Dr. De Souza's book provides an astute social portrait of the tangled racial realities of colonial and post-colonial East Africa. It reminds insular American readers that racism takes on subtly different forms in different cultures, but leaves behind as a common residue hatred, anguish and death - just as it has in our own. But it also reveals to the reader the inner world of Indian immigrants to Africa - their weddings, sense of family, political and personal aspirations, as well as the buffeting impacts upon them of both colonial British and independent African rule. There are living persons traversing the pages of this memoir. Out of the drama of their geographic and emotional displacement, Dr. De Souza has created a narrative that renders vividly those people and their era for grateful present-day readers and for the social historians of the future who will seek to make textured sense of Africa's emergence from European colonial rule.

My Grandfather's book No Place For Me is a true work of art. After reading it I not only have a better understanding of my grandfather's struggles and triumphs in his early medical career but also my family's history in East Africa and how they came to be in America. Dr. Leo Desouza is an inspirational one of a kind author and I am proud to call myself his grandson.

Leo DeSouza's absorbing book will be fascinating to all those with an interest in Tanzania and especially to those who lived in the country during the period he describes. It says much about East Africa in the mid-20th century and the part played by the many, from India in particular, who contributed to its development.
He emerges as a person of great professional skills and dedication, who earned the respect of his colleagues, but who was also sensitive to the racial prejudices encountered among those he and Dolly dealt with, arising from his Goan inheritance.
The book is skillfully written, with not a word out of place, and is a tribute to his achievements.

Leo DeSouza has written No Place For Me about his life in Africa where he was born. It chronicles the difficulties he encountered as he struggled to establish his medical career there until he was finally forced to leave in 1971.
I knew him as a colleague and friend for 30 years at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis and was aware that Leo had a strong desire to tell the story of his life and the stories of others in Africa.
The descriptions of events and places are vivid and full of details, bringing to life what it was like to live in colonial Africa and the tumultuous period of African states struggling to gain independence. With insight and emotion Leo describes the blatant and subtle racism to which he was subjected, difficult to endure for a proud man who was deeply hurt by the injustice.
From what I learned about the man from this memoir I can say that Dr. De Souza eventually succeeded in finding his place in Minneapolis, earning respect and admiration from his colleagues and students in a long and distinguished career as an orthopedic surgeon and dedicated teacher. And possibly most important to him, he was finally treated as an equal which is what he always deserved.

’No Place For Me’ provides much for readers and students of history, political science, and sociology around the themes of exclusion and inclusion. Related to inclusion is the quest for equality which has long been a theme for analyzing the Asian experience in East Africa as well as numerous minority groups in the US today and in years past. An easy to read and enjoyable book which deserves a wide audience.

Leo D'Souza's story resonates because it describes yet another triumph against divisive forces beyond his control. A life of service, love and struggle, his memoir speaks of the struggles in a matter-of-fact way without irritation or anger. It is yet another story of resilience in times of adversity. To adjust to life in several new nations with different cultures and systems is never easy. To succeed, and be highly regarded and loved, is an accomplishment which merits admiration. There are many such stories and yet, each one has a unique flavor. I enjoyed reading this book. I also sent it as a gift to a friend in UK who was having trouble procuring a copy locally. A wonderful story worth reading and sharing.

It is a story of triumph over tragedy - tragedy in this case being blatant racism both in colonial Tanganyika and later in independent East Africa.

Here was a highly gifted surgeon whose qualifications matched those of his European counterparts, and yet he was denied his rightful place.

A highly readable book I just couldn't put down.

Tracing his roots to Parra, Bardez Goa, Dr Leo beautifully paints the landscape of Africa going back to his father’s arrival in the country and how families had to separate when education and livelihood were both given importance. Migration often comes with its own challenges and though Dr Leo called Tanganyika his home, the country didn’t accept him as their own. He faced discrimination as an Indian doctor in East Africa and had to ultimately flee to the USA after Idi Amin’s coup in 1971.
Through the book, family and friends of Goans who are curious to know more about their ‘Afrikander’ parents and grandparents can experience the reality and life experiences of Goans in East Africa. In Academia, students of Colonialism and Nationalization, East African History, Migration patterns and challenges, Medical Apartheid in colonial and post-colonial East Africa can also gain more information.

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Having been born and raised in Tanzania (Tanganyika) in the 50s, I had first hand knowledge of the land and the people. Since I was just a young boy I wasn't able to appreciate the harm the British attitude had towards those of other nations and colors. I realize now that although East African colonial governments did not have an official Apartheid system, there were clear class distinctions that were present no matter how much education or credentials one might have. Ironically after independence Tanzania was caught up in the authenticity fervor and again brown people were not wanted or appreciated. De Souza lays out this narrative in a deeply personal way with many stirring anecdotes that kept my attention to the end of the story. My only wish was that he could have continued the story about adjusting to living in the U.S.

A beautifully written work that is more than a memoir. It's an important story for our time - one of immigration, revolution, love, fear and a lifelong stand against evil.
Remarkably, everything old is new again and this story demands to be read.

In my junior year of high school back in 1971, I became friends with a new student, the daughter of author Dr. Leo J. De Souza. My classmate had spent the first 16 years of her life in East Africa. Her father, the author, was born in Tanganyika in 1926. (Tanganyika is now the state of Tanzania.) His own parents had emigrated from the Indian state of Goa to Tanga. "No Place for Me" starts with some background information on Tanzania, the slave trade, German and British colonialism, and the life of Indian immigrants to this East African land in the early 20th century. It continues with Leo's own story of growing up in Tanga, attending boarding school, college, and medical school in India, returning to Tanga, marrying another doctor from India, raising four children in post-colonial Tanzania, and emigrating to Uganda. Throughout the story, the author shares both his pride and his discomfort in the life he lived in these East African countries. I found the book to be extremely well-written: Dr. De Souza's attention to detail as a doctor carried over into his writing style. I learned a lot about Tanzania and Uganda in the last century as they struggled to be free and independent of colonial rule. I found myself thinking quite a bit about the lives of immigrants in places other than the U.S. I'm really glad that my classmate published her father's memoir and highly recommend this book to readers interested in cross-cultural lives.

I loved this book! It is a memoir and so much more. The author spans 3 generations as he successfully relates family history, personal experience, and political upheaval. We learn in the preface that he returned to university to learn creative writing to help him write this book. Wow! His descriptions of events and people were flawless. I could imagine the sorrow and emotions of everyone involved as he describes a slave caravan, the power and wonder of an African safari, and the helplessness of war. He writes of social norms of previous generations, racism, and the fight to establish equality in a land where he is told he doesn’t belong. Most of all, this book is about the love, determination, and resilience of a man as he strives to keep his family safe. This book would also be perfect for sociology classes. Highly recommend!

The book is a history lesson as well and full of interesting facts. I had no idea of the racial disparity that occurred in East Africa against the Indian people. This was brought to light and explained well. The preserved letters and photography added interest to the book. I am so pleased that his family pursued getting his work into print so this story could be shared.
The family tree and the map of East Africa in the front of the book were both extremely helpful to me. I found that I referred to both frequently as I read the book.
To me the unsung hero(ine) of the book was his wife, Dr. Dolly DeSouza. She, too, had a hard life and seemed to always be in the back keeping things in order. I admire her.
The most stunning fact to me was that Dr. DeSouza went to Hamline University after he retired to learn to write and then wrote this wonderful book! Such a lucky family!
It is quite a story about quite a man!

Upon my reading of "No Place For Me," I was so pleased to find not only the core story and important messages which Leo and I had discussed during the readings, but also a wealth of accompanying visuals of places, persons, family members and key characters from the journey. The "Biographies & Correspondence" section was a great addition and adds some wonderful personal and factual context for so many of the journey's participants.
When I finished reading "No Place," I had a distinct feeling that my sensory perceptions had somehow been more stimulated. I somehow felt more engaged by the tastes of the foods, the styling of the clothing, the descriptions of the characters and the visions of the landscapes; a three dimensional experience instead of a two dimensional treatise.
I have repeatedly referred to this book, in either form, as a journey. This is really a multi-faceted journey of a man, a couple, a family, a society and humanity, all interwoven. The journey of course continues, but we are so pleased and fortunate that this journey brought Leo and Dolly and your entire family to our world and life...........
"No Place For Me" has a place; and it is in our library, our home, our hearts.

The author Leo, does a fantastic job of painting a picture of what life was like as an Indian doctor practicing medicine in East Africa.
The story weaves in family life and work life throughout busy times as a doctor and gives you examples about how where you were born and what you look like can impact your daily life. A fantastic read. Highly recommended.

An amazing saga filled with courage, determination, love and dedication. This is a true life adventure spanning four continents and multiple decades skillfully narrated in a style that keeps you engaged. A real gem. I read it cover to cover and had a hard time putting it down.

This is an incredible true story of Leo DeSouza and his family and how he endured years of prejudice and discrimination as a medical doctor working in East Africa. He was responsible for improving the lives of countless patients in difficult conditions. His story provides a detailed description of the geography of the area and the dangerous politics in Uganda in the 1960s.

It is a story familiar to many other Goan and Indian families who would recognise many of the same loves, challenges and beauties of life in East Africa. This memoir spans a century of upheaval and challenges as seen primarily through the prism of Leo’s own family’s experiences. He weaves the story of his parents and then of himself into the story after he was born in 1926.
It is so important that these memories are recorded and not lost to history. Leo has done us a great service in putting down his experiences and his memories not only for his own family to enjoy and read but for a wider public also and indeed even for future generations to learn about a world that has all but vanished.

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It was fun to learn more about your time in Lira and Gulu, which we heard mention of often during all the years we've known your parents.

An amazing true story of Leo and his family and their incredible journey. This story educated me on the politics and geography of East Africa.

This book is well written and is highly recommended for anyone to read especially those who grew up in Tanzania and Uganda and who subsequently migrated to other countries whether due to turmoil in these respective countries or for better opportunities. Even for those who still live in these countries, this book is worth reading.

Amazing perseverance of a young couple trying to find a place and career. Dr. Leo and Dolly were clearly pioneers in a time when it wasn't easy to buck a system that has been in place for so long. Loved the way the story was written as i learned a lot of history and context. Highly recommend!!

Beautifully written story of multigenerational family’s journey. Some heart wrenching details of a cruel system that existed in colonial Africa.

I could not put down this book. I learned so much about East Africa and the culture of the time (good and bad). It was amazing to me how much Dr. Leo DeSouza and Dr. Dolly DeSouza endured (racism) and still managed to excel in their careers and keep their family safe. Highly recommend!

An amazing memoir of a dedicated, talented surgeon and father! The detail in DeSouza’s recollections paints vivid pictures in the reader’s minds! I thoroughly enjoyed this book!