PHOTO COURTESY OF TYPORAMA
************
Part-memoir, part-travel guide, part-sociological case study, How the Rhino Lost His Horn is a poignant and fascination book.
************
January 13, 2026
Whitefox Publishing
************
PRAISE FOR HOW THE RHINO LOST HIS HORN:
“A skillfully written narrative that doesn’t lose sight of the wider world.” — Kirkus Reviews
“Without ever letting himself off the hook, [Rathmell] sharply captures the social dynamics of privileged Westerners who parachute into Third World countries to burnish their own self-image.” — Publishers Weekly/BookLife
Foreward Reviews calls How the Rhino Lost His Horn a "travel memoir-cum-social critique” that is “grounded in keen observations and contextualized in a crash course of history,” and Publishers Weekly’s Booklife calls it a “frank, funny memoir of a messy maturity.”
"A dazzling romp across continents and contradictions, How the Rhino Lost His Horn is as mischievous as it is thought-provoking"— Manhattan Book Review
Grounded in keen observations and contextualized in a crash course of history, the Rhino Lost His Horn is a knowledgeable, tantalizing travel memoir–cum–social critique...With layers of humor, introspection, and social observations scaffolded by historical facts and current events, How the Rhino Lost His Horn is an inviting memoir about being alive in contemporary times.” —Foreword Reviews
“Without ever letting himself off the hook, [Rathmell] sharply captures the social dynamics of privileged Westerners who parachute into Third World countries to burnish their own self-image. This frank, funny memoir of a messy maturity dissects Rathmell’s need to surpass the stifling low expectations of his community and encourages readers to find their own path out of hopelessness and stagnation.” —Publisher’s Weekly Booklife
“Rathmell presents a thought-provoking account of his time spent abroad in South Africa...Rathmell tackles both personal anecdotes and tough, timely topics—including South African and U.S. politics, tensions between different racial and socioeconomic groups, and the ethical implications of “voluntourism,” among others—with insight and moments of humor. A skillfully written personal narrative that doesn’t lose sight of the wider world.” —Kirkus Reviews
"A dazzling romp across continents and contradictions, How the Rhino Lost His Horn is as mischievous as it is thought-provoking. Jack Rathmell spins tales that sparkle with wit, satire, and a kind of reckless honesty that makes every page a delightful surprise. It’s a travelogue, a fable, and a confessional all at once: always playful, never predictable. Readers will come away grinning, pondering, and perhaps a little braver about facing the absurdities of life." —Kathryn Dare, Manhattan Book Review
“How the Rhino Lost His Horn is a compelling coming-of-age story about a young man gaining an education in life while experiencing the culture and customs of a distant country...Rathmell proves insightful in his comparison and contrast of his home country and host country. Ultimately, this is a book about getting outside your comfort zone, exploring the world, and gaining an understanding and appreciation for your global neighbors. An adventurous, humorous memoir well worth the read.” —Independent Book Review
************
ABOUT HOW THE RHINO LOST HIS HORN:
In the witty and unflinching memoir, author Jack Rathmell finds himself thrown into a backwards, lawless world of bloodthirst and betrayal—and that's just among his fellow volunteers.
But it’s the eye-opening revelations of what it truly means to be a white man going to Africa to “save the children” that knocks Jack out of his small world and into a much larger one.
Jack’s adventures in Cape Town over the next few years challenge everything he thought he knew, revealing the forces shaping both South Africa and the world at large.
Full of biting wit and self-reflective humor, How the Rhino Lost His Horn is ultimately a reckoning with the stories we tell about the world and our place in it, and the realities we must confront if we want to build something better.
************
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
No comments:
Post a Comment