The Ponds of Kalambayi: A Peace Corps Memoir

The hilarious and heart-wrenching memoir from a Peace Corps volunteer in Zaire—with a new introduction

Lovers of fine travel- and adventure-writing will savor Mike Tidwell’s richly acclaimed narrative of his days as a Peace Corps volunteer. His task was to help people in the remote corners of Zaire raise tilapia in ponds they would dig themselves, with muscle-power alone. By turns hilarious and gut-wrenching, this book—whose new edition includes a new introduction by the author—is a masterful account of culture clash, generosity of spirit, and true grit. It is a must-read for anyone with aspirations to “change the world.”