Dust, Tea, Dingoes and Dragons: Adventures in Culture, Cuisine and Commerce from a Globe-Trekking Executive

by R.F. Hemphill

Jet lag, boardrooms, and high-pressure deals.

That’s what international business brings to mind.

But this book will make you think again.

It shares a series of letters sent to the author’s father during his decade of traveling the world, building a billion-dollar power company. Hemphill illuminates the always practical, sometimes poignant, and often humorous things that happen as we connect and business somehow gets done.

“If they served you camel hooves for dinner, and you didn’t know it until you asked, what part of the camel did you have for breakfast?”

“In Islamabad hotels, you must sign a form certifying that you are an infidel and will assuredly go to hell, in order to get room service to bring you a drink. Is this form binding if you die outside of Pakistan?”

“Can you really claim to be in the movie industry if you don’t dress all in black, have a small pony tail, wear an earring, have an idea for a screen play, and harbor a desire to meet Meryl Streep?”

“Cinemas in the Czech Republic serve bacon-flavored popcorn. Why can’t we get that in the US? It’s even better than cheese-flavored popcorn. The whole movie theater smells like breakfast.”

Millions of people around the world travel for business. But how many of us take the time to truly appreciate what we observe and experience?

Dust Tea, Dingoes, & Dragons is a lesson in the meshing of cultures, the diplomacy of building business relationships, and, ultimately, of surviving to tell the tale.

And it’s darn funny, too.

336 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2014

Reviews

[Ellie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a compilation of witty humor laced with professional information via a collection of letters culled from author R.F. Hemphill's years of globetrotting and business experience. His unique perspectives on the little heard side of executive foreign travel will make readers think twice before making assumptions about the "perks" of white collar business travel. From dining hazards in China to dirty jobs in coal-burning plants to camel riding and a very interesting Christmas in India, this book has a bit of everything. The mindful reader will pick up useful tips on becoming a venture capitalist, movie producer, and what to expect while being a tourist in France (according to Hemphill the stereotypes are painfully true). This book will appeal to anyone who has traveled to other countries for business on whirlwind trips so packed with meetings and plane rides that one hardly even knows they have arrived before it is time to leave. Likewise, it will also appeal to anyone with an appreciation for the quirks and whims of spending time outside their home country and the benefits of not taking things too seriously, particularly when plans do not go as expected.

I found myself engrossed for the majority of the book though at times the business parts were difficult to relate to and I found my mind wandering a little, hence the three versus four star rating. Overall it is fun, easy reading that would make a great accompaniment to any business flight, and especially any international ventures. Chances are readers will find themselves laughing and nodding along as Hemphill's adventures stir up memories of their own and perhaps inspire a like-minded sequel.

[Marti Rosenberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of great humorous advice in these pages!
Would have been even better with photos!

[Katarina · Rating 2 out of 5]

I usually love travel memoirs, especially if they are witty and make me laugh.

Unfortunately, this book fell flat for me. I read about 20% but did not finish. There were too many parts describing the business, and only short glimpses into adventures with other cultures, which is the part I was really looking for. I found myself losing interest, when the description of the power plants or whatever they were, were getting too long.

I just noticed that this book has all 4 and 5 star reviews on amazon, so obviously this is a book that appeals to many. And maybe it gets hilarious after the first 20%, and maybe I should have given it more of a chance...Either way, this is my honest opinion: it fell flat for me.

[Lebissonette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny, insightful, and surprisingly deep. R. F. Hemphill is the Anthony Bourdain of the power industry. He traveled the world developing power plants in far flung places and in the process he explored unique cultures, saw fabulous sites, and ate amazing foods. His stories have great insight and he finds humor in the absurdities that occur when pushing the limits of developing new business in new places. The individual stories are delightful and amusing and you will find that you remember the individual stories and the characters described as indelible memories for years to come.

[Drtaxsacto · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to get an advance copy of this. Hemphill helped to start a global company and this is the story of his role in that process. But it is told in a delightful way. The format is a series of letters back to his family explaining the ways of business in far flung places. This is the Harvard Business Review without the pretentions and with a wonderful sense of time and place. The book is also a set of marvelous (and some not so marvelous) puns. Think of Innocents Abroad brought up to date. Lots of fun.

[Kasey Cocoa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting format with a dose of humor. Written intelligently and edited very well. If you are interested in business related information in a unique format, this just may be for you. Review by Matt. ARC provided through Strategies in exchange for an honest review.

[Vicky Kern · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the author's dry wit. His stories about his overseas business adventures were entertaining and educational!

[Kimberly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book. There were definitely some humorous anecdotes sprinkled throughout and parts were enjoyable, but over all I found more of it a little dry rather than entertaining.