A new book – Page 2 – Peace Corps Worldwide

New Book: The Vanishing Point, by Paul Theroux (Malawi 1963-65)

Jan 27 2025

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Mariner Books (January 28, 2025) Language ‏ : ‎ English Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 336 pages ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 035872225X ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0358722250 Available on Harper Collins Publishers for $14.99 (digital); $24.00 (hardcover) Available on Amazon for $14.99 (Kindle); $24.00 (Hardback) The stories in Paul Theroux’s fascinating new collection are both exotic and domestic, their settings ranging from Hawaii to Africa and New England. Each focuses on life’s vanishing points—a moment when seemingly all lines running through one’s life converge, and one can see no farther, yet must deal with the implications. With the insight, subtlety, and empathy that has long characterized his work, Theroux has written deeply moving stories about memory, longing, and the passing of time, reclaiming his status, once again, as a master of the form. About the author Paul Theroux was born and educated in the United States. After . . .

No Flight Plan, by Paul Burnore (Thailand 1971-73)

Jan 22 2025

No Flight Plan Author: Paul Burnore ISBN: 9798892283946 Format: Paperback (450 pages) Publication Date: January 15, 2025 Available on Barnes & Noble ($19.89 paperback; $3.99 digital) Available on Amazon ($19.89 paperback; $3.99 digital) Overview The life story of a midwestern boy who adopted “what if I …” and “what’s the worst that could happen…” as his life plan. This led to discoveries and journeys in the wider world, to international adventures, leadership challenges, and poetry. About the author Paul Burnore grew up in South Bend, Indiana, and earned degrees in English Literature from Indiana University. He became a Peace Corps Volunteer in Thailand where he taught at Songkhla University. He later taught poetry and literature at Indiana University, Jundi Shapur University in Iran, and Anatolia College in Greece. He joined IBM in 1978 and worked in several management jobs until 1992 when he rejoined the Peace Corps as the first . . .

Endless Horizons: A Global Backpacker’s Quest for Adventure, Connection, and Discovery

Jan 15 2025

New book by Peace Corps writer Paul W. Neville (Tonga 2000-02) Publisher ‏ : ‎ Independently published (January 1, 2025) Language ‏ : ‎ English Paperback ‏ : ‎ 316 pages ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8393074708 Buy it now on Amazon.com It’s a pursuit of adventure, connection, and self-discovery. Each backpacker embarks on a unique quest, whether it be for adrenaline-pumping thrills, exotic cuisines, the perfect beach, or the elusive pursuit of love. For many, the journey is about better understanding the world and their place within it. From sweltering jungle temples to stunning Nordic fjords, Endless Horizons chronicles the evolution of a wide-eyed novice traveler into a seasoned adventurer. Following a transformative Peace Corps assignment in Tonga, the author embarks on an epic yearlong backpacking odyssey around the globe. Through Southeast Asia, Europe, and South America, Endless Horizons describes vibrant cultures, unforgettable encounters, comical mishaps, useful travel tips, . . .

New Book: Pursuing the Leviathan, by Paul Magid (Malawi 1969-71)

Jan 13 2025

Format: Hardcover Pages: 296 pages Illustrations: 3 Maps, 19 B/W Photos Published: June 17, 2025 ISBN-10: 1682473783 ISBN-13: 9781682473788 United States Naval Institute Press Overview Set in the golden age of whaling in the nineteenth century, this book brings to life the adventures of Benjamin Clough, best known for single-handedly rescuing the ship Sharon from mutineers in 1842. Clough’s heroism earned him a whaling command, which led to a whaling career that over the ensuing twenty-five years took him into the Atlantic, Pacific, and Arctic Oceans. The extraordinary event that merited Clough his promotion to captain occurred when he was just twenty-three years old. At sea since the age of sixteen, by 1842 Clough’s impressive skills and seamanship had earned him an appointment as third mate aboard the whaling ship Sharon. While most of the crew were in smaller boats pursuing whales, three Pacific Island crewmembers, enraged by their captain’s . . .

Fiddler on the Roof of Africa by Derek Lowstuter (Ethiopia)

Jan 08 2025

Fiddler On The Roof Of Africa by Derek Lowstuter (Ethiopia 2010-12) Spring Cedars Publisher December 2024 277 pages $24.99 (Hardback) Available on Amazon Do you enjoy learning about far away lands and cultures? Do you have recurring dreams of pooping your pants in front of a foreign president? Have you ever begged neighbors for water to survive? Derek Lowstuter captures these realities of living and working abroad as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Ethiopia. Fiddler on the Roof of Africa is a mix of academic study and personal observations—equal parts literature review, introspection, scholarly analysis, confabulation, with a pinch of classic ethnocentrism. Peace Corps service is exceptionally context specific, every Volunteer and every host community is unique. The reactions that take place between the two can be unpredictable and chaotic. The goal of this book is to address international development issues such as food aid, environmental conservation, cultural traditionalism, . . .

Tokyo-ing! by Eric Madeen e-book available for free this week on Amazon

Jan 06 2025

Bestselling author Eric Madeen has announced ‘Tokyo-ing! Three Novellas’ will be available at no charge in e-book format from January 6 through January 8, 2025 on Amazon. ‘Tokyo-ing!’ is an apt title for this trio of tales that chimes with anyone even slightly interested in Asia’s most dynamic metropolis and its glazing of layers – be they cultural or taking-wing exuberant. About Face — An American professor is trophy hunted by a wily student who then boasts of her conquest, sparking a full-blown scandal. Brought to heel in tradition, he fights for his dignity and what a down and dirty fight it is! Sobering Love — Told in first person female persona, a Japanese career woman is obligated to join after-work drinking sessions with her colleagues at behemoth ad agency Dentsu, leading to alcohol addiction and deteriorating health. There seems to be no way out, until she meets Frank, a . . .

Book Review: Falling Seven Times, by Mark Wentling (Honduras 1967-69 & Togo 1970-73)

Dec 24 2024

· Publisher ‏ : ‎ Archway Publishing (August 31, 2024) · Language ‏ : ‎ English · Paperback ‏ : ‎ 318 pages · ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1665763213 · ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1665763 219 · Available on Amazon.com : Falling Seven Times I’ve read and reviewed several of the author’s books. We were both Peace Corps Volunteers in Central America and worked in West Africa, although Wentling went on to work and travel in 54 African countries over the years. My favorite book from his “African Trilogy” is “Africa’s Embrace,” which is fiction but reflects his experience working as a Peace Corps Volunteer in West Africa in the 1970s. This book begins in Ethiopia with a young woman’s struggle to be a migrant worker to support her family. It is a fictional story based on her experience with his Ethiopian wife. She became a naturalized citizen in 2019. . . .

A PEACE CORPS LAWYER IN PARADISE, by Donald T. Bliss (Micronesia 1966-68)

Dec 20 2024

A PEACE CORPS LAWYER IN PARADISE The Pacific Islands—Past, Present, and Future Donald Tiffany Bliss (Micronesia 1966-68) Self-Published, August 22, 2024; 275 pages Available on Amazon Paperback, Kindle, $14.99 ISBN 9798336456424 The book describes my Peace Corps experience as the first attorney to reside in Ponape (Pohnpei), Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, and subsequent travels in the Pacific Islands. In the US-administered UN Trusteeship of the Pacific Islands, the author worked with Micronesians to establish a rule of law and learn democratic self-government, which led to the independence of the Federated States of Micronesia. The author illustrated how law evolves from local custom and tradition.

Ron Dube (Niger) Children’s book:The Small Dish

Dec 19 2024

The Small Dish by Ronald N. Dube (Niger 1964-66) Mindstir Media 20 pages Reading age: 4-12 years $17.18 (Hardcover); $2.99 (Kindle) Available on Amazon A small farm near the major city was once a teacher’s retreat. However, it remained neglected until a Vietnam veteran bought it as a refuge. After a few years, the veteran decided to sell the farm, but before the new owners could move in, he had to remove his possessions. During target practice, a small dish was lost. Massachusetts teacher and former Nashua native Ron Dube (Niger 1964-66) shows his granddaughter Penelope, 4, a copy of his first children’s book, ‘The Small Dish.’ The book describes the story as an allegory about “existence, usefulness, loss, oblivion, resurrection, and back to existence and usefulness again.” Ron is an octogenarian and always led with an adventurous spirit. Ron grew up in Nashua and earned an Eagle . . .

New Book: My African Anthology, by Robert Gribbin

Dec 18 2024

My African Anthology By Robert Gribbin (Kenya 1968-70)) Publisher ‏ : ‎ Independently published (August 9, 2024) Language ‏ : ‎ English Paperback ‏ : ‎ 351 pages ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8335491563 Available on Amazon.com ($17.00) My African Anthology is a compendium of anecdotes, articles and stories that mirror years of living and working in Africa. Beginning in the sixties with my first sojourn on the continent, the items both factual and fictional paint a compelling portrait of the Africa I knew. From the Peace Corps Kenya era are snippets of Luo tribal consternation regarding America’s moon landing, competing in the Safari road rally, trouble with noisy bees, and a shape shifting terror. From Bokassa’s Central African Republic – stories of a man lost in the forest, the president’s mistress, a search for gold, plus an eye-witness account of the lavish coronation. A later return to that beleaguered nation, . . .

New Book: HALF LIFE: A Collection of A.R.T., by Andrew R. Tadross

Dec 14 2024

HALF LIFE: A Collection of A.R.T. By Andrew R. Tadross (Ethiopia 2011-13) Independently Published, November 2024; 103 pages Available for $42.00 on Amazon HALF LIFE: A Collection of A.R.T., by Andrew R. Tadross, is an evocative anthology spanning two decades of creative exploration. This collection transcends genres, blending pop culture, expressionism, nature art, abstraction, and surrealism. Featuring over 100 works, it delivers a vivid mix of satire, nostalgia, melancholy, and tension. Highlights include a fishy homage to Jackson Pollock, a chimp playing Russian roulette with a banana, and landscapers at sunset. Fans of cinematic and cultural nostalgia will chuckle at scenes like Colonel Kurtz losing at Tetris, Cousin Eddie navigating Downton Abbey, and a chess match between Darth Vader and “The Dude.” Drawing from personal experiences and far-flung settings—Ethiopia, the Everglades, and beyond—Tadross’s work captures both the iconic and the everyday. Portraits range from Willie Nelson to Mr. T, while . . .

When Small Things Make Great Things Possible, by John Chromy (India 1963-65)

Nov 25 2024

A little over a year ago, John Chromy (India 1963-65) began a project to gather narratives on at least ten programs where the cumulative efforts of Peace Corps Volunteers and their host country counterparts either initiated, expanded or laid the groundwork for future expansion of programs that over a half century have become permanent elements in improving the lives of millions of people. It was his intent to share these great narratives with a wide audience and to make these achievements a historical hallmark of the Peace Corps concept and its inherent belief in the value of “bottom-up community-based development.” I helped John identify these programs and also committed to helping disseminate the product of his work. Sadly, John passed away on October 19, 2024, just after delivering his report. Published posthumously, “When Small Things Make Great Things Possible” shares a 50-year perspective on 10 Peace Corps programs that enabled . . .

Carnival in Rio, by Steve Kaffen (Russia 1994-96)

Nov 21 2024

Carnival in Rio is bigger and better than anything of its kind. The all-night parades of samba schools in the Sambadrome, the most famous of the events, are mesmerizing in person and great memories thereafter. So are the hundreds of street parties, called blocos, where participants numbering from a few hundred to a million dance and sing and eat and hug, toast each other with extra-large bottles of beer, and renew old friendships and make new ones. Carnival is also a state of mind and being—of joy, spontaneity, camaraderie, and goodwill—that pervades the city and the country. Everyone sports a costume, even if it’s a cute crown or an outrageous hat or shirt or, popular with children, sneakers flashing multi-colored lights. In the Sambadrome, the spectators’ adrenalin starts to flow when a samba school begins its march down the parade route. As the marchers near each section, the entire grandstand . . .

New Book by Danny Langdon (Ethiopia 1962-64)

Nov 19 2024

Junkyard Kid Book Description This is the fascinating, often humorous, story of Danny G Langdon—a person who has lived a very lucky life. A world traveler, he is one of the most sane, charming, talented, funny, profound humans you could possibly know—which is unlikely when you read that he was born in a warehouse and raised in a junkyard setting. However, he thrived in such an unusual environment! It promoted his curiosity as he lived with his seven siblings and widowed mother who ran a scrap metal, hide, wool, pelt, and fur business for 40 years. His is a story of overcoming learning obstacles to become a well-rounded person, a successful entrepreneur, and the author of a baker’s dozen books. During the first days of the U.S. Peace Corps, he volunteered as a teacher in Ethiopia—personally meeting President John F. Kennedy at the White House and his Imperial Majesty Haile . . .

In latest book, geography professor offers new way forward for agriculture in Africa

Nov 15 2024

Published November 13, 2024 in Macalester College News For more than 35 years, DeWitt Wallace Professor of Geography Bill Moseley has devoted his career to agriculture in Africa. First as a Peace Corps volunteer, then as a staffer with international aid organizations, and finally as a geographer, Dr. Moseley has sought to understand the complex forces, both domestic and foreign, that shape what is grown and by whom in various parts of the continent, as well as who benefits and who does not from these policies and practices. In his latest book, Decolonizing African Agriculture: Food Security, Agroecology, and the Need for Radical Transformation, Professor Moseley has concentrated his expertise into an accessible volume that examines the history of food security and agricultural development in four African nations. The way forward, he argues, is to reject the dominant colonialist approach to economic development in favor of less commercialization and . . .