| Don't Kill the Cow Too Quick: An Englishmans Adventures Homesteading in Panama | 
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Avg. Customer Rating:   (based on 11 reviews)
Sales Rank: 311177
Category: Book
Author: Malcolm Henderson
Publisher: iUniverse, Inc.
Studio: iUniverse, Inc.
Manufacturer: iUniverse, Inc.
Label: iUniverse, Inc.
Media: Paperback
Edition: 0
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 250
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.8
Dimensions (in): 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.5
ISBN: 0595319491
Dewey Decimal Number: 917
EAN: 9780595319497
ASIN: 0595319491
Publication Date: July 22, 2004
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Book Description
Retiring to live on a group of islands off the Caribbean coast of Panama, the author humorously describes how he learned through experience, from the first essential of handling a boat without danger to himself and others to his ultimate achievement of establishing an organic farm on the shore of a distant lagoon. Interspersed with vignettes of the local culture, the account gives an insight to the challenges facing Gringos when pursuing dreams of life on a tropical island. Covering a span of six years from the beginnings of the growth of a tourist industry to a time when the islands were clearly destined to become a major tourist destination, Don't Kill the Cow Too Quick records a passing era.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 6 more reviews...
The Expat Lifestyle Brought to Life January 25, 2008
Malcolm Henderson, a well-known resident of Bocas, has written a book that fully captures the lifestyle of the expat resident. With wit, irony and lots of heart, Don't Kill the Cow Too Quick (great title!) is a must-read for anyone considering an escape to paradise showing all the ups and downs of living in a new culture and trying to adapt to same.
Can't wait for the sequel!
Cindy Cody, author Hubba Hubba
live the dream June 8, 2007
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Look at a map of Central America then zoom in on Panama. Just south of the border of Costa Rica on the Caribbean shore is the archipeligo of Bocas del Toro. As the author says, Bocas del Toro is like Key West was in the 1920's just getting noticed by tourist, retirees and developers. This is a small city on a tropical island with the surronding islands, coral reefs, beaches, small farms, tropical forests and mangroves, the area that Malcom Henderson and his wife settled to live the years of their life after age 60. This book is his story of finding the area, settling there and working to fit in by building a home in town and starting a ranch (finca) on the mainland.
Henderson has an unusual writing style, very personal, like writing a diary. Some of the chapters have abrupt endings that seem a bit odd in the way that perhaps your grandfather would have told a story that takes a while to register than you get the meaning of it. His writing flows better through the book and makes it hard to put down by the end. Henderson also has a well developed sense of humor and perhaps this follows from some of the laughable situations that he gets into that still maintain the admiration of his friends. I felt a sense of loss when I finished the book, wanting to continue to hear his stories about Panama and the people of the Bocas del Toro region.
I purchased this book mainly to learn more of this region from the expatriat's viewpoint but I picked up much more than that. Anyone moving to a foreign country should anticipate the potential conflict of gringo and latino, foreigner and national, impoverished and wealthy, and greedy and charitable. Henderson covers all of this and it is a tribute to this book that he tells it with insight, humor and is able to evoke some of the essence of the region for us.
I am looking forward to reading a book with the Panamanian's view of the changes in the Bocas del Toro region next.
A good read August 23, 2006
2 out of 7 found this review helpful
Malcom gives the reader a real first hand view of Bocas. He is funny and hauman. Makes you want to move there.
Very Interesting June 2, 2006
3 out of 9 found this review helpful
This has been the first book that I have read cover to cover, except for techincal manuels. I enjoyed all of Malcolm's adventures. Having been in Bocas, I can relate to some of them.
A psychologist's perspective March 5, 2006
4 out of 9 found this review helpful
I have just finished reading, for the second time, Malcolm Henderson's enchanting tour of a marvelous part of the world and his introduction to some wonderful people. Mr. Henderson has what other writers wish they had, the innate gift of being able to tell a story. In this delightful book Mr. Henderson displays the qualities of a Mark Twain, or Ambrose Bierce in that regard. This book would make an excellent addition to University classes in creative writing and psychology courses on social psychology. Mr. Henderson succeeds in taking us to Bocas Del Toro, sharing his relationships with interesting people, and engages us in the desire to live with and assist however we can, both the indigenous tribal natives and other Panamanians. He is candid in the things he probably should not have done, as well as in those things he did well. You will become engrossed in this book as it is truly a relaxing, entertaining, and informative work. Human behavior is remarkably different in different cultures and Mr. Henderson introduces us to a truly admirable culture in Panama, in a truly admirable manner. Sit back, read, enjoy. I look forward to other offerings by this author.
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