Reviews

An Ordinary Man: An Autobiography by Paul Rusesabagina, Tom Zoellner

bridget_voisin's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective fast-paced

5.0

A powerful story. It was interesting to read about horrors from someone who experienced it. The author shows great love and strength. I enjoy hearing about his love for his country and love for his family and people. This story is not for the faint of heart but can be rewarding to learn from history. 

sally1's review against another edition

5.0

I listened to the audio version of this book, and I know that added to the experience of his story. It was as though Mr. Rusesabagina was telling his story personally. Truly an inspirational and enlightening story that everyone should hear.

cozylittlebrownhouse's review against another edition

4.0

This is one of the shortest books I have ever read that took me longer to read than many several times its size. I saw Hotel Rwanda when it came out in theaters, but reading the horrors in the words of the man himself was even more gripping and difficult to digest. I think it is important to read books such as these so we know what is happening in the world - too many Americans are closed off from international happenings. Unfortunately, stories like Paul's seem fairly common throughout Africa today. Maybe not to the degree of the massacre in Rwanda, but more so than we even know or understand. This was a powerful read, and it really makes you evaluate your own life and once again reassess how lucky we truly are.

livi_loves_reading's review

dark informative inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

4.5

meg_thebrave's review against another edition

4.0

A very well written autobiography that was both moving and informative. The way Rusesabagina weaves together his story and history with that of his country is incredible and flawless, and it is easy to see the influence of Rwanda in his words. I loved his emphasis on the power words have, how they may be the strongest weapons and tools that we have.

bobobooks's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective sad tense fast-paced

4.75

bookswithgin's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense slow-paced

4.0

Be prepared that this is a terribly dark corner of history. Growing up a child of the 90s, I feel like I was shielded from the news about Rwanda, and I'm glad this book was so informative. The author is a very brave man!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Genocide

bluenicorn's review against another edition

3.0

It was pretty graphic, but not nearly as much as the movie (Hotel Rwanda). I think it gave me alot more insight into how the whole genocidal situation developed in the first place- the kind of details that are tricky to incorporate into a movie plot. It's just so sad in how pointless and brutal the whole thing was.

lindseypruett's review against another edition

1.0

Be careful with this story. Paul Rusesabagina is an incredibly controversial and unpopular character in Rwanda on all sides of the conflict, and not just because he's spoken out against Paul Kagame. Many Rwandese (including victims of the genocide) feel as if he exaggerated his tale in order to paint himself in the best light. For example, the idea that he was able to save lives by bribing the Interahamwe with the contents of a liquor cabinet is ludicrous. Many people believe that he was able to provide safety by carefully choosing who he took in- such as the wealthy Tutsi wives of Hutu commanders. While Rusesabagina saved many lives, nobody really knows what happened in the Milles Collines and it is possible he cannot be taken at his word. If you want accurate and corroborated books that tell the story of the genocide or its aftermath, there are much better choices. Try "We Wish to Inform you that Tomorrow We Will Be Killed With Our Families" or "The Antelope's Strategy."

janiceh's review against another edition

3.0

The background information about how the Tutsi and Hutu became a separate race was very interesting, as was the political wrangling, but the actual writing and storytelling was only okay. When I finished the book I looked up what was happening to Paul Rusesabagina now and will be fascinated to follow this story. https://abcnews.go.com/International/jailed-hero-hotel-rwanda-claims-tortured-slaughterhouse-arriving/story?id=77748884