Book recommendation: Dark Star Safari by Paul Theroux
Been years since I read this book so I'm not reviewing it per se, just recommending it. Spending the midsummer at my parents so seeing lots of books in their bookcases that I've liked and loved through the years.
Paul Theroux is a prolific travel-writer but his books are of varying quality. I wouldn't really recommend any other than this one even though I've read a few. Dark Star Safari describes how he in his older days decide to travel from Egypt to Southern Africa, overland. The author has spent time in Africa before and can therefore compare his experiences with how it was years before. The verdict isn't pretty, Africa has stayed much the same or even regressed in a way that is deeply saddening. The author actually puts much of the blame on aid-agencies that well-meaningly but misguidedly teaches African nations to be dependent on outside support. Its not all bad though, the book beautifully describes the feeling of traveling on this still wild continent and the trip was clearly very rewarding to the author. That said, this book shouldn't be the only book you read about Africa because that would surely give you the wrong impression of a diverse and interesting continent. Watch some TED Africa presentations about the positive changes in Africa and I can also warmly recommend the three-part BBC documentary, "Welcome To Lagos". Its an interesting inside look at the positive spirit that drives the poorest people in Nigerias biggest city in search of something better. In general, we all should learn more about Africa because maybe, hopefully, they will finally soon follow us into the modern era of prosperity!
