Another Day in Paradise: International Humanitarian Workers Tell Their Stories [Hardcover]

Carol Bergman (Compiler)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Orbis Books; F edition (October 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 157075487X
• ISBN-13: 978-1570754876
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 6.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #979,596 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Carol Bergman's short stories, poems, and creative nonfiction have been published in Willow Review, Onion Review, A Room of One's Own, Absinthe Literary Review, The Bridge, Potpourri, Epiphany and many other publications in the US and the UK. "Objects of Desire," appearing in Lilith and Whetstone Literary Review was nominated for a 1999 Pushcart Prize in nonfiction. "Another Day in Paradise; International Humanitarian Workers Tell Their Stories," with a foreword by John le Carré, was published by Orbis Books (US/​Canada) and Earthscan Books (UK/​Commowealth) in October, 2003 and was nominated for the J. Anthony Lukas Book Prize. It has been translated into Korean and Chinese. Her feature articles, essays, reviews and interviews have appeared in numerous publications in the UK and the US including The New York Times, The Times (of London), The Christian Science Monitor, The Daily News Magazine, The Amsterdam News, Newsday, Cosmopolitan, Woman's World, Family Circle, Art Times, Cineaste, and Salon.com. She is the author of two film biographies (Mae West & Sidney Poitier) and the ghostwriter of Captain Kangaroo's autobiography, "Growing Up Happy." A memoir, "Searching for Fritzi," was published in 1999. A book of novellas, "Sitting for Klimt," was published in 2007 and has received the Barnes & Noble/​iUniverse Editor's Choice, Publisher's Choice and Reader's Choice awards. It is permanently installed in the Neue Galerie Bookstore. Her first murder mystery, "Say Nothing,"was published in 2010. Her first e-book, "Water Baby; Five Novellas," was published in Fall of 2011 and will be available in hard copy in January, 2012.

Carol has a BA from the University of California at Berkeley and an MA in Media Studies from The New School. She is one of the founding faculty of Gotham Writers' Workshop and has been teaching in the NYU writing program since 1997. She is also a writing coach, book doctor, and editor. Most of her private clients are working on books, but a few are experimenting with shorter forms. Most have succeeded in getting their work published. Others have completed essays for MFA applications or personal family histories that they have self-published, or presented as memoirs to publishers and agents.



www.carolbergman.net

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Paradise, like Hell!, December 4, 2003

By 

Tony Theil (Philadelphia, PA United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Another Day in Paradise: International Humanitarian Workers Tell Their Stories (Hardcover)

The personal essays of aid workers compiled by Bergman are profiles of ordinary people doing the extraordinary. Each essay reveals a unique writing style and personality. The one common thread that they share is a strong willingness to serve humanity; hence, they're humanitarians.

The compilation consists of 15 essays. None of the locations would be paradise because the hell-holes span the globe to wherever there are wars, the aftermath of wars, conflicts, and natural disasters. Personally, I'm pleased to read about some of those aid organizations that I support.

Here are a few of the more memorable pieces:

Camp-bo-dia by Dr. Panayotis Ellinas, a doctor serving the many needs of Cambodians in a Thai refugee camp. Dr. Ellinas grew up on Cyprus where he witnessed "napalm bombs, death, destruction, and occupation. A scene with pained faces comes back to me often...This is what led me to my vocation." More than empathy, more than compassion; the doctor has great respect for his patients and colleagues.

The House of Prayer and Peace written by Sister Theresa Baldini underscores a strong commitment of caring. Sister Theresa, who in 2002 was 63 years old, and Sister Madeline, age 79, have served in Sudan since 1986. The two Maryknoll nuns have endured not only continuous aerial bombings, several bouts of malaria, and countless rats; but also an austere diet of lentils, peanut butter and crackers, and cabbage. And there's no mention of burn-out!

My Bodyguard is a poignant account by Patrick Dillon of his 10 year old Somalian bodyguard, Muhammad Ali. I'll connect with young Ali whenever I use my Swiss Army Knife. (You'll need to read this essay to know why.)

Paul Heslop's Letters Home is full of grit and humour as he describes his daily routine of defusing mines in Angola.

Overall, each story provides great insight, something more than what could be read in official agency newsletters.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic Read!, July 16, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Another Day in Paradise: International Humanitarian Workers Tell Their Stories (Hardcover)

I've read this book countless times now. It gives such a wonderful insight into the real lives of these workers who are on the frontlines day in and day out. The stories are very well written and truly paint a picture of the events taking place around these workers.
If you've ever thought (or dreamed!) of doing humanitarian work, especially overseas, this book is a must-read. It will open your eyes to the real world not the media's glossed over view of it.
Enjoy!

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Another Disconnected Anecdote, June 22, 2007

By 

S. Crosby "croz" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Another Day in Paradise: International Humanitarian Workers Tell Their Stories (Hardcover)

Another Day in Paradise had the potential to be an incredible book. It covers a fascinating topic involving danger, selflessness, and distant lands. Unfortunately the "author" (compiler and editor) of this book chose to take 15 disconnected accounts from humanitarian workers and randomly inserted them into this collection. Some of the contributors are quite captivating with their description while others are less than exciting. The result is a disjointed book that reads like 15 successive magazine articles written for 15 different publications.

It's hard not to feel that the editor of this book contributed nothing to this project short of attempting to profit at other people's humanitarian efforts and writing. Worse still, in the Afterword goes on to describe what a living hell her life has been as a result of this book:

"Friends and family were concerned that I was so immersed in the hardships of wars and disasters that I could no longer enjoy life. And, in some sense, this was true;"

Wow, what a martyr! Having other people risk their lives as humanitarians and write about it for your book sure is tough work.

Of the 7 books I recently bought, this was the first one I picked up to read because it seemed like it would have the most potential. Unfortunately it was quite a disappointment.