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Sitting with Elephants: Lessons in Humility from the African Bush, Enhanced and Expanded Second Edition
A professor of communication and strategy reveals deep lessons from life in the African bush.
Sitting with Elephants is a heartfelt memoir that follows a middle-aged American professor and his wife as they trade suburban life for a remote bush house in South Africa. What begins as a spontaneous decision becomes a life-changing experience—one shaped by lions at the backdoor, baboons in the rafters, and above all, a herd of elephants who frequent their yard like neighbors.
Told through a series of emails to their adult children and brought to life by vivid illustrations from Abbey Ndlovu, Ronald Dulek’s narrative explores the profound lessons nature patience, humility, and deep respect for the wild. As the couple learns to communicate with elephants and navigate the rhythms of bush life, they also reflect on the unexpected beauty of slowing down and embracing the unknown.
Blending lighthearted anecdotes with moments of quiet insight, Sitting with Elephants invites readers into a story of transformation—both personal and environmental. This second edition includes expanded content with new stories and reflections, offering a deeper look into the couple’s unforgettable time in the African bush.
Sitting with Elephants is a heartfelt memoir that follows a middle-aged American professor and his wife as they trade suburban life for a remote bush house in South Africa. What begins as a spontaneous decision becomes a life-changing experience—one shaped by lions at the backdoor, baboons in the rafters, and above all, a herd of elephants who frequent their yard like neighbors.
Told through a series of emails to their adult children and brought to life by vivid illustrations from Abbey Ndlovu, Ronald Dulek’s narrative explores the profound lessons nature patience, humility, and deep respect for the wild. As the couple learns to communicate with elephants and navigate the rhythms of bush life, they also reflect on the unexpected beauty of slowing down and embracing the unknown.
Blending lighthearted anecdotes with moments of quiet insight, Sitting with Elephants invites readers into a story of transformation—both personal and environmental. This second edition includes expanded content with new stories and reflections, offering a deeper look into the couple’s unforgettable time in the African bush.
244 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 15, 2026
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May 24, 2026
Sitting with Elephants: Lessons in Humility from the African Bush by Ronald E. Dulek appears to be a warm, reflective, and deeply engaging memoir that blends personal transformation with a profound appreciation for the natural world.
One of the book’s most compelling strengths is its immersive setting within the African bush. The idea of leaving behind suburban American life to embrace the rhythms and unpredictability of remote bush living creates an immediately fascinating and emotionally rich premise.
The relationship between the couple and the elephants also appears especially memorable. Through moments of observation, coexistence, and quiet communication with the wildlife around them, the memoir seems to explore themes of humility, patience, respect, and connection in ways that feel both heartfelt and authentic.
Another especially appealing aspect is the book’s balance between lighthearted storytelling and meaningful reflection. Encounters with lions, baboons, and elephants appear to provide both humor and emotional depth while reinforcing the transformative impact of living closely with nature.
The inclusion of personal emails to their children and illustrations by Abbey Ndlovu also seems likely to give the narrative an intimate and visually engaging quality that enhances the memoir’s warmth and accessibility.
For readers interested in memoirs, wildlife, travel, personal growth, and stories of human connection with nature, Sitting with Elephants promises to offer an inspiring and memorable reading experience.
One of the book’s most compelling strengths is its immersive setting within the African bush. The idea of leaving behind suburban American life to embrace the rhythms and unpredictability of remote bush living creates an immediately fascinating and emotionally rich premise.
The relationship between the couple and the elephants also appears especially memorable. Through moments of observation, coexistence, and quiet communication with the wildlife around them, the memoir seems to explore themes of humility, patience, respect, and connection in ways that feel both heartfelt and authentic.
Another especially appealing aspect is the book’s balance between lighthearted storytelling and meaningful reflection. Encounters with lions, baboons, and elephants appear to provide both humor and emotional depth while reinforcing the transformative impact of living closely with nature.
The inclusion of personal emails to their children and illustrations by Abbey Ndlovu also seems likely to give the narrative an intimate and visually engaging quality that enhances the memoir’s warmth and accessibility.
For readers interested in memoirs, wildlife, travel, personal growth, and stories of human connection with nature, Sitting with Elephants promises to offer an inspiring and memorable reading experience.
Displaying 1 of 1 review