Review: Funny, But not Farcical - A Good Overview
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 11 26, 2013
Having traveled to Myanmar before, although not as a businessman, neither Hare nor Tortoise, and also having read a few books about Myanmar, I was expecting a lot from My My Myanmar. I think it was a wonderfully delivered narrative about the underbelly of a country that is just beginning to open its doors to the rest of the world. I wasn't surprised by the revelations that he made, particularly about the smooth/fast-talking individuals that you often come across. I felt that this was a wonderfully comedic expose of the country without talking down to it or making it a caricature of itself. He captured the loneliness and isolation of an ex-pat/investor/carpetbagger in every sense of the words, and it made me long for travel and adventure once again.The business advice wasn't exactly helpful, as it was a very specific experience pattern that was told, but that was the beauty of the book as a whole. It was a single perspective of an experience that could easily be representative of anyone, whether they are in business or not. It was a collection of snapshots, stories, and anecdotes that really told the story of Myanmar in a brutally honest way. I think he is a powerful writer and someone worth paying attention to, considering that most travel journalists and writers in this specific genre tend to over-dramatize or sensationalize their specific stories. I believed every moment, and it made me better understand a country that I thought I already knew. Overall, it was a thrilling and engaging read that I would suggest to anyone, whether they are veteran travelers to Southeast Asia, fresh businessmen planning their first trip, or even humble travelers preparing to embark on a wander. Well done, all around.