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A review by aesylvester
A Problem from Hell: America and the Age of Genocide by Samantha Power
4.0
A Problem from Hell is subjective in a subtle, journalistic way but over-saturated with information. Power does an impressive job documenting genocide in the 20th century (though not comprehensive, obviously). Possibly the most interesting aspect is her chronicling of the United States reactions and responses (or lack thereof). She gives the socially aware reader much to think about, particularly in regards to what causes genocide and how the world should (and has failed to) respond.
Power lost one star because somewhere around the time you're reading of Hussein's slaughter of the Kurds in Iraq, you feel like you're reading the same story for the fifth time. This is for good reason - there is a pattern in the occurrence genocide - but at some points it seems like Power gets bogged down in delivering details and fails to acknowledge the reader.
Otherwise, a well-done, informative, and thought-provoking nonfiction.
Power lost one star because somewhere around the time you're reading of Hussein's slaughter of the Kurds in Iraq, you feel like you're reading the same story for the fifth time. This is for good reason - there is a pattern in the occurrence genocide - but at some points it seems like Power gets bogged down in delivering details and fails to acknowledge the reader.
Otherwise, a well-done, informative, and thought-provoking nonfiction.