Bill Bryson's African Diary

I have read "WALK IN THE WOODS" twice. I find him refreshingly funny and witty, have not read one of his books that I haven't enjoyed. Hope to find others available on Kindle to read. Everyone should read at least 1 Bill Bryson book!!

The first book I have ever downloaded to my Kindle and was left wondering if I had, in fact, received the whole book! I normally love Bill Bryson and have never been disappointed. Glad to have bought it just to contribute to the Foundation, though.
I would recommend any of his other books.

The title says it all. Terrible no? But if you buy this digitally and expect to occupy yourself with something to read for a while you might be disappointed. I purchased it before getting on a plane and quickly read all their was to it.

I didn't realize I was making a donation and getting not too much to read. I like to pick where I spend my energies and money and felt I was kind of mislead. CARE is fine but I didn't think it was made clear readers were funding it.

Starts off wonderfully well - much like any other Bryson book; but very quickly becomes a dry recounting of places visited and people met. The only upside of buying this book is that the sales proceeds go to charity.

The African Diary was written in Bill Bryson's usual humorous style, but it seemed like he just whipped out this book because of an obligation. I read it in less than an hour so it was less than entertaining.

Bill Bryson has an entertaining and capturing writing style. You feel like you are there with him. This book, although too short, is worth the read as it is a book with a purpose. Buy it. Read it. You will see why.

I just came back from Tanzania, and couldn't take photos of my trip for fear of getting my phone/camera stolen. Instead I bought 10 copies of this book and told my friends that this is an accurate portrayal of Eastern Africa - both Kenya and Tanzania. Only one of my favorite authors could find humor in such dire circumstances of these people. And Bill's a gifted and generous man, because all of the money generated from this book goes to charity. Everyone wins!

I am a Bill Bryson fan but this book is a rip-off. There is only enough content for a New Yorker major article but it has been spun out into a tiny book.

I understand he is trying to make money for CARE but scamming a reader is not the way to do it!

A short and interesting insight into the refugee and poverty problems in Kenya, the donation of the books proceeds is welcomed. Unfortunately one of the major refugee camps in Kenya is to be closed shortly due to security risks, possibly the camp featured.

I purchased what i thought was a book,it turned out to be a short report on a trip to part of Africa by Bill Bryson for to promote a charity.I realise that profits went to the charity but that was not made clear and I felt that it was marketed in a spurious manner.

This book should never have been published, IMHO. If you have read Bill's other books and love them like I do, you will be terribly disappointed with this one - like I was. Actually I would like my money back, please. Sorry Bill.

I have enjoyed reading Bryson’s travel books. He has a lovely sense of humor and he is knowledgeable. I started reading this book looking forward to the author’s impressions of Africa. Actually, I was keen to see how it compares with Paul Theroux’s views on the same continent. But, what a disappointment! First of all, it is just a diary of a few days’ travel in Kenya, that too just a few hundred kilometers out of Nairobi, all on the benevolence of a charity organization which hired him to write some nice propaganda material for them. To call it an African Diary is misrepresentation. On top of it, it is just a pamphlet running into 49 pages, but costing a whopping $11.99 for its kindle edition. In the interest of his own admiring readers, the author should have mentioned in the cover that it was a journey paid and supported by CARE, one of the many charities working in Africa. It does not matter that he took no money to produce this piece of work or whether CARE is a great charity organization.

In any case, the booklet is of dubious quality, something that does not do justice to Bryson’s reputation. He visits a large slum outside Nairobi called Kibare and writes about its inhabitants that they will undergo any hardship in order that their children will have a better life. Not exactly a new finding, one might think. He also flies to Dadaab, near the Somali border, to visit a refugee camp of 134000 Somalis for a day. In between, he manages to visit the National Museum to view some of the rare early human remains which are housed there, followed by visits to the Karen Blixen house and the Rift Valley.

The author steps into some controversial territory in this booklet by batting for charity outfits like CARE, Oxfam and ‘Save the Children’ with the following statements: “If anyone ever tries to suggest to you that donor money sent to Africa goes into African despots’ pockets, you must poke them in the eye. Money given to aid agencies like CARE goes straight into projects”. There is a lot of research which shows that nowadays, many charities, NGOs, the UNHCR are all actually businesses chasing the vast billions of donor money that is available and that their first aim is to perpetuate and grow themselves. Michael Maren, who spent nineteen years in Africa – in Kenya, Somalia, Burkina Faso, Rwanda and Ethiopia – reporting on the famine, civil war and military conflicts in the region, is on record severely criticising the role of CARE, Save the Children and the UNHCR as self-serving enterprises, where these organizations care less about the victims of famine and civil war and more about their own organizational interests. Even Paul Theroux, who spent many years in Africa on multiple trips, is a severe critic of these aid organizations as doing much harm in the name of development. In fact, even the author’s own account confirms these impressions inadvertently.

The CARE representative who accompanies Bryson to Dadaab, says, “It is a fundamental part of aid protocol that you cannot make conditions better for refugees than they are for their hosts outside the camps. It wouldn’t be fair and it would breed resentment. Everyone would then want to be a refugee. So, you can only do so much”. The Kenyan govt would not allow permanent improvements to the slums of Kibera because it would then encourage others to move in there, making it larger. Even in the refugee camps at Dadaab, the Kenyan govt would not relocate the 134000 Somalis to Nairobi or Mombasa to look for work and livelihood and become self-sufficient. So, the refugees are struck in Dadaab because they can’t go back to Somalia either due to the civil war. In both Kibera and Dadaab, the outcome is to keep the status quo - the slum dwellers to remain as slum dwellers and the refugees to remain as refugees, which lets charity organizations to endlessly ask for money from donors to continue supporting them. It is something like pharmaceutical companies preferring chronic diseases rather than curable diseases because they get patients as lifelong customers with chronic diseases.

The final pages of the book contain promotional material from CARE which states in the section ‘Facts about Poverty’ that nearly half of humanity struggled to survive on less than $2 a day as of 2002, when the book was published. This is at best questionable because researchers like Dr. Hans Rosling have shown, using publicly available UN documents, that this statement was true in 1966, but since then poverty has continuosly declined to the point that in 2016, it was just 9% of the world population which lives under $2 a day. This has been possible mainly due to Globalization of the world economy rather than charities and NGOs. False pronouncements on poverty only succeed in giving credence to the criticism that aid organizations exaggerate humanitarian problems in order to shock donors into continue supporting them.

In short, a forgettable book from Bill Bryson.

I have enjoyed reading Bryson’s travel books. He has a lovely sense of humor and he is knowledgeable. I started reading this book looking forward to the author’s impressions of Africa. Actually, I was keen to see how it compares with Paul Theroux’s views on the same continent. But, what a disappointment! First of all, it is just a diary of a few days’ travel in Kenya, that too just a few hundred kilometers out of Nairobi, all on the benevolence of a charity organization which hired him to write some nice propaganda material for them. To call it an African Diary is misrepresentation. On top of it, it is just a pamphlet running into 49 pages, but costing a whopping $11.99 for its kindle edition. In the interest of his own admiring readers, the author should have mentioned in the cover that it was a journey paid and supported by CARE, one of the many charities working in Africa. It does not matter that he took no money to produce this piece of work or whether CARE is a great charity organization.

In any case, the booklet is of dubious quality, something that does not do justice to Bryson’s reputation. He visits a large slum outside Nairobi called Kibare and writes about its inhabitants that they will undergo any hardship in order that their children will have a better life. Not exactly a new finding, one might think. He also flies to Dadaab, near the Somali border, to visit a refugee camp of 134000 Somalis for a day. In between, he manages to visit the National Museum to view some of the rare early human remains which are housed there, followed by visits to the Karen Blixen house and the Rift Valley.

The author steps into some controversial territory in this booklet by batting for charity outfits like CARE, Oxfam and ‘Save the Children’ with the following statements: “If anyone ever tries to suggest to you that donor money sent to Africa goes into African despots’ pockets, you must poke them in the eye. Money given to aid agencies like CARE goes straight into projects”. There is a lot of research which shows that nowadays, many charities, NGOs, the UNHCR are all actually businesses chasing the vast billions of donor money that is available and that their first aim is to perpetuate and grow themselves. Michael Maren, who spent nineteen years in Africa – in Kenya, Somalia, Burkina Faso, Rwanda and Ethiopia – reporting on the famine, civil war and military conflicts in the region, is on record severely criticising the role of CARE, Save the Children and the UNHCR as self-serving enterprises, where these organizations care less about the victims of famine and civil war and more about their own organizational interests. Even Paul Theroux, who spent many years in Africa on multiple trips, is a severe critic of these aid organizations as doing much harm in the name of development. In fact, even the author’s own account confirms these impressions inadvertently.

The CARE representative who accompanies Bryson to Dadaab, says, “It is a fundamental part of aid protocol that you cannot make conditions better for refugees than they are for their hosts outside the camps. It wouldn’t be fair and it would breed resentment. Everyone would then want to be a refugee. So, you can only do so much”. The Kenyan govt would not allow permanent improvements to the slums of Kibera because it would then encourage others to move in there, making it larger. Even in the refugee camps at Dadaab, the Kenyan govt would not relocate the 134000 Somalis to Nairobi or Mombasa to look for work and livelihood and become self-sufficient. So, the refugees are struck in Dadaab because they can’t go back to Somalia either due to the civil war. In both Kibera and Dadaab, the outcome is to keep the status quo - the slum dwellers to remain as slum dwellers and the refugees to remain as refugees, which lets charity organizations to endlessly ask for money from donors to continue supporting them. It is something like pharmaceutical companies preferring chronic diseases rather than curable diseases because they get patients as lifelong customers with chronic diseases.

The final pages of the book contain promotional material from CARE which states in the section ‘Facts about Poverty’ that nearly half of humanity struggled to survive on less than $2 a day as of 2002, when the book was published. This is at best questionable because researchers like Dr. Hans Rosling have shown, using publicly available UN documents, that this statement was true in 1966, but since then poverty has continuosly declined to the point that in 2016, it was just 9% of the world population which lives under $2 a day. This has been possible mainly due to Globalization of the world economy rather than charities and NGOs. False pronouncements on poverty only succeed in giving credence to the criticism that aid organizations exaggerate humanitarian problems in order to shock donors into continue supporting them.

In short, a forgettable book from Bill Bryson.

Jambo! or Hello! in Swahili

Talk about a speedy read! "Bill Bryson's African Diary" by author Bill Bryson was faster than a hyena chasing a wildebeest! I would offer a 3.5 out of 5 star rating. I was looking for something with some big-time belly laughs. And while I had a chuckle or two, it wasn't exactly what I was looking for. Nothing highlighted, but was an okay read.

Book in a nutshell without spoilers:

In the book, Bryson records his experiences of an eight-day trip to Africa to write a story about CARE International and some of their projects in Kenya.  Even before the adventure begins, he expresses his concern for his well-being based on stories he has heard about the rather unsavory characters that Kenya is rumored to be inundated with. He describes his pre-trip thoughts about the safety of planes, trains and automobiles which proves to be real areas of concern as he travels throughout the African countryside. He also gives a glimpse into the strife of the refugee world as he writes about the different refugee projects that CARE has undertaken and the positive impact they have had on the African continent.

I wanted to read "Bill Bryson's African Diary" because I had read a couple of his other works and loved the warmth and humor of his writing. I had no idea this book was written under the auspices of CARE (the international aid organization), and now I feel guilty that I borrowed the book, rather than purchase it.

Because this "diary" documents Bryson's trip to Kenya traveling with CARE workers to understand their work better, you'd think it would be all grim and depressing. Rather, there were a couple of instances of Bryson's trademark wit, and there are messages of hope by the very people who seem to have little hope to hang onto. Because this is such a slim volume, it only skims the surface of life in Kenya and the deprivations felt by some Kenyans, and some refugees who were forced to flee their homeland into Kenya. The book was just long enough to give readers a sense of what exactly CARE does, and how readers can help. I think this is a smart strategy as too much doom and gloom and focusing on the minutiae of NGO work can turn off readers. Hopefully, this book will compel readers to look into what each of us can do to make life a little better for the neediest of the needy. If someone is inclined to provide aid to those closer to home rather than thousands of miles away, then that's their prerogative. What's important is that we all seek to help our fellow human - be they far or near.

One final thing: I'm so jealous Bryson was allowed to visit the "Strong Room" in the Kenyan National Museum. I too have a fascination for paleontology, and would that I be so lucky as to one day view early hominid fossils, or the historic Great Rift Valley myself.

This short volume is neither as entertaining nor as funny as I expect a Bill Bryson book to be, although it actually manages to be better even on those scores than a couple of his other books, notably "The Lost Continent". But it does have something possibly more important going for it: all the proceeds from it, both Bryson's royalties and his publisher's profits, are being donated to "CARE". So if you do buy it, be sure to buy it new, rather than second-hand. As he puts it in his final entry, you aren't buying a book, you're making a donation to CARE, and getting a free book in return. Looked at that way, it's a good deal.

Bill Bryson is a fantastic travel writer, and made this very very short book (only 49 pages!) still fun to read. I definitely wish it had been longer, but as all of the book's proceeds go to charity (specifically CARE, a wonderful organization that spends its money wisely and helps those in impoverished countries help themselves), I don't really mind.
The book recounts his all too brief time in Africa (eight days), where he tours the east African nation of Kenya. He visits some of the areas in Kenya in the most need of CARE's help, such as the Nairobi slum of Kibera and the eastern refugee camp of Dadaab, filled with Somali exiles. It is quite sad to read about the horrible conditions many of these people face (wait till you read about what a flying toilet is), but heart warming to see that many are still hopeful and that all is not lost. It would seem that many of these people are good people; all they need is a chance.
...it was still fun to read and parts were hilarious. I enjoyed his early thoughts on Africa, such as the initial conversations with those who convinced him to go to Africa that except for the "diseases and the bandits and the railway from Nairobi to Mombasa, there's absolutely nothing to worry about"! I enjoyed reading about that railroad, which Bryson writes has a tradition of killing passengers and has even been named the Lunatic Express, though Bryson rode it without any serious mishap. Also lots of fun to read was his arrival in Nairobi; expecting the sunny little country town in "Out of Africa," Bryson was amazed to instead find traffic, high rise buildings, bill boards - as he puts it, Omaha! His description of a harrowing single-engine plane ride was very funny as well.
A fun little book, one in you can read in an hour or two.

"Kenya has become a country of ten millionaires and ten million beggars." ~Kenyan politican J.M. Kariuki, assassinated in 1975

This book is only 49 pages which suited me just fine, considering how long it took me to read my last book. I picked this book not only because it is short but also because it is written by Bill Bryson. I have read most of his books and plan to read all of them eventually; however, none of them hold a candle to A Walk in the Woods, the first Bryson book I read.

The book is a diary of his week long journey to Kenya. He writes of the extreme poverty and government corruption of the country; however, he also includes anecdotes demonstrating that he can find humor and beauty in just about anything. I especially loved the section where he talks of his landing in a storm in a light aircraft plane. He is terrified to discover that the plane doesn't have windshield wipers and that the pilot can't see where he's landing. No one can verbalize the horror and comedy of the situation better than Bryson.

I also enjoyed the section about Wedco. Wedco is a micro-finance institution that makes loans only to women that previously had almost no access to business credit. It has been very successful in Kenya and has helped many people improve their quality of life. It reminded me of a book on my to-read list called Banker to the Poor by Muhammad Yunus. Just reading this small excerpt has been motivating and satisfactory. Now I am looking even more forward to this book.
Overall, the book simply wasn't long enough to satisfy; however, to be fair, it never was meant to be a detailed view into Kenya, it is simply a "diary" of Bryson's eight days in Kenya. He wrote the book at the invitation of CARE International and all proceeds went to the charity. The book is a good reminder to be thankful for what you have and to help when you can. It probably took me longer to write this review than it did to read the book.

Bill Bryson is the funniest travel writer working today, I believe, and even when he takes on what is an unpleasant task - visiting one of the most depressed areas of the world in order to raise funds for CARE, he does it in a hilarious way.

In this short little book, Bryson not only shares with us his (by turns) funny and heartbreaking journey, we also get to meet some amazing people. The lady who works twelve-hour days in order to get a profit of some $7 or $8 - the farmer who has made a fantastic farm and is very proud of it - the villagers who come out to welcome the visitors with open arms because of a well that was built, eliminating the need for the women of the village to make a seven-hour roundtrip journey to the nearest water source. This is what it's all about - this is the magical work that CARE does with the funds that are donated.

Bryson is his usual, witty self, freely confessing that the homework he did in preparing for his trip was watching Out of Africa numerous times, and he thought that he was going to be on an estate being served coffee for most of the trip. The reality was somewhat different, but still far afield from what he expected. That I not only laughed out loud but insisted on reading choice bits aloud to my husband is a testament to the talent and humor that Bryson brings to everything he does.

If you didn't know much about this book before you got it, and simply purchased it because you love Bryson's travel tales, then you were probably dismayed to see it is a tiny book (49 pages) about a trip to one country (Kenya) in Africa. But when you read about the amazing things that the organization named CARE is doing in Africa and know that the money you spent on the book is going to the cause, you will not regret your purchase. Bryson is a keen observer, as always, and honest with what he sees. There is much in Africa to shrink from and fear, but there is much to be proud of and much that can be accomplished. He chronicles children who are intelligent and aspiring but unable to get the full education they need to succeed, women who need small loans in order to ply their trade and support their families, men who, with a meager 4 acres, can grow a lush abundance on their farm with a little instruction, and whole communities who are resurrected with a simple supply of clean drinking water.

I would like to have read a larger book about more areas of Africa and more of Bryson's adventures, but considering the scope and goal of this book, it is enough.

Despite the book's trim offerings, I sat in a lawn chair and decided to give Bill Bryson and CARE (a humanitarian organization) the benefit of the doubt. How can you fault a writer or publisher who decides to give up time, comfort, and potentional profit for the sake of a charitable organization?
In his vintage manner, Bryson had me laughing in the opening chapter. He pulled me into his excursion to the Dark Continent with promises of adventure. This, I thought, is pure Bill-iance--using warmth and disarming revelation to ambush me with cold, hard facts.
Quickly, the thought faded. This African diary is mild on adventure, lightly flavored with humor, and boasts only a few chunks of worthy information. It's truly the sparsest of diaries.
I applaud this book and its goals. If, however, you are looking for thirty minutes of Brysonian entertainment, this hardcover carries a hefty price for its content. Buy it, instead, as a relatively small donation to good work being done halfway around the globe.

I enjoyed reading this "slender volume," that merely scratches the surface of life in Kenya. Through his CARE escorts, Bryson sees and describes a country that most tourists either never see and (even after visits to East Africa) do not know exists. I have seen the slum Kibera from a passing train and the smell and noise perforated the train walls as we rumbled by. That Byrson walked the streets of this enormous conglomeration of tin roofs and dung and garbage-filled alleys is amazing. Peppering in his fears and a little humor, he captures the despair and ultimately, the hopelessness. While Kenyan residents like to say there's always hope, anyone who has worked for CARE or is familiar with its tasks, realizes that there isn't much hope in changing the lives of those in Third World slums and refugee camps. I'm happy to know my purchase of this book made a contribution to CARE, because all we can really do is keep funding the attempt to improve these lives just a little bit. Mr. Bryson, I'm glad you made it through all those light aircraft adventures and look forward to reading more of your future work.

Michele Cozzens, Author of A Line Between Friends and The Things I Wish I'd Said.

I gave this book 5 stars for its simplicity, its humor, and for the publicity it brings to CARE and the important work they do.
Bryson is greatly impressed by the people of Kenya most, which with the background of the incredible landscape and wildlife says a lot.
He says," I can't tell you how much I wish you could have met William Gumbo, for he was an inspiration.". William Gumbo is a CARE success story, as part of the Dak Achana program, William was shown how to increase his farm yields and diversify his crops. His output today is amazing, every detail kept track of in his notebook. The most important part of the program is William then teaches other farmers what he has learned. He passes it on.
Kenya is a complex country with incredible problems and incredible beauty and people. I bet Bill Bryson will make a longer visit, avoiding small planes. There are so many stories waiting to be told.
Thank you for doing this book project, it makes me ache to visit again also.

Bill Bryson is one of my favorite writers-- funny, sarcastic, appreciative of the little things, real, straight-forward. This book lacks a lot of that, as many other reviewers have previously stated. The book was written for a good cause and all proceeds, including Bill's cut, goes to CARE, which is great of course. I hate to say it and really wish it weren't probably true, but perhaps if he got paid, Bill would have put some time into the book. I feel like I need a "sequel" which is 3 times as long to answer all of the questions this book brings up and to really understand the work CARE does, what actually happened, who he met and what they did, anything about what Kenya is really like... Basically, this book only brushes the surface of the kind of detail, wonderment, humor, and depth you can typically expect from B.B. and it is quite disappointing. It would have been a better benefit to CARE to educate the readers about the work they do and who their beneficiaries really are.

CARE International, a global charity, invited travel writer Bill Bryson to visit Kenya to write about the group's programs there. This book is the result. The total text is about the length of a long magazine article in an outlet such as Vanity Fair or The New Yorker, and there are about a dozen pages of high-quality color pictures.

All the proceeds are donated to CARE. In effect, you're donating $12.00 to charity to read a very positive magazine story about CARE International. Bryson is a talented writer, his accounts are interesting, and CARE is a good organization.

So, overall I felt it was a good deal but the book is not particularly distinguished beyond this. It's not Bryson's best writing, but it's good enough. The most effective bits concern his fear of flying in small planes, as opposed to the people he meets. His discussion of CARE is a straightforward puff piece, but I can live with that.

This is a very quick read. Bryson is excellent at setting the scene. Though not a tremendous documentation of an African adventure like that of say... I am still an enormous Bill Bryson fan -- I've read everything else he has published. Unfortunately, this 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. Where was the juice? The truth? 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."

African Diary is not one of Bryson's best pieces of travel writing. Regardless of the fact that the profits from the book goes to a charity (CARE), readers deserve a well written book about Kenya and its people. After reading the slender volume you get a very shallow understanding of that country and its culture. Bryson could have done better but in eight days, what can you really share about a country?
Bryson starts out by acknowledging his ignorance about the "Dark" continent beyond his exposure to Tarzan and Jungle Jim movies. CARE, a charitable organization, invites him to visit their projects in Kenya and write about them. He sees this as an opportunity to familiarize himself with the "Dark" continent. His diary covers eight days.
In one week we are told about the biggest slum in Kenya called Kibera and are assaulted with the dire statistics of the ills of Kenya. He shares with us his excitement over seeing a Maasai man as if the man was an exotic pet. From there we are taken to Kenya's National Museum where he views human fossils collected by Leaky. Once done there he regales us with his harrowing train ride to Mombasa and describes accidents, deaths and other uncomfortable occurrances from the train's past.
Our final destination is a refugee camp. CARE is doing its best to help the people but government corruption and other factors keep the people in a miserable condition. Suddenly Bryson's adventure is over and he slaps together this book. He could and should have done better. There isn't any true connection with the people, land or CARE workers other than the superficial meetings. In fact Bryson's ignorance about the "Dark" continent seems to continue throughout his trip. He could have done better and perhaps he needs to visit Africa again but this time without charitable patronage and get to meet and feel the land and its people.

This is a little 50 pages approximately book that i though was another BB travelogue. I should have paid attention to the details! I enjoyed what there was of it, but it should be $4.99 and not marketed as are his other books. This is a brief look at the work CARE does in Kenya, and all the proceeds go to CARE.

Very short book but great insight into Bryson's trip around Kenya at the behest of CARE International, to which he donated all the proceeds. I was left wanting more and think that would have been easy for Bryson to give to his readers without a lot of effort. But how can one fault his intentions to make us more aware?

Guess I will have to read more about present-day Kenya someplace else. My first interest in Kenya occurred back in the late 80s when I read Barbara Wood's amazing GREEN CITY IN THE SUN. Why this book never was a best-seller is beyond me.

A (very) brief overview of Kenya and its people, this book serves as a vivid reminder of the huge disparity between the "haves" and the "have nots" of the world. Bryson's trademark humor keeps this book from becoming overwhelmingly depressing. It is clear that he was moved by the poverty he saw, as well as the efforts of the people to improve their lives. The success stories, however modest, are inspiring beacons of hope in what could be a bleak world. Bryson's all too brief descriptions of the countryside also highlight the great beauty of Kenya, which simply magnifies the tragic lack of tourism.

This is a book, not a pamphlet. You can tell by the price. Apparently, writing a check to CARE is too complicated, so they created this 64 page pam--book, cut the store in for some, a publisher in for some, and send maybe a quarter to CARE.

Still, the early pages of the pambophoklet contain jokes and asides, and the later pages contain more, and there are color pictures, which surely means it's a book, not a pamphlet.

If you like CARE, and you're not sure what their mailing address is, can't use Google, or don't have a checkbook anyway, this is the book for you. Fortunately, unlike many books in this price range, this one is very easy to finish, and it's more entertaining than most pamphlets on Africa, which tend to be longer to boot.

I came to Bill Bryson because "A Walk in the Woods" seemed like an interesting book. It was, too. But not as good as it turned out to be after hearing him read it. I've since bought every one of his travel books AND listened to all of them on CD. Hearing the way the Bryson reads his books will give you insights into the way that you should in turn read them: the inflection, the pace, the tone, everything.
Taking that voice to his new work made me laugh all the more, and touched me tremendously. To hear his utter despair when he's told about the bandits; or to shudder with disgust as he learns about street kids asking for money or they rub...[edited for the store]...in your face; or his perfect contentedness when seeing an artifact that few in the world have ever seen makes this book a classic Bryson tome. And for all the profits to go to such an organization as CARE, well, that's the icing on the cake.
I am disappointed that it was only about 50 pages, though. Not close to an hour of reading and so not enough juice. But the book, besides going to a great cause, is amazing. In 50 short pages, you'll have a clear picture of what CARE is acomplishing, you'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll learn, and you'll help a worthwhile organization.
Do yourself and the world a favor: Buy this book. Then do yourself and Bill Bryson a favor: Buy the rest of his books. You won't be disappointed.

I enjoyed this book, despite its short length. I have to give kudos to any author who writes a book with the sole intent of helping others. (The proceeds from this book go to CARE). That said, it was not filled with Bill Bryson's usual make-me-snort-milk-out-my-nose humor. I suspect that perhaps there is not very much to laugh about on a continent that is experiencing the worst AIDS epidemic in the world along with droughts, famine, and civil war in various places. Despite all its heaviness, there is an occasional ray of sunshine peeking through in the form of the lovely photos of the people and places Bill Bryson saw while he was there.

Bill Bryson, an Iowan transplant to Britain (who has apparently moved back to the US), presents a brief overview of his extremely brief stay in Kenya. I laugh that this book is called "African Diary", given that Kenya is a small part of Africa in total. This is the way of the western world though... "Africa" is just lumped together as if there is such a thing as "African culture" rather than hundreds of different cultures on this misunderstood continent.

I happened to read this small tome at the same time as I was reading Michael Moore's rather inflammatory prose, and I found that the books went well together. In one book Moore points out the basic human right of clean water and sanitary living conditions, while Bryson travels through Kenya astounded by the sheer lack or at least rarity of these things. Both Bryson and Moore discuss how America consumes so many of the world's resources and wonders why the world hates the US. Bryson provides vivid detail, "Every time you flush a toilet (in the West) you use more water than the average person in the developing world has for all purposes in a day-cooking, cleaning, drinking, everything." Bryson learns this startling fact as he wanders through one of Nairobi's slums, having traveled to Kenya on behalf of the charity, CARE.

A theme of hopelessness pervades-parents in Kenya will do anything-any kind of suffering-in order for their children to get an education but then the children, having reached a certain level of education, cannot afford higher education anyway.

I was thankful here for Bryson's brevity, his "sense of humor" in previous/other books is not necessarily for everyone (I recognize that I am in the minority in not much enjoying his humor), and he kept his observations more anthropological than comedic here, and that lent a greater sense of urgency and validity to the subject matter at hand.

Bryson wrote this short book for CARE, the group who took him to Nigeria to see their projects. It has some of the characteristic Bryson humor, but is more subdued, probably owing to the mission. The story of a near crash of their small plane is especially good. This is not a place I'm likely to travel--nor was Bryson until asked--so I appreciate the insight I now have about the country, people, and how CARE works. Thanks, Bill, for a short trip into some major challenges.

I am a big fan of Bill Bryson's writing, and this book is no exception.

The entire book is under 50 pages long, but it is an extremely entertaining look at life in Africa, and what goes into a normal trip to an African country.

I can't say the book has me convinced to visit Kenya, but I did enjoy reading about Mr. Bryson's trip.

As a bonus, a large percentage of the profits from the book go to support the CARE charity which is doing a lot of good work in developing countries worldwide.

I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in traveling to Africa.

Bryson answered the call to help out the international relief organization CARE by accompanying them to Kenya and writing this brief diary. The heart he showed by volunteering (along with the publisher Broadway Books) to donate 100% of the proceeds is impressive, however, the heart he put into the writing is not so much. As always he shares his fears and shortcomings in a humorous way, but the gravity of his surroundings seemed to have moistened his wit more so than usual. He too briefly writes about a number of potentially interesting characters who would have been better served with a more thorough (and undoubtedly Bryson-esquely funny) description. This brevity neglects the human face of the very people CARE is trying to help. Nonetheless, Bryson still captivates, and though not up to par for him, this book would make a great stocking-stuffer for your favorite do-gooder and at the same time help those who need it most.

It's short. It's a pleasant read. It's honest, both about Kenya itself and the author's general ignorance of Africa. A good effort, and the profits go to support a supposedly good cause (that's another subject) . . . overall, "Bill Bryson's African Diary" doesn't add up to much, but it's better than nothing, which is what he could have done when CARE asked him to take a trip and produce a manuscript. "A" for effort. Bill Bryson fans may want to read it. If you want to learn about Africa or the aid biz, better to look elsewhere.

Not a full-length book. The second half is from another book that I already read. I was disappointed because I had planned to read the book on a 2-hr train trip. Also the book is sponsored by CARE and he writes favorably about CARE based on tours of refugee camps given by CARE staffers. Possibly not totally objective.

Bryson is always a fun read. Although this book had a different tenor than his other books, he was still able to convey a sense of the natural beauty, and glimpses into the lives of some of the people he met.

I like Bill Bryson but passing off a 49-page (no, it's not 69 pages in the version I got) diary as a book is a crime. Charging C$19 for that, too, is a ripoff (that's the price I saw it at a bookstore in town).

I don't really care that the proceeds are going to CARE. If you want to support CARE just give them the $19. To pay for this atrocity which is basically an account of a week Bryson spent in Kenya. Yes, folks, it's actually a "Kenyan" diary as that's all of the entire continent of Africa he sees.

There are also 19 color pics in the "book." Of which Bryson's beard appears in six. Writing this as the "Man With Cigar" at the 2010 Ryder Cup get photoshopped into various pics and is an Internet sensation for this nanosecond, I got the feeling, "Do they really think putting Bryson's beard in a bunch of pics = more sales?"

Anyway, very very disappointing and it's written as if Bryson mailed it in. You or I could have easily done a far better job with this diary format than Bryson.

Bill Bryson's great, I love his books, and this is typical Bill Bryson, but it's too short. I realize it was written strictly as a fundraiser for CARE--okay. Still, I know B.B. could come up with a lot more material than this on an eight-day trip to Africa. I zipped through this book in what seemed like about five minutes. I was hoping for more.

Bill, hon, you could probably have written more than this whole book on the African slums alone, if you'd wanted to. One thing I found interesting is that apparently even the very bad slum he visited, did have public schools for the kids. We have kids adopted from Haiti. Similar slums in Haiti don't have schools--only people who can afford to pay fees can send their kids to school in Haiti. So even this terrible African slum is not as bad as it gets. Maybe Bill should do Haiti next.

I also think it's interesting that (similar to Haiti) you see little girls with their hair beautifully braided, even in the poorest slums (as seen in one of the book's photos).

Although I haven't read any of Bryson's other works, I know he is a very popular travel writer and I think it's great that a well-known author takes time to give us information about CARE, an organization we hear about often and neglect to encourage in a monetary way through forgetfulness or skepticism: does the money really reach those who need it. It sometimes takes an act of kindness from persons like Bryson to help us realize that these organizations need our support and that we can trust them. The fact that a book comes with the donation is even better and the diary is quite interesting to read and I wish it had been longer. This is an idea that should be promoted more by these organizations to help us learn about their work and to have faith in them. Thanks to Bryson and his publishers we have the oppurtunity to do good and to get something quite interesting to read at the same time.

A small book to get a quick insight into Africa. Bryson writes with his usual humor about traveling through Africa and what his preconception of Africa was before his trip.

Bill Bryson's story about Africa contains wonderful pictures and explanations of the continent. The profits of the book go to CARE to benefit African people.

This book may disappoint you a bit if you are used to Bryson's other books. It contains the characteristic marks of Bryson's books, but it isn't as well done as the others. Something is missing. Maybe the brief format or more serious subject matter tempered things a bit? I don't know. Oh well, this book was done for a good cause. And I applaud that effort.

OK it is rather short but the cause is great and Bryson really does convey his care for the people of Africa. So buy this book, buy one for each of your friends and make sure that they do the same. You will have a light but fun read and meanwhile you will have helped a lot of people who urgently need it. Christopher Catherwood (author of CHRISTIANS, MUSLIMS AND ISLAMIC RAGE, Zondervan, 2003)

This African diary was informative and entertaining. Bill has a way of making regular situations hilarious. I was very surprised to see such a small volume though, but knowing the proceeds go to charity helped me to feel less ripped off. I hope Bill goes there for a full length adventure he can write about someday.

The book may be short, but its purpose is to provide funding for CARE International (who could teach the U.S. Government a thing or two about helping to "nation-build"--I propose we give CARE several billion dollars and tell them to restore Iraq and Afghanistan--we would save tons of tax dollars and American lives and the job would be done correctly!!). Anyway, Bill Bryson teaches us a lot with his humor. It is educational without being preachy--but the message is a strong one. I only wish the trip had been longer so the book could be longer! (How about an extensive tour through Africa, Mr. Bryson? I'm sure CARE would provide you with a snakebite kit!). Meanwhile, I'm adding CARE to my list of charity donations--I can't give a lot but at least I know it will be well spent.

I enjoy reading travel books and unfortunately, this doesn't qualify. I finished the book just as quickly as I started. In my opinion, this is more of a travel pamphlet compared to a book. It's definitely a deviation from Bill Bryson's norm.

A lovely short read by Bryson, filled with his trademark wry humor (or is he back in England such that it should be humour?) Comprised of his typical balance of history (some topical, some random, always interesting), stories, and ruminations on ways his life is in danger (crocodiles, bandits) - it makes for a delightful read.

I was left wanting more, but as all proceeds go to charity, I will forgive Mr. Bryson just this once.

Funny but no where's worth the money, even if he does donate the profits to CARE...hey, thats my money he's donating! I should have read the other reviews on this, but my error...50 page book? Come on. I was pulled in by all Bryson's other books that I've read, if you can get it for under $5 used with shipping included, give it a stab...but not worth it otherwise.

I'm a big fan of Bill Bryson and have read most of his works. This book mirrors his other travel books and keen insight into the people and places he visits. There's a little more discussion of local people and their circumstances than some of his other works. Bryson's account is truly moving despite being quite short. The book is only about 50 pages. The book's cover states that royalties and profits from the book will be donated to CARE International. Highly Recommended.

I promised myself I wouldn't write a review because I work for CARE and went on the trip to Kenya with Bill Bryson. However - His undertaking was phenomenal. Breaking off from his current writing project to travel to an unknown continent for 8 days, make sense of it, write up 10,000 words ( that's how many we felt we could ask him to undertake, he actually wrote 12,000)in two weeks, and turn it round in time for a Christmas book. Admire that, but also admire the motives and the results of this short but sweet volume. There are classic Bryson moments, humour and a well structured view of a country on the verge of great change. Believe me, your ($$) is making a huge difference to people's lives. And the book on your shelf can be a gentle reminder of your generosity and compassion. Thank you the store and all purchasers!

Don't get this thinking you are getting another superb series of Bryson's observations.

He did a quickie trip for some aid organization and seems to have lept from hotel bar to hotel room with an occasional drive-by of some needy Africans.

This "slender volume" takes less than a half hour to read and does not even scratch the surface of life in Kenya. Traveling with CARE, Bryson briefly describes impressions with lack of detail or understanding, with only slight descriptions of what life is like in the country. For anyone that has been to Africa: Pass on this book and just donate your money to CARE directly. Perhaps this book is well suited for someone who has not read anything on traveling/development/culture/people of Africa, or for someone who looks to get a "freebie" with their donation to a charitable cause. If you are looking to read non-fiction about Africa or have visited Africa and want to expand your knowledge and understanding for the continent, there are much better options available (Africa Solo, Shadow of the Sun, Facing the Congo, We Regret to Inform You...). A very disappointing read, but glad the money went to CARE.

As someone who has spent a considerable amount of time in the country of Kenya, I enjoyed reading Bryson's thoughts and comments about the sites and sounds of East Africa, many of which I have observed myself. I just would have like to have heard more. Great read for someone who has been there because the allusions and humor definitely hit home.

This fifty page book is intended to be a diary of what Bill Bryson saw and felt during his journey to Kenya. Yes, it's propaganda for the CARE organization but Mr. Bryson takes what is a nasty situation in that part of the world and does it justice.

loved this audio book, excellent history lesson made real and interesting.
unfortunately one of the most heinous crimes again a group of school children was done (SandyHook) since this book was published.

This is by no means an in-depth study of Kenya, or even CARE's role there. It is, however, concise, funny, and sufficient to personalize the struggles many people face and make you (or at least me) want to learn more about what CARE and similar organizations do.

loved this audio book, excellent history lesson made real and interesting.
unfortunately one of the most heinous crimes again a group of school children was done (SandyHook) since this book was published.

This is by no means an in-depth study of Kenya, or even CARE's role there. It is, however, concise, funny, and sufficient to personalize the struggles many people face and make you (or at least me) want to learn more about what CARE and similar organizations do.

The only thing truly wrong with this book is it is too short. As usual Bill Bryson vividly depicts the region he visits making you feel almost as if you were there. Infusing just the right amount of humor into his account of the poverty and plight of the people he visits, Bryson helps you devour this book in no time - flat.

Bill Bryson is one of my favorite authors and this 50 page account of his short journey into Africa does not disappoint. His wry wit remains even in the face of tragic situations. This book is the result of a fundraising effort by the nonprofit organization, CARE. I was disappointed that it is only 50 pages, but it was a great, extremely quick, read.

Loved the book, which is written with Bryson's characteristic humor. With a very detailed account of his short trip to Kenya, I could see what Bryson was seeing and feel what he was feeling all along the way. I would highly recommend the book for giving an eye-opening glimpse into the lives of people in Kenya. The proceeds from the book's sale go to CARE.

I enjoyed Bryson's "A Walk in the Woods" and recently bought a few of his other books, the "African Diary" included. As a Kenyan reading this book, he had nothing but negative things to say. It felt like the only positive experience he had was seeing all the fossils of early man that he was "honoured" to see, since these exhibits are not open to the general public. I found my blood boiling as I kept reading, and to be honest, I had to keep willing myself to finish reading it. I kept looking for hope, but there seemed to be none. This book portrayed Kenya as a bleak place-- like it is a death sentence to be there. Yes, I acknowledge that Kenya has many, many problems, just like every other country does, but there are lots of things that are wonderful about it. Honestly, whoever would like this book can contact me, and I will gladly mail it to you FREE. I really have no use for it, and do not want it sitting on my bookshelf.

I read Bill Bryson's book on my way to Europe. A great little carry along that doesn't take up much space, and doesn't take long to read. I love the fact that humor is mixed in with the seriousness of what the book really covers. It is great that all profits go to help the CARE cause.

you should have informed me that it was a contribution to a charity. However, having seen the reason,I have no objection to the donation that mr Bryson and myself have made. If the book had been 200 or more pages ,I would have happily paid twice or three times the price. When is his next book available?

I HAVE ALMOST EVERY BOOK THAT BRYSON HAS WRITTEN. HE IS WONDERFUL. " A WALK IN THE WOODS" I HAVE READ THREE TIMES AND WILL PROBABLY READ IT AGAIN. I WOULD LOVE TO MEET HIM AND THANK HIM FOR ALL THE HOURS OF ENJOYMENT HE HAS GIVEN ME. THANKS
SANDY

His book entitled "A Walk in the Woods" exposed me to Bill Bryson and so far I believe I have read all of his books. Some leave a rather "tongue in cheek" taste especially when he is a little critical of his native land, but he is a writer and from the midwest.

This is a good-humored and entertaining record of Bryson's visit to Kenya. It's a short book about a short trip, and so it would make a good read for someone just beginning to get interested in Africa.

This is such a thin book, but Bryson is the best non-fiction writer out there today. As it turns out, he isn't taking a dime for his work on this project, but is contributing it all to CARE to help the impoverished people in Africa.

An enthralling account of Bryson's visit to Kenya to observe the work of CARE workers. Written with clarity as regards facts of what he saw and with his inimitable style that adds humor to serious topics. All royalties of his book he donated to CARE.

I totally enjoy Bill Bryson's work........I have everything he has ever written and have literally worn out my copy of "A Walk In The Woods". He has such a great sense of humor and warmth...my favorite author!