Nine Hills to Nambonkaha : Two Years in the Heart of an African Village

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Summary: Wonderful and informative
Review: This was a wonderful and enjoyable book which has made a deep lasting impression on me. The book was well written, engaging, interesting and very informative. I highly recommend it.

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Summary: A Wonderful Tale of Two Years in Sub-Saharan Africa
Review: This was one of the best books I have read in a long time. It was touching and refreshingly personal. Sarah struggles with issues familiar to all development workers - "How do I instigate behavioral change now that I have disseminated the information?" She doesn't have the answers, but some insights, which only come from living so closely with a community. She shares these thoughts and the people of the village with her reader, avoiding clichés and stereotypes.
As a former student of economics and having worked in community development overseas, I feel that this book is must read for individuals in these fields. Sarah lets you in the secret obstacles to capitalism not found in textbooks and defines the role of a successful development worker - bringing out the best of those in the community so that "progress" comes from within, not from a temporary outsider. Of course, I would highly recommend this book to prospective Peace Corps volunteers, or those who have always wished they had volunteered as well; you will truly be transported to Nambonkaha, Côte d'Ivoire.

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Summary: Interested in Other Cultures? This is a Must-Read.
Review: When I first read Sarah Erdman's book, I thought maybe I just liked it so much because it brought back so much of my own Peace Corps experience. But having loaned the book and bought copies for friends and loved ones, I'm glad to report I was wrong. Seems to be a book anyone interested in other cultures and getting lost in really great writing can relate to.
Sarah Erdman has a rare combination of a smart head and a good heart, and they both come through in a crisp, clear writing style that kept me glued to the book and not wanting it to end.
Back when I was in Peace Corps, I spent a summer training a group of incoming volunteers. One of them subsequently wrote a book about his experience. I remember reading his book with great anticipation, which quickly turned to disappointment. It seemed to me he had judged west Africa through his own very privileged American lens and found it wanting. Worse, he had taken the trust and friendship of host country nationals and fellow volunteers and betrayed them for the amusement of his readers. He even managed to make the fact that he had bailed out on the students he was teaching just weeks before their final exams somehow their fault -- or at least certainly not his.
How different is Sarah Erdman's book! She's no Pollyanna, and she she does not gloss over cultural differences, difficulties or disagreements. But there is a core of integrity that you rarely find in any book -- let alone a non-fiction Peace Corps memoir by someone so young.
This is a must-read for anyone thinking about Peace Corps, anyone interested in West Africa, or anyone who just enjoys a well told story.
Sarah, you've restored my faith. It is possible after all for a young American to write about experiencing another culture, and to do so with kindness, compassion, and keen insight.