Customer Reviews

Back on the Map: Adventures in Newly-Independent Estonia

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Marc Hyman's "Back on the Map" is a remarkable first-hand glimpse into life in Estonia in 1992. Marc's exceptional storytelling gives the reader an accurate depiction of the exciting, yet challenging lives of so many in newly independent Estonia. He also did a terrific job explaining Estonia's complex history and the relationships between those who have been witness to it. A quick read that is hard to put down.

It probably helps if the reader has some personal connection to Estonia, but it's still a wonderful read, even if you've only ever heard the name of the country. Since the book was published only in 2009, the pervading thought one gets in reading it is how far the country has come since 1992 and how smart/lucky has Estonia been in achieving what it has. It's awesome to have somebody reminding you this. It's also awesome that there is no arrogance in the book, no oh-my-stupid-little-brothers attitude foreigners so often display. Hyman's style is personal and he seems genuinely fond of the people he has met. Genuinely fond of Estonia. One can't not love that.

Back on the Map is a wonderful story about the start of a new country and the hopes and aspirations of its people. The author has a very easy to read style that made you feel you knew each one the people he met. I would highly recommend the book and definitely for anyone traveling to the Baltic region!

An easy, fun to read first hand account of life in Tallinn in the early 1990s. Having spent time there myself recently, it was nice to read about what life was like then and Marc's teaching and personal adventures. The one constant ... the people of Estonia are awesome!

I so enjoyed this book! I was in Estonia at around the same time as the author, and he has clearly captured the mood and energy of the country at that pivotal time. His often humorous personal story serves as an engaging framework for insights into the history and culture of Estonia - and the enormous changes taking place. "Back on the Map" works on so many levels. A great read for anyone, it is a must read if you are interested in the Baltics, post-Soviet history, or teaching abroad.

Awesome book! Brings back fascinating memories for me, as I had the great pleasure of teaching at Concordia International University Estonia with the author, Marc Hyman, in 1995-1998. Thanks, Marc, for a terrific publication!!

Reading Marc Hyman's account of a year in Estonia was truly a pleasure. The situations that Marc describes as a traveller to Russia and this former Soviet Union Republic are told wonderfully and with great humor. Marc's description of the personalities he encountered, the national character of Estonians and the changing times during which he was living in Estonia are insightful and delightful. I would highly recommend this book to anyone traveling to the region or interested in finding out what it is like to live in a country where you don't speak the language. Well done!

I feel a certain ambivalence over this book. The early chapters, especially, I enjoyed, finding them well-composed, but others struck me as too casually written. 'The other thing I had learned on my sojourn toward the ticket windows was that....' writes the author on page 126. 'Sojourn toward' is a dubious collocation - one sojourns IN a location, not towards it - and, while travel-literature is not the most formal of genres, 'The other thing' is needlessly colloquial. Furthermore, I would have appreciated more detail about some of the people Hyman encountered and less about the mundane proceedings of his workplace.
Having said all this, Back On The Map did engage me most of the time and certainly prompted memories of my own visits to Estonia. Prospective purchasers should be aware, however, that many of the reviews of the book on this website - 'Awesome!' gushes John Miller of Arizona - are, quite frankly, hyperbolic.

My brother-in-law bought me this book for Christmas and he got it exactly right! This was a fresh view of Estonia for me despite having heard about the country all my life. I'd recommend it for its engrossing story line, travel adventures and vivid descriptions of a country in rapid evolution. I loved the image of the young Hansabank, stuffing money into a metal supply cabinet when it ran out of space in the safes to store cash. The book ended far before I was ready for it to do so.

Prior to reading this book, I knew nothing whatsoever about Estonia. Marc Hyman helped me identify the country, understand its history, and fall in love with its people. It is important to bear in mind that the setting for this book is 1992. As I understand, there have been considerable changes since then. Nevertheless, there is a timeless quality to Mr. Hyman's description of the newly independent Estonia. Additionally, the author has a great, dry sense of humor. What a lovely book!