S2-17 | Reading the Kindle Publication 'Africa is Too Much for a Coward'

The other day, I wrote an article about my impressions of reading another Kindle author's travelogue.
Since I am also writing a travelogue, I wanted to use it as a reference.

The book is here ▼

This time, I happened to see a book by "Yuhi" in the recommended articles on note, and since I was curious, I read it.

The book is here ▼

The first thing I thought was, "This book is very well put together."
The author said they made the cover themselves, but it didn't feel amateurish at all; it was solid, as if a professional designer had worked on it.

Recent Kindle books emphasize readability on smartphones, so many are in landscape format.

Yuhi's book uses vertical text, and the novel-like atmosphere was also refreshing.

The text was very easy to read and well-organized, with photos inserted here and there. What was particularly impressive was the page called "Memory Newspaper." It summarizes the highlights of the trip in a newspaper article style, which is fun to read back.

Furthermore, there were "Country Introduction Pages" prepared, which served like a travel atlas.

I strongly thought, "Wow, I want to imitate this!"
However, the travelogue of Dr. Sakai that I am currently working on is structured to flow as a "story," so inserting a newspaper format would disrupt the rhythm.
So, I had to give it up with tears in my eyes. However, I felt that knowing the "breadth of expression" itself would be an asset for the future.

Also, I use a text-to-speech app that reads articles aloud while I do housework. So, I was listening to it while driving in the car. For images, I look at my smartphone screen while hanging out the laundry.

A "Coward's" Journey Across Africa

The author, Yuhi, writes that they are "an introvert and a coward at heart." Moreover, this was their first overseas trip. Choosing to cross from Egypt to South Africa right away is a challenge that sounds dizzying just to hear about.

What stayed with me while reading was the attitude that "there is no need to force yourself to be bold." There were nights when they cried after being ripped off, days when they were bedridden with a cold, and in the end, a major incident occurred where they were robbed. Even so, they remained cautious and continued to move forward step by step without stopping.

"Even if you are a coward, you can still take action"—I was greatly encouraged by those words.

The robber, and the kindness of people that follows

The scene where the author encounters a robber was particularly gripping. My own heart was pounding as I read it, and I was on the edge of my seat, thinking, 'Are you okay?!'

If it were me, I don't have the confidence to stay calm in that situation. I don't think I could ever fight to protect my luggage.

But Yuuhi-san managed to get through it without any major injuries. And then, he encountered the kindness of the people he met afterward. It is precisely because it happened right after the robbery that their warmth touched my heart so deeply.

I was on my way to pick up my daughter from kindergarten when I read that part. I couldn't help but tear up in the car at the parking lot.
'Thank goodness. I'm so glad you're safe. I'm so glad there were kind people there.'

Overwhelmed by emotions I couldn't put into words, I hurriedly wiped my eyes with a handkerchief. I didn't want the parent next to me to look at me strangely, so I calmed down a bit before entering the school. (Haha)

The appeal of 'links' only possible with Kindle

Another interesting thing was that there were YouTube links embedded in the text.

The people he met during his travels had published videos, and Yuuhi-san was actually in them. I couldn't help but say out loud, 'Oh, it's true! That's Yuuhi-san!'

The seamless connection between the book and the internet is unique to Kindle. I think it's an experience you can't get with a paper book.

What remained after reading

I felt that what the author wanted to convey through this journey was, 'It's okay to remain an introvert. Even if you're a coward, you can still connect with people.'

This applies perfectly to me as I continue my own publishing challenges. I don't always move forward with full confidence; rather, I take it one step at a time while carrying anxiety and timidity.

But that's okay. Even while holding onto your weaknesses, if you keep moving forward, the scenery will expand.

That was the warm realization that remained with me after reading.
At the same time, I learned that 'there are such free ways to express a travelogue.' I think this reading experience has become a great asset as I continue to write my own record of challenges.

I will do my best again tomorrow as I work on Sakai-sensei's manuscript.

#AutumnReading2025

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✏️ A Record of Challenges from Zero Publishing Experience
This is a magazine that chronicles the behind-the-scenes of publishing Sakai-san's book on Kindle, which I wrote this essay about.
From the struggles of manuscript creation to small discoveries and unexpected happenings—why not take a peek behind the scenes of production? 👇

📚 Sakai-san's Straightforward Journal
An essay magazine that 'straightforwardly' chronicles the people met during travels, events, and the surprises and lessons learned from encountering different cultures.
Please enjoy these travel stories filled with laughter and discoveries 👇