Patrice Lumumba was a Congolese independence leader and the first elected Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Considered a dangerous threat to colonial and international interests, he was assassinated in 1961. The collection Patrice Lumumba: May Our People Triumph contains some of his speeches, interviews and letters. The second half is devoted [...]
Category: Book Reviews
Beloved by Toni Morrison (Audiobook & Book Review)
One of Toni Morrison's best known novels, Beloved is an immensely moving account of loss, longing, memory and identity. Set against the backdrop of post-Civil War America, the story centres on Sephe, who has escaped from a life of slavery, and her family. It tells of the legacy of slavery and the physical and psychological [...]
The Life You Can Save by Peter Singer (Book Review)
This short and accessible book by bioethics expert Peter Singer certainly gives the reader food for thought. Singer does not mince his words and is clear in his beliefs. The average person, he opines, can and should be playing a part in reducing extreme poverty around the world, and the rich have an even heavier [...]
Dead Aid by Dambisa Moyo (Book Review)
I am a big fan of global economist Dambisa Moyo. Something about her cool, calm yet determined demeanour appeals to me. More than that, she has something to say, and she's not afraid to say it. Her book Dead Aid: Why Aid Is Not Working and How There Is a Better Way for Africa was published [...]
Making Africa Work: A Handbook (Book Review)
Marking Africa Work: A Handbook is written by four authors: Greg Mills, Jeffrey Herbst, Olusegun Obasanjo and Dickie Davis. Each author brings unique experience and insight, not least Olusegun Obasanjo, the former President of Nigeria, who lends the book particular gravitas. In light of the impending population boom in Africa, the authors' mission is to [...]
Good Morning, Mr Mandela by Zelda la Grange (Audiobook & Book Review)
I read this memoir by Nelson Mandela's former secretary, Zelda la Grange, at the end of last year. Or, to be more accurate, I listened to it on audiobook. In Good Morning, Mr Mandela, la Grange provides a uniquely human account of this icon of the modern age during his presidential and later years. It [...]
Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari (Book Review)
Where to start with this fantastic book? If you're looking for a quick, easy read, Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari is not for you. I say that not because the book is particularly arduous. In fact, given the relatively complex and profound subject matter, the book is surprisingly easy to [...]
God Help the Child by Toni Morrison (Book Review)
TW: child abuse I finished Toni Morrison's latest book God Help the Child two weeks ago, and it's still occupying a prominent place in my mind. Perhaps this book is an odd choice for my first "book review" on this site, as I still don't know exactly how I feel about it. I've only just discovered Toni [...]
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