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A Brown Man in Russia: Lessons Learned on the Trans-Siberian
A Brown Man in Russia describes the fantastical travels of a young, colored American traveler as he backpacks across Russia in the middle of winter via the Trans-Siberian. The book is a hybrid between the curmudgeonly travelogues of Paul Theroux and the philosophical works of Robert Pirsig. Styled in the vein of Hofstadter, the author lays out a series of absurd, but true stories followed by a deeper rumination on what they mean and why they matter. Each chapter presents a vivid anecdote from the perspective of the fumbling traveler and concludes with a deeper lesson to be gleaned. For those who recognize the discordant nature of our world in a time ripe for demagoguery and for those who want to make it better, the book is an all too welcome antidote. It explores the current global climate of despair over differences and outputs a very different message – one of hope and shared understanding. At times surreal, at times inappropriate, at times hilarious, and at times deeply human, A Brown Man in Russia is a reminder to those who feel marginalized, hopeless, or endlessly divided that harmony is achievable even in the most unlikely of places.
- GenresTravel
188 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 8, 2018
3 people are currently reading
26 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
April 18, 2020
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Being a brown woman myself and having indulged in my fair share of globe-trotting, the first thing that I was drawn to was the title of this book – “A Brown Man in Russia: Lessons Learned on the Trans-Siberian”. Albeit, there was some amount of apprehension as to the contents of the same, I ended up being thoroughly surprised at how entertaining and truly riveting this travelogue is. Having caught the ‘travel bug’ early in life, in this book, Vijay has exquisitely chronicled his experiences in Russia while he undertook a journey on the Trans-Siberian railway during the peak of winters, a feat I would not dare to attempt.
Vijay’s writing is eloquent and paints such a vivid picture that I felt I was there with him, Avi and Jeremy, bravely facing the harsh weather conditions and stereotypical exchanges. His delivery has humor and a raw charm which I am not being able to exactly pin-point. Every chapter is a story in itself and I believe you need to read it to truly appreciate what it offers to its readers. I particularly enjoyed reading how beautifully Vijay relates his past experiences to those he encountered in this trip. The occasional footnotes are also quite helpful and entertaining.
Out of the many commendable traits that Vijay encompasses, the one that spoke to me was his trait of not taking himself seriously. This has proven to be favorable to him in situations where serious consequences had the potential to unfold. I found myself reflecting on many personal encounters in my own past that could have been a ‘smooth-sail’ had I not been so uptight. Self-deprecation, undoubtedly, does go a long way.
What Vijay faced right after exiting the Domodedovo Airport left me flabbergasted. I like to be prepared, at least to some degree, and people who know me would vouch for it. However, the fact that sometimes unpreparedness can lead one to the most unexpectedly wonderful journeys, or even at times benefit one with unfathomable rewards, does not escape my consciousness. Although I am too skeptical to be ‘zero’ organized and I feel I always need some amount of control in order to function optimally, reading about Vijay’s experiences has engrossed and fascinated me so much that now I am willing to give spontaneity a go. I might start small but I shall start nonetheless.
Another takeaway for me is to not be quick at judging people, we don’t know what their story is. Having an open mind can result in successes in different areas of life, be it relationships, career, personality, etc., which can be lost by giving in to judgement which is not required. Wander with trust and give people the benefit of doubt. Seek new adventures and embrace whatever life throws at you. In Vijay’s words, “Life has a strange way of setting you up with unexpected encounters. Seize them, because you only get one life and it’s way too short to spend in just one place.”
Thank you Vijay for giving me so much to think about.
Being a brown woman myself and having indulged in my fair share of globe-trotting, the first thing that I was drawn to was the title of this book – “A Brown Man in Russia: Lessons Learned on the Trans-Siberian”. Albeit, there was some amount of apprehension as to the contents of the same, I ended up being thoroughly surprised at how entertaining and truly riveting this travelogue is. Having caught the ‘travel bug’ early in life, in this book, Vijay has exquisitely chronicled his experiences in Russia while he undertook a journey on the Trans-Siberian railway during the peak of winters, a feat I would not dare to attempt.
Vijay’s writing is eloquent and paints such a vivid picture that I felt I was there with him, Avi and Jeremy, bravely facing the harsh weather conditions and stereotypical exchanges. His delivery has humor and a raw charm which I am not being able to exactly pin-point. Every chapter is a story in itself and I believe you need to read it to truly appreciate what it offers to its readers. I particularly enjoyed reading how beautifully Vijay relates his past experiences to those he encountered in this trip. The occasional footnotes are also quite helpful and entertaining.
Out of the many commendable traits that Vijay encompasses, the one that spoke to me was his trait of not taking himself seriously. This has proven to be favorable to him in situations where serious consequences had the potential to unfold. I found myself reflecting on many personal encounters in my own past that could have been a ‘smooth-sail’ had I not been so uptight. Self-deprecation, undoubtedly, does go a long way.
What Vijay faced right after exiting the Domodedovo Airport left me flabbergasted. I like to be prepared, at least to some degree, and people who know me would vouch for it. However, the fact that sometimes unpreparedness can lead one to the most unexpectedly wonderful journeys, or even at times benefit one with unfathomable rewards, does not escape my consciousness. Although I am too skeptical to be ‘zero’ organized and I feel I always need some amount of control in order to function optimally, reading about Vijay’s experiences has engrossed and fascinated me so much that now I am willing to give spontaneity a go. I might start small but I shall start nonetheless.
Another takeaway for me is to not be quick at judging people, we don’t know what their story is. Having an open mind can result in successes in different areas of life, be it relationships, career, personality, etc., which can be lost by giving in to judgement which is not required. Wander with trust and give people the benefit of doubt. Seek new adventures and embrace whatever life throws at you. In Vijay’s words, “Life has a strange way of setting you up with unexpected encounters. Seize them, because you only get one life and it’s way too short to spend in just one place.”
Thank you Vijay for giving me so much to think about.
September 29, 2018
Menon's travelogue drops you into one of the most unexpected and unique experiences abroad. While the content of the journey alone is a page turner, leaving you wondering what's next to come, the simultaneously colloquial and sophisticated writing style makes A Brown Man in Russia a fast, accessible and engaging read all around.
My favorite part: Travel stories, followed by takeaways temporarily brought me back to reality at the end of each chapter (before jumping right back in!). The structure reminds you of how the smallest and largest of happenings can shape our personalities and form lasting memories. Most importantly, each chapter beckons you to introspect into your own life, what you stand for, and what extraordinary or banal life experiences shaped those traits and values for you.
My favorite part: Travel stories, followed by takeaways temporarily brought me back to reality at the end of each chapter (before jumping right back in!). The structure reminds you of how the smallest and largest of happenings can shape our personalities and form lasting memories. Most importantly, each chapter beckons you to introspect into your own life, what you stand for, and what extraordinary or banal life experiences shaped those traits and values for you.
September 2, 2018
Get Your Butt off the Couch
That's what this book did for me.
As someone who dreams of becoming the modern day Marco Polo, but hasn't gotten the resolve to fully commit due to job, money, and whatever excuses I've personally come up with to prevent myself from exploring the wonders of the world, this book has uprooted all wavering. Menon's riveting experience with his harsh, yet magical surroundings and genuine interactions with the humans he's met along the way unlocked a quenching thirst to explore the world as he had, with an open-est of mind.
That's what this book did for me.
As someone who dreams of becoming the modern day Marco Polo, but hasn't gotten the resolve to fully commit due to job, money, and whatever excuses I've personally come up with to prevent myself from exploring the wonders of the world, this book has uprooted all wavering. Menon's riveting experience with his harsh, yet magical surroundings and genuine interactions with the humans he's met along the way unlocked a quenching thirst to explore the world as he had, with an open-est of mind.
April 26, 2020
The world is fighting against a pandemic. People are tied to their homes for an unpredictable period. As a travel enthusiast, it is a dreadful period which no one wants to remember. But books can rescue anyone from any danger. Travel memoirs are one of my favorite genres because they let me travel without leaving my home. I adore them.
From the first page itself the author is calling the readers to join this journey with him. His parents were keen to inculcate an unconditional love for travel in him from a very young age. He was a 5-year-old boy who received National Geographic magazine as a Christmas gift. Here he is now planning to travel across Russia through Trans-Siberian railway to Mongolia to celebrate Christmas along with his Duke friends and this too in the heart of winter! The journey was not smooth, it has its ups and downs. But the author has managed to tell a travel story with a pinch of humor.
His unquenching thirst for adventure is the most striking part of this memoir. Perhaps it is the core that drives this story alone. But you can't blend adventure with unpreparedness. It was something that I didn't approve of. As a traveler it is essential to know and prepare for your journey especially if you are going to a totally strange country. But if I think about this from a new perspective, I can find some sort of adventure in it. Vijay's struggle in Russia with language and people might be a lesson for some and adventure for some others. Anyway he managed to narrate his experience flawlessly.
I believe that only the writing skill can rescue an author in a travel memoir. The ability to narrate travel experiences without losing their underlying emotions, let alone drive the story. Apart from the portrayal of the scenic beauty of Russia through words, I liked the element of honesty and friendship he has. They made this journey even more sweater. If a reader can give his undivided focus to this memoir, then he could experience a beautiful journey with these friends through Trans-Siberian to enjoy a Mongolian Christmas.
From the first page itself the author is calling the readers to join this journey with him. His parents were keen to inculcate an unconditional love for travel in him from a very young age. He was a 5-year-old boy who received National Geographic magazine as a Christmas gift. Here he is now planning to travel across Russia through Trans-Siberian railway to Mongolia to celebrate Christmas along with his Duke friends and this too in the heart of winter! The journey was not smooth, it has its ups and downs. But the author has managed to tell a travel story with a pinch of humor.
His unquenching thirst for adventure is the most striking part of this memoir. Perhaps it is the core that drives this story alone. But you can't blend adventure with unpreparedness. It was something that I didn't approve of. As a traveler it is essential to know and prepare for your journey especially if you are going to a totally strange country. But if I think about this from a new perspective, I can find some sort of adventure in it. Vijay's struggle in Russia with language and people might be a lesson for some and adventure for some others. Anyway he managed to narrate his experience flawlessly.
I believe that only the writing skill can rescue an author in a travel memoir. The ability to narrate travel experiences without losing their underlying emotions, let alone drive the story. Apart from the portrayal of the scenic beauty of Russia through words, I liked the element of honesty and friendship he has. They made this journey even more sweater. If a reader can give his undivided focus to this memoir, then he could experience a beautiful journey with these friends through Trans-Siberian to enjoy a Mongolian Christmas.
April 20, 2020
My take: Literary travel porn combined with an introspective, successful entrepreneur's "Last Lectures". I related to this book a lot as someone who works in tech and has a little too much inertia keeping me from traveling as much as I want. Very much in the spirit of "Vagabonding".
There's lots of tips and nuances on how to best travel, weaved into a gripping narrative. The cast of characters is colorful and a delight. Great lessons on empathy, fear of travel, social activism. Entering "the Portal" to help put myself in uncomfortable travel situations is something I've already done thanks to this book. A+ read and I'm looking forward to the author's next one.
There's lots of tips and nuances on how to best travel, weaved into a gripping narrative. The cast of characters is colorful and a delight. Great lessons on empathy, fear of travel, social activism. Entering "the Portal" to help put myself in uncomfortable travel situations is something I've already done thanks to this book. A+ read and I'm looking forward to the author's next one.
November 12, 2018
Could not put it down
As I was reading, I felt like I was on this journey along with Vijay. We have another VS Naipaul in the making. Looking forward to your next book.
As I was reading, I felt like I was on this journey along with Vijay. We have another VS Naipaul in the making. Looking forward to your next book.
April 16, 2020
For context, I usually scope out books that will teach me more about the world and help me understand the lives of others. This looks like: Enlightenment Now, So you want to talk about race, and The color of law. Sometimes they are usually more political than your average book and because of that, I had prioritized the other two books before I read this one. Little did I know that this book would give me everything i’d ask for and so much more.
What I thought would be a funny and entertaining travel memoir proved to be exactly that plus a thoughtful reflection on perspective, gratitude, humility, and purpose. While I may not agree with every single one of Vijay’s lessons, they did make me think and challenge some of my own viewpoints. This is what makes this book worthwhile. And even though I don’t think my fundamental worldview has changed, it has become more nuanced. I thought of things in a different way.
By the way, I consider myself incredibly fortunate to have had the opportunity to read this while embarking on my own travel adventure. I may not be on the trans-siberian, but I can confirm that the golden rule of travel and entering the portal are both worthwhile pieces of travel advice. You’ll see what I mean
What I thought would be a funny and entertaining travel memoir proved to be exactly that plus a thoughtful reflection on perspective, gratitude, humility, and purpose. While I may not agree with every single one of Vijay’s lessons, they did make me think and challenge some of my own viewpoints. This is what makes this book worthwhile. And even though I don’t think my fundamental worldview has changed, it has become more nuanced. I thought of things in a different way.
By the way, I consider myself incredibly fortunate to have had the opportunity to read this while embarking on my own travel adventure. I may not be on the trans-siberian, but I can confirm that the golden rule of travel and entering the portal are both worthwhile pieces of travel advice. You’ll see what I mean
January 13, 2019
Menon's writing is truly refreshing--his stories intermingled with his unique reflections help you imagine the world through his fascinating lens. I found myself nodding along vehemently while reading the lessons he learned, hoping to apply them in my own life! His sense of adventure takes you along an exhilarating ride through Russia, even in struggles as simple as walking across the Moscow Domodedovo Airport. Menon's description of the country and its people paints such a vivid picture that I want to go there to experience it myself. The book is unlike any I have read before; it is well written and captivating--I could not put it down.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews