Monkeys Are Made of Chocolate: Exotic and Unseen Costa Rica by Jack Ewing
Take an inside look into the rainforests of Costa Rica! This book unveils the ways in which animals, plants, and people interact in one of the most prolific and diverse ecosystems on the planet.
Tropical Nature: Life and Death in the Rainforests of Central and South America by Adrian Forsyth and Ken Miyata
This readable book, appropriate for middle school as well as high school students, takes a story-driven approach towards explaining symbiotic rainforest relationships. Highly recommended.
Green Phoenix: Restoring the Tropical Forests of Guanacaste, Costa Rica by William Allen
This book tells the story of a group of Costa Rican and American scientists who set out to save tropical rainforests in the northern part of the country. It shows that not only can we prevent the destruction of rainforests, but we can restore them.
Costa Rica: A Traveler’s Literary Companion edited by Barbara Ras
A collection of short stories written by Costa Rica writers, organized by region of the country.
A Brief History of Singapore and Malaysia: Multiculturalism and Prosperity: The Shared History of Two Southeast Asian Tigers (2023) by Christopher Hale
A Short History of Malaysia (2003) by Virginia Matheson Hooker
Man on the Run, 2023
The Billion Dollar Whale (2018) by Bradley Hope and Tom Wright
The Accidental Malay (2022) by Bahrin, Karina Robles
The Garden of Evening Mists (2012) by Tan Twan Eng
The Gift of Rain (2009) by Tan Twan Eng - about Penang
The House of Doors (2023) by Tan Twan Eng
Deep Rivers by Jose Maria Arguedas
Semi-autobiographical of Peruvian author and his close connections to indigenous Quechua communities
The Peru Reader by Orin Starn, Carlos Ivan Degregori, Robin Kirk
An anthology of Peru's history, philosophy, literature, poetry and more
Turn Right at Machu Picchu: Rediscovering the Lost City One Step at a Time by Mark Adams
NY Times bestseller and a historical retelling of the 1st expedition to discover Machu Picchu
Between Inca Walls, A Peace Corps Memoir by Evelyn Kohl LaTorre
The Conquest of the Incas by John Hemming
Most notably famous history book on the Inca Empire written in 1970
The Last Days of the Incas by Kim MacQuarrie
A more recent, 2007, written historical account of the Spanish inquisition in Peru
Death in the Andes and Conversation in the Cathedral by Mario Vargas LlosaNobel Prize for Literature in 2019; translated by Gregory Rabassa; both novels written by very famous Peruvian writer, the first of which retells the murder mystery set during the Maoist insurgency that shook rural Peru in the 80s and 90s
Betty Zee in PC: Sights and Sounds from a Peace Corps Volunteer in Peru by Betty ZambranoA collection of blog posts turned into a book about youth development and life in northern rural Peru
Lonely Planet Tanzania
Basic overview of the culture, history and art of Tanzania. This book is a general travel guide that is good for background info and browsing.
The Challenge for Africa by Wangari Maathai, Nobel Peace Prize laureate and founder of the Green Belt Movement
The author, in her uniquely impassioned and empathetic perspective, analyzes the most egregious “bottlenecks to development in Africa,” occurring at the international, national, and individual levels--cultural upheaval and enduring poverty among them. Maathai deftly describes what Africans can and need to do for themselves, stressing all the while responsibility and accountability.
Masai Days by Cheryl Bentson
Documents the author’s six-year relationship with a group of Maasai villagers. The author provides a respectful account of villagers whom she describes as “warm hearted, proud, and tenacious.” Bentson presents her compassionate perspective on a people who regard cows as currency and resist new ways of life.
Stains on My Khanga by Sandra Aikaruwa Mushi
Anthology of poems by a Tanzanian author. It is written honestly and manages to balance an allure of innocence with the harsh realities of knowledge and experience.
Claiming Civic Virtue: Gendered Network Memory in the Mara Region, Tanzania by Jan Shetler
Shetler’s exploration of these oral traditions and histories opens exciting new vistas for understanding how women and men in this culture tell their stories and assert their roles as public intellectuals―with important implications for research in African and gender studies, and the history of ethnicity and nationalism.
To Stir the Heart: Four African Stories
This book, co-written by two popular African writers, explores relationships between men and women with a focus on women’s rights and explores the topic of tradition versus modernity in African cultures.
The Worlds of a Maasai Warrior by Tepilit Ole Saitoti
Memoir that recaps the life of a man from Tanzania who was born in a traditional Maasai society, through his studies in Europe and America, and back to his home in Tanzania.
The Blue Sweater by Jacqueline Novagratz
Tells the story of a woman who left her successful career to understand global poverty and the challenges facing our interconnected world.
Half the Sky by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn
Explores the oppression of women in Africa and Asia, telling amazing stories of women who have turned their oppression into opportunity.
Afterlives by Abdulrazak Gurnah
Delves into the lives of three characters in Zanzibar, unveiling a tapestry of ambition, betrayal, love, and cultural clashes. Set against a backdrop of post-colonial upheaval, Gurnah's prose masterfully explores themes of identity and hope, weaving a poignant and unforgettable tale.
Chasing the Leopard Finding the Lion by Julie Wakeman-Linn
This is a coming-of-age story set in Tanzania. It follows the adventures of Emma, an American teenager who discovers her African heritage and embarks on a transformative journey filled with self-discovery, cultural exploration, and the search for identity across continents.
Paradise by Abdulrazak Gurnah
This novel is a chronicle of an African boy’s coming-of-age, a tragic love story, and a tale of the corruption of African tradition by European colonialism.