Editorial Review

As a Peace Corp volunteer, Mr. Tidwell spent two years in the grasslands of south central Zaire trying to teach the benefits of fish farming in some of the poorest villages on the continent. His task was not easy. One villager was convinced that fish would stock the ponds naturally, since they come to earth in raindrops. Others suspected that the ponds were just another way for whites to exploit black labor. When he finally made headway, the fish farmers gave away nearly half their harvest to relatives, and Tidwell learned one of many powerful lessons: tradition takes precedence over profits. While the tragic poverty and disease faced by the villagers was daunting, Tidwell found that their adherence to heritage and their celebration of tiny triumphs and daily satisfactions revealed a life richer than he had ever known. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Great Book
As a returned Peace Corps volunteer who served in francophone Africa (Gabon - 89-91), Mike Tidwell captures the experience better than any other Peace Corps writer I've read.Contrast this book with the Village of Waiting (George Packer) and you'll see what I mean.He also is a master story teller and offers a lot for anyone interested in Africa.

Great Memoir for Any Westerner Going to Live in Africa!
Mike Tidwell's memoir of his two years of Peace Corp work teaching villagers to build fish ponds is about so much more than that. He writes so honestly about what he learned from working closely with his African neighbors and how he came to understand their generosity from an African perspective as opposed to his American perspective. He has so many adventures with the men the Kalambayi region that each chapter taught me something new. Mike shares his doubts about himself and those he works with. He confesses his errors and shares his times of despondency. But all in all I think he feels the way that I do...living in Africa as an American is the best education because you are forever changed...your world of thought is so much larger. I wanted the story to go on and on because every evening I looked forward to being with Mike's world in Zaire.

Surprisingly Good
After deciding that I wanted to apply to the Peace Corps, I began doing online and literary research on the experience as a whole.I bought this book, totally uninterested in how a Caucasion man in Africa would learn to adapt to the local culture and thus be successful at showing the (willing) villagers how to raise "fish farms."Needless to say, this book never has a dull moment, which is a major shock for me.Although he doesn't talk much about the Peace Corps (if at all), he does constantly touch on the topics of attempting to shed his American normalities/viewpoints and just plain adapting to life in his African villages.His cultural adaptation and the frustrations that come along with teaching the locals about fish farming are just two things that make this book a page turner. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th Century Description And Travel    2. Africa    3. Congo (Democratic Republic)    4. Essays & Travelogues    5. Fish-culture    6. Kalambaye    7. Kalambaye (Congo)    8. Luba (African people)    9. Peace Corps (U.S.)    10. Social life and customs    11. Sociology    12. Travel    13. Travel - General    14. Travel / Africa   

Subjects:  1. Africa - General    2. General    3. Multicultural Education    4. Photo Techniques    5. Photoessays & Documentaries    6. Photography    7. Photojournalism    8. Subjects & Themes - Travel - World/Africa    9. African history: postwar, from c 1945 -    10. Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaire)    11. Photography / General   

Subjects:  1. 1885-1908    2. Congo (Democratic Republic)    3. Description and travel    4. Europe - Ireland    5. General    6. History    7. History - General History    8. History: World    9. Politics and government    10. To 1908    11. African history: from c 1900 -    12. Biography: general    13. Colonization & independence    14. Congo    15. Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaire)    16. Genocide    17. Political control & freedoms    18. c 1900 - c 1914   

Reviews (1)

Good Photo Safari Book
Very good book.Deals with photographic safaris.There is only one page on hunting.There are very good descriptions of the different parks and the native people of the region.Information on visas is out of date. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Africa    2. Africa, East    3. Congo (Democratic Republic)    4. Geography (General)    5. Guidebooks    6. Safaris    7. Travel    8. Travel - Foreign    9. Wildlife watching   

Reviews (12)

The Real Better Than Fiction
I have nothing more to add to the splendid reviews given this outstandingly informative work; however, I would recommend a fictionalized account of the same expedition written by Peter Forbath entitled " The Last Hero". It is no longer in print but can be purchased online from used book sellers.
A Vivid Tale of Arrogance on Adventure
This book tells the story of a relief expedition led by Henry Stanley, of Stanley-and-Livingstone fame, to rescue an African ruler/administrator, the Amin Pasha, from military conquest and possibly worse.
Entertaining Read
I found this book very interesting. I have never read much about African history. This book covers only a very particular slice of African history but an interesting one.The one negative I have about the book is the moralizing of the authors. They make it a point to explicitly tell us that Stanley was not a 'good' person. It was more than obvious to an even casual reader that his treatment of others and disregard for the non-Europeans on the expedition showed some moral flaws. Overall I was entertained by the book. Recommended. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. (1887-1889)    2. (Henry Morton),    3. 1840-1892    4. 1841-1904    5. Africa - General    6. Emin Pasha Relief Expedition    7. Emin Pasha,    8. Expeditions & Discoveries    9. General    10. History    11. History - General History    12. History: World    13. Stanley, Henry M    14. Stanley, Henry M.    15. Congo    16. Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaire)    17. Travel writing    18. c 1800 to c 1900   

Reviews (3)

An American hunts for a dinosaur, and you're right there.
A good read but an even better document to the pursuit of dreams (well, maybe not dreams, but dinosaurs) by an adventurer.I couldn't help but think of Indiana Jones, except with a lot of modern red tape and governmentbureaucracy.Just being able to go after the dinosaur is a miracle, andNugent paints a great picture for me.So many modern"adventures" are media-hyped, corporate events that pass as"sports" but this guy goes into the dark of the Congo and no oneseems to care except the people he has to bribe and barter with along theway.Definitely check this one out.

A powerful and inspiring book.
A truly great book for anyone yearning for adventure!Nugent brings the wilds of the Congo into startling clarity.So vibrant are his descriptions, so compelling his pacing, that I couldn't put this book downfor a moment once I began reading.I was so moved and inspired by Mr.Nugent's adventure looking for the Mokele-mbembe, that I spent a yearsearching for Bigfoot in the forests of the Pacific Northwest! Very fewbooks have ever had such an impact on my life.I loved it.

Next Best Thing to Being There!
The author has an amazing account to tell and he does it with great skill -- drawing his reader into the world, not only of primeval jungle and native folklore, but of the vibrant social structure of African life, where a visitor's knowledge of American television shows becomes a better item for trade than a pocketful of gold.As I finished the last, breathtaking chapter (it took every ounce of willpower not to peek ahead to it), I was ready to quit my job, pack up my bags, and set sail to Congo to go looking for the legendary beast myself.What a great read ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Africa    2. Biography/Autobiography    3. Congo (Democratic Republic)    4. Congo River    5. Description and travel    6. Mokele-mbembe    7. Nugent, Rory    8. Travel - General    9. Biography: general   

Subjects:  1. Congo    2. Maps, charts & atlases   

Reviews (18)

Enjoyable account from a traveller, for other travellers
I too could not put this book down. It is very engrossing and it keeps you entertained. I don't see why so many are affected/offended by its simplicity, as I don't think it was ever meant to compete with any in-depth literary accounts (The Little Prince is a simple story, yet still a thoughtful read). It is an honest tale from an innocent, often amusing, perspective. It strikes a particular chord with other travellers though. I have been to Africa but plan on doing a fairly similar, if more extensive, journey through the continent- yet, books like this one are often the only invaluable insight on street-smarts and dealings with locals. Granted it is dated, it still provides bits and glimpses into what these cultures entail. I only wish the author continued his story, with accounts of his explorations in Asia.

Good reading
This book talks about the author's experience traveling through many parts of Africa. The style of writing was simple and fun.However, the writer could have made more of an effort to learn about the people who live at the places he visited. At times, I felt he was traveling just for the sake of traveling.

hm
I actually had the privelidge of meeting the author at a bookstore where he was handing out his john hancock.. I rather scared him I think... Read more

Subjects:  1. Africa    2. Congo (Democratic Republic)    3. Description And Travel    4. Essays & Travelogues    5. Kertscher, Kevin,    6. Sahara    7. Sahel    8. Travel    9. Travel - Foreign    10. Journes    11. Kertscher, Kevin    12. Travel & holiday guides   

Subjects:  1. Africa, East    2. Congo (Democratic Republic)    3. Description and travel    4. Gorilla    5. Hunting    6. Hunting - General    7. Sports    8. Sports & Recreation    9. Hunting or shooting animals & game    10. Sports & Outdoor Recreation   

Reviews (10)

Great travel writing
Zaire isn't easy to get through, but the author certainly gave it her all making the trek. As a travel piece, I'd give it five stars. However, I'm deducting a couple of points for the politics. I disagree strongly with the author's conclusions/assessments. She and her partner shouldn't have been so surprised by their "arrest" just before leaving; while others were left to rot in jail, tortured, etc. they were able to feast at the embassador's residence under a sort of "house arrest" until Mobutu finally got sick of toying with them and gave their passports back.

What an adventure!
This book was truly fascinating.I read it shortly after reading The Poisonwood Bible, which had sparked my curiousity about central Africa.The author and her boyfriend set out on a trip across Zaire with no real idea of how they would get to their destination, and ended up dealing with situations that were so far beyond my frame of reference that I could scarcely imagine them.The author generally writes well and conveys a good sense of the tribulations and frustrations - as well as some moments of optimism - they encountered along the way as they got an unusually close-up view of the people and culture of the country.My only quibble with the book has to do with the inordinate number of typos.

Excellent story of travel to Heart of Moubutu's Zaire
"East Along the Equator: A Journey Up the Congo and into Zaire" is an excellent account of a journey across Central Africa (in what was then Zaire) in the early 1980s. Winternitz and her companion traveled by river barge along the entire navigable portion of the Congo river, from Kinshasa to Kisangani. The Congo river barges are legendary among 'extreme' travelers. The end of Belgian colonization of the Congo meant the end of roads, making the river the only practical way to travel between Kinshasa and Kisangani. These river barges are (were?) floating villages, complete with markets and nightclubs populated by traders who make their livelihood onboard, as well as travelers going from place to place. From Kisangani the journey continues overland, to an eventual return to Kinshasa by air. In Kinshasa the pair are arrested and interrogated by the secret police after interviewing a politician opposed to president Moubutu. Winternitz gives an even-handed and interesting account of the journey, along with relevant history and background information. The book contains a good bibliography. This book was journalism when it was first published, and it is still worth reading today, as a document of the Congo under Moubutu. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Africa    2. Congo (Democratic Republic)    3. Congo River    4. Description and travel    5. Travel    6. Travel - General    7. Winternitz, Helen    8. Journeys    9. Travel & holiday guides    10. Travel / Africa   

Subjects:  1. Congo (Democratic Republic)    2. Description and travel    3. Ituri Forest (Congo)    4. Scientific expeditions    5. Zoology   

Reviews (4)

Worth every moment
I've re-read this I know not how many times, but it truly remains one of my favorite "classics." This journey through the Congo (and, in turn, through the protagonist's mind) is not only well written, but it truly draws the reader into the delusional stages of consciousness. It is worth every moment.
Inside the heart of darkness....
Heart of Darkness is a novel focused with strong imagery and the concepts of darkness and light as "darkness" is the heart of man while the "light" can be civilization as a whole. I found this book somewhat discriminating in the beginning but as a whole it has a very clear statement. I can see how it is one of the greatest novels but to me Marlow, the main character, has no character as he becomes obsessed with Kurtz and can instantly become him but does not. After finding what he is looking for, Marlow is still filled with the darkness. Even though I thought this book was somewhat interesting, I would not recommend it because I did not agree with Marlow's or maybe even Conrad's view of the Congo jungle and life in it with the darkness.

Heart of Darkness
Conrad is among the most influential writers of our time, and his masterwork Heart of Darkness proves this.The concepts introduced in this book laid the groudwork for a new outlook on humanity, and his predictions to modern society, specifically the business world, are unparalleled.Read this book and it will give you a new view on the world. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1857-1924    2. Africa    3. Classics    4. Congo (Democratic Republic)    5. Conrad, Joseph,    6. Conrad, Joseph, 1857-1924    7. Degeneration    8. Diaries    9. Europeans    10. Fiction    11. Literature - Classics / Criticism    12. Literature: Classics    13. Trading posts    14. Travel    15. Conrad, Joseph    16. Fiction / General    17. Journeys    18. Modern fiction   

Reviews (6)

I was a missionary child . . .
and although I grew up in Nigeria, during the 80's, this book brought back so many memories. Not only were her descriptions of the continent breathtakingly vivid, her pre-teen thoughts on subjects like the unforgivable sin and sexuality also brought back memories. There is more to being a missionary child in Africa than the "wildness" and Meyers captures the subtlties with grace and fluidity. Absolutely gorgeous.

A missionary Congolese childhood, remembered with love
Margaret Meyers, the daughter of a missionary family, grew up in The Congo in the 1960s, and this 1995 collection of short stories was part of her later MFA Thesis at the University of Virginia. Through them, she introduces her lead character, Grace, who views the world with the freshness of childhood and shares her experiences with the reader. Her father tells her the equator goes right through their property and, at the age of six, she searches for it as if it would be a clearly marked path. Her favorite pastime is swimming in the river, a river she will miss terribly when she is sent off to boarding school a few years later. Her protestant Christianity is unquestioned and she's always exploring her own spirituality as well as making keen observations about the people around her. There are some memorable characters here, from her loving parents to the native Congolese who laugh at the foibles of the missionary families. There are the two spinster women with a secret, an unhappy former ballerina who has trouble adapting to her life in Africa, and a Frenchman who loves his garden almost as much as he loves his constantly changing women. Through Grace's young eyes we see the cruelty of racism and the stirrings of independence as political changes are happening in the country. If you liked POISONWOOD BIBLE....
... you'll love SWIMMING IN THE CONGO! This is a collection of short stories that reads like a novel. In it, young Grace Birggen, the daughter of an agricultural missionary to the Congo in the 1960's, comes of age along the banks of the Congo River in what is now Zaire. The stories are beautifully written and the descriptions of her childhood in an emerging third-world nation are compelling. It is POISONWOOD without the poison. Yes, there are incidents of imperialism and racism, but those incidents are filtered through Grace's eyes, in much the same way that Scout narrates Boo Radley's and Tom Robinson's stories in TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and so will you. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Africa    2. Children of missionaries    3. Congo (Democratic Republic)    4. Fiction    5. Fiction - General    6. General    7. Missionaries    8. Popular American Fiction    9. Travel   

Reviews (3)

The Real Heart of Africa
I own over a thousands books on a wide range of subjects regarding Africa.This is THE BEST book in plain english about what life is like in a central african tribe from the perspective on an African.I have also traveled to the congo and other countries for research.This book gets it right, helping to create a cohesive picture of life there without a bunch on anthropological, higher instition speak.A must, must read. Discovery of a lost Africa
This book saves you the discomfort of a trip deep into the African Jungle: I have never read such a detailed description of the real 'Circle of Life' in Africa. Mr. Daems tells us the story of Kianza's life, starting with the first encounter of Kianza's father with white people, up to the independence of Congo. Tales of slavery, intiation rites, secret societies, local politics and economics, all these subjects are demystified in this book by Kianza himself. Kianza is not just a first row spectator but a participant himself. The arrival of white man however disrupted the existing fragile social structures which had evolved out of several thousands of years of trying to live in harmony with nature. "Kianza however did not oppose progress blindly, but it was blind progress that he opposed."

WOW!This is the REAL inside story of the CONGO.
Kianza's Congo is the inside story of black life in the Congo. Written by a man who lived 10 years with the tribes. He spoke their language, witnessed their customs, and learned of secret rituals.Read more

Subjects:  1. Africa    2. Africa - General    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Congo (Democratic Republic)    5. Description and travel    6. Ethnic Cultures - General    7. Historical - General    8. Kianza    9. Luwano,    10. Social life and customs    11. Travel   

Subjects:  1. Congo    2. Congo (Democratic Republic)    3. Description and travel    4. History   

Subjects:  1. 1881-1950    2. Africa    3. Birds    4. Congo (Democratic Republic)    5. Description and travel    6. Insects   

Subjects:  1. Baudouin    2. Congo (Democratic Republic)    3. Description and travel    4. Ruanda-Urundi   

Subjects:  1. Congo (Democratic Republic)    2. Congo (République démocratique)    3. Description and travel    4. Descriptions et voyages    5. Indigenous peoples   

Subjects:  1. Congo (Democratic Republic)    2. Description and travel    3. Ethnology    4. Norden, Hermann   

Subjects:  1. Africa    2. Congo (Democratic Republic)    3. Guidebooks    4. Travel - Foreign    5. Area / regional studies    6. Places & peoples: general interest    7. Reference works