Bike Riding in Kabul: The Global Adventures of a Foreign Aid Practitioner

by Jamie Bowman

Getting roughed up by Islamic fundamentalists, the weekly “feline sex-fest” in Kyiv, bribing Russian police to avoid jail in Moscow, sheltering under the sink (with the lizards) when the ammo dump exploded in Juba, automatic weapons training in Indiana, and that ill-fated morning bike ride in Kabul. It was a great job!

Synopsis

Bike Riding in Kabul follows the professional and personal adventures of international legal consultant Jamie Bowman, an attorney from California, as she endeavors to update the laws of Kosovo, Ukraine, Bangladesh, Moscow, Afghanistan, Southern Sudan, Rwanda, and Afghanistan.

As seen through Ms. Bowman’s good humor and unique perspective, Bike Riding in Kabul moves with effortless charm through a fascinating array of personalities and events. It is full of exotic locations, difficult work challenges, strong female role models, and quirky characters, and explores a wide range of themes, including the important role of reform, Islamic attitudes toward a Western woman, endemic corruption, post-Cold War sentiments, and how other countries view the United States. Throughout the book, Jamie is supported by an Argentine boyfriend who helps her make sense of the crazy situations she finds herself in.

Fast-paced, funny, occasionally heartbreaking, but always wholly original, Bike Riding in Kabul captures the challenges of an American working overseas and is a story of finding the strength necessary to do the right thing, even when the consequences may be personally damaging.

Genres: Nonfiction, Travel

333 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 24, 2022

About the author

Instagram: @the.world.according.to.Jamie

Reviews

[Grace Convertino · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jamie Bowman, a California attorney and international legal consultant, chooses to use her expertise to assist countries who are newly instituting democratic laws. Her jobs take her to exotic places, including Kiev, Kabul, Jaba, Bangladesh, Ukraine, Rwanda, Kosovo, and Southern Sudan. She undergoes a variety of training to prepare for her jobs, from hours of seminars to weapons handling, and meets her Argentinian construction contractor boyfriend in Kosovo. He is her support and salvation through the many hardships she encountered, including dysfunctional government consultants, to the anti-American sentiment shared by so many, and to banking corruption. She sees extreme poverty and glorious sights, meets strong female role models, eccentric personalities, friendly personalities, and condescending/passive-aggressive people. She also deals with various job difficulties and learning about the historical backgrounds of the places to which she travels. Mostly, she constantly strives to do what is right, even when the aftermath is personally detrimental.

Ms. Bowman covers a very wide range of informational topics and experiences from her challenging career, traveling to help others instead of her own personal enrichment, although I believe she accomplishes both beautifully. Her descriptions of the people she encounters leave me with a wide range of emotion, from feeling bereft at the living conditions, to laughing at the characters she encounters/works with, to joyful when shares her victories, to indignant about the harsh criticism of the United States, to warmth at the accounts of her loving relationship. It’s a truly unique memoir, and I enjoyed her first-hand account of living and working in exotic countries that I will probably never have the opportunity to visit. In spite of arduous setbacks, less-than-helpful personnel, malaria, and red-tape delays, she is a formidable woman, intelligent and brave, and I truly admire her incredible strength and spirit.

I’d like to thank BookSirens, Jamie Bowman, and Boyle & Dalton for the ability to read and review this ARC.

[E.J. Bauer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Would you read a book about international law, bank irregularities and loan rates? Hmm. What if the title was Bike Riding in Kabul? Maybe. I'm so glad I did. I was fascinated from the very beginning. The author's experiences in some of the most volatile countries on earth are related from several perspectives. Her recounting of challenges in the workplace, personal anecdotes and a respect for each country's history is liberally sprinkled with humorous, often wry and at times philosophical observations. While I would never ride an old bicycle through Kabul at dawn, I would love to visit the old market place filled with spices, observe the gorillas in Rwanda and perhaps walk the Camino.

[Krista Seitz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved all the stories and lessons learned from each unique place Jamie Bowman visited through her work as a consultant for USAID and other agencies. She is quite inspiring for a young woman who is interested in living abroad and sets a great example for young women everywhere!

[Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a pleasure to read a book by a literate and intelligent author writing on a topic that I knew little about. This account of a lawyer skilled in finance and government who lends her expertise to countries establishing themselves as democracies on the international stage was a clear-eyed story of risk and rewards.

I was impressed with the author’s ability to handle complex legal issues in countries without a background in Western law. It was fascinating to read about the challenges she faced in Kabul, Kosovo, Rwanda and Ukraine and how gracefully she handled them. Some of the difficulties were as a result of culture clash, some due to poverty and some came from facing corruption. Her descriptions were entertaining but not at the expense of her associates and never just to provide a few laughs. Wherever she went, she was open to new experiences and was always guided by high moral principals inculcated by her parents.

In between her work stories were incidents involving her well-loved father as he slipped into dementia and her special friend Roberto with whom she kept in touch as they both traveled the world for their careers. Those stories helped to give you a full portrait of this unique woman.

Reading of how people in other countries view the United States is part of the education this book provides. The stories she shares end while Barack Obama is president. I’m sure the years of the Trump administration would add their own unique experiences.

I loved everything about this book but I was especially touched by how she kept her enthusiasm, her love for her country and her contribution in making the world a better place.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily

[Val · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderfully unique book about a world most of us know little of. Bike Riding in Kabul is a memoir of the author’s time working for federal aid institutions in developing countries. Her takes are humorous, serious, challenging and diverse. It is hard to imagine living in a shipping container and having business meetings with the various Ministers of government in these countries, but Jamie Bowman does it with great insight and an often humorous perspective. On top of that, it is memoir and travelogue rolled into an engrossing human story of working to help the countries’ progress towards their goals. Cultural and political challenges are highlighted. The best part is the book reads like a novel, fast-paced and enjoyable. If you are looking for something fascinating and different, this is your book.

[Dace ჯ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading about Jamie's work as a legal advisor in Kosovo, Ukraine, Russia, Afghanistan, Southern Sudan, Bangladesh, and Rwanda. I have my own background in financial institutions. I also had a short-lived fling with politics, peace-building and international development. I understood Jamie's disheartenment and admired her longevity in the field, determination, work morale and principles.

In the beginning I felt I had been following in Jamie's footsteps. I actually visited Kyiv in the summer of 2003, just after Jamie left it. I travelled Russia in the summer of 2005, also not long after Jamies contract ended there. Similarly as Jamie, I also ran into Russian police officers in Moscow who tried to extract a bribe from us. I have also spent considerable time in Prishtina, Kosovo between 2006 to 2009.

Even if it was really nice to revisit the same places and share memories, I also enjoyed visiting Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Southern Sudan and Rwanda where I haven't been. I didn't know South Sudanese were so tall. You wouldn't expect that from such a poor nation.

Jamie's take on patriotism and being an American abroad was very moving:

"Our countries are like our families. It’s fine for us to find fault with our own, but I don’t like it when other people feel free to criticize my family and expect me to agree and join in the condemnation."

It's true for all the nations. I know it living among the Georgians - don't you dare to say anything bad about Georgia if you are a foreigner. But because the US plays such an important role in the world, everybody feels entitled to judge it. The rest of the world expects the US to save them but then blames it for everything that goes wrong; it's blamed when it fails to act and it's also blamed when it acts. Nobody really cares what ordinary Americans feel about it because they are so "full of themselves, privileged, and hypocritical." But there are also good people, kind people, hard-working people who are trying to do the right thing, like Jamie.

[Beachcomber · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars. An interesting recollection of Jamie’s time living and working on USAID projects around the world, in some of the poorest countries. Each country has a dedicated chapter, with lots of vignettes that can be short or medium stories of an event that happened. This makes it easy to “just read one more”, and leads to a quick read. I liked how Jamie embedded herself into the cultures, respecting them and trying to experience the different countries as much as was possible.

It would have been 4 or 4.5 stars, but towards the end there was a subtle shift for me that led a bit towards sounding like America could do no wrong - if so many people have a negative opinion, maybe question why that’s the case, instead of going on the defensive… I fully get standing up for your country and taking pride in it, but not blinkered. Also the bit where she basically engineers her boyfriend’s deployment to a country on the other side of the world because she felt the relationship was over, wasn’t really admirable (or in keeping with the impression I had of her as someone with morals). It left a sour taste for me.

Overall a decent book and interesting read. I received a free ARC copy of this via NetGalley and the publishers in return for an unbiased review. Apologies for the delay in providing this.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jamie definitely doesn't take the easy route when it comes to looking for jobs. With her legal qualifications she could have a cushy desk job in a fancy office. But she goes to work in some of the most dangerous places in the world: Rwanda, Kosovo, Pakistan and the eponymously titled Kabul among others, and lives in some unsavory places. I didn't think a book about a legal advisor would be so fascinating and entertaining. Various threads weave through the book; her job, which entails working with policy makers, peacemaking forces and aid agencies; her friendship/romance with Roberto; and her fathers' dementia. All come together to make a very readable story. Jamie says this was her lockdown project. Thanks Covid for at least one pleasurable outcome.

[Mary Venner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book because I've been to many of the places Jamie writes about and had similar experiences. Some of it is very familiar. But it is also an interesting and well written story. She accurately captures the excitement of travel to new places, the challenges of the work, and the interesting and sometimes annoying people she works with. She also reveals some of the failings of international aid programs and takes a stand against a system that relies on expert advisers who are focused on their next job, program managers interested in building their careers, and consulting firms that are only concerned with making a profit. The needs and wishes of the country they are supposed to be helping often come last in this equation. A really good read for anyone who wants a better understanding of the challenges of aid and development.

[Jenny Durnan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really really loved this book! When you think about international aid or nation building, the financial sector isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. So it was extra interesting to learn about it! Jamie Bowman tells her story of working in foreign countries in a way that makes the financial parts easy to understand, and the reader learns about countries and cultures that aren’t necessarily the topic of your everyday novel. There’s a good dose of humor in it as well. 5 stars!

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful and fascinating story. Anyone interested in US efforts in international development should read this book. Bowman has a unique writing style that keeps the reader engaged throughout her story.

[Krissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a recent law Sschool graduate working for an international NGO in Human Resources, I really enjoyed this book. It gave me insights into some countries that I'm not familiar with. It also showcased in an easily understood way just how complex it can be to help new governments set up laws that are considered standard in some countries.

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an interesting and informative memoir about the author's experiences working in a variety of aid agencies in developing countries around the world. Her descriptions of the people she worked with, the challenges she faced and the world events and problems going on around her were funny, interesting and memorable. Her unique perspective of parts of the world most readers will never get to visit gives a special added quality to the story. Jamie Bowman's detailed yet easy to follow descriptions of the cultural and political challenges people were facing the countries she worked in was really helpful in understanding the context, she did a really great job. Unfortunately, I did find it a bit boring at times, but for the most part it was a good book. It definitely gave me a lot of information about parts of the world and global events I originally knew very little about. Thanks to Booksirens for giving me the chance to read and voluntarily review this book.

[Larry Ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Biking in Kabul: What a wonderful way to travel to five different countries (per book). Author Jamie P. Bowman interweaves her admiration for her Father and her tumultuous relationship with Argentine Roberto into these tales of international legal aid excursions. This is an easy to read, enjoyable international trek.

[Maureen Herman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bike Riding in Kabul was enjoyable, informative, and inspiring. This book is a winner!

[Ariel Magid · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having worked much of my career in International Development with USAID, Jamie accurately describes the life of development work. From the quest to create meaningful change in our world, excitement for new adventures, travel, and learning about and adapting to new cultures. To the many challenges of bureaucracy, ineffective legislation, emotional and mental exhaustion, and most importantly learning to communicate and effectively collaborate across cultural differences. Jamie perfectly encapsulates the field in a fun, intelligent and enjoyable account of her journey.

[Jacqueline Lambert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating and Entertaining

Jamie Bowman worked as a legal consultant in troubled regions around the globe. While modernisation of mortgage lending might not sound like the most fascinating adventure, this book is anything but dry.

Bowman visits countries devastated by war, those rebuilding democracy after the fall of communism, or regions that have viewed the US as Public Enemy No.1 for generations. As if this weren’t enough, add in the conflicts with your own side, such as competing aid agencies, bullying bosses, and rampant sexism in locally hired staff from cultures who view the role of women rather differently.

The story is exciting and easy to read, with each regional chapter cleverly broken down into bite-sized sub-sections. These varied between brilliantly concise explanations of the complex history that led to the need for external aid, right down to wry personal anecdotes. The author’s strategy to manage her Argentinian boyfriend is hilarious.

Although clearly pro-US and patriotic, Bowman seems humble, mostly. She quickly realises that the USA isn’t always viewed as the golden-helmeted reforming superhero, swooping in to do good: and aid, however well meant, isn’t always welcome, adequately thought through, or accepted gratefully. Since, along with other Western Nations, US foreign policy caused so many of the world’s problems to begin with, I was so disappointed when ‘America The World’s Great Peacekeeper’ raised its head. I was also surprised to find the author and I had a contrary stance on salted butter! A difference on dairy products and resenting a momentary feint towards ‘Don’t Question America’ are a couple of small things in a wonderful book. They definitely don’t warrant removal of a star, but stirred up such strong emotions in me, I had to mention them.

Otherwise, I loved reading about someone who is prepared literally to put their life on the line to do the right thing, and undoubtedly, Bowman made a difference. Her father was an inspiration, particularly the parts of the story where the author sought his advice, because his answers were never linear. He always came up with an unexpected solution, because he could see problems from the other person’s point of view. This is the root of compassion: the ability to understand the true motivation behind seemingly unreasonable behaviour.

I so enjoyed this book and finished it with absolute admiration for those, like the author, who endure incredible discomfort, personal hardship, and life-threatening peril in order to help others.

I received a copy of this book as a prize in a competition, but am voluntarily leaving my own honest and unbiased review.

[Rachel B · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was interesting to read about the differences in the various cultures Bowman worked in, and the unique challenges to a free economy each one faced.

Even though the author was living in some fairly rustic conditions and dealt with the incompetence of colleagues, she retained her sense of humor and didn't use the book as an opportunity to just complain about everything, which I appreciated.

The book was entertaining enough, but not super memorable. Perhaps if I was more familiar with legal processes, it would have stayed with me more.

I understood from the ad-copy that the book was about legal work, but due to the title, I had assumed the author was an avid cyclist and that there would be a fair amount of "bike talk" included. In reality, the title comes from one very short tale which could have easily been edited out, because it added nothing to the book. I felt misled - not to mention disappointed, because the cycling aspect was about 75% of the reason I started the book in the first place.

There was some profanity, and brief sexual references.

(Also, this is very minor, but I was confused by a comment she made about a guy who "spoke with the thick accent from the Great Lakes area in the United States." This area is located in the Midwest and the accent is considered one of the most neutral English accents in the world. I would hardly use the word "thick" to describe it.)

I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley.

[(a)lyss(a) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is a tricky book to rate.

On the one hand it's really unique. Bowman takes us into her life and shares some unique stories about her experiences. We hear about her work in various USAID roles, learn about the people she met, and hear about her life traveling for work. Bowman seems pretty open about her feelings and her stories.

On the other hand I didn't really feel a narrative theme. Each chapter about a location and place in time is a collection of anecdotes and experiences that seem to sum up Bowman's time there. Everything is focused around Bowman's work, but most of the stories are fairly short. I'm also not sure that I understand all of them. Like at one point Bowman hears from an aid recipient that they didn't like that the US provided salted butter. Bowman is shocked by this and later shares the story with others who agree she's right to be shocked. Am I as the reader also supposed to be shocked? Am I supposed to draw my own conclusion from the story? I'm not sure and the ambiguity may be on me, but some deeper reflection would have been helpful for me to understand why certain stories were shared and others weren't.

[Janis Couvreux]

This book was a revelation in the behind-the-scenes operations and details of setting up bureaucratic necessities, laws, and so much more needed in order to establish new governments in post-war countries around the world. Author Jamie Bowman opens a window to a world of which I was totally ignorant. We lay people know, of course, of the World Bank, World Trade organization, USAID, the United Nations...but as to how they actually work in the "trenches", her book enlightens us.

I reveled in the author's enthusiasm and spunk as she plunged into some worldwide dicey settings and less-than-ideal living situations, along with her candid observations of some of her colleagues and the power figures she dealt with. She is also honest with herself and the reader about certain situations she found herself in as well as decisions she made that may not have been well thought out.

I'm a sucker for travel memoirs, but this one steps out of the sometimes predictable "norm" of such accounts, taking us to parts of Africa, Russia, and Central Asia where, and when, tourism was NOT the theme of the day but rather that of creating civilized societies out of war torn chaos. Jamie Bowman takes us with her as she steps out of her comfort zones and teaches us some little known background history.

[Susanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the author, Boyle & Dalton and NetGalley, for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This memoir recounts the author's story of her career move from a steady corporate job in the US to using her skills as a lawyer to support emerging democracies in very diverse countries. The author’s ability to handle complex legal issues in countries without a background in Western law was fascinating, particularly given the challenges she faced. Some of these challenges were a result of culture clash or misunderstandings, some grew out of corruption, and some of the most difficult came about through a false understanding or misuse of power, even by the author's colleagues or supervisors. A bit surprisingly, the issue of bike riding - in Kabul or elsewhere - was an isolating, single incident in this entire story.

I have great admiration for the author's commitment to being open to new experiences, and her steadfast moral compass. In between her missions, we also get a glimpse into her relationship with her parents (while her father heartbreakingly slips into dementia), and her relationship with Roberto, who is her companion for many of her adventures.

[Ronald Mackay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Almost everyone has said: “My dream job would involve travelling to exotic places and meeting interesting people.

Now, I urge you to read these ‘global adventures of a foreign aid practitioner’. As a legal specialist, Jamie Bowman has most undoubtedly worked in the most exotic places and rubbed shoulders with the most extraordinary people.

These remarkable stories and how she tells them will captivate you. She has seen the best and the worst of Southern Sudan, Kosovo, Ukraine, Bangladesh, Russia, Afghanistan, Rwanda and France.

I admire her adaptability and salute her capacity to endure the most distressing conditions, alarming circumstances, and troublesome people. You, too, will avidly read her adventures – personal, professional, romantic and familial and marvel at how boldly she copes with adversity and how naturally she enjoys warmth, beauty and success.

Jamie Bowman is forthright about the joys and adversities involved in international development work financed by developed countries – the US being the top donor country -- to help bring social stability, health, and wellbeing to others.

[Bj Quigley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I highly recommend Bike Riding in Kabul by Jamie Bowman. It was quite different from most books I've read and the constant saying of "woman power" resonated in my head throughout! It's a non-fiction story about the author's challenges in the world of legal consulting in some of the world's most basic environments such as post-conflict and emerging market countries. The fact that she went seeking positions to work in the most challenging and dangerous of situations as a woman from the United States left me in awe. My eyes were opened to so many cultures, the do's and don'ts, the opinions of the U.S. by the people with whom she worked, and her humor which kept me interested throughout. She worked in various African countries, Ukraine, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan to name a few. What an informative book and what an impressive life she has led! If you enjoy non-fiction which reads like fiction, you will love the education you get from this uplifting book!!

[Cristina B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Bike Riding in Kabul: The Global Adventures of a Foreign Aid Practitioner" by Jamie Bowman offers a fascinating and unique perspective on foreign aid work in one of the world's most challenging environments. Through the lens of her work as a legal advisor in Kosovo, Ukraine, Russia, Afghanistan, Southern Sudan, Bangladesh, and Rwanda, Bowman takes readers on a journey that delves into the complexities of working in war-torn regions while providing a personal and introspective account of her experiences. At turns heartbreaking, then humorous, Bike Riding in Kabul combines adventure, personal reflection, and a deeper understanding of the challenges and nuances of humanitarian work. Bowman's storytelling is engaging and her insights are thought-provoking, making this a compelling read for those interested in international development and the human experience in conflict zones.

[Carrie Riseley · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fantastic book. The author has had a fascinating life, but it isn't that that makes this book great: it's her attention to detail, her ease of explanation and her story-telling. Subjects I know nothing about, people I've never met, places I've never been and time periods of political and social change I've never experienced are brought to life by Jamie. She explains everything so well that it doesn't matter if the reader has no experience of these things - we are immersed in the story anyway and gifted with understanding. And she has the most important skill of storytelling: she makes it enjoyable to read. Five stars.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Until reading this book, I knew next to nothing about non-military foreign aid provided by the US to other countries. Legal consultant Jamie Bowen offers a well-informed and entertaining personal perspective on just how this works (and sometimes doesn’t). Her struggles with governmental impediments, cultural differences, and attitudes towards US citizens were both educational and fun to read. I learned a little, laughed a bit, and shared her frustration. I admired her persistence and efforts to do the “right thing” for the communities in which she worked, even when it was far from easy.

[Bonnie Joyce · Rating 3 out of 5]

The raw material of Jamie's stories is extraordinary! I admire her sense of adventure, courage, professional acumen. Her cultural and worldwide experiences are phenomenal. I cannot imagine taking such risks, or putting up with total absence of physical comfort in living and work space. If Jamie, or editors, added story structure, timing, and punchline delivery, her raw material would be greatly enhanced.

[Kristopher Larsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fortuitous find on the shelf at one of my favorite DC bookstores (and signed by the author no less.) As a sucker for books about politics and travel, this hit the sweet spot. Even better, its the kind of book that's usually written by those at the top of the pyramid, names we've all heard of before. This one shows more what it is to do the hard policy work around the world, usually in places that are hard enough to exist in without the work.

[Tom Schulte · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was very interesting to read of this type of career - foreign aid work drafting laws in resource-poor, uncomfortable stations. This author's posting included Kyiv, Moscow, and Juba (the capital and largest city of South Sudan). Ultimately, she is in Afghanistan during the Obama surge leading up to a principled stand in departure ahead of the collapse of the Kabul Bank due to corruption.

[Jill Dobbe · Rating 2 out of 5]

These are usually my kind of reads, but this one didn't interest me. The book title grabbed me, but reading about international law, banking, and business loans bored me. I guess because I am an educator and not a business-minded person.