Michael Maren has spent much of the last twenty years in Africa, first as an aid worker, later as a journalist. He witnessed at close range a harro...
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Nov 26, 2010
Summer
rated it: 
Good to get a critical perspective on foreign aid and international charity work. I wasn't expecting the heavy focus/historical background on Somalia, but understand how that served as an illustration of the author's point. I certainly learned a lot!
Notes and quotes from the book:
Personal Notes:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Private_vol...
PVO = private voluntary organization
NGO = non-governmental organization
A non-governmental organization (NGO) is a legall More...
Notes and quotes from the book:
Personal Notes:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Private_vol...
PVO = private voluntary organization
NGO = non-governmental organization
A non-governmental organization (NGO) is a legall More...
Apr 02, 2011
Millicent
rated it:
Muckraking the emergency relief industry. Very targeted exposé of humanitarian aid "non-governmental" organizations and their funding ties to government grants and therefore government foreign and domestic policy. The case is Somalia 1977-1992 and the US government's use of famine and wars in that country as a valve for agricultural surplus and a means to prop up an anti-Communist dictator by maintaining a refugee crisis over decades. The refugees kept aid agencies in country, kept
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Dec 01, 2009
Fran
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This really opened my eyes to so many things that I suspected, but no one had really confirmed. I think that our society is afraid of facing the consequences of our actions, because deep down we know that we are harming the world more than we are helping. I now am even more skeptical than I used to be, and I can only hope that when I actually am in a position where I can do some good, I don't forget the ideals that this book helped me see. The corruption and lying and deceiving and blindness ast
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Jul 03, 2008
Raghu
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Michael Maren's book is simply brilliant in its exhaustive research and compassion and perspective. When the book was written in 1997, the author had already spent nineteen years in Africa – in Kenya, Somalia, Burkina faso, Rwanda and Ethiopia – reporting on the famine, civil war and military conflicts in the region. So, he is eminently qualified to take a critical look at international charity organizations and overseas aid projects in Africa and also the United Nations organizations like UNHRC
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Jun 29, 2010
this book is based on some white guy who prefers children to suffer in the hands of the militias instead of them receiving aid. he does not prove alternatives for food aid. the children and women die of starvation in the hands of army militias......while i respect personal opinions, i think he took it too far and its sad. the situation will not last forever. if you are a donor however give to the agencies that are developmental not aid agencies.
Oct 21, 2008
Evan
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I would recommend this book to anyone who works in the development business, or anyone who has an interest in Somalia, with the caveat that they take everything with a grain of salt. The author has a serious axe to grind against Save the Children, and therefore the entire book is a cynical attack on development assistance writ large. There are definitely some lessons to be learned from Somalia, but to extrapolate his experiences in a highly politicized, Cold War-era, humanitarian context and app
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Oct 26, 2007
Alden
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The Road to Hell focuses primarily on the disingenuous efforts by Save The Children in Somalia in the early 1990s. While interesting and by no means flattering to Save, it must be understood that much of the information comes from a disillusioned employee. (As a side note I know many people who currently work for Save and am impressed by their skill, commitment, and professionalism. Save itself has greatly reformed since the time covered in this book).
The Road to Hell also focuses o More...
The Road to Hell also focuses o More...
Oct 26, 2009
alex
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Anyone doing work in foreign aid and development MUST read this, to maintain (or begin to assemble) a critical perspective. It is the worst case scenario of everything gone awry.
Feb 08, 2012
James
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I have some really mixed feelings here, this is well written but at times to provocative, also is needs a lot more citations or an index. Regardless it is important to read a well reasoned argument rather than the normal bias howling "We spend to much"
Dec 17, 2009
Krista
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This book rocked the foundations of my world. If I could make the entire country read one book, this would be the one.
Maren is angry, justifiably so, about the corruption and misdirection of food and money intended to help the people of Somalia and Rwanda. He saw it first hand as a US AID worker and again as a journalist. Instead of alleviating suffering, the massive quantities of foreign aid and international charity lead to the collapse of the Somali state, the rise of ethnic and More...
Maren is angry, justifiably so, about the corruption and misdirection of food and money intended to help the people of Somalia and Rwanda. He saw it first hand as a US AID worker and again as a journalist. Instead of alleviating suffering, the massive quantities of foreign aid and international charity lead to the collapse of the Somali state, the rise of ethnic and More...
Dec 22, 2009
James
rated it:
not great writing or deep or thoughtful. more like just a short, sharp slap in the face. but it did pull the film off the eyes of this bright, shiny do-gooder
Jun 22, 2010
I am Carla Bolte, and I am NOT the author of this book. Michael Maren is the author. I simply designed the interior.
Nov 24, 2008
Helene
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I learned how we can easily do far more harm than good when international aid is not wisely administered.
May 18, 2007
Tony
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I learned that food aid is a tricky business and there is a lot of unnecessary suffering in the aid business due t greed and incompetence...and don't go swimming of the coast of Mogadishu (not a vacation hot spot I know) because some genius put a meat processing plant there, pumped the refuse (chum) into the water...and you can guess the outcome. For some reason, this little bit of incompetence struck me more than the inevitable US incompetence in Somalia due to the Berg's Communist takeover of
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Apr 28, 2011
Wendy
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The book raised some interesting and valid points. However, the author lost a lot of credibility by exaggerating certain facts and dwelling on other issues almost obsessively that appeared to be mainly personal gripes - such as aid workers driving Land Rovers. He also was obviously a disgruntled Save the Children employee. Further, Somalia was an extreme example of a disastrous aid - particularly food aid. There are actually aid programs and projects that did some good around the world.
Feb 10, 2008
Paul
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This book changed the way I looked at humanitarian aid. We are taught as a people to be generous and to give to those in need. However, it is important to remember that the act of giving alone isn't enough. In fact, many well-intentioned people have done more harm than good. This book is a call to more responsible giving...giving that will change the lives of its recipients for the better, and not just giving so we will feel better.
Sep 03, 2007
Elizabeth
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I liked this book and agreed with a lot of the things Maren has to say. The first part of the book was great. I liked what he had to say about his own experiences in Africa and his focus on Somalia. When he got to talking specifically about Save the Children, I lost a little interest. I don't think Save the Children has the best reputation to start with. It might be a little dated, but very good book.
Feb 23, 2008
Sara
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Read this book when I was just beginning to become disillusioned with the world of aid and development. Wow..this book crystallized everything for me. I thought it might be over-dramatic judging by the title..but it was a very well-written, knowledgeable, and easy to read story of the crazy crap that goes on while us people try to help.
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Dec 17, 2009
Sarah
rated it:
Incredible. While Michael Maren is an obviously biased source, this shocking tell-all on the dark effects of charity gone wrong can make a skeptic out of the most fervent of idealists. A must read for anyone who's ever grappled with the ethical choice between doing nothing and doing what we aren't sure is the right thing.
Mar 07, 2008
Kristen
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I searched and searched and searched for this book for a couple of years before finally getting my hands on it. Some people who also worked in international development had told me that I had to read it.
Once I started, I felt like it was overdone and the style was a bit too ranting for my taste.
Once I started, I felt like it was overdone and the style was a bit too ranting for my taste.
Jul 28, 2009
Aaron
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A book about the perverse incentive structures of development NGOs and international aid organizations. Though somewhat bitter and repetitive, and interesting introduction to aid waste in Somalia. Many of the issues addressed in the book have not been resolved.
Nov 06, 2009
Betsy
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i hate to love this book, but i do love it.
it begs the question though: is writing the only safe thing left to do in terms of taking on the topic of 'development'?
this book was initially deeply depressing and devastating.
but there is beauty in its honesty.
it begs the question though: is writing the only safe thing left to do in terms of taking on the topic of 'development'?
this book was initially deeply depressing and devastating.
but there is beauty in its honesty.
Mar 10, 2008
Marina
rated it:
This book is about charity-aid and charity as an industry, as religion, as a self-serving system that sacrifices its own practitioners and intended beneficiaries in order that it may survive and grow. What an eye opener to the effects of foreign aid.
Sep 07, 2008
Carrie
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Wow. Nic and I enjoy reading people's opinions about foreign aid in Africa and this was certainly an eye opening book. I also know the guy that the first half of the book was written about! So sad but incredibly informative.
Mar 27, 2008
Julia
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I purposefully didn't read this book until I got back from Peace Corps. I thought it was very informative and interesting, but highly depressing in terms of my views on international aid work.
Jul 30, 2008
Michael
rated it:
A stunning indictment of the international charity movement - that raises question about what is really helpful to do in the way we care for one another.
