This is not a full book, simply 60 odd pages about Bill's trip to Kenya to see the work that CARE do. All profits and royalties are being donated to the charity. It's a very good but short read.

I feel like an asshole for not giving this more stars. I am an enormous Bill Bryson fan -- I've read everything else he has published (with the exception of "Shakespeare: The World as Stage" which I'm starting tonight). Unfortunately, this sort of wasn't a Bill Bryson book. It was a Bill Bryson... journal entry. It was only 49 pages, and because it was done for charity, it was overly sincere. It almost completely lacked Bryson's signature humor. He normally has such a colorful way of describing things that I even enjoyed his science book, "A Short History of Nearly Everything." This was more like 49 pages of "Kenya is a real shithole and the people need help." Nevertheless, I wish I was able to give it more stars, because I just like him so much, and because it is for charity. So, you know, go spend the money so it goes to CARE, but don't expect to spend more than an hour with it, and don't expect the kind of laughs I can still conjure up just by thinking of certain scenes in "A Walk in the Woods."

I guess I need to clarify the 5-star. This is not his best book (my favorite thus far is "A short history of nearly everything", which, ironically, I have not finished reading). But this diary is endearing and unbiased. Or maybe I'm biased? Since he touched upon many issues (esp. public health, international development, poverty, and responses to these challenges) that are close to heart for me. Knowing this book also helps raise funds and support CARE's work is also quite heart warming.

Of course I understand the book title (and even the cover) may offend some people, who dislikes the loose use of "Africa" - in this context it is even worse, since his trip was an 8-day visit to one country (Kenya) only. Other than that, I think it's a wonderful quick read.

Shortest Bill Bryson volume I've ever read. This thin tome is about his trip with CARE to Kenya. Some of the terminology could use updating, but I'd still like to see a full-fledged book about Bryson visiting more parts of Africa.

Only 50 pages long, but Bryson can make anything wonderful to read. This diary details his travel to Kenya at the invitation of CARE International. The reality of the conditions there in comparison to his preconceived idea of Africa (from watching too many Jungle Jim movies when he was a kid) was a true eye opener for him. He is such a superb writer and his wit always makes his writings so enjoyable.

Un ouvrage de commande pour l'organisme de charité CARE. C'est très drôle par moment, hé c'est Bryson, avec des moments philanthropiques. Pas un vilain ménage, mais beaucoup trop court.

Typical Bryson ... great read .. this one with more feeling that usual.

If you enjoy Bryson’s style, and care about those with less than most of us, then, please, read this book. And then, possibly go a step further, donate a few dollars to CARE.

Unfortunately, the book only has 69 pages, but it is so much fun to read. I, personally, am not that much a fan of Africa, although I would be interested in a vacation in one of the National Parks. But of course, there is so much more to it and who would be better to tell about some quirky and even scary moments than Bill Bryson in his hilarious way?! xD
Enjoy!

This book is like a trailer for a Bill Bryson book. While well intentioned as the proceeds will go to CARE to help fight poverty, it kind of feels like a cracker to a starving person. As Bryson write of so many other travels, is it insulting to have written so little for this book? It was entertaining and enlightening, it just should have been a whole lot more.

Not what I was expecting from Bill Bryson. Was extremely short (I didn't know this until I finished it suddenly and unexpectedly, because I was reading a Kindle version), and not at all funny. At least he's raising money for a good cause. The one thing I will take from this book is the beauty of Kenyan beaches.

A reasonably well written and very short book that attempts to describe Kenya. The brevity of the book does not do justice to the country or the people. However, all proceeds from the sale of it go to CARE, an extrememly good cause. I therefore suggest that everyone buy it, even if you don't read it. It's about a twenty minute read.

I was very disappointed with this short Bryson book. You can tell that it was written off the cuff for an audience that does not include his usual fans. There are some funny lines of course, but it is really not as engrossing as much of Bill Brysons work.

Worth the read if it's laying around, but don't bother seeking it out as another Bill Bryson masterpiece.


Token line from the book (from memory): "East African Railways has somewhat of a tradition of killing it's passengers..."