Take Me With You: A Round-the-World Journey to Invite a Stranger Home Paperback – February 26, 2002

Reading this on a long, boring plane trip through the night, I think it is a completely enthralling - even without the idea of taking someone back. Normally I'm bored to tears on planes, but flying through the dark I felt like I was there with Newsham. What an experience. I think my favorite parts were in Africa, especially the Tanzania portion on the slopes of Mt. Kilimanjaro. But I loved the whole thing, except perhaps the South Africa portion - the country was just too civilized for me, although the undercurrents of apartheid were revealing.There is a lot to think about in the book - and to wonder about how much has, or has not, changed in 20 years. To wit:· I wonder how India has changed, given its economic revival?· The elderly Indian economist's analogy to Washington DC was thought provoking - what indeed if his scenario did happen?· I wonder what those people who disliked the "Mooslems" so much think now - about radical Islam?· Your psychoanalysis of Egypt was fascinating; Thomas Friedman writes often about Arab humiliation; what could be more humiliating than looking every day at the reminders that your nation's greatest days occurred millennia ago?· And back to the "Mooslem" issue - is it a coincidence that backwardness and Islam are tied? I think not, personally.· Your foreshadowing of the demise of Zimbabwe was also telling; 20 years hence the wheels have now completely fallen off and we have a failed state.· By contrast, you could tell in S. Africa that all sides felt change was inevitable - at least that nation has survived with some degree of coherence and order.Anyway, you are really to be congratulated - both for having the cojones to do something like that in the first place, and then to write so brilliantly about the trip.

I hope this book is a smashing success. For one thing, the author needs the money. (He gives too much of his away out of kindness). And secondly, because it is a fascinating travelogue written with much warmth and honesty. In his search for a "guest" to invite to the United States, Newsham encountered any number of the types of people that most tourists encounter: street vendors, taxi drivers, tour guides, and strangers met on the street. He befriends them though, and takes time to get to know something about them. But even without this "twist", the book could stand on it's own. The author takes us on some amazing adventures to places that are far, far off the beaten path in the Philippines, India, Egypt and Africa.It was great fun to learn who was picked to spend a month with the author. This visitor became a minor celebrity during his stay.For some reason, the author did not include a photo of himself anywhere in the book. You can google his name, if you like, and find a photo of him standing next to his chosen guest. Don't peek though, until you have finished the book!A travel story with a heart. Highly recommended.

Excellent. This is a Classic Travel Book. I've read quite a few over time. Brad Newsham is first and foremost a seasoned experienced traveler, who spread out his trips over periods of years in his lifetime. Many Travelers have written books about their experiences. Newsham however, in addition to being a great traveler, is a great writer, who has keen insight into the people, physical environment, and intangible benefits that travel brings to the individual.Vivid descriptions, recollections of his conversations, and providing backgrounds of the local and traveling folks he came across make you want to grab your small bag, and hop on the next plane out.His goal of finding a person to bring to the U.S. that otherwise would never be able to, makes many of us want to do the same thing. In the end we find out who the person is Brad will invite to our country.I first heard about the this book while Newsham was on a radio talk show, while I was driving from Key West, FL to Seattle. I was driving north through Oregon, and took my small notebook and pen and scribbled down the title. Classic book.

I've heard of Brad Newsham because of his Beach Impeach events in the Bay Area, and went to his website to find information about that (you should, too- [...] I saw this book advertised there and decided to pick it up.I'm so glad that I did! Newsham is a wonderful travel guide- great sense of adventure coupled with a strong sense of humanity. His writing style is very readable, and for me, at least, this was a book I really didn't want to put down. I was about to say that it's a great gift for the college grad in your life, but that's too limited- it's a great gift for anyone who gets excited at the thought of travel!

Read this little heartfelt gem of a book. It's just beautiful, highly recommend.

As I am planning my own travel around the world very soon this was recommended to me. Brad's journey was so vivid in it's description I was enthralled and am totally convinced that I need to now rearrange my travels to thoroughly explore India and Africa.. his style of writing was amusing and insightful and his friendships found along the way heart-warming. Great journey, couldn't put it down, and highly recommened.

I really loved this book -- one of the best travel books I've read in a long time. He covers not just one, but so many incredibly rich and diverse countries -- countries that we've all heard of, but perhaps haven't known much about. He is neither an expert for a naive traveller -- two camps many travel books fall into. The theme behind the book is the best bit -- his looking for an interesting figure to invite home to his native west coast US.

I enjoyed the book in the end but at the beginning I found it rather repetitive, It made a change from fiction but I don't think it is as good as Bill Bryson books.This is a book that we are reading in a book club.No problems with the seller or delivery - often a problem as I live in France.

Recipient was very happy , said it was good reading and glad to recieve it . "i now have it to read ."