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4.28 AVERAGE
4.28 AVERAGE
challenging
informative
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Incredible narrative. A man who has been held up as a unique monster but in truth is just one example of how all European countries treated Africa during the colonial period and how that legacy continues today.
challenging
dark
medium-paced
dark
informative
reflective
medium-paced
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
King Leopold's Ghost is an incredibly hard book to read, but it's beautifully written barring a few pacing issues. This story is so important, it's a relatively unknown tale of brutality and heroism that should be common knowledge, but isn't. I especially enjoyed reading about the individuals that brought Leopold's misdeeds to light.
informative
reflective
medium-paced
t would be an understatement to say that this book has left a profound impact on me. As someone born in a country that had its own struggles with, and the lasting impact of colonialism for centuries, I went in to this book mildly confident, that I would be able to handle yet another book on colonialism and rampant greed. I couldn't have been more mistaken. Some of the chapters were just so harrowing that I had to pause reading for a few days.
As hard as the source material can be, the author Mr.Adam Hochschild has beautifully woven it almost as a movie or a play, which makes it so much easier for novices to history like me. And that is also exactly why anyone can, and must read this book. Especially when you realize how close we were to never knowing about a silent genocide that raged in the Congo.
The best part about the book was that heroes like Roger Casement, E.D. Morel, William Sheppard, etc. were given a complete account of, flaws and all; which humanizes them and makes you appreciate their sacrifices and perseverance, even more. Mr. Hochschild has also tried his best to bring the voices of the actual Congolese, who were affected, even though there is very little historical record of those.
All in all, this is a brilliant work, and a stark reminder of what greed and hate can do to the world, and must be read by everyone.
As hard as the source material can be, the author Mr.Adam Hochschild has beautifully woven it almost as a movie or a play, which makes it so much easier for novices to history like me. And that is also exactly why anyone can, and must read this book. Especially when you realize how close we were to never knowing about a silent genocide that raged in the Congo.
The best part about the book was that heroes like Roger Casement, E.D. Morel, William Sheppard, etc. were given a complete account of, flaws and all; which humanizes them and makes you appreciate their sacrifices and perseverance, even more. Mr. Hochschild has also tried his best to bring the voices of the actual Congolese, who were affected, even though there is very little historical record of those.
All in all, this is a brilliant work, and a stark reminder of what greed and hate can do to the world, and must be read by everyone.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racial slurs, Torture, Violence
challenging
dark
informative
medium-paced
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
slow-paced