Jim Rogers (1) (1942–)

When I first started writing thse reviews, I just wanted to keep a log and some of my favorite books, I would submit a review to Amazon. For those who actually read the reviews, the reviews begin to be more of a blog. Most books give me different ideas than what the author fully intended.

Like this book. chances are I'll never buy an commodities. However, I do enjoy reading from a guy who REALLY traveled the world. It's one thing to travel to first world countries and five star hotels.

But this is a guy who purposely goes to out way areas ... through emerging economies and civil wars. Americans of the most part are too American-centric (anyone remember when I said that I could only be friends with someone if they spent some time outside the States?). It's rather sad that we would spend so much money for a war in Iraq and most people can not find it on a map.

I can find Iraq on a map but I still have lots to learn.… (más)

I read this book to get ideas on how to invest. It turned out to be a pretty fun travel book. Jim Rogers dubbed the “Indiana Jones of Investing” decided to drive around the world in a car after doing the same thing ten years ago. Last time he went along on a motorcycle; this time he took his fiancé, got married, and spent three years pursuing this idea.

This is a multi-millionaire and while investing was one of the major reasons to go on this trip, he wants to also experience life – life as the locals live it. The list of local delicacies he ate at each country is too long to list. Though I do wonder why he ate at Applebee’s in Tucson; Applebee’s is considered local cuisine.

He candidly describes the customs and the points out the bureaucracy and corruption of the world. Particularly he hates the idea of foreign aid to countries. Foreign aid in a country just creates a generation that learns how to live in a welfare state. Furthermore, besides the corruption of leaders of other countries, there is the sadly the corruption of our own officials in particular Africa. Our tax monies are being spent on their Mercedes, security guards, and flying in people for conferences – conferences to find ways to spend the money wisely and to get even more.

This is a man with money and a lot of connections but he still had lots of troubles with access to other countries. The guy is brave; he went through several war zones as well. If anyone decides to go to a Third World Country, here some advice: bring lots of Coca-Cola, Polaroid cameras, and cigarettes.

The book is rather fast paced but honestly humorous. Some of the best parts of the book are getting a ground eye view of other countries and selling me the idea of going somewhere bolder for my next vacation.
… (más)