Book review: Island Journeys by Carlisle Richardson

Image courtesy News and Experts

I had the opportunity to read a review copy of a Island Journeys, a book on how the island way of life impacts one's life at home and away. 

The very mention of islands has me thinking of beautiful beaches and lively weather, a resort trip, scenes of carnival and calypso music playing. Images of cricket teams and Machel Montano singing. A getaway from every day life elsewhere in the world.

But the author Carlisle Richardson, a native of St Kitts and Nevis, is quick to point out that there is more to these island states that meets the eye. “I understand why tropical islands are sometimes considered paradise,” he says. A United Nations economic-affairs officer, he shares,“As a native islander, I feel and believe in this sentiment myself. But I also know that island living presents challenges that are much more complex than lying in the sand or enjoying a cool island breeze.”

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While the islands are beautiful destinations to visit, they are also countries in their own right deadline with development matters such as ending poverty and hunger; fostering sustainable economic growth; and combatting climate change. Richardson rightly points out the close relationship islanders have with their land given that is a limited resource they must well take care of to see it serve their future. And maybe we, living on larger land masses, in countries bigger than his homeland, can learn a few things on sustainability and land values from islanders. 

Among the many challenges islands and their people contend with, Richardson mentions Economic realities. Climate change and Loss of culture and heritage. And he uses his experiences growing up as well as his professional experiences traveling and working at the global level, to bring light to the island way of life. The author certainly did a good job of opening my eyes to something more than the all-inclusive resorts I've wanted to go hibernate in. 

A must read if you are passionate about travel, culture and the universal love that we all feel for our motherland, more so when we know there is very little of her to cherish. ​