A Thousand Hills: Rwanda's Rebirth and the Man Who Dreamed It by Stephen Kinzer

From the Publisher

The bestselling author of All the Shah's Men profiles one of the most successful revolutionaries of the modern era, telling the dramatic story of how he seized power in Rwanda and led this shattered country's astonishing recovery.

Publishers Weekly

Kinzer (All the Shah's Men) has penned a hagiographic account of Rwandan president Paul Kagame, the Tutsi refugee who organized the Rwandan Military Front in 1994 and helped halt the genocide in Rwanda. Instead of settling scores, Kagame embarked on a program of reconciliation and reconstruction; Kinzer eloquently describes a physical and psychological recovery unmatched in Africa: a Rwanda whose people are "bubbling with a sense of unlimited possibility." Kagame's goal, modeled on the successes of "Asian tigers" like Singapore, aims to transform Rwanda into the continent's first middle-income country in a single generation, eschewing foreign aid in favor of reliance on business-driven development. Kinzer does not conceal the bloody realities behind Kagame's acquisition of power nor does he deny Kagame's "rigorous, absolutist approach to governing." Nevertheless, he is transparently trusting in Kagame's capabilities and intentions, and while his eloquent prose invites optimism, a half-century of experience urges caution. (June)

Marcia L. Sprules - Library Journal

Readers will remember Rwanda for its horrific genocide in 1994; they may be less aware of the country's recovery over the past 14 years. Paul Kagame, long a powerful figure and now Rwanda's president, has been instrumental in that recovery process, claims Kinzer (All the Shah's Men), a wide-ranging bureau chief for the New York Times. Kagame grew up in a refugee camp in Uganda, served as an intelligence officer in its army, and founded the Rwanda Patriotic Front, which supports the right of refugees to return to Rwanda. After assuming political office, Kagame first directed a reconciliation process for all citizens and, since 2000, has emphasized economic development. His authoritarian style draws sharp criticism from human rights organizations, and Western economic development experts question his programs. Kinzer presents him in the most favorable light possible while not overlooking troubling actions, such as his sending troops into Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo) to support rebels there. Based on interviews with Kagame, ordinary citizens, and many others who have worked with Kagame at some time, the book is a nuanced portrait of a complex figure in morally ambiguous times. Recommended for all collections supporting an interest in Africa.

Product Details

• ISBN: 0470120150
  
• ISBN-13: 9780470120156
• Format: Hardcover, 380pp
• Publisher: Wiley, John & Sons, Incorporated
• Pub. Date: June 2008
• Sales Rank: 30,850

• Table of Contents

Table of Contents