So, You Want to Join the Peace Corps: What to Know Before You Go

by Dillon Banerjee

If you're like most people interested in joining the Peace Corps, the thought of spending a couple of years immersed in a different country, language, and culture sounds both adventurous and intimidating. As you contemplate the reality of volunteering, your mind races with questions. Which programs are my skills best suited to? How will the culture shock affect me? What will my life overseas be like? Will my work really make a difference? Written by a returned Peace Corps volunteer, SO, YOU WANT TO JOIN THE PEACE CORPS...is a candid, straightforward guide that answers all these questions and many more. Author Dillon Banerjee shares his personal insights—and those of returned volunteers who served all over the world—to help prepare you for the experience of a lifetime. Whether you're thinking of joining, or have already been accepted and are getting ready to leave, this book provides answers you simply can't find elsewhere.

Genres: Nonfiction, Travel

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

Reviews

[Blain]

A quick read with a lot of information. The book is organized in a question and answer format so you can skip over the parts that don't apply to you or that you already know. I would have to wait for after my service to say how good all the information was but most of the application process stuff is good but a little out of date. (basically a lot more is done over the internet and phone now)

UPDATE
I'm in Peace Corps now serving in Mongolia and would stick with what I stated above. This book is a bit dated but still worth the read. For example I live in the western reaches of the Govi desert and have regular intent accesses and a Peace Corps issued cell phone. A more recent book is Unofficial Peace Corps Volunteer Handbook written by a volunteer who is still here in Mongolia (2011)

[Amber]

A good Q&A style book that covers lots of common questions, and also things I wouldn't have thought to ask about. Although Peace Corps recommends the book, it is not official Peace Corps reading, which means it doesn't have the recruitment feel to it and includes sections like "common criticisms of the Peace Corps." References to fanny packs and cassette tapes date the book a little, but overall the advice is timeless.

I'm so excited!

[Caitlyn Gambino]

Lots of helpful info but I couldn't help getting the feeling the author was working for the peace corps and not a totally impartial source of information. There are some aspects of the PC that people considering joining really should know but that often get swept under the rug. Overall it was informative and a good resource though.

[Mauri]

A very good and concise resource that reaffirmed that the Peace Corps is not for me. Only two caveats: the book was written in 2000, so I would suggest consulting something more up-to-date about possibly changed attitudes in Central Asia towards Americans and anything involving technology.

[Mike]

Just about every question I had about joining the Peace Corps is in this book. A lot of the statistics are 10 years old, though.

[Ali]

Decent series of question and answers regarding applying to, volunteering with, and coming home from the Peace Corps. It's a bit outdated, but still has some good insight.

[Tom]

great broad reference, but definitely need to have some stuff about post-bush&9/11 issues.

[Brendan]

Great book to read before you join but a little out of date. The format of the book is easy to read and makes a good reference if you are thinking of joining the Peace Corps.

[Kelsey]

this book is really great if you're thinking about joining. It is a little outdated (I read the 2nd edition which was published in 2008), but still offers some really valuable insider information.

[Aspen]

Extremely informative!

[Simone]

If you are considering the Peace Corps, this is a great resource! Gave me answers to questions that I hadn't even considered.

[latinabooklover]

This book literally answered every question I could have ever asked about the Peace Corps and it was an easy, quick read too. I just wish it was more up to date.

[Gina]

A lot of useful information, but it might be a little out-dated.