1.29k reviews for:

Blown Away

Adam Hochschild, Adam Hochschild

4.28 AVERAGE

angeareads's review against another edition

4.75

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

mgiebert's review against another edition

4.0

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Colonialism is monstrous

tomes1225's review against another edition

3.5

challenging dark sad medium-paced

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It’s unbelievable how evil the characters in this book were and how little we heard about it in history classes. The hunt for ivory and then rubber in the Congo is one of the most (maybe the most) brutal stories of colonialism I’ve ever read about. 

It was nice to read about the heroic deeds of those who were able to bring these human rights atrocities to light. While some of the officials were literally hunting Africans for sport there were a few brave writers who took these stories and shared them with the world and brought these abuses to an end. 

European and American colonialism was a true blight on the world. The Congo is still feeling the repercussions till this day. 

This was an uncomfortable read at times but an important one. Now I need to add Heart of Darkness to my reading list. 

adelec's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative inspiring medium-paced

kingmcgaw's review against another edition

5.0

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Fascinating, engagingly written and unobstructively referenced

readmarklearninwardlydigest's review against another edition

5.0

challenging dark emotional informative sad fast-paced

abisko's review against another edition

4.0

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Informative, well written history of a tragic period. Fascinating story in many respects, although I don't find Hochschild's writing inspiring for some reason, but can't really put my finger on why. Anyway, a solid read and worth the four stars.

sharkduck125's review against another edition

4.5

challenging dark emotional informative reflective slow-paced

jhcroft2212's review against another edition

4.5

dark emotional informative sad medium-paced

vodkapasta's review against another edition

4.5

dark informative reflective slow-paced