In this book, Paul Theroux returns to Africa to travel the continent and see what has changed since he lived there. He starts in Cairo, Egypt and slowly works his way down to Cape Town, South Africa, recounting everything that happened to him in between. Theroux uses the book to show Americans that Africa isn’t really as savage as we think it is; it may be behind technologically but it definitely isn’t full of cannibals. Throughout the book, Theroux quotes different people who have voiced their opinions about Africa to either support a point he is making, or point out that something incredibly naïve. As an American who used to live in Africa, Theroux provides the reader with basic knowledge, but he also seems to be learning as he travels, just like the reader. Even though the book was a work of nonfiction, it was interesting to read because it was written like a story instead of the author just throwing information at the reader. This book is pretty long, almost 500 pages, but it was not hard to read and increased my knowledge of the Africa and its people.
- Betty Crocker
