How the Rhino Lost His Horn: Cautionary Tales from Appalachia to Africa

by Jack Rathmell

Growing up, Jack had heard all about the supposed virtues of the modern world. Connectivity, convenience. But from where he stands in small-town America, those promises ring hollow. With college (and a lifetime of debt) looming, he goes with the oldest trick in the quarter-life-crisis-haver's If in doubt, go to Africa to save the children. What could go wrong?
Quite a bit, it turns out. In Cape Town, he's thrown into a backwards, lawless world, one of bloodthirst and betrayal - and that's just among his fellow volunteers. (The local wildlife, meanwhile, don't turn out to be much more welcoming.)
Yet something about this place keeps pulling him back. Jack's adventures over the next few years challenge everything he thought he knew, revealing the forces shaping both South Africa and the world at large.

Genres: Nonfiction

398 pages, Paperback

Published January 13, 2026

Reviews

[Travel Books and Movies · Rating 3 out of 5]

In How the Rhino Lost Its Horn, Jack Rathmell reflects on his time in South Africa, both as a volunteer and as a student, offering a personal account of travel, growth, and self-discovery. His stories certainly brought me back to my own younger adventures—those moments of being brave, carefree, and willing to leap into unfamiliar places without fully understanding what lay ahead. (And all of the fun characters you meet along the way...)

The book weaves together observations on travel, politics, class, and racism, and while these insights are often thoughtful, they were sometimes difficult to follow. I didn’t always feel confident that I fully understood the author’s point, which occasionally pulled me out of the narrative. That said, Rathmell excels at description, painting vivid portraits of his life in South Africa and the people he encountered, from locals to fellow travelers.

This is a reflective, sometimes challenging read that will resonate most with readers interested in travel memoirs that grapple with complex social issues, even if the execution isn’t always perfectly clear.

Title: How the Rhino Lost Its Horn
Author: Jack Rathmell
Genre: Memoir / Travel Writing
Setting: South Africa
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2 (rounded down)

**I was given a free version of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley and Mindbuck Media.

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

A memoir/travelogue by the author of his experience in South Africa. The author not only told stories of his travels and who he meets and what he has seen/experienced, but also the history, the politics and the social issues. I was very keen on reading this book as I recently visited South Africa myself and loved the country. I was rather disappointed with some aspects because it was quite hard to read and follow as it details a lot about the politics and social situation rather than a usual travelogue. But nonetheless, it was quite interesting to read about all the fascinating people he met along the way.

I received an ARC from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

[Winona · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Whitefox Publishing, NetGalley and author Jack Rathmell for this eARC.

As someone who was also volunteering in South Africa around the same time this was such an interesting read. How the same places/activities are experienced and viewed very differently by different people and other things are exactly the same. It was so interesting seeing the country and places through someone else’s eyes.
Rathmell reflects on politics and social issues influenced by South Africas history but also in regards to the world.
At some point we kinda jump around which felt a bit jarring and took me out of the narrative.
All in all a worthy read, especially if you enjoy traveling or have spent time in South Africa

[The Sassy Bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Review: How The Rhino Lost His Horn by Jack Rathmell

Rating: 4 Stars

I recently finished How The Rhino Lost His Horn by Jack Rathmell, and I have to say, it’s a compelling and thoughtful travel memoir that earned a solid four stars from me. The book chronicles Jack’s journey from small-town America to South Africa, sparked by a classic quarter-life crisis and the idealistic urge to make a difference. Facing the pressure of college debt and searching for purpose, he heads to Cape Town with the hope of helping children, only to find himself immersed in a far more complex and sometimes harsh reality than he anticipated.

What makes this story stand out is how Jack doesn’t shy away from exposing the contradictions and challenges of his experience. The “modern world” virtues he once believed in — connectivity, convenience, progress — seem distant and hollow compared to the raw and often chaotic environment he encounters in South Africa. From navigating the fraught dynamics among volunteers to dealing with the unpredictable local wildlife, Jack’s adventures force him to reconsider his assumptions about the world, privilege, and identity.

The narrative is enriched by Rathmell’s vivid descriptions and honest reflections. His writing style is accessible and engaging, making the reader feel like they’re right there beside him, experiencing both the beauty and the difficulties of life in South Africa. The book thoughtfully explores themes like politics, race, and class without ever feeling preachy or detached. For anyone who enjoys travel memoirs with a dose of social commentary and personal growth, this is definitely worth a read.

Also, I can’t help but mention the book’s cover — it’s absolutely delightful and really caught my eye. It’s one of those covers that perfectly captures the spirit of adventure and introspection that runs throughout the book.

Overall, How The Rhino Lost His Horn is a nuanced and heartfelt account of a young man’s journey through unfamiliar territory — geographically and emotionally. While it might not be perfect in every regard, its honesty and vivid storytelling make it a memorable read that will stick with you long after you turn the last page.

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

[andy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot recommend enough Jack’s debut book, How the Rhino Lost His Horn. It is a wonderful read and an impressive introduction to him as an author.

What I kept coming back to as I read was the limiting hold the concept of genre has on the way we approach books. The problem is that reality itself is complex and difficult, so we have a natural tendency to simplify and categorize. We say this book is a western and that one is a mystery, but how do we reconcile this genre obsession with the great works of literature? What genre is The Iliad? What genre is the Bible? What genre is War and Peace? The books that endure transcend these labels because they touch on something universal about the human experience.

Although I would love to already place Jack’s name next to Homer, I say this not to do so but to explain why I worry this book won’t get the credit it deserves in a world that will try to label him simply as a travel writer. Readers expecting just a travel book will be surprised to discover the philosophy and political commentary it contains, not to mention the welcome and constant humor.

One prominent reviewer described it as a travel memoir that grapples with complex social issues. But that phrase should be redundant. It is impossible to write something meaningful about your travels and not grapple with complex social issues. Every place we visit has its own history, context, and tensions, and we inevitably compare those realities with our own. That can lead to the friction and funny mix-ups that any travel story might tell, but this book connects those moments to something deeper: the recognition of a shared human spirit that links places as far apart as Cape Town and Lancaster, PA.

If we are going to insist on genres and call this a travel memoir, then it is an excellent one because it explores the old idea that sometimes you have to walk a thousand miles to travel a single step. It is the dialectic of outward motion generating inward growth. This is the process of reflection that sharpens our perspective and makes us more human. This is what makes travel worth writing about.

In How the Rhino Lost His Horn, Jack writes powerfully about his travels because he understands this intrinsic desire within all our journeys. So if you want to think on these ideas and laugh in the meantime, go get your hands on the book now.

[Chloe · Rating 1 out of 5]

Unfortunate DNF. I was really looking forward to this one and love the cover.

This wasn't necessarily badly written but one paragraph in particular left such a bad taste in my mouth that I had no interest in continuing.

To set the scene, Jack and friends are at a restaurant where you could watch the "bonneted black women" picking fruit in the field:
"I noticed several of the workers were more lethargic than others - one woman in particular, was remarkably so. After watching her enjoy several minutes of rest, this started to rub me up the wrong way. As a paying customer, I felt affronted. (When in Rome, I guess), She didn't even respect us enough to even try to look busy". (for more context, this wasn't even a woman, it turned out to be a scarecrow).

Sir, did you visit South Africa to broaden your horizons or to feel "superior" as a white American? The audacity.

Unrelated to the book but on his Instagram he proudly announces that he doesn't believe audiobooks count as reading "but it's better then nothing so we shouldn't stop on his account" and also that a common misconception about South Africa is that "it's a land of mud huts"...wow.

*ARC received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

[Shireen · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Part travelogue, part autobiography, and all heart is how I would describe this book. I highly recommend this book if you're a fan of armchair travel and need a good chuckle reading about a hapless American teenager navigating ex-pat life in South Africa. I found myself laughing out loud during certain parts because the author has such a knack for describing events with a deadpan, somewhat dark humour. I lived overseas for several years in a couple countries VASTLY different to my own home culture, so I can perfectly relate to these stories of miscommunications, sweet interactions, and "how-did-I-actually-survive-that?" near-misses that can occur as a foreigner living immersed in another country.

Thanks to NetGalley, author Jack Rathmell, and Whitefox Publishing for granting me access to a free digital ARC of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own and are provided here voluntarily.

[Rebecca Thatcher-Murcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full disclosure, my son and Jack Rathmell go way back, and I have been hearing about this book being in the works for a few years. But all my son’s excitement and rave reviews did not prepare me for how very funny and also very thoughtful I found How the Rhino Lost His Horn to be. I usually don’t read books in three days, but this fascinating memoir rockets wildly between life-threatening episodes, interesting insights, and contemplative commentary on our modern world and its many dilemmas. I wrote a travel memoir when I was older and had more writing experience, but I did have the courage or the introspection Rathmell shows at a fairly young age. I congratulate Rathmell on a remarkable achievement.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read How the Rhino Lost His Horn on flights to my tournaments and caught myself laughing out loud more than once. It’s full of adventure, travel stories, and is very easy to read. As someone who lives abroad I found it relatable and inspiring. Mixed in are some surprisingly thoughtful reflections about people, places, and what you carry with you after you leave. A fun, honest, and really enjoyable read that I highly recommend, but only if you like to laugh. Looking forward to reading more from Jack!

[AR bee · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fairly good first book, written as an American student’s personal recollections of the area and cultural dichotomy of Cape Town, South Africa. There is reasonably good flow to the narrative, though disjointed and rambling at times.

[Jessie Peitsch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really great read! While this book dives deep into today’s social issue, it will also have you laughing out loud. Highly recommend!