'Impatient American' Tells of a Change in Outlook

"The Impatient American" (Dorrance, $26) is the engaging tale of author "Mr. Pat's" experiences while working and living in the Third World.

When "Pat" accepts a one-year contract to work on a project in the Middle East, he believes it will provide him with a much-needed vacation away from his problems with the Internal Revenue Service, as well as financial recovery from a stateside business failure.

Instead, what emerges is an unexpected tour of the Middle East and parts of the African continent that change his life forever.

Written with both humor and poignancy, the book describes the frustrations, surprises and even dangers that come with beingan American doing business in the Third World. As a result of unexpected circumstances, "Pat's" one year stretches into six. Along the way, as an American with limited prior travel experience, he encounters unfamiliar and often strange customs, laws and business practices, as wellas extreme culture shock.

He also learns to appreciate the beauty of the land and, most importantly, the freedoms often taken for granted in his own country.