A short read and inspiring, although I do remember wishing there was more to the story.

Hilarious account of visiting Africa but at the same time it is a poignant introduction to the daily struggles of so many human beings to attain a better life for their families.

Some hilarious quotes from the book:
"Oh you will see plenty of Africa," Kentice assures me.."We're going to show you lots of exotic things. Have you ever eaten camel?"
"Only in my junior high school cafeteria and they call it lamb."

Taking the train from Nairobi to Mombasa:
t"The experience would not have been a great deal different if they had put us all in a large barrel and rolled us to Mombasa."

This is by far the shortest of Bryson’s books I’ve read. n  Bill Bryson’s African Diaryn is really little more than a colorful essay on his eight days in the country of Kenya. Do I recommend it? Absolutely! You can easily read and digest it in an afternoon. And with all things Bryson, you’ll be a better (or at least a better informed!) human being as a result.

tApart from other hardships in Kenya and, one can assume, all over Africa, we see on p. 33 the shortage of educational opportunities in Bryson’s succinct treatment of the subject: “(n)early everyone I spoke to complained of shortages of one kind or another—of work, of food, of teachers, of things to do. There are 28,000 pupils in the camp’s schools, but only 807 desks. There is only one textbook for every 20 students, one classroom for every 75. I talked to a bright young man named James Makuach, one of 357 students preparing to take the Kenyan Schools Certificate exam, a prerequisite for going on to higher education. He told me the school didn’t have the facilities, in particular the scientific equipment, that would allow them to pass the test.

t“‘You have no hope at all?’ I said.

t“‘Not much,’ he said and gave me a heartbreakingly shy smile.”

tThe above paragraph provides only a glimpse at the hardship lived—and survived, for the most part—by the people of Kenya. Read the rest of it and weep. But then be thankful (and possibly charitable) for organizations like CARE when you read what it has accomplished here and continues to accomplish every day against seemingly insurmountable odds.

RRB
Brooklyn, NY
16 September 2019

Bryson wrote this very short book to raise money for CARE. Funny, informative. Bryson is my favorite author and he rarely disappoints

Africa Week

Bill Bryson does his usual great job in this book, but it rather surprised me by being so short. However, after he informs you that you have just made a donation to CARE he makes it seem that it is worthwhile.

I mistakenly thought this was going to be a book touring Africa, as "Sunburned Country" was of Australia. Then I saw that it was less than 100 pages! It's actually a short glimpse of Kenya that Bryson did, I believe, as a donate to CARE (a charity organization). Still very informative, vivid, and a worthwhile, if short, read.

If there was a museum for window frames, the magical ones through which you can take a peek into different Kenyan cities and their lifestyles. That museum would be this book. Though a small one, but a good one.

Not much to review here, since this “book” is only 3 dozen pages long, and was basically a fundraising effort for CARE. Bill Bryson, humorist par excellence, traveled to Kenya in 2002 for 8 days with the CARE organization, to tour some of their projects and get a feel for what they’re attempting to do for impoverished people there, and he kept a diary of his African adventure in order to turn it into this short book. Yes, he included some funny stuff, mostly about the potential dangers he could’ve faced, but didn’t. But the purpose was to support CARE’s humanitarian efforts with the book’s net proceeds. I hope it succeeded in doing so.

A recounting, in daily diary format, of a week long trip the author made to Kenya to see some of the work done by CARE.
When I saw how small the book is - 50 pages - I figured it would be something I'd read in one quick sitting. Surprisingly, I didn't. I must say, though, that it was interesting to read. The first few days of the trip were a study in contrasts: from the slums to the preserve that was the sight of "Out of Africa". For me, the most rewarding part of this small book was the days he got out among the people reporting on the work of CARE - from the refugee camp and then the village projects enabling the local citizens to take ownership of ways to improve their lives: the opportunities to make a difference.

__________________________
Charity should begin at home, but should not stay there. –– Phillips Brooks

Bill Bryson went to Africa at the request of CARE International to write about the good work that organization was doing in Kenya. That was generous of him. It was kind. It was a great act of benevolence. He is a better man than I am. I tend to be rather miserly and parsimonious and keep my pennies, nickels, and dimes in a jar guarded by my cat.

While in Africa, Mr. Bryson took some notes. They are, in general, no more interesting than my college notes from freshman chemistry. His notes are now entitled African Diary. He says all proceeds from the sale of the African Diary will go to charity, and I believe him––he is, I’m sure, an honest man. Unfortunately Mr. Bryson expects his loyal fans [and I am one] to read these memoranda he casually jotted down while he was in Africa––I don’t know why. I have never done him any harm that I can remember. I was gravely disappointed. They are just notes. He never intended them to be published when he took them.

Instead of paying for this book, send Bryson some money he can give to CARE. While you’re at it, send his publisher some money for postage so they can send any African diaries they still have in stock to CARE along with the cash. The diaries are terrifically dry and will make excellent kindling, and they won’t do the recipients any harm––as long as those recipients can’t read English.

★★ for the “Diaries,” and I’m being charitable.
★★★★★ for Bill Bryson’s act of charity.

Note: Mr. Bryson sells his African notes for $12. I am willing to part with my chemistry notes for $10.99. All of the proceeds will go into a Grande Mocha Latte, double pumped. I am willing to share.

This should really be Bill Bryson's Kenyan Diary, since that's the only country he visits. I had been looking for this book for a while, but I didn't realize that it was a slim charity volume, with all proceeds going to CARE. As such, it does its job, presenting the excellent work of CARE and other organizations in Kenya, with a dash of Bryson's signature wit. It did its job, showing the country's poverty but also its beauty, and the tireless work of those who are investing in the country through model farms, microloans, and other self-sufficiency projects. I'll be making a donation, since I bought the book used.

This is not really a book. It is Bill Bryson's Diary about his 8 day trip to Kenya with CARE international. It's just 55 pages long. I got it from the library due to being interested in charity work. I found it odd that it was in the library in the first place as it is not for profit and all the proceeds go to CARE...surely having a copy in the library defeats this purpose?....anyway...

Content wise, it was okay but limited. The descriptions of the slums and various people Bryson met were interesting but there was not enough proper detail due to the limited writings. He also describes other experiences at length; e.g taking a trip on a light aircraft. I found his descriptions of these experiences over dramatised...frequently referring to the likelihood of death etc.....

There was the odd swearword but for a non-Christian book it wasn't too bad. I found myself wondering what the purpose really was in writing this book. It reminded me again of the tragedy of offering help without hope. The author wonders what else can be done for these people, many of whom are refugees and he comments that they have no hope for the future. He doesn't realise the significance of his observations, but reading that as a Christian, his words jumped off the page....There can be no future hope without the saving message of Jesus and freedom from sin!

http://christianmissionaryuk.blogspot...