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thepyrreview's review against another edition
5.0
What an incredible woman! I saw "Pray the Devil Back to Hell" first (in 2011), which tells the story of how the women of Liberia brought peace to their country. This book is Nobel Laureate Leymah Gbowee's life story and covers many years before the first civil war and many years after the 2nd (the film focuses on the end of the 2nd Civil War). I definitely recommend this book, though you might want to watch the documentary first so you have a good idea what her story is leading up to. It was also great to watch the documentary afterwards and to know the women in the film from Leymah's descriptions in "Mighty Be Our Powers." Regardless, whichever way you make it happen, read this book!
ermartinez's review against another edition
5.0
I had to read this in college for my Women of Africa course. My professor could not have chosen a better book to enlighten us about how women in Africa cannot continue to be viewed as perpetual victims. The way that Leymah Gbowee inspires her fellow women to bring about peace in her war-torn Liberia is amazing. Her actions brought about the end to the second Liberian Civil war in the early 2000's.
bookwrapt's review against another edition
4.0
Pretty good read. It was more biography than I expected it to be, but a really great story and message. At 39 years old, I hope to hear a lot more about this woman as the years go on.
melissajo's review against another edition
4.0
This woman won a Nobel peace prize when she was 39 years old! So amazing what they accomplished.
nycsquirrel's review against another edition
4.0
Very honest account of Leymah Gbowee's life during Liberia's civil wars. She admits her personal failings and weaknesses, and yet finds herself on a path to becoming one of the country's greatest leaders for women's rights and peace. A very interesting read.
bcamards's review against another edition
4.0
This is Leymah Gbowee’s unbelievable story of bringing peace to Liberia, which led to the end of the Liberia Civil War (and to her receiving the Nobel Peace Prize). The book clearly and viscerally details the emotions of Leymah’s experience of the war: the terror, the trauma, the hope, the courage, and the strength.
I did find that it was sometimes hard to follow timelines, and the impact of certain actions was lost in the muddiness of chronology and prose.
That being said, it is an unbelievably powerful and important story, and the book quite often left me speechless. Thank you, Leymah Gbowee.
I did find that it was sometimes hard to follow timelines, and the impact of certain actions was lost in the muddiness of chronology and prose.
That being said, it is an unbelievably powerful and important story, and the book quite often left me speechless. Thank you, Leymah Gbowee.
lmurray74's review against another edition
5.0
An incredible woman and her awe inspiring story. This was published before she won a Nobel Peace Prize, an extremely well deserved honour. In a better world though a story like hers wouldn't exist. The horrors of the Liberian civil war beggar belief. It's impossible for me to imagine what living through that would have been like, coming from a privileged western upbringing. Leymah Gbowee and the women she worked with deserve worldwide respect and if the methods they used can be implemented in other areas of conflict then the world may become a better place.
tashspice's review against another edition
4.0
I have felt this inspired by a book since "I am Malala". Leymah's story was powerful. The focus of her book was her personal journey and struggle which made her demand change her country. She takes you through the history which lead her to the point where she sees the need for change, but struggles how to change that need into tangible action.
"I believe, I know, that if you have unshakable faith in yourself, in your sisters and in the possibility of change, you can do almost anything" (230).
There is a part in the book where her first work-mentor,BB, is saying to her "Yes, the was was evil, but why had is tarted, Leymah?...Look at our history" (88). Her book is structured much the same way. She begins speaking of her high school graduation, and how her family had such high hopes for her. Then war broke out, she spent time in a refuge camp. She doesn't give much details about what happened in the camp, but mainly how the camp and the war impacted her state of mind enough to start a relationship with a man she knew she probably shouldn't.
I was expecting a lot more details about the actual war, and seeing it impact her, but I was expecting to hear a lot more about the brutality of war. Her portrayal of the war is demonstrate when she explains in the prologue that a foreign journalist asked if she was raped during the war. When she told him no she "was no longer of any interest" (x). She speaks of her abusive relationship, and the lack of employment and food for the people. But with all the war and it's effects around her, she speaks of the kindness of the Liberian people, and their desire for peace and wanting to help each other.
I appreciated her talking about her struggles with trying to get jobs, feed her family, being a single working mother. You could feel how she sacrificed so much to help so many, but at the cost of relationships with her children. Her life is a push and pull in all directions, but she was driven. She's very inspiring. She's not perfect, and I love it. I love that she sees a need, and wants action instead of tons of meetings to discuss options with no decisions.
My only complaint about the book was the timeline was a little unclear. I couldn't follow along with how much time she spent in a particular place or when something happened in her life. It was a little confusing.
"I believe, I know, that if you have unshakable faith in yourself, in your sisters and in the possibility of change, you can do almost anything" (230).
There is a part in the book where her first work-mentor,BB, is saying to her "Yes, the was was evil, but why had is tarted, Leymah?...Look at our history" (88). Her book is structured much the same way. She begins speaking of her high school graduation, and how her family had such high hopes for her. Then war broke out, she spent time in a refuge camp. She doesn't give much details about what happened in the camp, but mainly how the camp and the war impacted her state of mind enough to start a relationship with a man she knew she probably shouldn't.
I was expecting a lot more details about the actual war, and seeing it impact her, but I was expecting to hear a lot more about the brutality of war. Her portrayal of the war is demonstrate when she explains in the prologue that a foreign journalist asked if she was raped during the war. When she told him no she "was no longer of any interest" (x). She speaks of her abusive relationship, and the lack of employment and food for the people. But with all the war and it's effects around her, she speaks of the kindness of the Liberian people, and their desire for peace and wanting to help each other.
I appreciated her talking about her struggles with trying to get jobs, feed her family, being a single working mother. You could feel how she sacrificed so much to help so many, but at the cost of relationships with her children. Her life is a push and pull in all directions, but she was driven. She's very inspiring. She's not perfect, and I love it. I love that she sees a need, and wants action instead of tons of meetings to discuss options with no decisions.
My only complaint about the book was the timeline was a little unclear. I couldn't follow along with how much time she spent in a particular place or when something happened in her life. It was a little confusing.
karaleehottie's review against another edition
4.0
This was really deep and there is lots of mention of sexual violence and abuse but like dang this woman is a boss and such a leader and hero to her people, and this was super educational because I literally don't know about struggles in other parts of the world so this was good to read ! love Leymah