The Insider's Guide to the Peace Corps: What to Know Before You Go [Paperback]

Dillon Banerjee (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2009

So, you want to join the Peace Corps . . .  If you are interested in joining the Peace Corps, you probably have questions that run the gamut from "What is the application process like?" to "Is the Peace Corps effective as a development agency?" In this updated second edition, former Peace Corps volunteer Dillon Banerjee shares candid facts and insights about the experience in a practical question-and-answer format. With input from recently returned volunteers who served across the globe, this thorough guide presents valuable information including: •   What Peace Corps recruiters look for in your application•   Items you should--and shouldn't---pack for your two-year trip•   Useful gadgets and technology that help volunteers stay connected from far away•   Real answers to personal questions about culture shock, safety, dating, homesickness, and more Whether you're thinking of joining or have already been accepted and are preparing to leave, The Insider's Guide to the Peace Corps will help equip you for the unique challenges and rewards of the volunteer experience, regardless of your program area or country assignment. It's essential reading for anyone interested in "the toughest job you'll ever love." 

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Dillon Banerjee has done a great service to anyone interested in becoming a  Peace Corps volunteer. He offers a wealth of practical information and realistic,  straightforward advice on key topics like foreign language competence, work  requirements and challenges, and housing. I highly recommended this book."
—A. Peter Burleigh, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations (1997–1999), U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka and the Maldive Republic (1995–1997), and Peace Corps Volunteer, Nepal (1963–1965)

 “A must read for anyone considering ‘the toughest job you’ll ever love,’ Dillon Banerjee’s honest and thorough guide provides advice for every stage of the journey. ...Banerjee offers straightforward answers without any insincere fluff.”
—Sierra Club “The Green Life” Blog
 
“the perfect way to present information to readers who are undoubtedly brimming with very specific questions—about issues (seemingly) large and small—that no one else can seem to answer.”
—Campus Career Counselor

From the Publisher

* The only guide that tells potential Peace Corps volunteers what to expect, through first-hand advice from recent volunteers.

* Includes more than 70 frequently asked questions, covering everything from "What is the application process like?" to "What should I bring?"

* Increasingly popular, the Peace Corps receives over 150,000 inquiries a year for only 4,000 volunteer positions.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Ten Speed Press; 2nd edition (April 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1580089704
• ISBN-13: 978-1580089708
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.6 x 9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #113,385 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #27 in Books > Business & Investing > Job Hunting & Careers > Volunteer Work
  • #78 in Books > Travel > Reference & Tips > Reference

More About the Author

Dillon Banerjee grew up traveling around the world, living in the Philippines and Indonesia as a child. After getting his B.A. from the College of William and Mary, joining the corporate world as a consultant in Washington DC, and ski-bumming it in Aspen for a while, he returned to life overseas as a Peace Corps volunteer in Cameroon, West Africa. His first book, So You Want to Join the Peace Corps: What to Know Before you Go, was the book he wished existed before he joined the Peace Corps. Published in 2000, it provided "real" answers to the many questions prospective volunteers typically have. The second edition, The Insider's Guide to the Peace Corps, was released in April, 2009 with several important updates and additions. Dillon now works as a diplomat at the U.S. Embassy in Lisbon, Portugal.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Essential read if you're considering applying for/interested in the Peace Corps, May 12, 2009

By 

J. Towers (Gainesville, FL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Insider's Guide to the Peace Corps: What to Know Before You Go (Paperback)

I purchased this book while going through the application process. Once the book came in the mail, I read about 90% of it that night. The format is fantastic - it is divided 14 sections, ranging from pre-application jitters to an appendices with general info on Peace Corps. Each section contains a number of questions that are addressed within a page or two with some very useful information. Some of the questions (74 total) include the following:

-Am I qualified to join the Peace Corps?
-Will I be lonely?
-What should I bring?
-What is training like?
-Will I get sick?
-How will I receive mail?
-Will I have access to Internet?
-Will I be able to have friends & family visit from the States?

While the Peace Corps Recruiter assigned to my area was incredibly helpful in answering my questions, this book addresses issues that I didn't even think about. It has definitely left me with more informed & realistic expectations about what's to come.

This is also a useful source for family members and friends of Peace Corps volunteers.

Definitely a must buy!

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best PC Guidebook Out There, April 13, 2009

By 

Globetrotter (Dulles, VA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Insider's Guide to the Peace Corps: What to Know Before You Go (Paperback)

This second edition of the former "So You Want To Join the Peace Corps" book picks up where the last one left off, adding new sections on things like overseas internet access and cell phone use, the online application form, updated info on Peace Corps housing, training, benefits/hardships, etc. What I love is that the information is "real", not pre-packaged promotional stuff. I had read the first edition before finding this, and the updates are great - definitely more current and helpful for those of us thinking about the Peace Corps now. As far as I'm concerned, this should be mandatory reading for anyone interested in becoming a Peace Corps volunteer. It answers questions you'd never even think to ask in order to help make an informed decision and prepare for the experience.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great First Step, September 11, 2010

By 

Travis Hellstrom (Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Insider's Guide to the Peace Corps: What to Know Before You Go (Paperback)

"The Insider's Guide to Peace Corps: What to Know Before You Go" is a great first step in your Peace Corps journey. It answers dozens of the frequently asked questions that applicants have as they start thinking about Peace Corps. As a currently serving Peace Corps Volunteer (Mongolia 2008-2011), I found this guide very helpful as I began my Peace Corps experience and I highly recommend it.

This book also inspired me to write my own book, providing more detail about the Peace Corps experience in a more "unofficial" way and also giving the reader a chance to keep a journal of their own experience. I also highly recommend giving the Unofficial Peace Corps Volunteer Handbook a look. Good luck in your own Peace Corps adventure!