Silly Isles

by Eric Campbell

From the bestselling author of Absurdistan, a hilarious tour through small but very strange places. No man is an island. But lots of strange men live on them.

In the Kurils, off northern Japan, World War II is still being fought between Japan and Russia, both hell-bent on claiming this tiny island group as their territory. The Galapagos Islands may be home to some of the world's most astonishing flora and fauna but it's also home to Ecuador's gerrymander ambitions and has the tear gas, riots and police barricades to prove it. Iceland, the world's 'purest' genetic community, is a place where everyone is blonde, beautiful - and thoroughly in-bred as a result of zero immigration. And in Spitzbergen, residents can choose to live in the neat and tidy, polar-bear hunting Norwegian half or in the mountain of garbage, rust and dysfunction that is the Soviet half.

In more than a decade of international reporting, Eric Campbell has covered wars, famines, presidencies, and revolution. In the islands he surveys here he finds microcosms of society, complete with long-lasting blood feuds, hidden wars, bizarre histories; all the vanities, hopes and rivalries of great powers. Wry, witty and clever, with a wonderful eye for the absurd, Eric Campbell is the Bill Bryson of the small, odd forgotten places around the world and what they tell us about the human condition.

Genres: Nonfiction

318 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 1, 2017

About the author

ABC Journalist and Foreign Correspondent

Reviews

[Eliot Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. Campbell is a wonderful writer; he manages to pack a truckload of history- be it political or social - into succinct chapters. He gives meaning and context to these far away places you hear about but rarely know much about. He is a funny bugger as well. Like in Absurdistan, you get a wonderful insight into 'life on the road.' Love the sly comments about climate change denialists. Sock it to em.

[Margaret Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been a fan of Eric Campbell's reports on Foreign Correspondent (ABC television) for years and this book was just as enjoyable. The writing is funny and perceptive. The islands he visits are like a microcosm of the world in terms of their history, geography, society, environment and politics. I also loved the not so subtle swipes at the politicians from Margaret Thatcher to Donald Trump. A great read!

[James Cridland · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a good read: a little easier than Absurdistan, and a little more kind of normal. You get the feeling that this is a job for him, and it's not that odd a job to go off and learn about funny little places across the world. He writes well and it's an interesting read about places that I've, by and large, only read about. Less of a "story", and more of a collection of short essays, but none the worse for that.

[Jean Nicholson · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was a very interesting read as it could be picked up and read in its small chapters about all the islands he had visited as Foreign correspondent , political implications, history of places etc, even to the Spratly Islands in recent times . thorouhly recommend reading it .

[Alistair · Rating 4 out of 5]

Similar to Eric's previous book he adds a comical touch to some sensitive topics pointing out the absurdity of legacy geopolitical issues while relating to the impacts on the individuals. Great read.

[Richard · Rating 3 out of 5]

never quite as good as I was hoping

[Stephen Kibble · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun and interesting read in the life of a foreign correspondent. Provides a window into places you may of never heard of and if you have then a perspective you might not have considered.

[Ellen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Campbell trips the light fantastic across the world's islands, finding cause for concern and the occasional moment of mirth. Conflict and climate change are recurring (and saddening) themes.

[Felicity · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eric Campbell writes in an easy style about the serious, crazy stuff that goes on in the world off governments, bu

[Kathy GWRH · Rating 2 out of 5]

Silly book

[Joanne Rosenzweig · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed Eric Campbell's style of travel writing immensely. Laughed out loud a couple of times.

[Bill Williams · Rating 1 out of 5]

Starts off within the first couple of hundred words saying "we hate boat people". We don't, we just don't like people unfairly jumping the queue and endangering their lives. Then he makes a sneering remark about "Young Liberals," thus potentially alienating at least half if not more of an Australian readership. Oh hang on, he works for the "independent" ABC.