Exploring the Extraordinary Wonders of Africa: Altered States and Everyday Miracles

Amazoomn Customer: Insightful and highly knowledgeable

United Kingdom on Nov 26, 2023

JanOosthuizen: Africa is a latticework of interwoven realities, cultures, and narratives. Richard takes the reader into the hidden, the dark and the colorful until one tapestry is revealed - realistic hopefulness. Being a missionary and social entrepreneur, one gets overwhelmed and discouraged by the pace and enormous challenges in Africa. I could not put this book down... it challenged me to regroup, rethink, and work harder to build deep and meaningful relationships with all this diversity Africa offers.

United States on Dec 22, 2018

audible: I've fallen in love with Africa, not the Safari touristy type, but with the REAL continent and its people. This book takes you there, it is wonderful.

Germany on Jul 29, 2017

Sofos: Ho vissuto per tanti anni in Africa, similmente all'autore. Ho scritto sull'Africa. Ho letto molto sull'Africa. Ebbene Richard Dowden sta sopra ad un piedistallo altissimo di intuizione, di interpretazione, di acquisizione delle dinamiche del mondo africano; egli sa vedere e descrivere le cose più evidenti leggendoci l'anima. Questo libro, scritto nel 2008-2009, fu profetico; lo avevo letto nel 2010, lo sto rileggendo nel 2016 ed è di una attualità fotografica.
Vi trovano spazio la storia di quei popoli, la vita comune delle persone, il mondo tradizionale, il mondo politico. Riesce anche a fare delle proiezioni possibiliste nel tempo.
Il rammarico è che il libro non sia stato letto e fatto proprio da chi ha guidato e guida quelle nazioni: ne avrebbero trovato giovamento milioni di persone. Lo avevo personalmente consigliato ad unmio amico africano che intraprendeva la carriera politica. Non ha accettato i consigli preferendo la "loro via" tradizionale. Le conseguenze sono le tragedie ormai abituali con i milioni di persone che stanno fuggendo dal continente più bello del mondo.
Richard, sei stato straordinario e unico.

Italy on Jun 01, 2016

bam: This detail-packed book is a tough read but certainly worthwhile. The author describes how African country after country fell into disaster and calamity after each had become independent from their colonial powers, who had divided up the map of the continent into separate national units with zero knowledge or understanding of the future (usually terrible) consequences. Leadership in country after country fell to the most ruthless and corrupt, and societies declined into truly horrible circumstances characterized by crumbling infrastructure, deepened poverty, wars, atrocities, and AIDS. Often self-serving interventions by outsiders, including even some aid organizations, only made matters worse. The really amazing aspect of African culture that the author portrays is the attitude of hope that permeates African societies living in circumstances that we in the West would consider unbearable. In the midst of incredible suffering, Africans retain their dignity and their love of family. This book, which is best read in small doses, leaves one with the feeling that if only Africa can put its political house in order, significant progress, maybe even miraculous progress, will be made.

United States on Feb 18, 2014

Daniel McNeally: El libro esta en muy buena condicion y cumple todas las condiciones que esperaba cuando lo compre. Esta muy bien

Spain on Nov 28, 2013

puropuro: une mosaique d'une Afrique continent qui m'est inconnu. livre qui ne fait pas de morale, pas de leçons, une simple vision de moments vecus avec un regard large, non colonial...

France on Sep 03, 2013

Craig C. Smith: Africa, called the dark continent because of our lack of knowledge. So many countries and so much turmoil. This book not only touches on some history but ta;lks much about the people and how they respond to the turmoil and their lust for life in the midst of all of the turmoil (and death and destruction) and their incredible ability to forgive. It shows their ability to sing and rejoice in all of the circumstances and yes, it certainly shows the depth of their sufferings. An excellent writing style that is not dry history but alive in its telling.

United States on Jan 24, 2013

John: One of the better books I have read. I absolutely loved the Africa book "The Zanzibar Chest", and I think that this book is just as good, if not better. One of the main things I learned was that each African country is so different from the others. We westerners tend to think of Africa as one big culture, but in reality, each country and indeed each region or province is unique.

I love the way the author is able to blend personal experiences with broader-stroke historical and economic analysis.

The author manages to create a very unique, personal, and yet broad and objective view of Africa which rises about the Bono-like NGO analysis, the socialist and anti-globalization rants of the left, etc. to just describe what is happening. It is for me refreshing in our age of political ideology to read a book that is neither left nor right, but just correct.

United States on Feb 28, 2011

Gunnar Sandborg: I lived 10 years in Nairobi, Kenya and travelled widely in Africa to 22 different African countries, in East Africa, South Africa, West Africa and North Africa, in the period 1953-1963.
I found it very difficult then to form an opinion about Africans, although I liked them very much, especially their hunour and laughter. I have met many of the Kenyan leaders, Kenyatta, Odinga Odinga, Tom Mboya and many more. I have long since accepted that they are as inteligent as we westerners are, and have many brilliant people. However I hate corruption in any form and never liked what I saw happening fairly soon after the colonial administrations left. The book by Richard Downden has helped me form an opinion. He has made me think about
what would have been african lifestyle and system if the colonial powers had not pressed them into our form of institutions and democracy, but rather have left them develop their own systems. He pointed our that the corrupt dictators were not necessarily the best of the africans, and often were outsiders.
I very much enjoyed reading the book and recommend it to anyone really intereted in Africa. The title "Africa", is very ambitious but justified as...

United States on Nov 17, 2009