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Congo Stories: Battling Five Centuries of Exploitation and Greed
From the author of the New York Times bestselling and award-winning Not on Our Watch , John Prendergast co-writes a compelling book with Fidel Bafilemba--with stunning photographs by Ryan Gosling--revealing the way in which the people and resources of the Democratic Republic of Congo have been used throughout the last five centuries to build, develop, advance, and safeguard the United States and Europe. The book highlights the devastating price Congo has paid for that support. However, the way the world deals with Congo is finally changing, and the book tells the remarkable stories of those in Congo and the United States leading that transformation.
The people of Congo are fighting back against a tidal wave of international exploitation and governmental oppression to make things better for their nation, their neighborhoods, and their families. They are risking their lives to resist and alter the deadly status quo. And now, finally, there are human rights movements led by young people in the United States and Europe building solidarity with Congolese change-makers in support of dignity, justice, and equality for the Congolese people. As a result, the way the world deal with Congo is finally changing.
Fidel Bafilemba, Ryan Gosling, and John Prendergast traveled to Congo to document some of the stories not only of the Congolese upstanders who are building a better future for their country but also of young Congolese people overcoming enormous odds just to go to school and help take care of their families.
Through Gosling's photographs of Congolese daily life, Bafilemba's profiles of heroic Congolese activists, and Prendergast's narratives of the extraordinary history and evolving social movements that directly link Congo with the United States and Europe, Congo Stories provides windows into the history, the people, the challenges, the possibilities, and the movements that could change the course of Congo's destiny.
Chosen by Amazon as the Best Book of the Month for December 2018 in Biographies & Memoirs, History, and Nonfiction.
Featuring the life story of Dr. Denis Mukwege, winner of the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize
The people of Congo are fighting back against a tidal wave of international exploitation and governmental oppression to make things better for their nation, their neighborhoods, and their families. They are risking their lives to resist and alter the deadly status quo. And now, finally, there are human rights movements led by young people in the United States and Europe building solidarity with Congolese change-makers in support of dignity, justice, and equality for the Congolese people. As a result, the way the world deal with Congo is finally changing.
Fidel Bafilemba, Ryan Gosling, and John Prendergast traveled to Congo to document some of the stories not only of the Congolese upstanders who are building a better future for their country but also of young Congolese people overcoming enormous odds just to go to school and help take care of their families.
Through Gosling's photographs of Congolese daily life, Bafilemba's profiles of heroic Congolese activists, and Prendergast's narratives of the extraordinary history and evolving social movements that directly link Congo with the United States and Europe, Congo Stories provides windows into the history, the people, the challenges, the possibilities, and the movements that could change the course of Congo's destiny.
Chosen by Amazon as the Best Book of the Month for December 2018 in Biographies & Memoirs, History, and Nonfiction.
Featuring the life story of Dr. Denis Mukwege, winner of the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize
352 pages, Hardcover
First published December 4, 2018
29 people are currently reading
1666 people want to read
About the author
John Prendergast
42 books43 followersJohn Prendergast is a human rights activist and best-selling author who has worked for peace in Africa for over 25 years. He is the co-founder of the Enough Project, an initiative to end genocide and crimes against humanity affiliated with the Center for American Progress. John has worked for the Clinton White House, the State Department, two members of Congress, the National Intelligence Council, UNICEF, Human Rights Watch, the International Crisis Group, and the U.S. Institute of Peace. He has been a Big Brother for over 25 years, as well as a youth counselor and a basketball coach.
John is the author or co-author of ten books. His forthcoming book, Unlikely Brothers, due in May 2011, is a dual memoir co-authored with his first little brother in the Big Brother program. His previous two books were co-authored with Don Cheadle: Not On Our Watch, a New York Times bestseller and NAACP non-fiction book of the year, and The Enough Moment: Fighting to End Africa's Worst Human Rights Crimes.
(Taken from Prendergast's Enough Project bio)
John is the author or co-author of ten books. His forthcoming book, Unlikely Brothers, due in May 2011, is a dual memoir co-authored with his first little brother in the Big Brother program. His previous two books were co-authored with Don Cheadle: Not On Our Watch, a New York Times bestseller and NAACP non-fiction book of the year, and The Enough Moment: Fighting to End Africa's Worst Human Rights Crimes.
(Taken from Prendergast's Enough Project bio)
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
July 18, 2020
As person now married to a Congolese man and a part of a Congolese family, this book was truly eye opening. There is so much I told history about how the DR Congo is so interconnected to most of our worlds today. If you have a phone, computer, car, jewelry or anything like that in your possession, READ THIS BOOK. There are people across the world who are a part of the sacrifice for you to have those things.
Overall very well written with compelling stories from those on the ground.
Overall very well written with compelling stories from those on the ground.
February 19, 2019
3.25 / 5.0
Quick read. Short historical section. Oral Histories are compelling but not my favorite way to learn.
Quick read. Short historical section. Oral Histories are compelling but not my favorite way to learn.
January 9, 2021
A sad and hopeful book, simply amazing.
Sometimes is difficult to read the stories in this book, because they are so difficult to digest. Difficult to believe what people are going on now, because they have the resources that we need. I live in the neighbor country of Angola, and a lot of stuff in this book, I have to say with shame I was not aware of. Some African people see Congo just as the child trouble maker, that always has problems. When we go to a place that is not organized to call it: "That's a Congo!". Anyways, this book teaches you how the situation in Congo is today what it is: Starting with the European colonization. How it was used during WW1 and WW2. How it was strategic to finish WW2. How it was the place for African world war. And the stories about the important minerals it has, used in the electronics. Also very good to know that foreign countries are becoming aware of it, and some are taking actions. Most importantly it has stories of people who were affected by the situation. Its an activism book, that lets you think on the world we live on and how we are all connected. It was worth my full Audible Credit!!!!
Sometimes is difficult to read the stories in this book, because they are so difficult to digest. Difficult to believe what people are going on now, because they have the resources that we need. I live in the neighbor country of Angola, and a lot of stuff in this book, I have to say with shame I was not aware of. Some African people see Congo just as the child trouble maker, that always has problems. When we go to a place that is not organized to call it: "That's a Congo!". Anyways, this book teaches you how the situation in Congo is today what it is: Starting with the European colonization. How it was used during WW1 and WW2. How it was strategic to finish WW2. How it was the place for African world war. And the stories about the important minerals it has, used in the electronics. Also very good to know that foreign countries are becoming aware of it, and some are taking actions. Most importantly it has stories of people who were affected by the situation. Its an activism book, that lets you think on the world we live on and how we are all connected. It was worth my full Audible Credit!!!!
February 26, 2019
This is a wonderful book. While not pulling punches about the challenges faced by the Congolese people historically and currently, it also highlights their strength, hope and resilience, and lights the way forward.
September 4, 2024
Congo Stories
As implied by its title, Congo Stories is a collection of short, non-fictional narratives about the sad and devastating history of the Democratic Republic of Congo. For many decades, the DRC has had its people and resources exploited to the point of irreversible depletion and even death. This book memorializes the words of the Congolese who have witnessed the rape of the natural world firsthand. The slave trade is discussed, of course, with perhaps the only surprise to the uninformed reader being that labor trafficking is still a major problem to this day. What most people don’t realize, however, is the extent of natural resources within the borders of Congo. Most of what the impoverished country has to offer are things the modern world uses every single day.
Congo was once the world’s largest exporter of rubber, particularly during the rise of the automobile. The DRC is number three in the world for producing copper which is used in virtually anything involving electricity, plumbing, and transportation. In terms of mining the industrial diamonds used in construction and computer chip processing (as opposed to gem diamonds used in jewelry), Congo is always ranked in the top three countries worldwide. They also produce half of the world’s cobalt (rechargeable batteries, smartphones, disk drives, etc.) as well as the best quality uranium ore to fuel nuclear power plants. The DRC is a major supplier of so-called conflict minerals (tantalum, tin, tungsten, and gold) to the rest of the planet, and they even have such a strong foothold in the charcoal trade that there are charcoal cartels just like Mexico has drug cartels.
It seems as if the Democratic Republic of Congo is in possession of the most needed and desired natural resources known to man. If that is truly the case, why is the country in the top 10 most poverty-stricken nations? Congo Stories attempts to answer that very question. Corruption, colonialism, debt, murder, slavery, ethnic conflict, and many other factors were discovered by the authors to be the major contributing factors as to why Congo is one of the wealthiest countries in Africa but is populated with some of the poorest people in the world. Told here are the stories of those lucky enough to survive the famine, disease, and genocide.
As implied by its title, Congo Stories is a collection of short, non-fictional narratives about the sad and devastating history of the Democratic Republic of Congo. For many decades, the DRC has had its people and resources exploited to the point of irreversible depletion and even death. This book memorializes the words of the Congolese who have witnessed the rape of the natural world firsthand. The slave trade is discussed, of course, with perhaps the only surprise to the uninformed reader being that labor trafficking is still a major problem to this day. What most people don’t realize, however, is the extent of natural resources within the borders of Congo. Most of what the impoverished country has to offer are things the modern world uses every single day.
Congo was once the world’s largest exporter of rubber, particularly during the rise of the automobile. The DRC is number three in the world for producing copper which is used in virtually anything involving electricity, plumbing, and transportation. In terms of mining the industrial diamonds used in construction and computer chip processing (as opposed to gem diamonds used in jewelry), Congo is always ranked in the top three countries worldwide. They also produce half of the world’s cobalt (rechargeable batteries, smartphones, disk drives, etc.) as well as the best quality uranium ore to fuel nuclear power plants. The DRC is a major supplier of so-called conflict minerals (tantalum, tin, tungsten, and gold) to the rest of the planet, and they even have such a strong foothold in the charcoal trade that there are charcoal cartels just like Mexico has drug cartels.
It seems as if the Democratic Republic of Congo is in possession of the most needed and desired natural resources known to man. If that is truly the case, why is the country in the top 10 most poverty-stricken nations? Congo Stories attempts to answer that very question. Corruption, colonialism, debt, murder, slavery, ethnic conflict, and many other factors were discovered by the authors to be the major contributing factors as to why Congo is one of the wealthiest countries in Africa but is populated with some of the poorest people in the world. Told here are the stories of those lucky enough to survive the famine, disease, and genocide.
September 8, 2021
Before I listened to Congo Stories audio book I had never given the Democratic republic of Congo much thought. I could not have even pointed to it on a map.
I am giving Congo stories 4 stars because I think it lives up to its subtitle. Even though the stories in Congo stories were sad it was interesting to learn about the lives of the people from Congo. And how they persevered.
Congo Stories talks a lot about mining in Congo. I was not aware that tin, titanium, tungsten and gold were mined in Congo. I was also not aware that there was armed conflict because of that mining. I was also not aware that those minerals were used in consumer electronics bought in the United states and Europe.
Even though listening to Congo stores made me feel sad about what the people went though I also felt hope because there are people trying to make things better. And I was also glad that things are changing for the better hopefully.
One fact that I learned that Surprised me is that Congo has one of the biggest rainforests.
I am glad I took the time to listen to Congo Stories.
I am giving Congo stories 4 stars because I think it lives up to its subtitle. Even though the stories in Congo stories were sad it was interesting to learn about the lives of the people from Congo. And how they persevered.
Congo Stories talks a lot about mining in Congo. I was not aware that tin, titanium, tungsten and gold were mined in Congo. I was also not aware that there was armed conflict because of that mining. I was also not aware that those minerals were used in consumer electronics bought in the United states and Europe.
Even though listening to Congo stores made me feel sad about what the people went though I also felt hope because there are people trying to make things better. And I was also glad that things are changing for the better hopefully.
One fact that I learned that Surprised me is that Congo has one of the biggest rainforests.
I am glad I took the time to listen to Congo Stories.
February 17, 2025
“Congo and its people… represent a huge net positive in terms of their contribution to global progress, and the United States and Europe have been the primary beneficiaries of this contribution. But as you can see, the Congolese people, wildlife, environment, and state institutions have paid a terrible price for these gifts to the world.”
Started this book - like all other books about the Congo - thinking “the poor Congo.” And this book clearly and comprehensively describes how the world has pillaged and plundered the Congo and sparked violence and atrocities. But the joy of this book is that it shines light on the humanity and “upstanders” of the Congo, dismantling dominant narratives that the Congo is hopeless or cursed. It also provides an inspiring and practical call to action for readers to support these activists and drivers of change in the Congo.
If I had to loan a book on the Congo to someone else, it would be this one. (+ shoutout to Ryan Gosling for his contributions.)
Started this book - like all other books about the Congo - thinking “the poor Congo.” And this book clearly and comprehensively describes how the world has pillaged and plundered the Congo and sparked violence and atrocities. But the joy of this book is that it shines light on the humanity and “upstanders” of the Congo, dismantling dominant narratives that the Congo is hopeless or cursed. It also provides an inspiring and practical call to action for readers to support these activists and drivers of change in the Congo.
If I had to loan a book on the Congo to someone else, it would be this one. (+ shoutout to Ryan Gosling for his contributions.)
May 17, 2019
First, the fact that Ryan Gosling did the photography for this was sort of weird. I really wish there had been more photos to accompany all of the personal stories in this book. I felt this book, while not always fun to read (in fact it was never fun) was an important testament from one of the most conflicted countries in the world. It was a direct letter to the West, saying "hey, we're not inherently a disaster, but we can only get better if you make ethical purchases...because when you don't violence here is exacerbated." I think this is a useful book for demonstrating that while problems in Africa are deeply rooted and complex, there are millions of people there who believe in their continent (and in this case, the DRC specifically) and its future and are working for it.
August 7, 2024
This is a difficult book to get through due to the accurately horrific depictions of treatment Congolese people go through even to this day. I picked this up to educate myself about the Silent Genocide of Congo, and was not disappointed. It details who and what countries have exploited this country, and how it stands today... still being exploited. It's tragic how the richest country on earth is the poorest because of colonialism and capitalism.
March 14, 2025
Five stars for the book's scope and purpose. It seems petty to have any critique of a book with such strong social justice aims, but the copy editor in me found certain aspects of organization and editing to be questionable, which dropped it down to four stars. Please don't let that be something that keeps you from thoroughly processing the issues and people therein. It is indeed a very important book.
July 22, 2024
I often have a hard time rating books like this, but I will say that this was a fairly easily accessible look at the history of Congo with personal stories from a number of Congolese people.
It was both harrowing and hopeful, inspiring even small change in individuals across the globe.
I can't imagine anyone who read this will ever look at the tech industry the same way in particular.
It was both harrowing and hopeful, inspiring even small change in individuals across the globe.
I can't imagine anyone who read this will ever look at the tech industry the same way in particular.
May 6, 2019
Good read - setting the context and solutions
This book is very informative and focuses on solutions. It also tells stories about many brave people who are fighting for sustainable change.
This book is very informative and focuses on solutions. It also tells stories about many brave people who are fighting for sustainable change.
August 8, 2022
The short historical chapters make for a quick and interesting, albeit short, read.
Throughout the book you read stories of local people and organizations, which is a side that does not get enough credit in most books.
The accompanying website congostories.org is also an added value
Throughout the book you read stories of local people and organizations, which is a side that does not get enough credit in most books.
The accompanying website congostories.org is also an added value
September 21, 2024
This book is a great way to start getting knowledge about Congo and what you can do to help support the people there. It disproves harmful stereotypes, shares real uplifter stories, and gives us the true history so we can understand what has happened on the land.
January 29, 2019
Excellent read. Inspiring and captivating. A comprehensive overview of Congo’s history over the past 500 years. Written in an easy to understand way. Highly recommend!
March 8, 2019
You don’t have to be a Bush. You can be a tree.
July 2, 2019
Interesting but poorly organized. Much of the book relates to people and issues in the region of Goma, with little relating to other parts of the country.
October 29, 2021
Interessante achtergrond informatie over het conflict in Congo. Met dit boek en de documentaire 'blood in the mobile' wordt de kijk op electronica heel anders.
December 31, 2021
A really important read. The focus on conflict minerals in the products we all use is indicting, even moreso are the people hurt not only in the mining process but the resulting conflict.
January 8, 2025
Five stars because I really enjoyed the intention of this book to highlight local voices and change makers on the ground and tell their stories in their own words.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews