Waiting for Rain: Life and Development in Mali, West Africa [Paperback]

Amb. Lewis W. Lucke (Author), Lewis W. Lucke (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1998 | ISBN-10: 0815805292 | ISBN-13: 978-0815805298 0

"Waiting for Rain" is the story of a young, novice development professional who leaves the comfort of the United States to live and work in Mali, one of West Africa's poorest but most interesting and authentically African countries. Mali boasts one of the lowest GDPs and some of the most intractable development challenges in the world, but it is the home of Timbuktu, the Niger River, Dogon cliff dwellers and the mud mosques of Mopti. Though the country is culturally fascinating, can you ever get over the shock of working in such an impoverished country where life expectancy is 41 and a major drought is just coming to an end? What kind of development programs can you hope to put together to effectively address the problems of Mali. And since this is important work that touches the lives of real people, when all is said and done, will you have succeeded or not? "Waiting for Rain" may be of interest to those interested in other cultures, travel, Africa, international social issues and development buffs. Without being overly technical, the book treats a serious subject--economic development--while viewing the personal side of living and working in Mali.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

A native of North Carolina and for 35 years a proud Texan, Lewis Lucke worked for the US Agency for International Development in ten counties for over 27 years. He was the first head of USAID/Iraq in 2003-1004 and served as US Ambassador to Swaziland from 2004-2006. He is a graduate of the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and the Thunderbird School of Global Management in Arizona. Amb. Lucke most recently led the US response to the Haiti earthquake in 2010. He is married with three grown children and is fluent in both French and Spanish.

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Christopher Publishing House (December 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0815805292
• ISBN-13: 978-0815805298
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 9 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,851,819 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #74 in Books > History > Africa > Mali

More About the Author

Ambassador Lewis Lucke most recently served as US Response Coordinator for the Haiti earthquake, leading the United States' $1.0 billion to date relief and recovery program.

Ambassador Lucke recently returned to his international consulting business, Lewis Lucke, LLC, brokering US investment into developing countries in the Middle East, Africa and Latin America.

Previously, Mr. Lucke was nominated by President George W. Bush and served as US Ambassador to the Kingdom of Swaziland from July 2004 through July 2006.

Ambassador Lucke served for 27 years with the U.S. Agency for International Development. His prior position was that of first USAID Mission Director for Iraq, where he managed a $4.0 billion reconstruction and economic development program, USAID's largest program ever and the largest reconstruction effort funded by the United States since the Marshall Plan.

Mr. Lucke is from Austin, Texas, married to Joy Willeford with three grown children. Mr. Lucke received a Bachelor's degree from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and an MBA from Thunderbird School of Global Management in Arizona.

Mr. Lucke served in the U.S. Foreign Service since 1978 in ten countries: Mali, Senegal, Costa Rica, Tunisia, Bolivia, Jordan, Haiti, Brazil, Iraq and Swaziland. He had been USAID Mission Director in his last five posts of Bolivia, Jordan, Brazil, Haiti, and Iraq.

Mr. Lucke has received USAID's two highest awards, the Administrator's Distinguished Career Award in 2001, and the Agency's award for Heroism in 2004. He was named a Distinguished Alumnus of 2003 from the Thunderbird School of Global Management. He received the Secretary of Defense's Award for Exceptional Public Service in 2004.

Mr. Lucke is fluent in French and Spanish and has a working knowledge of Arabic. He is the author of "Waiting for Rain: Life and Development in Mali, West Africa" published in 1999.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book captures what it's like to live and work in Mali., July 14, 1999

By 

Dennis Bilodeau ([e-mail]) (Bamako, Mali) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Waiting for Rain: Life and Development in Mali, West Africa (Paperback)

I've been living in Mali for over 15 years now, and this book truly and accurately captures the emotions, joys and tribulations of living and working in the development field in Mali. A "must read" for anyone interested in international development and life in West Africa. Poignant, touching and very well written.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars from the "Journal of Community Health", May 27, 2001

By 

Pascal James Imperato, MD - See all my reviews

This review is from: Waiting for Rain: Life and Development in Mali, West Africa (Paperback)

While many Americans have worked for the US Agency for International Development over the years, few have subsequently penned their reminiscences as Lewis Lucke has done in "Waiting for Rain". This authobiographical volume recounts both his life there and issues of economic development relevant not only to Mali, but also many other developing countries. The author successfully weaves these two broad themes through his account, which makes for an enjoyable and informative read. A sensitive and insightful observer, Lucke describes Malians and their country with empathy and understanding. His vivid, and at times humorous, descriptions of expatriate life in the country will loudly resonate with anyone who has spent time in this part of Africa. Traveling throughout the country, he was able to observe well-intentioned development projects gone wrong, but also a number of success stories. Above all else, he came to know the Malians and their country well, and developed a sincere admiration for their incredible capacity to overcome enormous adversity. Lucke's narrative is enriched by fine descriptive detail and many captivating human interest stories which make it enjoyable reading. "Waiting for Rain" will appeal to a very broad audience of readers including armchair travelers, international development workers and those interested in Africa.

Pascal James Imperato, MD, MPH & TM, Editor

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining, Informative Perspective on Foreign Assistance, March 2, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Waiting for Rain: Life and Development in Mali, West Africa (Paperback)

"Waiting for Rain" provides an entertaining, informative perspective on what it is really like to work on aid projects overseas, in this instance in Africa. The descriptions of Mali are vivid, while the details of expatriate life in Bamako are interesting and ring true to life. Particular incidents described are by turns hilarious, informative, and moving. The fact that the assignment to Mali represents the author's first real encounter with life in a "third world" country makes the narrative all the more compelling. This is definitely a book that goes beyond the more usual superficial and sensational newspaper reporting about foreign aid programs. On the contrary, it provides an informative perspective at life in "development" as it is experienced by someone directly involved.