In 2000, the United Nations laid out a series of eight goals meant to guide humankind in the new century. Called the Millennium Development Goals, ...
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Dec 17, 2009
Nami
rated it: 
even though i only gave this book three stars, i still really recommend people to read it.
stephen lewis (the author) is the UN secretary general's special envoy for HIV/AIDS in africa and in this book, reflects on each millennium development goal and concludes that we will be no where near achieving these goals.
i really liked the first half, as he does a wonderful job on how unjust the situation in africa is and how we, as citizens of humanity, have the obligation to be a More...
stephen lewis (the author) is the UN secretary general's special envoy for HIV/AIDS in africa and in this book, reflects on each millennium development goal and concludes that we will be no where near achieving these goals.
i really liked the first half, as he does a wonderful job on how unjust the situation in africa is and how we, as citizens of humanity, have the obligation to be a More...
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Aug 10, 2011
Lyn
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This book was an amazing read on so many levels. Stephen Lewis is a humanitarian who has dedicated his life to the fight against the HIV/AIDS pandemic and for advocating for the most vulnerable members of the humanrace in the most challenging nations on the planet. To say he is inpirational is a gross understatement -- he rocks you to the core with his passion and resolve and unfledging commitment to this cause. He is the voice of outrage at our inaction to solve what he believes are solvable pr
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Jul 27, 2011
Stephen Lewis is one amazing person & makes me proud to be Canadian. I think we WILL see drastic change (for the better) in years to come from the international community, with respect to treatment of AIDS in Africa. The other issues like malnutrition and inaccess to primary education and how it all ties together with AIDS is also presented really well. More than anything though, this book was written with such overwhelming passion that it's hard to not want to see what more each of us as indi
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Aug 03, 2011
This is actually a CD collection from CBC Audio of Stephen Lewis and the 5 lectures he gave in 2005 on Africa. It is a history of himself in Africa and the promises made - and broken - to aid the African nations. He delves into the labyrinths of politics at the UN and worldwide. He recounts with anguish the loss of so many people that could have been friends and the lives that could have been lead. HIV/AIDS has taken a terrible toll on Africa equally as much a price has been paid for the policie
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Jul 20, 2011
Maryjoamani
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I read this book a few years ago when we first moved to Mozambique and thought it very provocative. It's important to question what we are doing in our humanitarian efforts to make sure our judgment and wisdom are not clouded by our compassion. True compassion involves wisdom and much of what we seem to be doing in the international aid community lacks wisdom. Though Lewis seems a bit sweeping in his comments, given his personal and professional work at a very high level, his criticism should
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Aug 06, 2009
Anna
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The timing of my reading this was interesting. I had just finished a three-week African Summer Institute, where professors from Nigeria, Burundi, Kenya, and Tanzania taught us about Africa from a much more Afro-centric perspective than I've been used to. And then I read Dambisa Moyo's Dead Aid, which aims to reject all foreign aid to Africa entirely. And then I read this and I'm kind of conflicted.
Stephen Lewis makes a lot of good points and I think on a moral level he's absolutely More...
Stephen Lewis makes a lot of good points and I think on a moral level he's absolutely More...
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May 31, 2009
Shannon
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It's been twenty-five years, and if anything, the HIV/AIDS pandemic is getting worse. In South Africa alone, there are six million people requiring treatment. Suffering from the "perverse economic policies" of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF); the poaching of professionals by the UK and other countries; colonialism and neo-colonialism; the USA's right-wing policies and a myriad of other external problems, Africa is also under the burden of famine, huge numbers of or
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Mar 04, 2009
Arlene
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This book is part of the Massey lectures given in by Stephen Lewis in Toronto. It would have been a marvelous experience to have listened to him deliver his message live. However,his passion and his powerful writing makes his message of hope extremely compelling. His solutions were well thought-out and plausible. He had me running for my dictionary only a few time.
Aug 14, 2011
Jessica
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I recommend that anyone who wants to know more about what is going on in Africa to read this book. It gives you a great insight into the problems Africa and it's countries are dealing with in terms of debt to the World Bank, education and of course AIDS. It is very informative, and very heart wrenching. I personally cried a few times while reading this book.
Dec 27, 2009
Alicen
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Having seen Stephen Lewis speak at Hopkins back in 2006, I picked up this book then but just now got around to reading it. Lewis details his career in the UN and his opinions on how various international agencies might work better and faster to stem the tide of HIV/AIDS. Understandably the material is a bit dated, but is an interesting read for anyone interested in this field of work.
Jan 09, 2011
MrsPL
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Stephen Lewis is an amazing speaker, and his brilliant oratory comes through in this book, a summary of his Massey lectures. An excellent overview of the HIV/ADIS pandemic in Africa and some of the issues related to the crisis.
Sep 27, 2010
Reading a critically reviewed idea is maddening, every line written is punctured with faults already associated with points that have been made. It's nice to know his assumptions of 2010 have been correct and correct.
Dec 31, 2007
Gayathiri
rated it:
This book made me want to drop whatever I was doing and take up with an NGO to go around whatever the UN isn't doing for Africa and the AIDS pandemic. The inner workings of the UN reveal it to be nothing like it claims to be: instead it's plagued by bureaucracy and high-level inertia.
Lewis brings up numbers, anecdotes, precedents, anything you could possibly need to show that the Millennium Development Goals are not going to be met; he also gives solutions to the problems he identifi More...
Lewis brings up numbers, anecdotes, precedents, anything you could possibly need to show that the Millennium Development Goals are not going to be met; he also gives solutions to the problems he identifi More...
Aug 01, 2011
Duana
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I loved this book, it made me want to know more about HIV/AIDS in Africa. What a great job Stephen Lewis does and his passion is evident. He won my heart. A must read.
Aug 02, 2011
A very heavy read. The whole work is extremely depressing, but you will go away from it wanting to make a difference in this world.
Mar 10, 2010
Tina
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I really loved this book. Very articulate and clear. Didn't agree with all arguments, but a great exploration nonetheless.
Nov 04, 2010
Chloe
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Stephen Lewis is incredibly articulate and speaks about important issues that everyone should read up on!
Apr 10, 2009
Mary Lou
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I read this book once a year. Stephen Lewis is a truly honourable man.
Jan 22, 2012
Erinn
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Powerful and thought provoking
The Afterword leaves you speechless, between the Bush administration's refusal to support any programs that encouraged the use of condoms to the discussion of the "lottery of life."
"Mr. Lewis, we have 350 children in my primary school, but I think I must tell you that 250 are orphans."
The Afterword leaves you speechless, between the Bush administration's refusal to support any programs that encouraged the use of condoms to the discussion of the "lottery of life."
"Mr. Lewis, we have 350 children in my primary school, but I think I must tell you that 250 are orphans."
Feb 15, 2008
Marianne
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This is a passionate call for the world to act against the HIV/AIDS pandemic. You can certainly understand Lewis' passion, anger, and commitment to the people of Africa. His emotion is balanced by his keen understanding of the myriad forces at work in the spread of HIV/AIDS, and his detailed explanation of the bureaucracy in which he works.
This is a great compilation of his Massey lectures, and has really given me a lot to consider. Certainly worth reading!
This is a great compilation of his Massey lectures, and has really given me a lot to consider. Certainly worth reading!
Sep 29, 2010
This was a jaw dropping book, and sad. I didn't like it because of how sad it made me. lol, but a great book! :D
Jan 31, 2008
Jamie
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It is heartbreaking; the world needs to wake up before Africa implodes on itself. Stephen Lewis knows all the ins and outs of the politics going on behind the Aids crisis in Africa; and offers tangible solutions, but unless people pay attention the situation may be hopeless. Very interesting details about the promises made to make things better and the reality of what is going on.
Mar 01, 2008
Jocelynlt
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Stephen Lewis is a modern-day Ezekiel, calling humanity back to themselves, drawing attention to the desperation that's being overlooked. I heard these Massey Lectures when they were broadcast on the CBC and was frequently chilled, moved to tears, or riveted to the radio.
If you don't want to be deeply moved - don't read it.
If you don't want to be deeply moved - don't read it.
Jun 22, 2007
Adam
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must read.. the violence implicating Africa goes far beyond what we conventionally understand as violence.. hunger, HIV/AIDS, lack of livelihoods, all have to do with larger actors such as the World Bank, International Monetary Fund and corporations that are obstructing true help for the embattled continent..
Apr 24, 2008
Julia
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Some reason this book really rubbed me the wrong way. It seemed like one canadian guy kind of complaining about how everyone else doesn't really care about Africa, and how he is really the most informed and has the best ideas. It seemed really biased and depressing I couldn't finish it.
Nov 23, 2007
Christine
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I learned about choosing good charities to donate to, and how so many of the worlds undeveloped countries can have incredible change but different entities stand in the way or the focus is placed away from basic needs such as education, having school lunches, etc.
Jun 17, 2011
Molly Bear
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An honest perspective of the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Africa delivered in a series of themed lectures. Stephen Lewis writes in a way that conveys his passion about the issue and is compelling to demand that "we" as an international community can do better!
Aug 15, 2008
Connor
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An excellent book to get a heads up of what's going on in Africa. I read this on my flight to Africa last year, and it was a great eye-opening experience to immerse myself in the situation before landing and seeing it with my own eyes.
