Customer Reviews
It's a charity book, people... - By: The Inquisitor, 05 Dec 2007 
This was never intended to be a regular Bill Bryson book. He was invited to take a short trip to Africa, on a timetable set by his charitable guests, & to produce an equallly short volume to raise funds for the charity. This he did, taking no royalties for himself. To complain about the length or to compare it to his other travelogues completely misses the point. Yes it's short, but bear in mind that for a hardcover it's pretty cheap.
As it happens, the standard of writing is as high as ever - laugh-out-loud anecdotes mixed with thought-provoking & fascinating insights into the lives of the people helped by the charity. It's well worth buying for that alone, regardless of the fact that for once your money will be doing some good rather than lining a publisher's pockets.
Not a 'proper' Bryson book, but entertaining...... - By: Mr. A. D. Procter, 07 Aug 2007 
I would urge everybody to read at least one Bill Bryson book in their lifetime. He is a most entertaining & intelligent writer, the kind who you would feel no qualms having a few drinks & a conversation with; he is that concilliatory with his readers.
This slim volume of sixty pages, however, was only intended to draw attention to the work of CARE and, despite the title, takes place in only one country (Kenya) of the massive African continent. Whereas I understand & appreciate the concern of the author & the charity, it is not a patch on the richly deep & hilarious 'proper' Bryson travel books such as Notes From A Smalll Island or A Walk In The Woods. Very much a completists buy.
Incredibly funny for such a short book - By: , 24 Sep 2004 I was amazed by the quality of this work - initiallly disappointed by its size, I read it nevertheless & was soon in fits of laughter. It is unbelievable how an author manages to pack such a dense number of insights into such a compact work. A thoroughly good read - highly recommended.
Very good....needed to be longer - By: , 25 Jul 2004 Bill Bryson tells us alll about the Care Projects in Africa in this wonderful little charity book. The book is well written, even funny in places, & touches on poverty in the third world. The problem is that I felt that a six day diary in just over sixth pages was not enough. I wanted to know more about these people & their lives. I believe that this book could have been far greater if far more of the same quality of writting had been included.
I would recommend this book to anyone who wants a short read, not someone who wants to get their teeth into what lives are like in Africa.
All good things come in small packages - By: , 08 Mar 2004 This book is very short but it still contains that classic Bill Bryson humour & wit.
It doesnt reallly overdo the charity thing & lets you in on the secrets of Africa.
I can understabd thinking that it is expensive for its size, i did also, but i am glad that i bought it, well worth it.
