Customer Reviews

Angelina Jolie's: Notes from My Travels

5 star:		(58)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

While I've always felt Angelia Jolie was a superb actress, I wondered how much of her U.N. work was due to being a publicity hound. I came across this book in a store full of African crafts and was so fascinated with it that I came home and ordered it on Amazon. This book isn't a formally written account of her travels; rather, it's a collection of her writings in a personal journal written while on various U.N. missions around the world a couple of years ago. Her writing is casual, personal, and it is very raw and honest, obviously from the heart. I now have a new admiration for Angelina and her complete dedication to this cause. As a person who lived abroad for many years and traveled extensively in the third world and Africa, I was able to relate to to the accuracy of what she noted in her comments. I found the book interesting because it was an actual blow by blow journal of her experiences, impressions, observations, and her own reactions to what she saw on various trips. Very refreshing, and also very sobering at the same time. It's well worth a read for the content alone, and reading it will make you see Angelina in a totally different light. I now count myself among her admirers and I respect her intense involvement with the U.N. She is doing just as much to draw attention to these problems as did the late, wonderful Audrey Hepburn when she served in the same capacity in the U.N., and this is quite a compliment because Audrey was so truly wonderful in her own right. Angelina is a worthy successor, no doubt about it.

Angelina Jolie takes you on a journey to see an another world, or let's say the other part of the world that we all have (at least most of us) haven't seen or even thought about.
You won't be reading a journal about any typical oscar winner actress but a true philanthropist.
Barbara Walters told her:" You can't save the world Angelina"
She replied: " yes I know."
Yes, she is not saving the world but she is making a difference.
Her book proves it, her travels have changed her and they may change you too.
Her new perspective of life is described in such simple words yet so full of meaning, they will take you into the profund depths of the world: its truth.
In other words, the book is amazing.

By helping others, she has helped herself: she is now a more reasonnable person and knew that life is not about thinking only about yourself but it is thinking about others. That way you know you are at least useful to yourself and others.

Anyways, the book is great!

I hate to say it but before I read this book I was oblivious to much of the worlds sufferings. Now that I have read it I am now more aware of whats going on in the world, and I would like to take action and help out. Angelina Jolie has written something from her heart, not many books come from the heart. In this book you will read about the struggles refugees go through, and how much faith and will they have within themselves as they endure everyday hardships. 'Notes from My Travels' is very meaningful and it was easy to follow. I'm not very good with my memory when it comes to remembering things like statistics and facts but I find myself remembering almost if not all the facts within this book.

We should all be very blessed with what we do have, even if it may not seem like much, to another it could mean everything.

This book also shows that YOU CAN make a difference. Even in the simplest things like raising awareness to family, friends even strangers.

I would like to thank Angelina Jolie, for deeply inspiring me and opening my eyes.

- Cristina

I expected a self agrandizing account of Angelina Jolies adventures but I feel that these journals were really down to earth, real and powerful. You are not human if this book doesn't drive you to take action. These refugees really need help. I have newfound respect for Angelina Jolie.

A well written book! Angelina has obviously become very passionate about her work overseas as an ambassador, her book gives us a raw look at the lives of refugees with living conditions that most of us cannot even begin to imagine. It is refreshing to have the chance to look into Angelina's mind and actually learn something new about her, instead of reading the same things over and over: the knives, the blood, tattoos, men. I'd definitely recommend this book.

It was a great experience. I felt I was in the field. I saw the children. I felt the pain and suffering. I felt cold and shivered. I felt the heat and the dust. I cried and smilled. At one point I felt I was exhausted from travelling so much.
There was something special, I think magical, about the way the book was written. It truely paints the pictures and creates the scenes for you. You live in the book.
I have grown because of this experience. Merci Angie ;)

In this written account of Angelina Jolie's early trips with the UNHCR, readers are given a first-hand glimpse at the strength and beauty of refugees from around the world. Jolie holds nothing back, writing with emotion, intelligence, and incredible insight as she describes the people whose suffering inspired her to become a UN Ambassador and donate more than $6 million -- as well as adopt a child,(...) from Cambodia. It is a must-read for Jolie fans as well as anyone who wishes to be more aware of the living conditions of third-world countries. Jolie eats and lives with these people, forgoing all Hollywood luxuries but at the same time knowing that she is barely making any sacrifices compared to how refugees must live on a daily basis. We literally watch as these courageous and inspiring people win her heart... and it's difficult to finish this book without being won over ourselves. One of the most beautiful women in the world describes the world's ugliest crimes against humanity and does so in a way that moves her readers to action. Her two goals are to better understand and to help bring awareness, and by the end she has more than met them.

"I helped a lot of people with my review thanks a lot to all of you, I can send you pages of the book too."
I bought this book and enjoy it. She explains very clearly and it's really true. She risk her life to go and see and help others, because it was dangerous. I recomend this book.[...] Here is a sample. If you would like more to read please e-mail me.

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"The children here grab your hands walk with you smiling and singing. They have
nothing. They are wearing ripped clothes and they are smiling."
I could hardly get water out of the shower. The room would be considered poor
and run-down by the people from the world I live in, but certainly not by the
people here. They would consider it a palace.
Im very gratefull
Dinner was at eight. Two members of UNHCR field staff and I sat and talked
about war, life and survival. They told me many things. I wish I could write
every single thing down.
The television has only one channel. If they are lucky they will get CNN. It
didnt tonight.
The difference here. There is so much focus on srvival. You simply live and
enjoy the day and the people around you as much as you can.
People share.
I mention that this place is lacking on things not because I miss them but
because I see the way the people who work here live.
Most of them are not making any exeptions fot themselves--some may be. I
realized that a few people of the group are not kind.

Reaching towards the end, sadness takes over as I did not want the journey of the true meaning of humanity to end. It was the only window to learn more about innocents' lives. Every day passes by, my appreciation and gratitude intensifies to UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador Angelina Jolie who managed to educate us.

Notes from My Travels, nourishes the soul and directs one's energy to the humanitarian issues exposed in this book. 20 million refugees around the world, some of us are simply not aware of the issue, and some are just selfish enough to ignore. Thanks to Angelina Jolie for raising awareness among both groups of people.

It is inspiring, educating and motivating; it will enlighten the mind of any individual who reads it. It is a blessing for us to know how other people are living and what their needs are so we can all contribute in building a better world.

It is about time we get over our selfishness and read about our innocent brothers and sisters and take action.

While I was reading, a friend who does not speak English asked me about the book, so I briefed her. Without hesitating, modestly her next question was "where can I find it in our language?" Then I realized how Angelina Jolie managed to raise enough awareness even to those who could not read the book as well.

It is such a Treasure. Don't hesitate to read it; Notes from My Travels are pure facts from a big heart.

"I am so much more grateful for what I have. I have no reason to be stressed or complaining or depressed. I can't afford that. I shouldn't dare. I've seen so much worse." - Angelina Jolie as UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador.

It's amazing how cruel and also kind we are to each other. To have so many people forced out of their own country and to have so many people such as Angelina Jolie and the thousands of volunteers that dedicate their finances and lives to helping refugees.

This book is a definite eye opener and start for those that go from envying Angelina Jolie as the Hollywood Goddess to Angelina Jolie the Humanitarian Aide Goddess (amongst the millions of others, non-hollywood people, that dedicate and support any humanitarian cause). Very simple reading and educational.

A definite recommend!