Going Abroad

An inveterate traveler who enjoys hiking and kayaking, Gordon has done field research in Namibia, Lesotho, South Africa, and Papua New Guinea. He is Professor of Anthropology and author of several books including The Bushman Myth, and recently coedited Tarzan was an Eco-tourist.

Going Abroad: Traveling Like an Anthropologist is a treasure-trove of valuable information provided by a true expert. Whether your destination is an encampment on the outskirts of Lagos or a sophisticated European city or a tangled Amazonian jungle, you will get vastly more from the experience (and survive it, too, if you're going somewhere risky) if you read this book before setting out. I wish I'd had the benefit of Gordon's information before, rather than after, I went naively overseas and managed to get myself involved in a couple of civil wars. And if splendid, well-considered information isn't enough, this book is unfailingly fun to read. I recommend it very strongly. -Elizabeth Marshall Thomas, Author of The Social Lives of Dogs and Tribe of the Tiger “Full of pithy quotations, unusual observations, and culturally sensitive wisdom, Going Abroad is a great resource for the armchair traveler. But it’s essential reading for those who want to learn about themselves and others as they venture into foreign lands. Packed with practical advice on everything from the multiple uses of condoms to boxing muggers ears, Gordon’s book surprises, delights, and educates. Don’t leave home without it!” -Mark Pendergrast, author of Uncommon Grounds: The History of Coffee and How It Transformed Our World “Part Philosophical primer and part practical guide, Going Abroad is a truly unusual and wonderful book. Written for those interested in “deep travel,” it brings a highly imaginative anthropological sensibility to the experience of modern tourism: to encounters with other places and other peoples that seek to go beyond the superficial, the stereotypical, the sugar-coated. Robert Gordon urges us to go abroad not just to consume “otherness,” but to engage – with the proper mix of critique and humility – in the sorts of exchanges that enable us to know both ourselves and others in new ways. This is a compelling read for anyone seriously interested in acquiring a deeper knowledge of the world at large.” -John Comaroff, Professor of Anthropology, The University of Chicago

• Introduction; Part 1 Disorientation; Chapter 1 That Beast Called the Anthropological Perspective; Chapter 2 Why We Go Abroad; Chapter 3 To See Ourselves; Chapter 4 Traveling Rituals and Personal Transformation; Chapter 5 How to Read a Travel Brochure; Part 2 The Nitty-Gritty of Travel; Chapter 6 Planning the Trip; Chapter 7 Traveling Light (and a Rant about Electronic Technology); Chapter 8 Schmoozing with Locals; Chapter 9 Health and Safety Issues; Chapter 10 On Developing the Ability to Tell Good Stories;