Dust Tea, Dingoes & Dragons: Adventures in culture, cuisine & commerce from a globe-trekking executive.

Both of Hemphill’s books will appeal to readers of different genres including business, social studies, travel, gonzo journalism, satire, politics, international studies, and philosophy. Yes, even philosophy, as this man’s journey should incite existential questions…This is a hard book to pigeon hole because it serves many purposes. A compilation of short essays written in a very personal (and darkly funny) way provides invaluable insight into the entrepreneurial mindset that turned a million dollars into forty billion and the roller coaster ride that went with it. But that’s not the point of the book. I haven’t decided if it’s more endearing that he’s trying to explain the hijinks of international corporate venturing to his decidedly middle class family or instructive in a way that an academic study could never be about political, economic, and social realities. There are lessons for everybody here, but ultimately, it’s entertaining, and modular. Sure, there is some chronology, but you can pretty much pick up any essay, read it in a couple of minutes, and go away entertained, until the next time. Required reading for anybody new to the electric industry post-Enron, and anybody working at AES to understand their ancestry.

The book’s structure and the author's sense of humor kept me engaged the entire time. I laughed out loud at least two dozen times, and I am not an easy audience. I really enjoyed how he displayed the silliness of his potential VC deals. My favorite, in particular, was the story about the Nobel Prize Applicant/Luke Skywalker and the aluminum beanies that followed.The nice thing about this book is that it sounds like a bunch of stories the author is retelling to his father, but every now and then he sprinkles in a lesson to be learned.I would have liked to hear more stories about the early days at AES and some more business related content such as how they negotiated their deals, but that is my selfish MBA side talking. And it also would have been interesting if there were responses from this dad.Overall, I thought this was a great book and will be recommending it to my buddies. I hope he writes his follow up book on his more recent times at AES Solar.

This book was completely fun to read. It was an amazing collection of letters describing exotic places and experiences in ways that made it completely real and with a tongue in cheek humor that never fails. His observations keep you laughing and makes you want to read more. It is one of those books that you just enjoy picking up to see what on earth he would see and do next, and all in the course of doing business and traveling with extended family. His stories about the business activities relate well to world cultures because it gives the real deal in making things work or not in the global village (or villages as the case may be). Very well written and I'm looking forward to his next book. His humor about business dealings keep me laughing in my own work as I start to envision the book I would write!

A few years ago I had the chance to read one of the letters written by Bob - when they were still in the "black market". I thought they were so well written, fun and instructive that I decided to share them with relatives and friends. I then began receiving emails asking if I had more of his letters. So every time I was lucky enough to receive a new letter, I would forward these to the growing population of Bob-fans in Latin America that were eager to read more of Bob's global adventures.Having all these letters compiled in one book is a privilege to all readers. Caveat: if reading in bed make sure nobody is sleeping beside you since at times you won't be able to hold your laugh.

This is a wonderful romp through the world of international power. Being the co-founder of the subject Company obviously made it more fun for me but I would think anyone picking it up for the first time would find it funny, instructive, and insightful. Because Bob wrote these letters in real time I got to read them first time around but never in their totality. So again it was especially enjoyable for me.Bob was a wonderful partner in all that we did yet as far as I know this is the only account of it's kind.

Someone actually thought that this is worth publishing?

Very funny as well as insightful. The format of letters home means each chapter is easily read aloud to my wife as we end the day. And we end it on a happy note! These experiences are unique in many ways including you have to be very wealthy to get into these situations in the first place. Nice to read about the adventures of the 1%.

NOT ALL MY CHILDREN REGULARLY READ BOOKS-TOO MUCH TO DO-TOO LITTLE TIME, BUT THEY ALL ENJOYED "DUST TEA, DINGOES AND DRAGONS" AND ARE CLAMORING FOR COPIES OF "STORIES FROM THE MIDDLE SEAT". TRY IT-YOU'LL LIKE IT IF YOU ENJOY A LITTLE HUMOR WHEN YOU READ.

great read!

Quirky, entertaining book. Thoroughly recommend it as an unusual approach to travel writing