Absurdistan

by R. Lee Wright

Readers can vicariously live for a year in Eastern Europe through the eyes of an American professor working in "Absurdistan." With a rare blend of humor and insight, Professor Wright shares a year of teaching at universities in "Absurdistan," the name given to former Czechoslovakia by its citizens. His job was to help universities overcome the last seventy years of communist propaganda. This true story is a "tongue-in-cheek" look at the people, history, and geography of Eastern Europe. Become acquainted with Dr. Wright's castle, village, university, and neighbors. Learn the true meaning of "Eastern European Time," and the correct way to mime kitty litter. See if you can survive the alternately hilarious and tragic daily life. In turn funny and sad, Dr. Wright combines mordant insights into the human condition with truly touching stories of local citizens. His incisive wit takes on politics, religion, language, and history, with equal opportunity barbs. He lives in an ancient stone cottage just outside the ruins of a castle destroyed by Napoleon, in a genuine "quaint little village" with no telephone. He rides the same trolleys as the local people. He eats the same food, and shops in the same bazaars. Astoundingly, he survives a year without TV, the internet, or even a golf course. Twenty-four photos add a rare glimpse into the lives, people, and countries of Eastern Europe. The captions alone are worth the price of the book.

191 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2005

Reviews

[Alex Nagler · Rating 2 out of 5]

Frist book of 2011. Mom got it for me by accident (I meant the other Absurdistan). The tale of a professor's life in the former Soviet Russia. Some witty anecdotes, but I don't feel it was enough to fuel an entire piece.