The Bookshelf: The Geography of Madness
A book about penis thieves, voodoo death, and the search for the meaning of the world’s strangest syndromes
Yes, please!
A book about which Elizabeth Gilbert says, “Frank Bures has some of the widest (and wildest) curiosities of any writer out there. This is a man who truly wants to know the world, in all its strange and beautiful variations. He is fearless in his reporting, generous in his spirit, and brilliant in his prose. I would follow him anywhere.”
Yes.
A book by Frank Bures who has written for Harpers, Outside, Poets and Writers, and so much more?
Yup.
And, a book by a fellow Minnesota, friend, and someone who has been to, and written about, Djibouti?
Yes!
I just got my copy and am already several chapters in. In fact, here’s a confession, my family had a movie party last night. The new Star Wars (we have no movie theater in Djibouti so are just getting to watch it now) and about thirty friends, on our roof. We showed it on the side of our house with the sounds of Djibouti in the background: the call to prayer, dogs snarling, a woman beating laxoox batter for the next morning’s breakfast. But what did I do? I curled up in a corner and read The Geography of Madness.
Instead of watching Star Wars, people!
No one who knows me is surprised by this but still, that’s what a fun book it is.
The Geography of Madness
So many Djibouti Jones readers are expatriates or travelers and I know you will appreciate Frank’s stories. They make you look at yourself and your surroundings, whether familiar or foreign, and begin asking questions about what is ‘normal’ and why.
You can buy his book on Amazon (click the image above) and check out Frank’s website for other essays here.