Africa  •  Michael Lewis  •  John Reader CULTURAL PORTRAIT •  2001 •  HARD COVER  • 320 PAGES An informative survey of the geography, culture and wildlife of Africa featuring 175 color photographs and accompanying text by John Reader (Africa: A Biography of the Continent). Organized geographically, it's the companion volume to an eight-hour television series by PBS and National Geographic. (AFR111, $50.00)
Africa  •  Phyllis Martin  •  Patrick O'Meara CULTURAL PORTRAIT •  1995 •  PAPER  • 400 PAGES African history and prehistory, popular culture, art and economics with dozens of maps, photographs and drawings. We especially liked the chapter on the contemporary map of Africa. It's all here. Pick and choose those areas that interest you. It's the most popular introductory text for undergraduate African studies courses in North America -- refreshingly free of cant and completely revised in 1995 to reflect changes in African politics. (AFR07, $20.95)
Africa's Vanishing Wildlife  •  Chris Stuart NATURAL HISTORY •  1996 •  HARD COVER  • 208 PAGES Profiling wildlife found all over the continent, this sixth book by the prolific husband-and-wife team features outstanding color photography, great maps and a well considered analysis of prospects for the future of individual species. (AFR43, $45.00)
Africa, A Biography of the Continent  •  John Reader HISTORY •  1999 •  PAPER  • 816 PAGES With the ease of a practiced journalist, Reader weaves a lively tale of the continent in this masterful history of Africa from ancient cultures to modern times. Both authoritative and informal, this is a splendid introduction to all of Africa. (AFR49, $18.95)
African Art, An Introduction  •  Frank Willett ART & ARCHITECTURE •  2002 •  PAPER  • 272 PAGES A concise, well illustrated overview of the art and culture of Africa, portraying the range of spectacular art produced throughout the ages. (AFR18, $18.95)
African Nights  •  Kuki Gallman BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR •  2000 •  PAPER  • 326 PAGES In this sequel to I Dreamed of Africa Gallman writes of life on her ranch in Kenya, the people, wildlife and challenges. (EAF121, $14.00)
African Obsession, The Life and Legacy of Carl Akeley  •  Penelope Bodry-Sanders BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR •  1998 •  PAPER  • 300 PAGES • HARD TO FIND ELSEWHERE An insightful biography of Carl Akeley, the biologist and conservationist at the American Museum of Natural History responsible for the Hall of African Mammals. Written with great verve and authority, this book is now available in a revised paperback edition. It follows Akeley on his expeditions throughout East and Central Africa, capturing his fascination with turn-of-the-century Africa. (AFR52, $14.95)
African Predators  •  M.G.L. Mills  •  Gus Mills  •  Martin Harvey NATURAL HISTORY •  2001 •  HARD COVER  • 160 PAGES A natural history of the giant cats and other predators of Africa, covering evolution, behavior and conservation, and complemented by full-color photographs. (AFR114, $39.95)
African Silences  •  Peter Matthiessen TRAVEL NARRATIVE •  1992 •  PAPER  • 225 PAGES In this narrative of Equatorial Africa, Matthiessen recounts several trips to The Gambia, Senegal, Zaire and the Congo Basin in search of rhinos, elephants and other endangered wildlife. (WAF36, $13.00)
African Wildlife  •  Raymond Leung  •  James Kavanaugh FIELD GUIDE •  1999 •  PLASTIC CARD A laminated foldout guide illustrating almost 150 species of African animals. This pocket guide is designed for quick reference in the field. (AFR109, $5.95)
The Africans  •  David Lamb CULTURAL PORTRAIT •  1987 •  PAPER  • 371 PAGES In these 17 well written essays, news correspondent Lamb ranges throughout Africa, creating an insightful portrait of the land and especially its people. This now-classic book is a wide-ranging political and social survey of the continent, banned in a number of countries -- and as interesting today as when it was first published in 1984. (AFR22, $14.95)
Arusha National Park Map  •  Ma Company (Tanzania) 1997 •  MAP A full color handsome topographic map and souvenir of Mt. Meru and Arusha National Park at a scale of 1:39,000. The hand-drawn map shows trekking routes, camps, geographic features and topography. (EAF106, $11.95)
The Big Cats and Their Fossil Relatives, An Illustrated Guide to Their Evolution and Natural History  •  Alan Turner  •  Mauricio Anton NATURAL HISTORY •  2000 •  PAPER  • 256 PAGES A thoroughly researched and accessible guide to modern felines and their prehistoric ancestors. From the sabertooth tiger to the average house cat, this far-reaching natural history finds links between present-day species and fossil evidence to form an account of the anatomy, behavior and evolution of cats. Includes almost 200 amazingly detailed drawings. (BST50, $26.95)
Bill Bryson's African Diary  •  Bill Bryson BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR •  2002 •  HARD COVER  • 49 PAGES It's slight but with all the profits going to CARE International (who sponsored Bryson's visit), this 50-page essay on Kenya has its heart in the right place. It's a diary of Bryon's week-long junket at the invitation of the poverty-fighting organization. (AFR128, $12.00)
Birds of East Africa  •  Terry Stevenson  •  John Fanshawe FIELD GUIDE •  2006 •  PAPER  • 602 PAGES A comprehensive guide to 1,388 species of birds of Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi featuring 286 excellent color plates by Brian Small, John Gale and Norman Arlott. Illustrations, range maps and text are on facing pages for easy reference in the field. A worthy contender among the several excellent bird guides to the region, this book has the advantage of covering the western limits in detail. With introductory chapters on conservation, bird habitats and taxonomy. Co-author Stevenson is a long-time resident of Kenya and popular tour leader. (EAF92, $40.00)
Birds of Eastern Africa, Princeton Illustrated Checklists  •  Ber Van Perlo FIELD GUIDE •  2009 •  PAPER  • 302 PAGES • COMING IN APRIL This handy guide illustrates and briefly describes most East African birds, including those of Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia, and Yemen's Socotra Island. It's a remarkably small book, featuring 96 color plates, 1,487 species -- and essential information for quick reference in the field. Best for someone already familiar with birds of the region, illustrations are small and information about each species condensed to a few words. (EAF40, $29.95)
The Black Man's Burden, Africa and the Curse of the Nation-State  •  Basil Davidson HISTORY •  1993 •  PAPER  • 355 PAGES An evocative work by one of Africa's foremost historians. Davidson compares the optimism of Africans when they finally emerged from foreign rule in the 1950s with today's continuing state of crisis, which he blames, in part, on the colonial legacy. (AFR92, $15.00)
The Books of Secrets  •  M.G. Vassanjii LITERATURE •  1997 •  PAPER  • 337 PAGES Intrigue, history and politics along East Africa's Swahili Coast. The many machinations of this prize-winning novel revolve around the discovery of a 1913 diary of a British colonial administrator in Dar es Salaam. It evokes the history and atmosphere of the coast, where black, white, Indian and Arab are long intertwined. (EAF65, $15.00)
Bradt Guide Kenya  •  Claire Foottit GUIDEBOOK •  2004 •  PAPER  • 496 PAGES A personal, detailed guide to Kenya, its history, culture, attractions and natural history. With color photographs, maps and excellent travel information. (EAF133, $21.95)
Bradt Guide Tanzania  •  Philip Briggs GUIDEBOOK •  2006 •  PAPER  • 646 PAGES A comprehensive guide to Tanzania, its history, wildlife and major attractions in the series of Africa guides by Philip Briggs for Bradt. Geared for the independent traveler, it also includes maps, town plans and lots of practical travel information. It covers not just the popular safari destinations in the north but also Gombe Stream, Mahale Mountains and Selous Game Reserve. (EAF39, $25.95)
Bradt Guide Zanzibar  •  David Else  •  Sarah Chanter GUIDEBOOK •  2006 •  PAPER  • 342 PAGES A personal, detailed guide to Zanzibar, its history, culture, attractions and natural history. With color photographs, maps and excellent travel information. (EAF33, $21.95)
Cats of Africa  •  Anthony Hall-Martin FIELD GUIDE •  1998 •  HARD COVER  • 152 PAGES A species-by-species guide to Africa's wild cats, gorgeously illustrated by Paul Bosman. With range maps, conservation status and descriptions. (BST24, $49.95)
Classic Hikes of the World  •  Peter Pottersfield TRAVEL NARRATIVE •  2005 •  HARD COVER  • 224 PAGES Pottersfield features 23 treks in this beautifully illustrated volume. Each trip gets an extended photographic essay with a route description, maps and practical details. (WLD52, $39.95)
Cultural Atlas of Africa  •  Jocelyn Murray CULTURAL PORTRAIT •  1998 •  HARD COVER  • 240 PAGES This book is a handsomely illustrated atlas of African history and culture with 96 outstanding maps, 250 color photographs and excellent essays. (AFR47, $50.00)
Darwin's Dreampond, Drama in Lake Victoria  •  Tijs Goldschmidt NATURAL HISTORY •  1998 •  PAPER  • 274 PAGES A fortuitous combination of solid science and vivid travel writing, this book is Goldschmidt's account of his field work at Lake Victoria, and especially of his work on the ecology and evolution of the cichlid fishes. (EAF53, $27.00)
Desertion  •  Abdulrazak Gurnah LITERATURE •  2006 •  PAPER  • 272 PAGES Set in Zanzibar, this novel of a troubled love affair spans sixty years and paints a vivid portrait of turn-of-the-century colonial Africa. The time-skipping tale is opens in 1899, following the fate of a British adventurer lost in the East African desert. Rescued by a Muslim shopkeeper, he begins a love affair with the man's sister, Rehana. Skipping to the 1950s, the story follows the lives of two brother: a Zanzibari in England Rashid, and Amin, who is having an affair with Rehana's granddaughter. (EAF138, $13.95)
Elephant Memories, Thirteen Years in the Life of an Elephant Family  •  Cynthia Moss NATURAL HISTORY •  2000 •  PAPER  • 364 PAGES A tribute to the elephants in Kenya's Amboseli National Park by Cynthia Moss, founder and director of the Amboseli Elephant Research Project. Moss writes with authority and verve about her favorite creatures. A reprint of the original 1988 edition with a new afterward focusing on elephant conservation. (EAF79, $19.00)
Exploration of Africa, From Cairo to the Cape  •  Ann Hugon EXPLORATION •  1993 •  PAPER  • 173 PAGES • HARD TO FIND ELSEWHERE This jewel of a book chronicles the 19th-century exploration of Africa with hundreds of contemporary paintings and prints, brief chapters on the expeditions, and a very useful chronology. Livingstone, Burton and others speak for themselves in a series of journal excerpts. (AFR03, $12.95)
Explore Mount Kilimanjaro  •  Jacquetta Megarry GUIDEBOOK •  2006 •  PAPER  • 96 PAGES An ingenious, full color, water resistant guide to trekking Africa's highest mountain with a focus on exploring the habitats, landscapes and camps en route to Uhuru. The author, a dedicated walker, includes detailed information on preparing for the trip, and a camp-to-camp overview of the Marungu, Machame and Rongai routes as well as an overview of climbing neighboring Mt. Meru. With a fold out topographic map of the routes. Go slow and drink plenty of water. (EAF102, $15.95)
Kilimanjaro, A Trekking Guide to Africa's Highest Mountain  •  Henry Stedman GUIDEBOOK •  2006 •  PAPER  • 240 PAGES Stedman (an experienced trekker who has written several other guidebooks) includes sketch maps with points of interest and elevations, and camp-to-camp descriptions of the various treks. This new edition also incldues infomration on climbing nearby Meru. Stedman's dead-on and often very witty chapters on preparation, perils and pleasures of the trek, as well as his survey of the history, nature and people of the region, are all excelelnt. He covers all the walking routes: the hut-to-hut Marunga, ever popular Machame, Rongai from the Kenya-side of the mountain, Shira Plateau Route with Lemosho option and the punishing Umbwe. (EAF107, $19.95)
The Flame Trees of Thika  •  Elsbeth Huxley BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR •  2000 •  PAPER  • 280 PAGES A richly detailed memoir of colonial life, Victorian in its detail and somber tone. Born in 1907, Huxley looks back at her intrepid parents and the home they made together in Thika. We imagine a lot of lace and regular afternoon tea. It's a rich portrait of the everyday pleasures and challenges of life as a pioneering settler in the white highlands of Kenya. (EAF24, $15.00)
Ghosts of Tsavo, Stalking the Mystery Lions of East Africa  •  Philp Caputo TRAVEL NARRATIVE •  2003 •  PAPER  • 275 PAGES An account of Caputo's adventures in Tsavo National Park and Southern Uganda on the trail of some very big lions. He set out in the company of with legendary guide Iain Allan and two researchers from the Field Museum in Chicago. With a 16-page section of photographs. This book is the latest chapter in the Victorian tale of two lions that killed and ate 140 railway workers building a bridge over the Tsavo River. (EAF93, $16.00)
The Girl Who Married a Lion and Other Tales from Africa  •  Alexander McCall Smith LITERATURE •  2004 •  HARD COVER  • 192 PAGES McCall Smith brings together a collection of often hilarious, often bizarre folktales which he heard as a child growing up in Zimbabwe. In addition to the tales from his previous collection, Children of Wax, the best-selling author includes seven new tales from Botswana. In an interesting twist on a writer's creation, the title character of the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency provides an introduction. (AFR141, $22.00)
Green Hills of Africa  •  Ernest Hemingway BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR •  1935 •  PAPER  • 295 PAGES A classic, wonderfully readable tale of hunting in the Lake Manyara area. Reissued with its original pencil drawings, Hemingway paints a real life story of his ramblings in East Africa, including portraits of the eccentric white hunter and some of the best writing ever describing the land itself. (EAF25, $15.00)
Heart of Darkness, with Congo Diary  •  Joseph Conrad LITERATURE •  1995 •  PAPER  • 166 PAGES A monumentally influential literary work, this short story tells of Marlow's harrowing journey into the Belgian Congo. Rich with irony, this story blurs the lines between savagery and civilization. This edition also includes selections from Conrad's journal while he was in the Congo, creating a blueprint for his later writings. (AFR46, $7.95)
Heinemann Book of Contemporary African Short Stories  •  Chinua Achebe  •  Lynn Innes ANTHOLOGY •  1992 •  PAPER  • 196 PAGES All written in the last 25 years, these 20 outstanding stories showcase both established African writers and new voices in the field. A single-volume introduction to the vast literature of all of Africa. (AFR10, $11.95)
Hemingway in Africa, The Last Safari  •  Christopher Ondaatje BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR •  2004 •  HARD COVER  • 240 PAGES Ernest Hemingway's love of East Africa can be glimpsed in "The Green Hills of Africa" and "The Snows of Kilimanjaro"-- Christopher Ondaatje traveled to Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda to retrace the steps of Hemingway's inspiration for this amply illustrated biography. Ondaatje examines Hemingway's travels with a literary attention to detail, and documents his findings with 98 color photographs, including one of the actual leopard which inspired the short story "The Snows of Kilimanjaro." (AFR139, $37.50)
How to Draw Animals  •  Judy Tatchell 1988 •  PAPER (JUV01, $4.95)
I Married Adventure, The Lives of Osa and Martin Johnson  •  Osa Johnson BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR •  1997 •  PAPER  • 448 PAGES Sweetly told, homespun and engrossing, Johnson's 1940 memoir chronicles her marriage to explorer and wildlife cinematographer Martin Johnson -- their life on a houseboat in Borneo, their encounters with cannibals, their exploits with wild animals in Kenya and their filming expeditions in the Congo. (PAC110, $19.95)
In the Dust of Kilimanjaro  •  David Western NATURAL HISTORY •  2001 •  PAPER  • 250 PAGES Published in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Kenya Wildlife Service and written by its former director, Western writes eloquently of his immersion in the natural history and cultures of Kenya. (EAF48, $24.00)
Kenya & Northern Tanzania Map  •  World Mapping Project 2004 •  MAP A clear map of Kenya and Northern Tanzania at a scale of 1:950,000 with national parks and reserves clearly indicated, including Ngorongoro, Serengeti, Arusha and Samburu. Printed on rip-proof, waterproof paper and based on World Mapping Project cartography. With an Index. (EAF140, $9.99)
The Snows of Kilimanjaro  •  Ernest Hemingway LITERATURE •  1995 •  PAPER  • 156 PAGES A collection of 10 excellent Hemingway stories set in Africa, including The Snows of Kilimanjaro and The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber (which begin and end the collection, respectively). The latter is a chilling masterpiece concerning an American couple on a big-game safari. Originally published in 1936, the book draws from stories written over the previous nine years, when Hemingway's prose was at it's best; a classic not to be missed. (EAF26, $13.00)
Kenya and Tanzania Map  •  Cartographia 1999 •  MAP A colorful, double-sided map of Kenya and Tanzania at a scale of 1:2,500,000. With index (EAF97, $12.00)
Kilimanjaro, A Complete Trekker's Guide  •  Alexander Stewart GUIDEBOOK •  2004 •  PAPER  • 255 PAGES A compact, comprehensive overview of the mountain and practical guide to Kilimanjaro treks in the popular series by Cicerone. The section on climbing Kilimanjaro covers all the popular routes. (EAF134, $22.95)
Kilimanjaro, To the Roof of Africa  •  David Breashears EXPLORATION •  2002 •  DVD A strikingly beautiful celebration of the mountain, shot on large format film and originally presented in IMAX theaters. Narrated by an experienced guide with accompanying African music and commentary by the six climbers on the expedition, including twelve-year-old Nicole Wineland-Thomson and author-historian Audrey Salkeld (who wrote an accompanying book about Africa's highest mountain). Breshears focuses on the history, nature and beauty of the mountain along with the varied experiences of the trekkers. The DVD includes a bonus 22-minute "making of" documentary, the theatrical trailer from the IMAX film, trivia and a slide show. (EAF112, $19.99)
The Kingdon Field Guide to African Mammals  •  Jonathan Kingdon FIELD GUIDE •  1997 •  PAPER  • 476 PAGES An authoritative, beautifully illustrated guide. It features identification, classification and species information for all known African mammals, including many newly discovered species. Written by one of the foremost authorities on African mammals, this concise guide provides full information on identification, distribution, ecology and conservation status on more than 1,100 species. It includes 480 outstanding color illustrations by the author and 280 maps. (AFR32, $47.50)
Larger Mammals of Africa  •  Pierre Dandelot FIELD GUIDE •  1993 •  HARD COVER  • 287 PAGES Featuring handsome color plates of all the larger mammals of Africa (including Madagascar), this compact field guide also includes good information on the range, distribution and abundance of each species. (AFR61, $35.00)
The Lions of Tsavo, Exploring the Legacy of Africa's Notorious Man-Eaters  •  Bruce D. Patterson NATURAL HISTORY •  2003 •  HARD COVER  • 324 PAGES An engaging account of research into the lions of Tsavo -- and the notorious 1898 events where two lions ate nearly 140 workers building a bridge. Patterson, a curator at the Field Museum in Chicago, has been studying the ecology, evolution and behavior of the lions of Tsavo since 1997. (EAF117, $24.95)
Lonely Planet East Africa  •  Hugh Finlay GUIDEBOOK •  2006 •  PAPER  • 688 PAGES This practical guide to East Africa by Lonely Planet features maps, a good overview of culture, history and nature, and much nuts-and-bolts information on excursions, accommodations and sightseeing. With color photographs and excellent travel information. Lonely Planet also publishes "Trekking in East Africa". (EAF81, $29.99)
Lonely Planet Kenya  •  Matt Fletcher  •  Hugh Finlay  •  Geoff Crowther GUIDEBOOK •  2006 •  PAPER  • 416 PAGES A compact, practical guide to Kenya featuring maps, a good overview of culture, history and nature and much nuts-and-bolts information on excursions, accommodations and sightseeing. With a brief wildlife guide and scattered color photographs. It includes sketch maps of cities, towns, parks and reserves. (EAF84, $24.99)
Lonely Planet Swahili Phrasebook  •  Lonely Planet LANGUAGE & PHRASEBOOKS •  1998 •  PAPER  • 240 PAGES A compact reference for the traveler, covering useful idioms, vocabulary and basic grammar. (EAF96, $8.99)
Lucy's Legacy, Sex and Intelligence in Human Evolution  •  Alison Jolly SCIENCE •  2001 •  PAPER  • 528 PAGES Jolly brings the perspective of a sociobiologist -- and of her decades of field work on the female-dominated ring-tailed Lemur -- to this lively account of who we are as a species. She looks particularly at the evolution of gender and intelligence. (AFR104, $18.95)
The Man-Eaters of Tsavo  •  John Henry Patterson TRAVEL NARRATIVE •  1986 •  HARD COVER  • 346 PAGES The true tale of John Henry Patterson, the Victorian adventurer who set out to build a bridge over the Tsavo River -- and later became a game warned in Kenya. The production of the bridge turns out to be a monumental task when two man-eating lions hunt and kill much of the work force. Written at the turn of the 20th century, it's a baffling story, much in the tradition of the period's classic works of exploration and adventure in Africa. (EAF80, $23.95)
Mountaineering, The Freedom of the Hills  •  The Mountaineers GUIDEBOOK •  2003 •  PAPER  • 528 PAGES The essential handbook for mountaineers, in a seventh revised edition. With chapters on outdoor fundamentals, rock, snow, ice, and alpine climbing, emergency prevention and response, the mountain environment, and gear. (GEN267, $29.95)
Mountains of the Mind, Adventures in Reaching the Summit  •  Robert Macfarlane TRAVEL NARRATIVE •  2004 •  PAPER  • 320 PAGES MacFarlane weaves anecdote, memoir and cultural history in this meditative account of the meaning of making it to the top. With chapters on glaciers, geology, the allure of fear, the desire to explore and what drives us to reach the summit. (HML65, $14.95)
National Audubon Society Field Guide to African Wildlife  •  Peter Alden FIELD GUIDE •  1995 •  PAPER  • 988 PAGES A compact introduction to the landforms, wild areas, mammals, birds, reptiles and insects of Africa, featuring contributions by experts and almost 600 color photographs. Most of the book is a field guide to commonly encountered birds, mammals and other creatures of the African continent. (AFR25, $23.95)
New Map of Kilimanjaro National Park  •  Ma Company (Tanzania) 1998 •  MAP A full color handsome souvenir sketch map of Kilimanjaro at a scale of 1:59,000 showing trekking routes, camps, geographic features and topography. (EAF104, $14.95)
The Nile  •  Robert O. Collins HISTORY •  2002 •  HARD COVER  • 384 PAGES Collins draws on a lifetime of study and travel in this revealing portrait of the 4,000-mile-long river, its political geography and environmental history. (AFR129, $52.00)
Nomads of the Serengeti  •  Robyn Stewart NATURAL HISTORY •  2006 •  HARD COVER  • 176 PAGES A coffee-table survey of the wildlife of the Serengeti, with a focus on the birds, migrating herds, and predators, featuring 200 color photographs. (EAF149, $32.95)
North of South, An African Journey  •  Shiva Naipaul TRAVEL NARRATIVE •  1979 •  PAPER  • 349 PAGES • FAVORITE This is a great book -- engaging and unafraid of controversy. North of South is a sharp portrait of Africa, sensitive to issues black, white and brown -- and occasionally quite humorous. It's the best, most insightful thing we've read about Africa. A brilliant and provocative observer, Naipaul meditates on the travelers, government officials, shopkeepers and European exiles he encounters on a six-month-long journey through Kenya, Tanzania and Zambia. Fittingly, the book opens at the outdoor cafe of the New Stanley Hotel in Nairobi. (EAF28, $16.00)
Origins Reconsidered, In Search of What Makes Us Human  •  Richard Leakey  •  Roger Lewin SCIENCE •  1993 •  PAPER  • 400 PAGES A personal account of hominid evolution by paleoanthropologist Richard Leakey with science writer Richard Lewin. They look back at the evidence and conclusions from the original 1977 book "Origins," augmented with a thoughtful consideration of what makes us human. (ATP07, $17.95)
Out of Africa  •  Isak Dinesen BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR •  1992 •  CASETTE TAPE Isak Dinesen's classic tale of life on a farm in the Kenyan highlands as read by Julie Harris. This abridged version comes on two audio cassettes. (EAF124, $15.95)
Kilimanjaro Map  •  ITMB 2004 •  MAP A traveler's map of the mountain and surroundings at a scale of 1:62,500 with margin notes on the climbing routes, wildlife and history of exploration. It's a colorful topographic map with 100-foot contour lines. Routes, huts, and geographic features are clearly indicated. (EAF69, $11.95)
The Peopling of Africa, A Geographic Interpretation  •  James L. Newman CULTURAL PORTRAIT •  1997 •  PAPER  • 252 PAGES An anthropological study of Africa, which considers, among other factors, genetics, religion, language and technology. With 50 maps. (AFR140, $23.00)
Petals of Blood  •  Ngugi wa Thiong'o LITERATURE •  2005 •  PAPER  • 432 PAGES In this tale of political greed and hypocrisy, first published in 1977 and now a Penguin Classic, the Kenyan novelist follows the fate of four suspects after three prominent local businessmen have been murdered in a small village in the highlands of Northern Kenya. This is the fourth novel by Ngugi and his first set since independence. It's both a suspenseful tale and a critique of post-colonial Africa. (EAF135, $15.00)
The Remarkable Baobab  •  Thomas Pakenham NATURAL HISTORY •  2004 •  HARD COVER  • 144 PAGES It was inevitable that Pakenham, an historian of Africa with a penchant for the world's most striking and bizarre trees, would discover the baobab. In this followup to Remarkable Trees of the World and Meetings with Remarkable Trees, he focuses on the tremendous, twisted boabab trees of Africa, Madagascar and Australia. Of the world's eight species, six are found in Madagascar. With 60 large-format color photographs. (NAT71, $19.95)
Safari Living  •  Tim Beddow ART & ARCHITECTURE •  2006 •  HARD COVER  • 168 PAGES Beddow captures the beauty and setting of lodges and camps, highland estates and coast retreats in 100 color photos in this handsome overview of architecture and interior design in East Africa. (EAF147, $16.95)
The Scramble for Africa  •  Thomas Pakenham HISTORY •  1992 •  PAPER  • 738 PAGES A well-written, meticulously researched history of the Victorian land grab in Africa. The book includes excellent portraits of the egomaniacal personalities that overran the continent, including Kitchener, Rhodes, Gordon and King Leopold. Subtitled "white man's conquest of the dark continent from 1876 to 1912, " it's an absorbing tale of adventure, tragedy and farce. (AFR26, $23.95)
Serengeti Journey, On Safari in Africa  •  Gare Thompson NATURAL HISTORY •  2006 •  HARD COVER  • 48 PAGES • YOUNG READERS (Age 4-8) A fun and informative overview of the Serengeti and its wildlife for readers ages 4 to 8. (EAF150, $17.90)
The Serengeti Lion, A Study of Predator-Prey Relations  •  George Schaller NATURAL HISTORY •  1972 •  PAPER  • 480 PAGES A classic study in field biology and winner of the National Book Award, this book is the result of Schaller's long-term study of the ecology of the Serengeti lion. Well worth browsing for its excellent general information on the habitats and animals of the Serengeti, you may find yourself drawn to the many charts, tables and maps. It's an elegant study, marvelously written. This book is part of a series of monographs on African mammals published by the University of Chicago Press. (EAF13, $45.00)
Seven Summits  •  Dick Bass  •  Frank Wells  •  Rick Ridgeway EXPLORATION •  1988 •  PAPER  • 336 PAGES They were both in their 50s, one of them doesn't even make it to all seven peaks. This book -- as told to climber and writer Rick Ridgeway -- is nonetheless pretty amazing, a testimony to the power of money and determination. For those heading to Africa, it includes a detailed description of the (non-techinal) Machame route on Kilimanjaro. They tackled the peaks (some with Ridgeway) in the following order, culminating on the third try with a successful Everest Summit by Bass, then the oldest man to ever stand on top of the world's highest mountain: Aconcagua, McKinley, Kilimanjaro , Elbrus, Kosciusko, Vinson and Everest. (EXP48, $15.99)
The Shadow of Kilimanjaro  •  Rick Ridgeway TRAVEL NARRATIVE •  1999 •  PAPER  • 288 PAGES Lucky Ridgeway, he got to walk across Kenya, albeit in the company of armed park rangers, while the rest of us tool around in mini-vans and Toyotas. The veteran of high peaks, Antarctica, the Amazon and other formidable destinations recounts his walk from Mount Kilimanjaro across Tsavo National Park to the Indian Ocean in the company of Iain Allan (and an armed guard). It's a perceptive overview of Kenya, its wildlife and conservation by an appreciative observer. He weaves history, philosophy and thoughtful observation into this marvelous account. (EAF61, $17.00)
Surrender or Starve: Travels in Ethiopia, Sudan, Somalia, and Eritrea  •  Robert D. Kaplan TRAVEL NARRATIVE •  2003 •  PAPER  • 240 PAGES Robert Kaplan, the prolific journalist and author of Balkan Ghosts, travelled through Ethiopia, Sudan, Somalia and Eritrea for this illuminating travelogue examining the culture, religion, and politics of the region. Kaplan also pays particular attention to the formidable impact of the 1980s famine. (AFR155, $13.95)
Swahili Dictionary  •  D.V. Perrott LANGUAGE & PHRASEBOOKS •  2003 •  PAPER  • 266 PAGES A convenient dictionary, useful anywhere in East Africa and especially along the coast, with 14,000 entries and guide to grammar and pronunciation. (EAF54, $15.95)
Tanzania Map  •  Nelles 2008 •  MAP A clear, double-sided map of Tanzania, with neighboring Rwanda and Burundi, at a scale of 1:1,500,000, with maps of Zanzibar, Pemba, Dar el Salaam and Arusha. (EAF08, $10.95)
A Vanished World  •  Wilfred Thesiger BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR •  2002 •  HARD COVER  • 200 PAGES This stunning record of an unusually eventful life takes in Thesiger's travels and adventures in revolutionary Ethiopia and the mountains of the Hindu Kush, his time among the Marsh Arabs of Iraq, his long stint living in Northern Kenya, and, memorably, his long love affair with the Empty Quarter of Oman (memorialized in "Arabian Sands"). Ninety-one-year-old Thesiger selected the black-and-white photographs for this album, which include many of his portraits of people and ways of life long gone. (ARB56, $35.00)
Weep Not Child  •  Ngugi wa Thiong'o LITERATURE •  1988 •  PAPER  • 136 PAGES A story of the lives touched by the Kenyan Mau Mau Uprising against British colonizers in the 1950's. (EAF136, $12.95)
The Wisdom of the Bones, In Search of Human Origins  •  Alan Walker  •  Pat Shipman SCIENCE •  1997 •  PAPER  • 368 PAGES A dramatic account of the discovery, in 1984, and significance of a remarkably intact skeleton of Homo erectus in northern Kenya. (ATP09, $15.00)