Product Description

Three years ago, award-winning actress Angelina Jolie took on a radically different role as a Goodwill Ambassador for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Here are her memoirs from her journeys to Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Pakistan, Cambodia, and Ecuador, where she lived and worked and gave her heart to those who suffer the world's most shattering violence and victimization. Here are her revelations of joy and warmth amid utter destitution?compelling snapshots of courageous and inspiring people for whom survival is their daily work?and candid notes from a unique pilgrimage that completely changed the actress's worldview -- and the world within herself.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #76695 in Books
• Published on: 2003-10-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 320 pages

Review
Jane Goodall, Ph.D., CBEFounder of the Jane Goodall Institute and UN Messenger of PeaceAngelina is living proof of the power we all have -- every one of us -- to make a difference. I was deeply moved by her descriptions of individual refugees struggling to live with dignity and hope, and found her personal commitment to be an inspiration. Angelina's journals document her awakening as a humanitarian activist and I hope they will move readers to act. I look forward to my continued work with Angelina on behalf of the United Nations.

About the Author
Angelina Jolie has starred in more than twenty films, including Gia; The Bone Collector; Girl, Interrupted; Gone in 60 Seconds; Lara Croft: Tomb Raider; and Beyond Borders.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Introduction

I was asked to write an introduction to my journals, to explain how my journals came to be, why my life took this direction, and why I decided to start it.

As I try to find the answers, I am sure of one thing: I am forever changed. I am so grateful I took this path in my life, thankful that I met these amazing people and had this incredible experience.

I honestly believe that if we were all aware, we would all be compelled to act.

So the question is not how or why I would do this with my life. The question is, how could I not?

Many nights I sat awake reading stories and statistics about national and international tragedies.

I read about UNHCR:

• More than twenty million refugees exist today.
• One-sixth of the world's population lives on less than one dollar a day.
• 1.1 billion people lack access to safe drinking water.
• One-third of the world has no electricity.
• More than 100 million children are out of school.
• One in six children in Africa dies before the age of five.

I read about different organizations that do humanitarian work. I had been reading about Sierra Leone when I was in England. When I got back to the States it was difficult to follow the stories, so I called USA for UNHCR and asked if they could help me understand the situation there and similar situations elsewhere in the world. Three weeks later I was in Sierra Leone.

I don't know how this will be as a book, how readers will find it. I am not a writer. These are just my journals. They are just a glimpse into a world that I am just beginning to understand, a world I could never really explain in words.

Copyright © 2003 by Angelina Jolie

Customer Reviews

Fascinating and a worthwhile read
While I've always felt Angelia Jolie was a superb actress, I wondered how much of her U.N. work was due to being a publicity hound. I came across this book in a store full of African crafts and was so fascinated with it that I came home and ordered it on Amazon. This book isn't a formally written account of her travels; rather, it's a collection of her writings in a personal journal written while on various U.N. missions around the world a couple of years ago. Her writing is casual, personal, and it is very raw and honest, obviously from the heart. I now have a new admiration for Angelina and her complete dedication to this cause. As a person who lived abroad for many years and traveled extensively in the third world and Africa, I was able to relate to to the accuracy of what she noted in her comments. I found the book interesting because it was an actual blow by blow journal of her experiences, impressions, observations, and her own reactions to what she saw on various trips. Very refreshing, and also very sobering at the same time. It's well worth a read for the content alone, and reading it will make you see Angelina in a totally different light. I now count myself among her admirers and I respect her intense involvement with the U.N. She is doing just as much to draw attention to these problems as did the late, wonderful Audrey Hepburn when she served in the same capacity in the U.N., and this is quite a compliment because Audrey was so truly wonderful in her own right. Angelina is a worthy successor, no doubt about it.

The real world through the eyes of Angelina Jolie
Angelina Jolie takes you on a journey to see an another world, or let's say the other part of the world that we all have (at least most of us) haven't seen or even thought about.
You won't be reading a journal about any typical oscar winner actress but a true philanthropist.
Barbara Walters told her:" You can't save the world Angelina"
She replied: " yes I know."
Yes, she is not saving the world but she is making a difference.
Her book proves it, her travels have changed her and they may change you too.
Her new perspective of life is described in such simple words yet so full of meaning, they will take you into the profund depths of the world: its truth.
In other words, the book is amazing.

By helping others, she has helped herself: she is now a more reasonnable person and knew that life is not about thinking only about yourself but it is thinking about others. That way you know you are at least useful to yourself and others.

Anyways, the book is great!

Opened My Eyes
I hate to say it but before I read this book I was oblivious to much of the worlds sufferings. Now that I have read it I am now more aware of whats going on in the world, and I would like to take action and help out. Angelina Jolie has written something from her heart, not many books come from the heart. In this book you will read about the struggles refugees go through, and how much faith and will they have within themselves as they endure everyday hardships. 'Notes from My Travels' is very meaningful and it was easy to follow. I'm not very good with my memory when it comes to remembering things like statistics and facts but I find myself remembering almost if not all the facts within this book.

We should all be very blessed with what we do have, even if it may not seem like much, to another it could mean everything.

This book also shows that YOU CAN make a difference. Even in the simplest things like raising awareness to family, friends even strangers.

I would like to thank Angelina Jolie, for deeply inspiring me and opening my eyes.

- Cristina