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4.28 AVERAGE
4.28 AVERAGE
At first glance it seems like a compelling narrative, until you investigate the manifestly corrupt procedures Hochschild engaged in when writing. Recommend checking Bruce Glilley for a reality check on the Congo's history.
I stayed up to the early hours of the morning, finishing this book. It is so informative, and for me, so new and unheard of, that I wanted to keep reading, to discover the whole story. There are a few problems with this book--some overdone metaphors, a few opposing points. On the whole, though, this is an amazing book, detailing and analyzing a history few Westerners actually know. It gave me such a better understanding for events in Africa in the twentieth century. Everyone should read this book, but be prepared for great waves of revulsion and sadness, for this history is as sorrowful as any other of the darkest chapters in human history.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
tense
medium-paced
This book was pretty good. Told the tale in a great story like form which didn’t make it feel clinical. It had. Great analysis of people, their motives and their contradictions.
The one things that really turned me away was the hints of false equivalence to Stalin and the Soviet Union. I see he wrote an anti Stalin book too so that makes sense. But my guy! Did it belong in this book? No? Saying that Stalin killed millions of people is a straight up lie. Of course if you are counting that Nazis killed during ww2, cool the number can high, but like good on them for wiping so many fascists out!
Speaking of fascists the author regencies William Randolph Hearst report, whom soon would become a Nazi propagandist and the guy behind spreading the false story of the”holodomor.” There are many photos of Hearst kicking it with Nazis.
I really liked most of this book but damn if it did not sour me with all the anti Soviet jabs towards the end. What a waste.
The one things that really turned me away was the hints of false equivalence to Stalin and the Soviet Union. I see he wrote an anti Stalin book too so that makes sense. But my guy! Did it belong in this book? No? Saying that Stalin killed millions of people is a straight up lie. Of course if you are counting that Nazis killed during ww2, cool the number can high, but like good on them for wiping so many fascists out!
Speaking of fascists the author regencies William Randolph Hearst report, whom soon would become a Nazi propagandist and the guy behind spreading the false story of the”holodomor.” There are many photos of Hearst kicking it with Nazis.
I really liked most of this book but damn if it did not sour me with all the anti Soviet jabs towards the end. What a waste.
challenging
dark
sad
medium-paced
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
slow-paced
challenging
informative
medium-paced
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
King Leopold should thank his lucky stars that WWI happened. He was on his way to being one of the most despised men of the 20th Century.
It’s staggering to think that 40-50 years after the end of the American Civil War there was still violent chattel slavery of Blacks in the Congo.
In addition to it being horrifying, it’s also incredibly well-written. One of my pet peeves is an interesting topic written by a terrible writer. This is not one of those books.
Highly recommended if you can deal with the subject. It’s not for the timid.
It’s staggering to think that 40-50 years after the end of the American Civil War there was still violent chattel slavery of Blacks in the Congo.
In addition to it being horrifying, it’s also incredibly well-written. One of my pet peeves is an interesting topic written by a terrible writer. This is not one of those books.
Highly recommended if you can deal with the subject. It’s not for the timid.
A graphic account of the Belgian slave trade in the Congo. Necessary to understanding the global history of slavery and human exploitation.