City Boy

The mention of an African autobiography often evokes images of a want and penury; a childhood sullied by poverty and hopelessness; and the predictable rags-to-riches narrative. Not so for City Boy. In this bold and refreshing account, Dr. Frank Njenga, a leading psychiatrist and author, weaves a compelling tale of growing up in an affluent neighbourhood, attending a once European-only school, enjoying foreign travel in childhood and all the trappings of a good upbringing. His account of the Mau Mau period as well as the post-independence era is captivating. With candour and charm, he invites readers into the world that shaped him - a world of books, travel, privilege and the rich tapestry of people who influenced his journey. It is a story that turns tables on the notion that rural poverty and adversity in childhood are the building blocks of a successful life. Rather, City Boy offers a new lens through which to view adolescence in the 1960s, personal ambition and what it takes to scale the heights of professional growth. In City Boy, Dr. Njenga rewrites the script on success with elegance, honesty and a rare clarity of thought.