This title will be released on:
Jan 13, 2026
Description
Growing up, Jack had heard all about the supposed virtues of the modern world. Connectivity, convenience. But from where he stands in small-town America, those promises ring hollow. With college (and a lifetime of debt) looming, he goes with the oldest trick in the quarter-life-crisis-haver's playbook: If in doubt, go to Africa to save the children. What could go wrong?
Quite a bit, it turns out. In Cape Town, he's thrown into a backwards, lawless world, one of bloodthirst and betrayal - and that's just among his fellow volunteers. The local wildlife, meanwhile, don't turn out to be much more welcoming.
Yet something about this place keeps pulling him back. Jack's adventures over the next few years challenge everything he thought he knew, revealing the forces shaping both South Africa and the world at large.
Product Details
| Publisher | Whitefox Publishing |
| Publish Date | January 13, 2026 |
| Pages | 400 |
| Language | English |
| Type |  Paperback |
| EAN/UPC | 9781917523264 |
| Dimensions | 8.5 X 5.5 X 0.9 inches | 1.0 pounds |
About the Author
Reviews
"A dazzling romp across continents and contradictions, How the Rhino Lost His Horn is as mischievous as it is thought-provoking. Jack Rathmell spins tales that sparkle with wit, satire, and a kind of reckless honesty that makes every page a delightful surprise. It's a travelogue, a fable, and a confessional all at once: always playful, never predictable. Readers will come away grinning, pondering, and perhaps a little braver about facing the absurdities of life." - Manhattan Book Review
"This frank, funny memoir of a messy maturity dissects Rathmell's need to surpass the stifling low expectations of his community and encourages readers to find their own path out of hopelessness and stagnation." - Publishers Weekly
"Rathmell's narrative is candid and at times achingly funny... Ultimately, this is a book about getting outside your comfort zone, exploring the world, and gaining an understanding and appreciation for your global neighbors. An adventurous, humorous memoir well worth the read." - Independent Book Review
"Grounded in keen observations and contextualized in a crash course of history, How the Rhino Lost His Horn is a knowledgeable, tantalizing travel memoir-cum-social critique." - Foreword Reviews
"A skillfully written personal narrative that doesn't lose sight of the wider world." - Kirkus Reviews
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