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Fishing in Africa: A Guide to War and Corruption
Excellent Book
Paperback
First published May 10, 1991
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
May 4, 2014
Readable if slightly dated book about a journalist's experience in (and opinions of) Africa. I was a bit disappointed because, forgive me, I did in fact want to read about fishing in Africa rather than about the corruption, massacres, poverty, starvation, disease and other familiar ills besetting that continent. And it's those ills that the book's about. There are but a few paragraphs on trout fishing in the Aberdares!
For the most part, Buckoke's opinions weren't entirely new to me. I even agree with him about the baleful effects of socialism, of single-party regimes, of corruption, and, to a lesser extent, of humanitarian aid and of the indifference and callousness of the editors of major Western dailies (Buckoke seems, unfairly, I think, to save most of his scorn for the latter two ills).
The book is also sloppily edited, with occasional grammatical lapses. One thing that annoyed me was the consistent failure to capitalize geographical features when they are part of a proper name: the Zambezi river, for example, rather than the Zambezi River.
I was, however, impressed by Buckoke's simple and persuasive argument for multiparty democracy: in sum, that it gives opponents ways to express themselves other than armed rebellion.
For the most part, Buckoke's opinions weren't entirely new to me. I even agree with him about the baleful effects of socialism, of single-party regimes, of corruption, and, to a lesser extent, of humanitarian aid and of the indifference and callousness of the editors of major Western dailies (Buckoke seems, unfairly, I think, to save most of his scorn for the latter two ills).
The book is also sloppily edited, with occasional grammatical lapses. One thing that annoyed me was the consistent failure to capitalize geographical features when they are part of a proper name: the Zambezi river, for example, rather than the Zambezi River.
I was, however, impressed by Buckoke's simple and persuasive argument for multiparty democracy: in sum, that it gives opponents ways to express themselves other than armed rebellion.
April 6, 2013
I couldn't really rate this book any higher for what it was trying to achieve; concise and unbias views of the various different corrupt regimes in Africa.
A damning account on aid, aid workers and government. It allows the reader to see that the real problem for these countries and other similar ones, in that the problems stem much deeper then just a 'lack of aid', and are a systematic failure of bureaucracy.
Although getting on a bit, it still felt entirely relevant.
A damning account on aid, aid workers and government. It allows the reader to see that the real problem for these countries and other similar ones, in that the problems stem much deeper then just a 'lack of aid', and are a systematic failure of bureaucracy.
Although getting on a bit, it still felt entirely relevant.
March 24, 2018
no fishing really but a behind the scenes look at war, corruption and the failures of the west to truly assist in Africa during the mid to late 80s from a journalist who was there.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews