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4.6 out of 5 stars
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Roger John Maudsley
3.0 out of 5 stars Long March
Reviewed in the United States on November 11, 2017
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In termos of information Mr Kinzer's book is first rate, covering all aspects of the disintegration and rebirth of Rwanda: a brief history of the country, a description of the genocide, the story of the war, and the achievements and challenges of the new government. The contribution to the tragedy of the United Nations and western nations - in particular Belgium and France - is duly documented. The author benefited greatly from intensive access to the president and conversations with both eyewitnesses of Rwanda's tragic past and contributers to the country's regeneration.

But the campaign of the Rwandan Patriotic Front and its principal leader somehow deserves more. The story of Paul Kagame and his comrades is the Africa's equivalent of Mao's Long March. Mr Kinzer's effort suffers from a text that could be better organized, better focused - and better written.
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Kindle Customer
4.0 out of 5 stars The story of an ignored tragedy
Reviewed in the United States on April 9, 2019
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A thorough, heartbreaking telling of the Rwandan genocide and the following recovery. A good read for those who didn't hear the real story. May we learn from our mistakes and hope that we never repeat this history.
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Amaia
5.0 out of 5 stars Educational and enlightening
Reviewed in the United States on July 25, 2017
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This is my fifth Kinzer book and it's possibly my favorite. The book is a page turner and competed with nothing for my attention while I read it. The genocide event in Rwanda was so horrible and the following recovery effort so ambitious that it almost angers me that the topic is less talked about. The book is historical but also poses questions around some intense themes such as following command versus personality morality, the role of religion in a government, and the true value of western human rights groups. This book gave me a lot to think about in its discussion of reconciliation, the UN, and censorship among other topics.
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G. Stephen Goode
5.0 out of 5 stars Let's go see what is happening in Rwanda
Reviewed in the United States on January 4, 2009
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Summary: A Thousand Hills by Stephen Kinzer/Rwanda's rebirth and the man who dreamed it

This is an awful and a beautiful story of Rwanda, pre and post-genocide, a gripping story like you have never read before. It is a book about a country that was forgotten and how in this globalized world, that is not possible to do anymore without grave consequences. It is also an important story of a country that has come back from the brink of hell to a totally different future. It is a story that is taking place right now.

It is also the story of Paul Kagame, almost murdered at the age of two years along with his family by a death squad in the "practice genocide" of 1959, a refugee in Uganda most of his early life, a visionary guerilla leader with a simple dream to return to his homeland and now the President of Rwanda trying to bring this future into reality. This is a story of leadership and the script is being written now.

Stephen Kinzer, an award-winning writer that has worked in more than 50 countries, has written a compelling, incredible book. It is history from a different perspective that I had not read about before. It is a book that many political leaders from Europe, the USA and most of all the UN will be upset about regarding the colonial period and specifically the genocide of 1994. When individuals and countries had the power to do something, most did little if nothing. Rwanda is a small, landlocked country with few resources. This was an African issue, tribes fighting tribes, colonial powers protecting their age-old self-interests. So most did nothing. That is the awfulness of a "A Thousand Hills" where the darkest part of the human soul came out with all of its hate and prejudice. Some wonder whether it will happen again.

However, this is not just another book about the genocide. It is a book about a audacious vision of turning Rwanda into a different place by 2020. It is about a leader with a dream of a secure and free Rwanda, reducing poverty, providing clean water, electricity and education in Rwanda and creating jobs, business, good governance and ending corruption to mention a few. There are incredible stories of what is taking place in Rwanda to make this dream a reality.

There are also serious criticisms. One of the most stinging criticism lies at the door of the United Nations in 1994 and their failed peace-keeping efforts under the direction of Kofi Annan, their mis and/or failed-communication to the countries in the Security Council of what was actually taking place on the ground in Rwanda and their lack of taking any responsibility of that failure after the genocide. There are also criticism of the leadership of President Paul Kagame.

After reading this book, I want to know more. I want to go to Rwanda and see the changes and see what is happening. If radical change can happen like this in Rwanda, it can happen in any country. I highly recommend this book. Get your tickets......
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Victor
5.0 out of 5 stars Very Good !!!!
Reviewed in the United States on August 3, 2020
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Balanced and well thought out. Easy to read, with a fair and realistic look at the wonder that is Rwanda. Best book
on Rwanda I have read so far. Brilliant.
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Omar Mefire
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book! Great leader!
Reviewed in the United States on July 3, 2020
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Great book that walks you through the journey of a remarkable leader's journey and his accomplishments.
Kagame is to be commended and even admired for what he did for his country in stopping a genocide and rebuilding the country from its ashes. He's been able to pull Rwanda back and put it on the path to economic emergence.

Let's see how it all ends. Hoping the best for Rwanda.
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Top reviews from other countries

W. Martin
5.0 out of 5 stars Rwanda - genocide and beyond.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 27, 2013
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I would recommend this to anyone who, like me, struggles to understand the background to the genocide in 1994. A terrific book!
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Donna
5.0 out of 5 stars An eye opener
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 23, 2015
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A must read if you are interested in international development. An extraordinary tale of Western incompetence and self interest. The author obviously admires Kagame, but is not blind to faults in the current regime. Rwanda has challenges but I suspect they will over come these.
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 15, 2016
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Brilliant book
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 8, 2017
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Very very good History and actual facts of Rwanda
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Gayathri Nair
5.0 out of 5 stars An Amazing book...
Reviewed in India on May 30, 2020
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I have read that Rwanda has been progressing very well compared to other countries and I want to know how it was achieved... The search for that lead me to this book... A great book that introduces political history of Rwanda and how dream of one man Paul Kagame has changed the destiny of that country that saw a genocide in 1994. I enjoyed reading it.
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