States and Power in Africa

Book Description

Theories of international relations, assumed to be universally applicable, have failed to explain the creation of states in Africa. There, the interaction of power and space is dramatically different from what occurred in Europe. In his groundbreaking book, Jeffrey Herbst places the African state-building process in a truly comparative perspective, examining the problem of state consolidation from the precolonial period, through the short but intense interlude of European colonialism, to the modern era of independent states. Herbst's bold contention--that the conditions now facing African state-builders existed long before European penetration of the continent--is sure to provoke controversy, for it runs counter to the prevailing assumption that colonialism changed everything.

In identifying how the African state-building process differs from the European experience, Herbst addresses the fundamental problem confronting African leaders: how to extend authority over sparsely settled lands. Indeed, efforts to exert control over vast, inhospitable territories of low population density and varied environmental and geographical zones have resulted in devastating wars, millions of refugees, and dysfunctional governments perpetrating destructive policies.

Detailing the precise political calculations of distinct African leaders, Herbst isolates the basic dynamics of African state development. In analyzing how these leaders have attempted to consolidate power, he is able to evaluate a variety of policy alternatives for dealing with the fundamental political challenges facing African states today.

Customer Reviews:

Proto-States and Unconsolidated-Power in Africa.......2006-05-18

In States and Power in Africa, Jeffrey Herbst frequently uses the term "international system." An instinctive reading of the term may lead to the idea of "international community" (another term that is frequently seen in the text), and there are moments in Herbst's narrative that seem to support this interpretation. Yet Herbst repeatedly stresses the importance of state development in Africa to the international system : does he mean to say that the rise and fall of Zaire or Mali are seismic events in the world community?

In fact, I would posit, "international system " refers to more than just one type of international system in Herbst book. Sometimes, the term refers to the Westphalia state model. Other times, it refers to a model that is specific to Africa only. Yet there are still moments when the term is used to mean a "meta-international system" that incorporates both the European and the African models.

First, Herbst recognizes that the Western states and the African states are fundamentally different. The Western states are built on the establishment and mutual recognition of sovereignty. But in Africa, many states have only limited sovereignty at best. For example, many African governments are effective only in urban areas; they have a hard time collecting taxes; some cannot even enforce a single currency within their borders (p226). But most telling of all: African states do not always have a monopoly on the use of force (p255).

Second, Herbst describes how the subsequently formed Western international system is equally different from the African international system. Whereas the Western system is bound together by the threat of anarchy and violence, the African system is more loosely organized but has a tradition of cooperation (p26). Although Herbst repeatedly assures us that, "fundamentally, there is nothing exotic about African politics," (p31) there is nevertheless an overwhelming sense of "otherness" in how Herbst portrays the relationship between the Western and the African international systems. For example, Herbst states at one point, "It will ... be up to the Africans to come up with alternatives to the nation-state. However, the international community can play an important role ..." (p269) If the Africans are truly part of the international community, then why the "However," but not "The rest of"?

Third, in order to have the two international systems (Western and the African) working together, Herbst urges the world to embrace a new system in which sovereignty is no longer a prerequisite (p269). To paraphrase Herbst: if the power or control is exercised within a sub-national unit (a tribe or a region, for example) why can't the international agencies engage the sub-national unit directly? Assuming Herbst's definition of engagement includes the representation of those units (or we are back to the Colonial days), he is in effect proposing a different international system--a meta-system as I termed earlier--that is a mishmash of sovereign states and non-sovereign polities. This meta-system is what he has in mind when he theorizes the relationship between state development and international system (p27).

The metamorphosis of the term "international system" reveals a fault line in Herbst's work: in essence, he is trying to replace an existing concept (Westphalia international system) with a new one (meta-international system) by using terminologies that are alive only within the existing concept. Sovereignty, system, state and nation are terms conceived in the West, and are laden with Western historical experiences . Using terms such as "sovereignty" to construct an international system without sovereignty is bound to cause enormous confusion.

However, the misappropriation of terminologies is only a minor transgression compared to the implication of Herbst's conclusion. What he advocates, in essence, is to relieve the suffering in Africa at the expense of state building . Yet he has failed to make the case that, without the kind of power that Western states have to mobilize resources within a secured border, the proto-states in Africa can survive in today's global economy--one that was created by and for strong states only. Consequently, even if the international community can find ways to accommodate a continent full of chiefdoms, people in Africa may find themselves forever condemned to impoverishment and dependency.

States Make Wars, Wars Make States.......2005-12-04

The scholarly literature on state creation and consolidation usually fails to account for the African experience. The central idea of this literature is that the high population density of Europe made land relatively scarce and valuable to control, particularly from the late Middle Ages onward. This and technological change in the methods of warfare (e.g., more sophisticated battle tactics and firearms) drew states into continual conflict. But warfare is costly, and early modern states required resources to attack and defend. To get money for wars, kings had to build bureaucracies, gather information, and map their territory and people. They also had to make concessions- such as creating regular parliaments where citizens could have a voice. All these things were necessary to survive. If a state did not become "stronger", then typically it became extinct. This process created the modern system of nation states with their familiar institutional infrastructures that consolidated in Europe in the nineteenth century.

Herbst's argument is that this process has not taken place in Africa. It did not take place historically in the precolonial era, it did not take place during the colonial epoch, and it is not taking place since or now. Why?

Africa is different because the structural conditions that led to the path of state formation and institution building in Europe were absent in Africa. Unlike in Europe, land was and is not scarce in Africa. Rather, labor was scarce. Thus in the precolonial period, states did not fight over land, but rather people. This meant that precolonial states had vague borders and were often very "weak". Without the constant necessity of defending a well-defined territory, states did not need to invest in bureaucracies, censuses of their populations, tax collectors, or permanent militaries.

This absence of external threats coupled with low population densities persisted. During the colonial period there was little fighting over borders between the colonial powers. The conference of Berlin in 1885 largely determined which European power would have which bit of Africa. This meant that, like the precolonial polities, European colonial powers had little incentive to develop state institutions. Instead they focused on commercial exploitation and outright plunder of the mineral and natural wealth.

Following independence, the situation could have changed but did not, because the international state system and the United Nations decided to enforce the colonial boundaries that had largely determined the form that the new nations took. This trend was reinforced by Cold War politics. Thus African states were still able to survive without having to engage in the type of institution building that occurred historically in Europe.

Herbst argues that the lack of development of African state institutions helps explain many aspects of modern Africa. Since states never had to fight to survive they never had to build effective fiscal institutions. Therefore they have no tax bases and instead have to engage in highly distortionary methods of raising taxes (such as taxing trade) or redistributing income (for example via employment in parastatals). Foreign aid or rents from oil and minerals also allowed them to stay in power without having to develop indigenous channels of accountability. States never had to make political concessions to their citizens, hence the lack of functioning domestic political institutions such as parliaments and the completely unconsolidated nature of democracy in Africa. Moreover, the lack of these institutions can help explain the extent of venality and state corruption in Africa since these institutions provide key checks on such abuses.

This book discusses not only the history and politics of state creation and consolidation, but also evaluates policy alternatives that might address some of the fundamental political challenges Africans states face today. Its contention that the international community should stand ready to accept partition or the redrawing of borders is likely to keep fueling debates in the years to come. But although the potential costs of anarchy and chaos that a territorial restructuring of Africa could bring about are legitimate concerns, they need to be weighted against the current ongoing decay that prevails in several parts of Africa and that has already ignited a process of territorial reshuffling. We may have to accept the fact that in twenty years, the map of Africa is unlikely to look like that of today and of forty years ago.

Realism for Africa.......2005-09-13

Smart and insightful - a realistic look at the causes of many of Africa's problems today, without the usual shallow laying of blame on colonialism or traditional African society. Beyond that, it makes one take a critical look at state formation and the limitations and assumptions that go with it, coming as a welcome respite from the European models of state formation that are too often foisted on the rest of the world. Others outline the content well, so I won't bother. Just to say I highly recommend it. A book of practical realities.

Overbearing.......2004-02-22

As a citizen from one of the countries in Africa, I found this book most overbearing. I confess I started to get prejudiced from the inception, when Herbst describes his arrival in the clouds, on the continent, and how he cast an eagle eye on us from the plane and began brooding about our fate. How godly!!! But I have learned to appreciate Western books on us as a portrayal of Western gaze, rather than a portrayal of our realities. As such, the book is interesting, although it reaches certain conclusions (decertifying states, dumping the Addis rules, all this under outside compulsion) that, given the current propensities of the American government, should be considered by any African patriot as extremely dangerous.

Good Book.......2003-03-03

Drawing heavily upon the work of Charles Tilly, the most attrctive aspect of Herbst's work is the eloquence of his thesis: the application of theories of european state formation to the African state system. Herbst argues persuasivly that the problem with state boundaries in Africa is not that they are too weak, but that they are too strong. Indeed, it is the case with most states in sub-saharen Africa that there is a gap between the area that they are supposed to govern and the area that they can govern. In Europe, the flexibility of national bounardies ensured that weak and failed states were conqured by strong states, and that a sort of natural selection based on state power is the determineant of state bounaries. This however never happened in Africa...anyways, that's the thesis....

Shea Butter Republic: State Power, Global Markets, and the Making of an Indigenous Commodity

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Shea Butter Republic: State Power, Global Markets, and the Making of an Indigenous Commodity
Brenda Chalfin
Manufacturer: Routledge
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Popular Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

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African Studies | Africa | History | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0415944619

Book Description

Indigenous to the savanna zone in West Africa, shea (butyrospermin parkii) has been produced and sold by rural women and circulated on the world market as a low-priced and little-known raw material for more than a century. Locally, shea butter is used for cooking, making soap, leatherworking, dying, and as a medical and beauty aid. Globally, it has been used in producing soaps, candles, margarine, and most significantly, as a substitute for cocoa butter in chocolate production. In the past decade, however, shea has come to occupy a new position at the cutting edge of global capitalism. Now sold in exclusive shops as a high-priced cosmetic and medicinal product, it caters to the desire of cosmopolitan customers worldwide for luxury and exotic self-indulgence.
This ethnographic study traces shea from a pre- to post-industrial commodity to provide a deeper understanding of emerging trends in tropical commoditization, cosmopolitan consumption, global economic restructuring and rural livelihoods. Chalfinchallenges the widely held assumption that globalization makes state institutions and authority unnecessary and also undercuts the neo-liberal argument that streamlining state operations yields greater efficiency and accountability. Also inlcludes seven maps.

State, Power and Politics in the Modern Middle East

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A fantastic overview of the Politics of the Middle East
Superficial commercial treatment of complex issues

State, Power and Politics in the Modern Middle East
Roger Owen
Manufacturer: Routledge
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Asia | History | Subjects | Books

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Globalization | Politics | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

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Similar Items:

Understanding the Contemporary Middle East (Understanding (Boulder, Colo.).)
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ASIN: 0415297141

Book Description

Roger Owen has fully revised and updated his authoritative text to take into account the very latest developments in the Middle East. This new edition continues to explore the emergence of individual Middle Eastern states since the fall of the Ottoman Empire at the end of the First World War and the key themes that have characterized the region since then. The book continues to serve as an excellent introduction for newcomers to the modern history and politics of this fascinating region.

Customer Reviews:

A fantastic overview of the Politics of the Middle East.......2007-05-23

Although the 200-page limit places necessary limitations on what can be covered in a book such as this, this history of the modern Middle East by one of the region's foremost historians is a wonderful guide and an introduction to the region.

Owen covers a great deal in these 200 pages, and he does so concisely and lucidly. Not only does the book address the end of empire, the emergence of the states and the growth of state power, but also analyses parties, political economy, religious revival, military politics, and non-state actors.

As a person who teaches Middle East politics, I recommend this book highly.

Superficial commercial treatment of complex issues.......2006-03-30

This is a book by another "specialist" on the Middle East that would appeal to the common denominator reader. In an attempt to cover a wide scope of countries and issues and histories, Roger Owen, a well-respected authority in the subject matter, churns out a shallow text that does not even start getting to the issues at hand. It is a dull read that follows a standard template for what a professor believes should be fed to undergraduate students.
Professor Owen dwells in 280 pages on state building and political parties and movements, but lacks insight into events at the beginning of the 20th century that contradict his conclusions. I would not recommend this book for serious readers of Middle East issues or history, but it is useful for those under duress to produce a term paper at college.

The Graves Are Not Yet Full: Race, Tribe, and Power in the Heart of Africa

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The Genesis of Genocide
Tribalism and loyalties
Very Accurate and Very Disturbing
The Cold And Dark Continent
A Look At Another Side

The Graves Are Not Yet Full: Race, Tribe, and Power in the Heart of Africa
Bill Berkeley
Manufacturer: Basic Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Democratic Republic of Congo | Africa | History | Subjects | Books

General | Africa | History | Subjects | Books

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We Wish to Inform You That Tomorrow We Will be Killed With Our Families: Stories from Rwanda
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Machete Season: The Killers in Rwanda Speak
Imperial Reckoning: The Untold Story of Britain's Gulag in Kenya

ASIN: 0465006426
Release Date: 2002-03-05

Book Description

"You will understand Africa differently after reading this book...the richly reported stories he tells to make his case are unforgettable." --William Finnegan.

Since 1983 journalist Bill Berkeley has traveled through Africa's most troubled lands--Rwanda, Liberia, South Africa, Sudan, Uganda, and Zaire--seeking out the tyrants and military leaders who orchestrate seemingly intractable wars. Shattering the myth that ancient tribal hatred lies at the heart of the continent's troubles, Berkeley instead holds accountable the "Big Men" who came to power during this period, describing the very rational methods behind their apparent madness.

A New Republic Book

Customer Reviews:

The Genesis of Genocide.......2007-03-24

The Graves are not yet Full: Race, Tribe and Power in the Heart of Africa

Atlantic Monthly correspondent Bill Berkeley has written a thorough and provocative account of the relationship among racial, tribal, and ethnic interests in African culture.
Drawing on the Rwanda genocide and the recent famine and mass starvation in Darfur, Berkeley says these developments are not so much the result of "age old hatreds" as they are the consequence of a history of tyranny going back to Leopold II of Belgium and the failure of the international community to focus on Africa except as an extension of the Cold War.

"For four decades U.S. policy toward Africa was driven almost entirely by our competition with the Soviet Union. Africans scarcely existed except as strategic pawns in the great global game. Democratic and Republican administrations alike defined their options narrowly: they seldom gave priority to initiatives that did not serve U.S.
Strategic interests. They often overlooked, excused, rationalized ---and bankrolled-- wanton repression, injustice, corruption and economic mismanagement by unelected
Leaders who were willing to oppose Moscow." (Berkeley, P. 78)

The CIA bears responsibility for much of Africa's problems, Berkeley says, and the media is to blame as well. "The press bears a measure of responsibility for this attitude. There is a school of thought that the overwhelming emphasis on bad news creates an unrepresentative image of Africa. There may be some merit in this. My own view is that a more serious, and sinister problem is not the quantity of bad news but the quality." (Berkeley, P.88)

Finally, he says, Africans bear responsibility for their actions. He says there is a culture of Corruption where everything is for sale and everybody has his price.

In all a gloomy, but well-researched, look at the problems of a continent which one ninth of the world's population calls home.

Four Stars: ****

Tribalism and loyalties.......2006-09-15

I liked this book, more because it shed several spotlights on how several things happened that have contributed to past and present conditions in Africa. Much scorn should be rained down on several generations of leaders of the so called industrialized world for prepetuating the continued patronage of really bad people who seem to hold no regard for thier fellow man outside of thier clan or tribe. How divide and conquer is used repeatedly. When the cold war ended, Africa was suddenly abandoned as a front and more support for bad people was prepetuated. Five areas that continually recieve attention for good and bad, mostly bad are the key hotspots, we have to the northeast, Sudan and Somalia, though not much mention of the latter here, in the southwest; Liberia and all of the hate and discontent that a sucession of this leaning and that leaning despots created. In the centre, we have Rwanda, Zaire( the Congo) and Uganda and the very bottom, South Africa. Much of the cause for many of these turmoils seems to be a result of a half hearted attempt to extract the wealth from the country, and leave the mess for some one else to deal with, a general misunderstanding of history and the legacy of colonialism past and present.

Very Accurate and Very Disturbing.......2006-04-04

I have lived in East Africa, on-and-off, for over 5 years. Having lived in both Ethiopia and Uganda, I was blown away by Berkeley's accurate depiction of the modern history of this region.
This book is a must read for anybody wanting to learn about current affairs in Africa, and Africa's stance in the modern geo-political arena.

The Cold And Dark Continent .......2005-06-12

There is no escaping the seemingly overwhelming amount of evil and suffering that has gone on over the last century in Africa. Although it is not usually displayed on our nightly news casts, the continent has been in a state of near to constant warfare, criminal control and colonial game playing for far too long. This author attempts to give the reader somewhat of an overview of the situation and his views as to why it has and continues to take place. From plagues to genocide, Africa seems to have a monopoly on some of the worst that can befall man.

So how did the author approach the topic. It was interesting to me that he focused so much on the effect, both due to supposed active participation and more broadly due to ignoring the place, the U.S. has had there. I am not one who thinks of the past episodes of American foreign policy as all light and good, but if there is one part of the world that the U.S. has had the smallest effect on it has to be Africa. Just about every European country shy of the Vatican has spent time colonizing, "liberating" and in general messing around with governments and populations in Africa. If there needs to be a hard look at who should be getting most of the blame I think we need to spend a bit more time exploring our friends in Europe.

With this point said the book is dramatic. It is well written and many times interesting. Keeping the authors politics and biases aside, he does cover some truly horrible conditions that would make all but the most hard hearted individual think that we can do more to help. If you are looking for a book that would get you into the history of the problems in Africa then this is not that bad of a place to start even if the scope is a bit limited.

A Look At Another Side.......2004-01-17

This book is a stunning and gruesome portrait of genocide in Africa. Reporter Bill Berkely travelled to the war zones of Africa to meet the victims of racial violence and the inflictors of such violence. Berkeley's focus is more on the criminals and their actions that effect their nation. The interviews and experiences Berkely had with these evil individuals are fascinating and terrifying. If you have never come into real and forceful evil, you should read this book and learn what is going on on the other side. It is also good to be informed on this subject so that help can be given where it is needed.

The Atlas of African-American History and Politics: From the Slave Trade to Modern Times

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Great Too
Great Reference Guide
At Last, a True African-American Atlas
At Last, a True African-American Atlas

The Atlas of African-American History and Politics: From the Slave Trade to Modern Times
Arwin D Smallwood , and Jeffrey M Elliot
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill Humanities/Social Sciences/Languages
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Americas | History | Subjects | Books

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Human Geography | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Historical | Atlases & Maps | Reference | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0070584362

Book Description

THE ATLAS OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY AND POLITICS consists of more than 150 originally produced maps which trace the African experience throughout the world and in America. The volume traces the complete history of African-Americans and their lives, employing artfully-conceived maps, and enhanced by sharply-written historic narratives, graphically reinforcing the facts. This work is appropriate for courses in African American history and American history where instructors would like to integrate African American history into their curricula.

Customer Reviews:

Great Too.......2007-03-14

The delivery came even before the due date and I think that was super-excellent. Keep it up.

Great Reference Guide.......2001-02-01

Excellent, informative reference guide. Clear and concise information. A must for your library!

At Last, a True African-American Atlas.......2001-01-27

This is the type of African-American history book I have been searching for! The Atlas of African-American History and Politics offers not only a detailed chronilogical narrative of the African-American's history from slavery to today, but also clean-crisp visuals to clarify. You will learn and see the actual routes that were taken during slave trades. Not only is this book great for African-American study courses, but every household in America should have a copy of this easy read, yet informative atlas.

At Last, a True African-American Atlas.......2001-01-27

Our Mothers, Our Powers, Our Texts: Manifestations Of Aje In Africana Literature (Blacks in the Diaspora)

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Must-have for those interested in Ájé (iyaami)

Our Mothers, Our Powers, Our Texts: Manifestations Of Aje In Africana Literature (Blacks in the Diaspora)
Teresa N. Washington
Manufacturer: Indiana University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Women Writers & Feminist Theory | Books & Reading | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0253217571

Book Description

Àjé is a Yoruba word that signifies a spiritual power of vast potential, as well as the human beings who exercise that power. Although both men and women can have Àjé, its owners and controllers are women, the literal and cosmic Mothers who are revered as the gods of society. Because of its association with female power, its invisibility and profundity, Àjé is often misconstrued as witchcraft. However, as Teresa N. Washington points out in Our Mothers, Our Powers, Our Texts, Àjé is central to the Yoruba ethos and cosmology. Not only does it underpin the concepts of creation and creativity, but as a force of justice and retribution, Àjé is essential to social harmony and balance. As Africans were forced into exile and enslavement, they took Àjé with them and continued its work of creating, destroying, harming, and healing in the New World.

Washington seeks out Àjé's subversive power of creation and re-creation in a diverse range of Africana texts, from both men and women, from both oral and contemporary literature, and across space and time. She guides readers to an understanding of the symbolic, methodological, and spiritual issues that are central to important works by Africana writers but are rarely elucidated by Western criticism. She begins with an examination of the ancient forms of Àjé in Yoruba culture, which creates a framework for innovative readings of important works by Africana writers, including Zora Neale Hurston, Toni Morrison, Ben Okri, Wole Soyinka, Jamaica Kincaid, and Ntozake Shange. This rich analysis will appeal to readers of Africana literature, African religion and philosophy, feminist studies, and comparative literature.

Customer Reviews:

Must-have for those interested in Ájé (iyaami).......2007-08-17

In the west, where the knowledge of the sacred techonology of the mother is almost non-existant, this book is a blessing. Gives a great introductory understanding of the dynamic force/being/ability/power that is Ájé.

Islamic Society and State Power in Senegal: Disciples and Citizens in Fatick (African Studies)

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Islamic Society and State Power in Senegal: Disciples and Citizens in Fatick (African Studies)
Leonardo A. Villalón
Manufacturer: Cambridge University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0521032326

Book Description

The Sufi Muslim orders are the most significant institutions in Senegalese society. While Islamic political groups are often accused of destabilizing African states, Leonardo Villalón argues that these brotherhoods have played a crucial part in making Senegal one of the most stable and democratic of African countries. Focusing on a regional administrative center, he combines a detailed account of grassroots politics with an analysis of national and international political forces. This is a major study that should be read by every student of Islam and African politics.

The Power of One (Young Readersý Condensed Edition)

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big can beat small...
Buy two, keep one and give the other to a friend.
The ending will leave you speechless
The Great South African Novel
One of my Favorites

The Power of One (Young Readersý Condensed Edition)
Bryce Courtenay
Manufacturer: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Library Binding

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The Power of One
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ASIN: 0385902743
Release Date: 2005-09-13

Book Description

In 1939, hatred took root in South Africa, where the seeds of apartheid were newly sown. There a boy called Peekay was born. He spoke the wrong language–English. He was nursed by a woman of the wrong color–black. His childhood was marked by humiliation and abandonment. Yet he vowed to survive–he would become welterweight champion of the world, he would dream heroic dreams.
But his dreams were nothing compared to what awaited him. For he embarked on an epic journey, where he would learn the power of words, the power to transform lives, and the mystical power that would sustain him even when it appeared that villainy would rule the world: The Power of One.

From the Hardcover edition.

Customer Reviews:

big can beat small..........2007-10-16

This book really draws you into the story of a little boy that gets inspired to become a boxing champ. The different challenges he faces along the way and people that influence him all bring the story to life, leaving you wanting for more when the story comes to, for me, a rather abrupt end. It is a little cheesy at times but you can forgive that.

Buy two, keep one and give the other to a friend........2007-07-17

My favorite book of all time - and I'm a picky reader. You will become entranced in Peekay's world and never want to leave it. This should be on every person's bookshelf and handed out to every young adult.

Other advice: rent the movie first, then read the novel and you'll be able to appreciate the book more. Also, the sequel "Tandia" is good, but not as powerful as TPOO

The ending will leave you speechless.......2007-06-30

Most five year olds feel insecure and afraid in the world, but take away a child's mother, an apparently absent father, and only a black nanny to take care of the while child in South Africa and what remains will undoubtedly be a child that quickly learns to fend for himself. The question that remains is how successful will that child be? Peekay, with a strong mind and stronger heart, proves that the Power of One can be all the power one needs to succeed.

Peekay, an English child in South Africa at the start of WWII, has everything that he knows turned upside down when he is told that his mother has suffered a nervous breakdown and he must attend boarding school many miles from home. He is the youngest student by two years and is picked on mercilessly by the older children. This physical and mental abuse causes him to wet the bed which, in turn, increases his torment. Peekay uses life's earliest challenges to form the inner strength that he will need to overcome lifelong adversity. Over the years he develops a love for boxing and his goals surround the sport. He also discovers his aptitude for academics and is brought along by friends that are unique in their quirkiness as well as loyalty.

The Power of One is a moving and highly entertaining story of a boy who will not let himself fail. The novel portrays a courage and spirit of youth that defies one's expectations given the obstacles that get in the main character's way. Supporting characters are developed so that they come alive and the reader will be unable to follow Peekay's successes without a sense of pride themselves. The last twenty pages turn the book on it's head and finish with such an unexpected shock that it will leave the reader speechless. But somehow, it is a fitting ending to a thrilling journey that is difficult to put down.

The Great South African Novel.......2007-06-18

This expertly written novel tells the story of a boy whose chance meeting with a boxer leads him to focus his life on becoming the welterweight champion of the world.

The heart of the novel is the inspiring friendships he forms with the richly shaped characters that he encounters as he grows up.

The author's ability to tell a capturing story, and the smooth way he tells it, has produced a classic book well worth reading.

One of my Favorites.......2007-05-25

The Power of One is one of my favorite books of all time! You won't want to put it down until you finish!

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Architecture and Power in Africa:
Nnamdi Elleh
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