The Catch Me If You Can: One Woman's Journey to Every Country in the World

If you’re an aspiring black female traveler/tourist but afraid of taking that first step outside of your country aka comfort zone. Read this insightful and inspiring book first. Ms. Nabongo did not miss a beat detailing her experience from a black female’s eyes. I definitely feel more confident taking trips with others or solo.

This book is part travel book, part memoir, and entirely amazing. I started following author Jessica Nabongo’s Instagram early in the pandemic to help satiate my wanderlust when the world was shut down. As the first Black woman to have visited every country in the world (!!!) she had literally been EVERYWHERE so I was living vicariously through her images as well as her stories of the culture of each place she visited. So when she announced that she was teaming up with National Geographic to write a book about her adventures I preordered it as soon as as I could. The book highlights 100 of the 195 countries she has been to (the reasons she leaves some out are simple—she doesn’t feel like she can do them justice having spent so little time in some of them—clearly we are going to need a volume 2 soon). The countries are organized chronologically by order of first visit, so she begs you to please read in order (I have to admit I read the last chapter first because I wanted to read all about her joy of hitting country 195 but otherwise did it in order). Each “chapter” is a snapshot of a country, but not the typical guidebook snapshot. Jessica gives you basic info (including a little map of each country’s location) but her stories immerse you, the reader, into the culture of each nation. Even in a few short pages per country she takes you on a sensory journey where you can taste the bread in Yemen and smell the tobacco leaves in Cuba. You feel like you know the people she travels with and meets along the way. She visits countries that the State Department says aren’t safe, and while she’s fully aware of the political turmoil, she finds the beauty in every place she travels and sees that people are more than politics. Her book isn’t about encouraging you to follow her dream; instead it’s about showing you two things: 1) these places are beautiful and accessible (sort of) and welcoming; and, most importantly, 2) anyone can and should follow their own dreams.

I loved the detail and love that went into this book. She is such a great writer and the pictures just take you there. Her beautiful personality shines through. Remember to read about other cultres before you visit. It will make your stay much more pleasant. Be nice to everyone you meet whether you agree with their customs or not. You're just a visitor. It will make your trip remarkable. This is taught throughout the book.

This book is inspiring to the adventurer inside of me. After reading I'm inspired to get out and go see all that God has created!

The book was very detailed in her adventures. I went to India after reading about her adventure and most of the things she said about most countries were spot on. I enjoyed reading about her adventures and the sights thru her eyes as she traveled solo. A must have for travelors~

First of all, this is one you will for sure want to listen to, but also buy a hard copy too. Buy the hard copy for the stunning photography and as a nice table top book, but listen to the book to hear author Jessica recount here stories across the globe, in there own voice. I really love how this book was structured, as it very much read like a memoir but of course from a travel adventures perspective. Jessica intertwines life lessons, facts, recommendations and lessons learned. The audiobook was very well done and easy / enjoyable to listen too. My only complaint is that sometimes the chapters ended to abruptly, but I do think that has something to do with the fact that the book as a whole is structured more like a table top style book.

I have visited nearly 50 countries so I really enjoy travel memoirs, but so many of them are written by backpackers who don’t mind sleeping in the street if necessary or who skip the most popular sites to spend all their time on the unbeaten path. This author travels like I do. Show me the best sites. I want to eat n clean establishments and I want a hot shower in a hotel thank you. Those don’t need to be fancy, but they need to be better than being “one with the people” and tenting out with the homeless

This book is a fun read, beautiful pictures and lots of information

Arrived in perfect quality and packaging. It is much more than just a travel book. Amazing read.

I love this book. I love hearing people's travel stories. More so from fellow black people. I've travelled a lot and I loved the pictures the stories and the tips. We need a lot more of these books.

The book is fantastic, with great pictures and the reading very fluent. Not boring at all.

Disappointing

Loved this book and am impressed by her journey.