| View Larger Image | A Thousand Hills: Rwanda's Rebirth and the Man Who Dreamed It | Hardcoverby Stephen Kinzer (Author)
| List Price: | $25.95 | | Price: | $17.13 | | You Save: | $8.82 (34%) | | | Available: | Usually ships in 24 hours |
| | Binding: | Hardcover | | Publisher: | Wiley | | Page Count: | 400 Pages | | Publication Date: | June 03, 2008 | | Sales Rank: | 25,780th |
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FEATURES | - ISBN13: 9780470120156
- Condition: USED - VERY GOOD
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EDITORIAL REVIEWS |
Product Description
A Thousand Hills: Rwanda's Rebirth and the Man Who Dreamed It is the story of Paul Kagame, a refugee who, after a generation of exile, found his way home. Learn about President Kagame, who strives to make Rwanda the first middle-income country in Africa, in a single generation. In this adventurous tale, learn about Kagame’s early fascination with Che Guevara and James Bond, his years as an intelligence agent, his training in Cuba and the United States, the way he built his secret rebel army, his bloody rebellion, and his outsized ambitions for Rwanda. |
Amazon.com Review
Amazon Best of the Month, June 2008: Fourteen years after the 1994 genocide that claimed 800,000 lives in 100 days, Rwandans continue the daily work of rebuilding their shattered country. In light of recent reports that one in four people suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder--which Rwandans aptly describe as ihahamuka or "breathless with fear"--how is recovery even possible? In search of answers, foreign correspondent Stephen Kinzer traveled extensively throughout Rwanda where he observed an astonishing economic and political transformation based surprisingly on Asian models, and the implementation of unconventional reconciliation efforts. The author also conducted extensive interviews with Rwanda's enigmatic president, Paul Kagame. The result of Kinzer's quest is A Thousand Hills, a page-turning story of a society desperately trying to regain its breath, and an ambitious and autocratic leader's unrelenting efforts to breathe life into its future. This is essential reading, even if you've read earlier accounts by Canadian general Roméo Dallaire, journalists Phillip Gourevitch and Samantha Power, and the heroic Paul Rusesabagina immortalized in the film Hotel Rwanda. --Lauren Nemroff |
CUSTOMER REVIEWS (Average Customer Rating: 4.5 based on 12 reviews)
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thoughtful review of Rwanda's recent and extraordinary history by David M. Birks (Australia)  4 Stars
July 20, 2009
The author provides a fine story of Rwanda and its compelling leader Paul Kagame. The book covers the background to the notorious genocide with a particular focus on Kagame's upbringing and education as an exile in neighbouring Uganda.
There seems little doubt that Kagame qualifies as an exceptional leader at several levels and can be considered the reason Rwanda has emerged from its devastation with great promise. Notwithstanding these attributes the author does not refrain from detailing criticisms of Kagame and his regime.
A Thousand Hills is highly recommended for all those whose interest in Rwanda extends beyond mountain gorillas.
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Great story, amazing history, but somewhat biased... but I loved it anyway! by pc  5 Stars
July 01, 2009
I read this after reading All the Shah's Men, also by Kinzer, and both great books. He doesn't hide his opinion, which I would guess some people might not like. Personally, I didn't mind it because I thought he separated the facts from his opinion, and the book was so well-researched and so well-written, and most importantly, such an interesting story. I'm not too into books that are dry history, but this is exactly the type of book that I like to read. I hope he writes some more!
The book is about Rwanda's genocide, and about the leader that Kinzer believes will bring them past it. As a story, it's amazing. As history, it's appalling. The facts are presented in such a way that you can draw your own conclusions about whether you agree or disagree with how the situation was handled, but, at the end, Kinzer does kind of hit you over the head with his opinion. It didn't detract from my opinion of the book at all, though.
Also recommended: All the Shah's Men, by Stephen Kinzer
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Bravo! by Mr. Malone (Washington DC) 5 Stars
March 23, 2009
This is the best book I have ever read about Rwanda! The author is so colorful and knowledgable that I simply could not put the book down. I even took the book to work and read the book outside on my lunch breaks! Mr. Kinzer gives you a complete look into the past, present, and future of Rwanda! In addition, he tells the story of Mr. Kagame (something that most of the press did not cover). This book is so good that should be a movie made. Bravo Stephen! Well done!
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The Way of Kagame by Mihal Mihailovitch (Boston)  3 Stars
February 22, 2009
Stephen Kinzer, former Times correspondent, has written a curious book about Paul Kagame, current leader of Rwanda. Kinzer's approach is to tell Kagame's story from the beginning and then let Kagame, in his own italicized words, comment on the ideas and incidents that Kinzer has highlighted. This makes for a nice balance of author and subject but more often than not Kinzer seems uncertain whether Kagame's particular approach is really as wonderful as Kinzer desperately wants it to be.
Why is Kinzer so eager to see Kagame succeed? That's a simple enough question to answer. The Rwandan genocide was a horrendous event and one can only feel sympathy for the Rwandan people and wish them well in overcoming the disastrous effects of that grusome episode. One also senses a real affection for Kagame on the part of Kinzer who undoubtedly views him as an immensely heroic (even romantic?) figure. A true guerrilla leader/statesman in the mold of Che Guevara. A man who also bent history to his own will.
One of the most remarkable revelations in this book is that fact that foreign diplomats posted in Kigali are often at odds with their home governments in how to deal with the overtly authoritarian and at times repressive actions of Kagame's government. When Kinzer interviews these diplomats the same rationale seems to emerge: we don't like everything Kagame is doing but it seems to be working so let's not rock the boat. Kinzer also makes short work of critical analysts from organizations like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch who according, to Kinzer, are short-sighted and may even have an anti-Kagame bias.
This is not to say that Kinzer himself is totally on board with the Kagame Way. Far from it. He asks all the right questions about all the appropriate issues, but his bias is always to give Kagame the benefit of the doubt. In fact he gives more than a benefit: he ends up suggesting that the Kagame Way might be the most appropriate way for the rest of Sub-Saharan Africa.
What would this mean? Basically a shift away from democratically elected governments to one party, 'enlightened' authoritarianism. Highly aggressive population control schemes, coupled with an emphasis on education, particularly of the technical kind. It also means state involvement in all aspects of the economy as well as hyper-security measures that are designed to undermine any organized resistance to the state's control. In other contexts, these measures would be reviled by the international community: in Rwanda the diplomats note that the streets are clean, that there is no visible crime in their particular neighborhoods and that the people are industrious, punctual, and polite. (What's there for a foreigner not to like?)
Given what Rwanda has been through it is hard to argue that what exists there now is much better than what went on before. It is also hard not to admire Paul Kagame. He is 'serious' (a 'serious' word in Rwanda), and fearless and does seem to be in the mold of other enlightened strong-men like Lee Kwan Yew of Singapore and Mahatir of Malaysia.
Whether there are other Kagames waiting in the wings of other African nations is highly doubtful. The best hope is that young politicians in other African countries will see that Kagame is offering a way that is not totally dependent on the 'kindness of strangers' i.e. foreign aid, and a way that stresses hard work and honesty over corruption and greed.
As for enlightened despotism: well let's hope that the world and Mr. Kinzer believe that even Africans deserve better.
http://afriweb.blogspot.com/2008/08/way-of-kagame.html
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A Thousand Hills by Linda Ravs 5 Stars
January 24, 2009
This was a fascinating, "can't put it down" read. Before anyone is tempted to say "Why can't Africa get its act together"?, read this book. It will provide much insight as to developing African and other Third World countries. A country's history, outside influences (who "know better"),and corruption are all some obstacles that these countries face should they be lucky enough to have a leader who wants to better the lives of the country's people.
I highly recommend this book. Very well written.
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