Reviewed by Leonard Smuts for Readers' Favorite

Disenchanted with life at home and planning to escape from rural Pennsylvania, teenage Jack Rathmell thought that voluntourism presented the perfect solution. Visiting South Africa in 2014 seemed like a good idea. How the Rhino Lost His Horn: Cautionary Tales from Appalachia to Africa is his account. After volunteering as a teacher in an impoverished township school in Cape Town, he spent three months as a sports coach while living in Muizenberg, a seaside suburb. The author paints a vivid picture of life in Cape Town, with its wonderful scenery and diverse cultures. He experienced its sights, sounds, food, companionship, crime, and people of different hues. He explored his new world, watching the national football team, and riding in the notorious minibus taxis. He shared lodgings with a diverse group of volunteers and interacted with the grassroots community. He pondered misguided philanthropy, undertook township tours, encountered mischievous baboons, and learned to be vigilant. He tried cage diving with Great White sharks, bungee jumped, went on game drives, and had a haircut that went wrong. He noted the incongruities of life in South Africa that ranged from muggings, electricity outages, high walls, and car guards to the traditional braai (the local version of a barbecue), all the while retaining a sense of humor, tinged with optimism.

Jack Rathmell returned to South Africa on two later occasions, enjoying equally memorable experiences. Back home, Donald Trump had been elected. Jack began to question American attitudes toward poverty, highlighting the entrenched privilege that divides the haves from the have-nots worldwide. Voluntourism itself raises question marks. Was it the preserve of do-gooders or a profit generator for the organizers? His love life was patchy, but some of his associates were bolder, and he shared their exploits. His final stay ended in a dispute with his manipulative landlady and her quirky son. How the Rhino Lost His Horn is an irreverent but insightful look at society and its norms on two continents. The author reflects on an increasingly complex world, personal relationships, and politics, noting that living abroad makes you see your own country in a different light. He provides some astute observations concerning South African politics, with its double standards, corruption, inefficiencies, and disillusionment. After all, this is Africa (TIA). The author ponders whether similar situations are merely a product of history or predict the shape of things to come in America. The result is a charming reflection on life in a foreign country, with its different culture and social challenges. It is entertaining, enlightening, and highly recommended.