Dark Star Safari by Paul Theroux (2004)

After a spending a summer in Kenya, I became interested in books about Africa, which lead me to this book. If you haven't been to Africa, this book will take you there. Theroux is an excellent story teller and makes Africa come alive, in both the beautiful and the grotesque. He also isn't afraid of sharing his views on international aid, corrupt governments and the like. Even if you're not into non-fiction, Theroux paints a story where truth really is stranger than fiction. I'd recommend this to anyone who enjoys travel, as he does go over an astounding distance using (mostly) ground transportation, but I think pretty much anyone will find this book a great read.