A hilarious, highly original collection of essays based on the Botswana truism: “only food runs!”
Whatever You Do, Don't Run
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Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
At age 19, Australian-born Allison headed to Africa for challenge and adventure, planning to stay no more than a year; having found work as a safari guide, he's still there some 13 years later. In this fun, fearless memoir, Allison shares his experiences taking "guests" through the African wilderness, trips that often don't go quite as planned-due especially to the unpredictability of the animals around them. Allison is a skilled, funny and vibrant storyteller, dishing arcane bits of wisdom like an expatriate Alligator Hunter: "I understand a little bit of monkey language, and 'kwe' is a sound I listened for. It was an alarm... full blown monkey conniptions were reserved for leopards." A hilarious chapter recounting a troubled thousand mile trek through the Kalahari Desert finds Allison trying to wave down a passing truck in the middle of the night: "I realized that the driver would have seen what looked like a very animated sage bush with pasty white hands growing from it... he'd probably go straight to a witch doctor... and ask if there was a curse on him." Along the way, Allison examines his fellow guides, the struggle with exhaustion, getting lost and the temptation to make frequently visiting animals into pets, as well as some poignant asides on love and death.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Review
"Allison's infectious enthusiasm for both the African bush and his job showing its wonders to tourists is readily apparent." --Booklist
"His misadventures make Whatever You Do, Don't Run an absorbing read. . . . The material is rich, and Allison is a gifted storyteller. And the only thing stranger than African fiction is African truth." --National Geographic Adventure
"After reading this entrancing memoir, an African safari may move to No. 1 on your travel wish list. The only catch is you'll want the author as your guide." --Chicago Sun-Times
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
38 of 43 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Beginning in the mid-1990s, Peter Allison worked as a safari guide, primarily in Botswana. In Whatever You Do, Don't Run, Allison tells stories about his life in the bush. There are animal stories aplenty--a herd of elephants clustering protectively around its calving matriarch, a giant Python intent on crushing the life out of the author, an infestation of mice so desperately hungry they took to chewing on bald men's heads. But guides have to deal with paying guests as well as wild animals, and Allison does not shy from criticizing the spoiled and stupid among his tour groups.
In the hands of a more witty writer (think J. Maarten Troost's The Sex Lives of Cannibals), the material at Allison's disposal might have resulted in an unputdownable read. Allison's book isn't, but his stories are cute and amusing, and the author himself is likable and agreeably self-deprecating. Most interestingly, Whatever You Do, Don't Run gives readers a glimpse of an unusual llfestyle that most of us will probably not have given much thought to before: what's it like, day-to-day, to lead tourists around herds of impala and crocodile-infested rivers? If the subject matter is of interest, or if you like to browse the lives of people with jobs far different from yours, Allison's book is worth a quick read.
-- Debra Hamel
In the hands of a more witty writer (think J. Maarten Troost's The Sex Lives of Cannibals), the material at Allison's disposal might have resulted in an unputdownable read. Allison's book isn't, but his stories are cute and amusing, and the author himself is likable and agreeably self-deprecating. Most interestingly, Whatever You Do, Don't Run gives readers a glimpse of an unusual llfestyle that most of us will probably not have given much thought to before: what's it like, day-to-day, to lead tourists around herds of impala and crocodile-infested rivers? If the subject matter is of interest, or if you like to browse the lives of people with jobs far different from yours, Allison's book is worth a quick read.
-- Debra Hamel
27 of 31 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
While I haven't been on safari, I'm guessing that this book should be required reading for anyone who is able to make the trip. Peter Allison's book was a nice, quick read filled with lots of great stories about his experiences. All in all, I would recommend this book highly. Several stories made me laugh out loud.
Enjoy.
Enjoy.
15 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I recently read the non-fiction book Whatever You Do Don't Run: True Tales of a Botswana Safari Guide. This story is about Peter Allison's detailed and amusing tales from when he moved from Australia to Africa. I have never been out of the country, nor on a safari but after reading this book I felt as if I had just been on one. I always have wanted to go on a safari in Africa and now I want to work as a safari guide there, too. All the crazy and unbelievable stories that Allison shares opens up the reader's eyes on how different and sometimes scary a new continent can be, but also extremely rewarding.
In the beginning of the book I didn't quite understand why Allison would want to move from his suburban home in Australia to the far less developed continent of Africa. There are so many creepy bugs and diseases you can catch, but then I realized that there are more than dangerous organisms living in Africa. There are beautiful sunsets, majestic animals and the awesome stories that come with living in Africa. Allison had a thirst for adventure that needed to be quenched. This was satisfied when he traveled to Botswana.
Allison easily admitted he made lots of mistakes while being in Africa. He drove a Land Rover right into a river infested with hippos, and he also had to search for a half-naked tourist who is a member of the British royal family. While reading this book, I learned that it is ok to try new things and to be not so great at them. Allison had no idea what he was getting himself into, he had originally planned only to stay for two years but he spent at least a dozen years being a safari guide. He fell in love with Africa and its many endangered animals.
After reading this book I am going to try to convince my parents to take me to Africa and go on a safari. And I am recommending this book to anyone who likes a good laugh and some very odd yet pleasing stories.
In the beginning of the book I didn't quite understand why Allison would want to move from his suburban home in Australia to the far less developed continent of Africa. There are so many creepy bugs and diseases you can catch, but then I realized that there are more than dangerous organisms living in Africa. There are beautiful sunsets, majestic animals and the awesome stories that come with living in Africa. Allison had a thirst for adventure that needed to be quenched. This was satisfied when he traveled to Botswana.
Allison easily admitted he made lots of mistakes while being in Africa. He drove a Land Rover right into a river infested with hippos, and he also had to search for a half-naked tourist who is a member of the British royal family. While reading this book, I learned that it is ok to try new things and to be not so great at them. Allison had no idea what he was getting himself into, he had originally planned only to stay for two years but he spent at least a dozen years being a safari guide. He fell in love with Africa and its many endangered animals.
After reading this book I am going to try to convince my parents to take me to Africa and go on a safari. And I am recommending this book to anyone who likes a good laugh and some very odd yet pleasing stories.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Entertaining book
Lighthearted book, very engaging stories of the author's experience as a safari guide. Read quickly, really enjoyed reading the stories.
Published 1 day ago by Jennifer Pierce
4.0 out of 5 stars
The best of the three.
His experiences, probably were fresh, and his writing style was easy to read. this style is lacking in the third and specialy in the second book.
Published 7 days ago by Les Dencs
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very entertaining
Born and bred in Africa I just love to read about Africa and it' s wild life. I strongly recommend it...
Published 15 days ago by Paula Wienand
5.0 out of 5 stars
Awesome book, real fun
As a South African turned American, I loved reading about the amazing adventures Allison endured during his time in Africa. Read more
Published 16 days ago by Andrew R. Vanark
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Great Read
I had read one of his other books and it too was great, so I decided to read this one also and I was not disappointed, believe me...another great book. Mr. Read more
Published 22 days ago by Marvin Bauer
4.0 out of 5 stars
Pre-reading for Okavango Delta
I searched for books to read about Botswana in preparation for a trip. This was a delightful find, and most of the adventures take place very close to a camp we will visit. Read more
Published 23 days ago by S. McKeehan
5.0 out of 5 stars
Whatever You Do, Don't Run: True Tales of a Botswana Safari Guide
Humorous, exciting, a real page-turner! Peter, please return to Africa! I want to read more! Are there any more books in the future?
Published 27 days ago by Thomas Rupp
1.0 out of 5 stars
Not what I thought it was
It's a story about a young man who guides people on walking and driving photo safaris - boring. Poorly written besides.
Published 1 month ago by Fort Worth Retiree
5.0 out of 5 stars
So Real!
I love this book so far. I am about 2/3 through it and can't seem to put it down. I have been to Botswana twice and this book reminds me how much I love it. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Shirley S. Croft
5.0 out of 5 stars
Funny and Insightful.
A lovely account of a young person starting his life as a safari guide in Africa.
Very well written and quite funny.
I enjoyed reading it very much.
Very well written and quite funny.
I enjoyed reading it very much.
Published 1 month ago by SANJAY GUPTA
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