So You Want to Join the Peace Corps: What to Know Before You Go

The book grew from Banerjee's personal frustration trying to answer these questions for himself: he couldn't find a single book written from the perspective of a Volunteer. Those questions, informed by his later experiences in 1994-96 as a PCV in Cameroon, plus those of many other RPCV's (Returned Peace Corps Volunteers) are the basis for this unusual book.

It is organized around 73 questions starting with "1 What is the application process like?" and ending with "73 Would you go back and do the Peace Corps all over again?" The sometimes poignant answers to this final question were written by twelve RPCV's including Anne Hauk who wrote, "... I feel passionate about Uzbekistan, I also feel passionate about the Peace Corps; there's so much to love and hate about them both...."

The nine appendices are rich with information including PCV requirements and how to strengthen your own application plus lists of loan programs and RPCV support groups arranged by state. The style is simple, direct and immediately useful as one expects with books from Ten Speed Press.

I recommend this book to anyone thinking about joining the Peace Corps. It will also be invaluable to friends and family members who stay behind. It gives a rich context in which to understand the Peace Corps experience that the rest of us must imagine mostly from letters


FINALLY! A GREAT book on the Peace Corps!   February 17, 2000
 27 out of 27 found this review helpful

I got this book yesterday and read it straight through. It is one of the most informative and useful books about the Peace Corps that I have ever read. As a former PCV in Cameroon, I can honestly say that Dillon Banerjee has successfully captured "the Peace Corps experience," which is no easy task. He gives very clear answers to some very tough questions. This book is sure to become an instant classic, "The" book to read. I would (and will!) recommend this book to anyone interested in joining the Peace Corps.


Get the Insider Info   May 10, 2000
 27 out of 27 found this review helpful

Ever want to run away from home & join the Foreign Legion? Ever want to do something great and heroic with your life? Even if you don't want to join the Peace Corps, this is a very interesting book. I had wondered for years of the ins and outs of doing this noble job. This book covers all the points shortly & to the point. I read the book straight through.

It is not an autobiography, though that would have been interesting. The author tries hard to stick to the general rather than the specifics of just one country. He covers everything from how much a volunteer makes, to how the housing works to transportation. What is really cool is he is realistic enough to include the off-the-record things like safe sex & alcohol/drug use etc.

Read the book if you are interested in changing our life, or you are just interested in the workings of this organization.


General questions answered here.   October 17, 2001
 21 out of 21 found this review helpful

This book fills a certain need among Peace Corps applicants. Questions are typically answered with huge, sweeping generalizations within the PC world. Banerjee goes a long way in his attempt to quell the anxiety felt by anyone who has received, extensively, those vacuous responses. The problem is, however, that the life of a PC volunteer varies from one volunteer to the next. There is so much depending on your site, your country, and your personality that it is difficult to answer any one question without beginning to generalize as your recruiter or placement officer (or medical officer, or staging personnel, or...) has to do on a daily basis. It's just REALLY hard to answer any questions about PC life that will translate across the board to everyone. My suggestion: read the book. If you've had that nagging feeling that this is something you want to do, that you really want to join the Peace Corps, this book will not sway you either way. It might even answer some questions. But you know if you really want to go. So just do it. I'm speaking as someone who survived an evacuation and re-assignment. It will all work out.


Good but outdated   July 25, 2005
 17 out of 17 found this review helpful

As a current volunteer I also read this book to prepare for my service. Looking back on it now a lot of the questions are outdated and no longer relevant. Take for instance riding motorcycles. From what I have gathered no one in the Peace Corps is allowed to even ride on a motorcycle as even a passenger.

I also wanted to use this as a forum for potential volunteers. It is true that you will get a wide range of answers and generalizations from volunteers and recruiters. This is because no experience is the same and they genuinely do not want to mislead you.

I would look to see if this book is available in the library. If you are to become a volunteer start saving money now. It is worth so much more wherever you end up going. Also try to e-mail a volunteer that is currently in your country/region. They will be ab le to give you the best advice as to what you will and won't need. Also ask them what kind of language materials you should get prior to arrival.

Anyone that knows they are going to Thailand can feel free to contact me.