Africa: A Biography of the Continent

by John Reader

Book Overview

In 1978, paleontologists in East Africa discovered the earliest evidence of our divergence from the apes: three pre-human footprints, striding away from a volcano, were preserved in the petrified surface of a mudpan over three million years ago. Out of Africa, the world's most ancient and stable landmass, Homo sapiens dispersed across the globe. And yet the continent that gave birth to human history has long been woefully misunderstood and mistreated...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 067973869X
• ISBN13: 9780679738695
• Release Date: September 1999
• Publisher: Vintage
• Length: 816 Pages
• Weight: 1.68 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.7" x 5.3" x 7.8"

Customer Reviews

Insight and perspective

I have bought this book 7 times. Each time, I lend or give it to colleagues ranging from diplomats to missionaries, and then have to buy a new copy for my own reference! The maps in the back alone are worth the price of the book. I've worked in US embassies in 13 African countries over the last 20 years, and this book is still my favorite. Reader combines his geographic perspective ("How does humankind live on the land? why are human communities located where they are?" and the ever-popular "Why did humanity evolve in Africa?") with some enlightening side trips e.g. geology: ("Why do diamonds and gold occur where they are? How have such resources affected the continent's history?"). He isn't afraid to tackle the realities of the colonial legacy, but he is balanced in also describing the role of home-grown obstacles on the road Africans are traveling to improve their lives. If you are only going to get through one book about Africa, this is it.

A concise yet comprehensive look at a fascinating continent

"Africa" is the companion volume to the recent PBS series of the same name, and like the series, is organized into eight parts, each one focusing on a particular geographical region of the continent. In clear, concise language, John Reader gives us the historical and geographical background of each area, the current economic and social structure, and the problems affecting the particular region. The photographs are mind-blowing; they are so gorgeous that they almost dominate the excellent text. The one disappointment, for one who has also seen the PBS series, is that the book doesn't follow the individual stories of people in depth as the PBS production did; however, no one who hasn't seen the TV production will miss it, and it in no way detracts from the overall value of the book. This is one book about the "dark continent" that does the continent, and its people, proud.

Africa, a Biography for Everyone

Considering the magnitude of his undertaking, Mr Reader did a superb job of covering his subject in nearly every aspect possible. Almost anyone with an interest in geology, geography, anthropology, ancient and recent history, political science or ethnography will find this book of interest in some aspect. Personally I enjoyed the first half of the volume more than the last half, as the later chapters are a depressing compendium of the inhumanity of mankind to its brethern. The unfortunate effects of foreign involvement in African affairs has a long history, and Mr. Reader dealt with the subject fully and fairly; nor did he entirely absolve native African involvement in the down fall of some of its own cultures. The author seems to have a feel for the complexity of the events that occurred through time and of the reprocussions--the almost dominoe effect--of actions and decisions made, often times outside of Continental Africa itself. (A case of 20-20 hindsight, perhaps). In all a very readable book for anyone desiring a broad overview of Africa.

Whatever idea you have of Africa, this book will change it

Is rare to find a book about history that is so gripping. The writer indeed does a wonderful job in keeping you amused and surprised. He mixes very diverse topics such as linguistics, weather, religion, colonialism, economics, geography and a thousand more, into a single narrative, with such vitality and coherence, that you wonder how come there are such a few mainstream works on such a fascinating epic history.If you know nothing about, or just a few details of African History, after finish reading this book you will feel like an expert, but more important that that, the writer most probably will sow in you a feeling of love for that continent a thirst to know more.

A Magnificent Work

This is a huge book, but unlike most others, I was sorry to see it end. This is due to Reader's intelligent and clear writing style. He conveys an enormous amount of information in chapters which are usually no more than 10 pages.Those looking for a conventional history will be a bit puzzled at first. Reader spends more time talking about the prehistory of Africa and the development of homo sapiens in general than he does about 20th century African events. Nevertheless, the episodes he chooses to focus on are memorable. His description of the slave trade and its effect on the African continent is notable both for its horror and for the unbiased eye he casts on both the Europeans and Africans involved in perpetuating it. Reader draws upon a huge number of sources for the book (the bibliography is huge) and synthesises them into a lucid narrative, despite the gaps and omissions (nothing much on North Africa, for example). He is especially opinionated about the West's stereotypical image of Africa as a verdant, unspoiled land. Still, he presents a wide variety of information drawn from his voluminous reading, and he always identifies speculation as speculation.It is impossible in such a short space to do justice to a book that basically defies description. While it focuses on Africa, Reader's book deals with so many subjects, and does it so well, that it will leave you almost breathless.