Dear Colleagues and Fellow Writers from Around the World, After a quick update on the cover for my next book, My Saddest Pleasures, I’ll provide my take on the growing cost of war and what we can do about it in Culture Watch. What We’re Reading and Why will be a twofer— with a recent article How Scammers Impact Writers as well as the latest book I reviewed and then What Others Are Saying, plus an updated Calendar. While we wait for the Library of Congress Number for Peace Corps Writers to begin publishing my book, here’s the first draft […]
Continue readingSir Vidia’s Shadow: A Friendship Across Five Continents by Paul Theroux, Reviewed by Mark D. Walker
One of the joys of reviewing books is getting to know fellow writers, which is why I selected this book, as I admire both writers. Paul Theroux’s Sir Vidia’s Shadow is one of the most intimate, unsettling, and revealing portraits of a literary friendship. It is a study in mentorship, ambition, ego, and the corrosive effects of genius on human relationships. The book traces Theroux’s thirty‑one‑year relationship with V. S. Naipaul—beginning in a University in Kampala in the mid‑1960s, when Theroux was a young Peace Corps teacher, and Naipaul was already a rising star—and follows its evolution through admiration, dependence, […]
Continue readingThe Village of Waiting by George Packer, Reviewed by Mark D. Walker
I first came across Packer from his cover story “The Valley,”—the second-longest that The Atlantic published in the past 40 years, in which he provides a kaleidoscopic view of the precarious political and physical ecology of Phoenix regarding climate change, which meant a lot to me in the summer of 2024 as we were suffering record-breaking, triple-digit temperatures. I had no idea he was a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer until a fellow PCV (Peace Corps Volunteer) serving in Togo gave me a heads-up. When I started reading his memoir, I realized it was ideal for the Million Mile Walker Review. […]
Continue readingShelter, Service & the Next Chapter in Life, The Million Mile Walker Dispatch, April Edition 2026
Dear Colleagues and Fellow Writers from Around the World, Downsizing from an abode of more than 30 years is a challenge at best, and we’re in the middle of that journey—here’s what we’ve learned so far. It’s also an ideal opportunity to reflect on where we’ve been and where we’re going. In Culture Watch, I’ll tell a story that illustrates housing inequality in Phoenix; then What We’re Reading and Why will highlight the books I’ve donated and why; then What Others Are Saying, plus an updated Calendar. Downsizing from a home of 30-plus years can be a slog. It’s also […]
Continue readingAsian Trail Mix: True Tales from Borneo to Japan by Eric Madeen, Reviewed by Mark D. Walker
As a fellow Returned Peace Corps Volunteer author, I’ve read, enjoyed, and reviewed several of Madeen’s books. “True Tales from Borneo to Japan” caught my attention since Borneo was the first site the Peace Corps offered me, although when I applied, all slots were filled, so I followed his trail. Also, I became aware of his appreciation for Joseph Conrad and shared his fascination with “The Heart of Darkness.” I appreciated Madeen’s deliberate retracing of Conrad’s footsteps. In the opening chapter, In Conrad’s Wake, Madeen travels from Singapore to Berau in Kalimantan (Borneo), a reminder of Conrad’s seafaring voyages. He […]
Continue readingMy Favorite Authors, Books & Charities for 2025 Million Mile Walker Dispatch December Edition
Dear Colleagues and Fellow Writers from Around the World, As a travel writer reflecting on some of the highlights of the year, I must share the story of my best trip abroad, the best charities and associations I’m involved with, the best books I’ve reviewed, as well as What Others Are Saying and an updated Calendar. Chris Wurst of “SoftPower” “FulStories” and his team provided the artwork and music to accompany my interview, which exceeded my expectations and included some stories even my kids hadn’t heard. I appreciated Chris’s patience as he interviewed me twice because he didn’t like […]
Continue readingSouth American Handbook, Editors Daniel Austin and Ben Box, Reviewed by Mark D. Walker
A century-old travel companion is worth celebrating — especially one that shaped my five-month journey through Latin America in 1973. The South American Handbook just released its Centenary Edition (2025), marking over 100 years as the longest-running English‑language travel guide. Few travel books can claim to have shaped the lives of generations of wanderlust trekkers. Fewer still can say they have done so for more than a century. The South American Handbook—first published in 1921 and now celebrating its 100th anniversary edition under the stewardship of Daniel Austin and Ben Box—belongs to that rare lineage of books that are […]
Continue readingSeparation of Church and Hate by John Fugelsang, Reviewed by Mark D. Walker
John Fugelsang’s Separation of Church and Hate is not just a book—it’s a reckoning. With the wit of a stand-up comic (with swearing), the soul of a preacher’s kid, and the fire of a political dissident, Fugelsang delivers a passionate and personal critique of how far-right ideologues have weaponized Christianity. Timed perfectly for the upcoming No Kings Day—a celebration of democratic humility and spiritual integrity, this book is a rallying cry for reclaiming faith from fear. When I first heard Fugelsang, I was leery of his swearing but impressed with his wit and insights into the changes swirling around […]
Continue readingHustle: The Making of a Freelance Writer by Lawrence Grobel, Reviewed by Mark D. Walker
With over 4 million books being published each year, people are reading less; the consolidation of the publishing industry focuses on the bottom line (sales), and now, with the introduction of AI, freelance writing is more challenging than ever. Lawrence Grobel’s book is a sweeping retrospective of a career spanning six decades, 30-plus books, and hundreds of magazine articles. More than a memoir, it is a blueprint for survival in the precarious world of freelancing. Grobel’s reflections are candid, instructive, and deeply human, offering aspiring writers a rare glimpse into the craft and lifestyle of one of journalism’s most accomplished […]
Continue readingSurprises at the Arizona Authors Association Literary Conest & My “SoftPower” Interview Drops This Month; The Million Mile Walker Dispatch, December Edition
Dear Colleagues and Fellow Writers from Around the World, I have some compelling stories of the Arizona Authors Association Contest, what I heard when listening to my “SoftPower” interview and an update on My Saddest Pleasures. A heads up on the impact of financial inequality in the U.S. in Culture Watch a new book and movie review in What We’re Reading and Viewing and Why a few inspirational quotes in What Others Are Saying plus an updated Calendar. But first, as “Giving Tuesday” which was established to encourage generosity and community giving around the world is upon us, let’s make […]
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