Looking for inspiring international reading? It’s no secret that Peace Corps volunteers have amazing stories to tell or be inspired by their service. no two Peace Corps volunteers have the same experience, even when serving in the same country. Combine that with the ever-changing nature of the Peace Corps as an agency and advances in developing countries, and you’ve got a nearly endless supply of unique international book reading.
So, whether you’re an aspiring Peace Corps Volunteer, a returning Peace Corps Volunteer, or an armchair traveler, we’ve got some great Peace Corps-related story recommendations for you.
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Hello! Looking for a Peace Corps reading? I have written a series of novels, messages, which were inspired, in part, by my service in panama. You can download it for free if you have Kindle Unlimited, or buy it for a few bucks on Amazon. your support means a lot 😊
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10 books about the peace corps
It took us a long time to compile this list; There is a plethora of excellent reading directly related to, or inspired by, the Peace Corps.
Speaking of which, this list contains a mix of fiction and non-fiction Peace Corps books to give you a more comprehensive option.
Are you an aspiring Peace Corps Volunteer? you’ll find a practical guide among many other stories to help you prepare (…more or less…there’s no way to fully prepare) for service.
Are you a returning Peace Corps volunteer? You’re sure to relate to everyone’s story in some way (who hasn’t tried a seemingly inedible type of food in their Peace Corps community? of peace?). And, just maybe, when there are the inevitable divergences, you’ll be inspired to write your own story.
armchair travellers, we’ve got you too. let’s face it; The Peace Corps is not for everyone. With the possible exception of the manual, anyone with no Peace Corps experience can enjoy these books as much as any volunteer.
But I’m sure you’re tired of hearing us blather. So, let’s move on to ten books we recommend about the Peace Corps.
Monique and the Mango Rains
author: kris holloway
category: memories
Peace Corps service: 1989 – 1991 (mali)
monique and the mango rains is a beautifully written account of holloway’s friendship and work with midwife monique dembele in their peace corps community in mali, west africa. In this memoir, Holloway describes Dembele’s passion and efforts to advocate for birth control, stopping the practice of female genital mutilation, and women’s rights to an education and wages, among many other issues. Monique and the Mango Rains is a critically acclaimed work used in the curriculum of over 150 colleges and universities.
buy monique and the mango rains on amazon
first comes love, then comes malaria
author: eve brown-waite
category: memories
years of service in the peace corps: 1988 (ecuador)
first comes love, then comes malaria is a memoir in which brown-waite provides a witty and moving account of his time in the peace corps in ecuador (cut short for medical reasons) followed by his return to I know. uu. To date your Peace Corps recruiter. The book follows her and John, who is now her husband, around the world as she tries to find her place and do good in foreign rural lands. brown-waite is a brilliant storyteller and will make you laugh, cry and think, in many cases, at the same time.
shop first comes love, then comes malaria on amazon
when the world calls
author: stanley meisler
category: nonfiction story
Years of Peace Corps Service: Meisler worked as a Peace Corps Administrator
History buffs are sure to appreciate this in-depth look at the first fifty years of the Peace Corps. When the World Calls highlights how the Peace Corps was formed, how different presidents affected the agency’s ability to function, and the challenges Peace Corps volunteers experience in their host countries. This book is by far the most detailed piece of literature currently on the market about the history of the Peace Corps.
shop when the world calls amazon
town of the river
author: peter hessler
category: memories
years of service in the peace corps: 1996 – 1998 (china)
In this award-winning memoir, New York Times bestselling author Hessler details his experiences living in his Chinese Peace Corps town in the late 1990s. Hessler, sent to teach English and American literature at a university in fuling, he describes the challenges, achievements, and relationships that were formed along the way in river town. he also explores what it was like to live in a city that hadn’t had an American resident in over fifty years.
buy river town on amazon
depends
author: kelly branyik
category: manual
years of service in the peace corps: 2014 – 2016 (china)
It depends is both a book and a phrase that epitomizes the Peace Corps volunteer experience; no two services are exactly alike. In this manual, Branyik explains the Peace Corps application process, what to expect (moderately) from the service itself, and what to expect after the service. This is one of the most recent non-fiction works on the current Peace Corps service, though keep in mind that the Peace Corps process and policies are constantly changing.
purchase depends on amazon
kilometer 99
author: tyler mcmahon
category: novel
years of service in the peace corps: 1999 – 2002 (el salvador)
kilometer 99 is a contemporary novel set in el salvador. It follows the story of Malia, a Peace Corps volunteer working on an aqueduct project in her community who meets an American surfer, Ben, in the vicinity of Liberty. After an earthquake, Malia and Ben plan to travel across South America…until they’re convinced to stay by the arrival of a mysterious new surfer. kilometer 99 is a great read for those seeking Peace Corps fiction.
buy kilometer 99 on amazon
not exactly retired
author: david jarmul
category: memories
years of service in the peace corps: 1977 – 1979 (nepal) & 2016 – 2018 (Moldova)
Not Exactly Retired is a fascinating look at author David Jarmul’s second adventure as a Peace Corps volunteer. He talks about his experience as a volunteer in Moldova, with his wife, Champa, both in their sixties. He also shares other offbeat travel adventures they have, particularly in Nepal. Not Exactly Retired is an excellent book for people nearing retirement age who are considering joining the Peace Corps or simply looking for an international travel adventure outside of the resorts and other traditional comforts.
See Also: Dental Billing And Coding – Dental Coding Courses And Training – AAPC
purchase not exactly withdrawn on amazon
Living on the Edge: Fiction by Peace Corps Writers
author: 17 Returned Peace Corps Volunteers
category: fiction story
Years of Peace Corps service: a variety of years and countries served
It seems safe to say that most Peace Corps books are in the form of memoirs, but living on the edge alters this. In this book, seventeen former Peace Corps volunteers share short fictional stories that were inspired by their time in service. each story has its own tone and style, making it a great way to find the authors you connect with the most so you can search for other work they’ve published.
buy living on the edge: fiction from peace corps writers on amazon
the vodka diaries
author: richard sayette
category: memories
years of service in the peace corps: 1994 – 1995 (russia)
run with and from the mob, anyone? The Vodka Diaries is a humorous and thought-provoking memoir of Sayette’s Peace Corps service in Russia. She worked in a community near the borders of China and North Korea and talks about her observations and experiences at a time when Russia began to dabble in the concept of a more open society.
buy the vodka diaries on amazon
messages for jake
author: laura ann neuleo
category: novel
years of service in the peace corps: 2010 – 2013 (panama)
transparency note: the series of messages was written by laura, the founder of a travel piece.
messages for jake is a romance novel that follows a Peace Corps volunteer living in a Panamanian jungle town. Inspired, in part, by the Neuleo Peace Corps experience in Panama, Messages for Jake is the first book in the Messages series. Packed with humor, characters who will feel like friends, and, of course, love, the message series explores what happens when a rural community is confronted with HIV, the drug trade, and the advent of modern conveniences.
buy messages for jake on amazon
resources for books on the peace corps
Looking forward to reading more Peace Corps books? the following resources will help you.
peace corps blogs
Reading the blogs of other Peace Corps volunteers is a great way to get an idea of what life is like as a volunteer. We’ve compiled a list of 155 Peace Corps blogs, organized by country, to get you started.
peace corps around the world
peace corps worldwide publishes books, short stories, and other literary works by current and former peace corps volunteers. You can see their list of books here, which are categorized by experience books, books that have received Peace Corps Writers Awards, and books published by Peace Corps writers.
good reads
goodreads has compiled a list of over sixty books on the Peace Corps. many books have hundreds of ratings, and in some cases even thousands. its recommended list is updated every five minutes, taking into account the latest reviews. you can see the list here.
what are your favorite books about the peace corps?
There are hundreds, if not thousands, of books written and inspired by the Peace Corps. We’d love to hear about your favorite books that have a Peace Corps theme and/or authors who are former Peace Corps volunteers.
Go ahead and leave a comment. We look forward to hearing (and reading) what you have to share!