2. Travel    3. Travel - Foreign    4. TRAVEL & HOLIDAY   

Subjects:  1. Africa    2. Business & Economics    3. Business/Economics    4. Exports & Imports    5. Government & Business    6. International - General    7. Travel - Foreign    8. International business    9. TRAVEL & HOLIDAY   

Subjects:  1. African American Studies    2. Burkina Faso    3. Ethnology    4. Field work    5. Fula (African people)    6. Psychology    7. Social life and customs    8. Sociology   

Subjects:  1. Agriculture    2. Dagaaba (African people)    3. Ethnic Issues    4. Ethnic Studies - African American Studies - General    5. Social life and customs   

Subjects:  1. Burkina Faso    2. Social life and customs    3. Women   

Subjects:  1. 1951-    2. Africa, West    3. Description and travel   

Subjects:  1. Burkina Faso    2. Description and travel   

Subjects:  1. Burkina Faso    2. Maps