Where Soldiers Fear to Tread: A Relief Worker's Tale of Survival

In 1997, Burnett, apparently bored with his other adventures-which have included working on oil rigs, working on a crab boat in Alaska, skippering a commercial halibut boat, writing for the soap opera Search for Tomorrow-signed up to work in Somalia for the World Food Program. In prose as restrained as his trails were horrific, Burnett recounts his narrow escapes and close calls in a flood-ravaged Somalia ruled by rival warlords. His most harrowing adventures occur when he confronts young children carrying guns who fearlessly threaten and kill others. Yet, Burnett does not quite delve into his own fears, or reveal what real lessons he learned from his year in Somalia. His formulaic style (""The air is thick with the smells of dust, smoke, flowers, sweat, and dung"") fails to render the tale of one man's struggle to make a difference in the world either memorable or significant.