The Shadow of the Sun

A fascinating account of a continent that I have little to no interest in visiting. It's an episodic narrative with Kapuscinski compiling a collection of his essays during the many decades he spent as an African correspondent. Each ranges from personal experiences to a history lesson or sometimes in between. Where the book shines is allowing the reader to grasp the vast cultural differences between here and the Western world. For example, time dominates a Western man, and it dictates our daily lives. An African man understands the absence of time and is not as stringent in allowing time to become a part of their lives.

The short essays are both the strengths and weaknesses of the book, though. It left me longing for more descriptions of his decision to live in a Nigerian slum. I think a lack of focus on Southern Africa was also odd since I would have loved to have read something on the Skeleton Coast, the most eerie part of Africa. It is still a good, solid piece of travel literature.