The Guidebook To Killing Lions in Africa

by Graydon Baker

Inside these pages are accounts of an international mountain fiasco and political mishap, coups, wife-stealing Maasai and blood-drinking warriors, witchdoctor omens and singing rocks, nautical thieves, a church with a moat, and of course Tamin, that Goliath of a Tanzanian. These are the stories of a father passed down to his son. To be stained by Africa, written into the story of a nation; we were here. We lived, we moved, we breathed. . .we changed the world.

231 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2012

Reviews

[Samantha Adkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

A writer friend of mine leant me this book because of the powerful writing. I’m glad for his recommendation. This is Graydon Baker’s first book and is written as a kind of letter to his young son, Lukamay, to tell him about his time as a missionary in Tanzania, Africa in 2007. It is written in several forms, there are letters, journal entries and newspaper clippings. I enjoy this kind of format, maybe because I’m a history and research-lover.
Baker is a master story-teller. He is an adventurer and seems to have a kind of over-encompassing faith in people and God. He does things I certainly hope my children never do and at the end of the book he warns his son not to take these experiences as a licence to make poor decisions for himself, but rather as proof of God’s grace in his life and to make good choices in his future.
I was impressed by Baker’s honesty in sharing his mistakes. I certainly wouldn’t want to release a book to the world with such confessions, but I believe that in doing so, he has presented a much more honest and impactful look at what it is to be a missionary.
I especially enjoyed the letter he wrote to his son urging him to wait for the right woman to marry. He shared a journal entry he wrote which imagined what his someday-wife would be like, even though he didn’t know her yet. I think that is a wonderful thing to share with your child.
I did have to put the book away for a month or two near the beginning when Baker shares his story of climbing Mount Marida. What started as a day trip to the mountain, turned into several days lost on the mountain without food or water. He and his friend Byron keep pressing on when it was obvious they were not prepared. I became angry with Baker for taking such a risk. Having grown up in the Rocky Mountains, I heard too many stories and experienced school mates dying on mountains because they were not prepared, but I’m glad I picked up the book again. I had thought Baker was being glib about his crazy decisions, but I later saw he regretted his choices but used the story to show God’s grace.
I recommend this book to anyone interested in Africa or missionaries or to those who just enjoy hearing a well-told story.

[Dale Elliott · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book after Graydon Baker spoke at my home church a couple years ago. At that time, I read 4-5 chapters and for some reason or other, never finished it. This is pretty common for me as I've started many a book and not finished them, silly i know. However, Graydon was back to speak at church this summer and this re-ignited my interest in reading his book. On my second attempt, I couldn't put it down and read it over a weekend...which is quick reading for me. I am still weeks later in a state of wonder over the many stories told in this letter to Lukumay. Gray has such an incredibly great gift in painting word pictures and crafting tales that one can only dream of. Next summer in July 2018, a team of fourteen of us are heading to Tanzania to help Graydon in the work he and his family are doing there and I look forward to the adventures ahead!

[Zachariah Kenney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gripping missionary story. I discuss it in more detail on my blog.

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