The Ringtone and the Drum: Travels in the World's Poorest Countries
This is a courageous book, which sheds much-needed light on a corner of Africa that rarely gets media attention. Weston's first hand reporting and analysis will help anyone seeking to understand how poor countries work and poor people live.-Seth Kaplan, Author of Fixing Fragile StatesA wise and compelling book, which offers a real picture of what daily life is like in West Africa. Weston is a brave and resourceful traveller, who has entered the heart of some of the most fascinating and least visited parts of the world.--Toby Green, Author of Meeting the Invisible Man Secrets and Magic in West AfricaThe Ringtone and the Drum is high-energy food for wanderlust. Teeming with interesting facts, it turns Weston's perspicacious eye on some of the least visited countries on earth. The result is an accessible, unique and enchanting account. But beware: it will tempt even the least daring to pack their bags for West Africa!--David Bloom, Professor of Economics and Demography, Harvard UniversityFuses the traditions of great travel writing with a deep and sophisticated knowledge of the fast-changing politics and cultures of West Africa. The result is a truly engaging and informative book that provides a rare tour of one of the world’s poorest and least understood regions.--Doug Saunders, Globe and Mail, Canada‘The Ringtone and the Drum reminds us of our affluence and privilege as well as taking us on a fascinating journey through West African history and geography.’ Julia Manning, Daily Mail‘A fascinating and very readable book.’ Alex Cobham, Head of Research, Save the Children'The book is full of rich detail and interesting historical anecdotes (as well as a surprising amount of political economy shout-outs) about a part of the world that most readers will never see, but its real value lies in Weston’s success at communicating exactly what he set out to discover: “a better idea of how the world’s poorest people make it through the day.” Worth a read.' Wronging Rights