A Problem From Hell

America and the Age of Genocide

By: Samantha Power

Narrated by: Joyce Bean

Pulitzer Prize, General Nonfiction, 2003

National Book Critics Circle, Nonfiction, 2003

In her award-winning interrogation of the last century of American history, Samantha Power - a former Balkan war correspondent and founding executive director of Harvard’s Carr Center for Human Rights Policy - asks the haunting question: Why do American leaders who vow “never again” repeatedly fail to stop genocide? Drawing upon exclusive interviews with Washington’s top policy makers, access to newly declassified documents, and her own reporting from the modern killing fields, Power provides the answer in A Problem from Hell, a groundbreaking work that tells the stories of the courageous Americans who risked their careers and lives in an effort to get the United States to act.

©2007 Samantha Power (P)2012 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

history lessons to learn not repeat

worthy topic and thorough work by the audit author. listen then send it to your friends.

The problems that we turned away from

When I plan listening to audiobooks, I try to alternate the ones that I want to read (for fun and pleasure) and the ones that I need to read (for knowledge). This book definitely belongs to the latter group. Who wants to read about genocides? For 22 hours! But I am glad that I read it because the book gave me a good review of all the major genocides/atrocities in the 20th century. This makes me more responsible for my actions in the future problems, but I would rather know about these facts than remain ignorant. So, yes, I am glad that I read it.

The book mainly focuses on U.S. foreign policies (or lack of) about these genocides and how the politicians at the time acted. Naturally, politicians are reluctant to choose unpopular policies with unknown risks, especially when there are serious domestics problems. There are of course examples of failed foreign interventions. But, to me, the problem is that the people may not always be aware of what is going on in a remote places in the world (though this may be less of a problem now because of the Internet). Of course, people would demand better domestic economy and national security policies over foreign interventions. But at what cost? We as citizens need to be better educated about what goes on in other countries and demand any necessary intervention actions from politicians.

This was a difficult book to read emotionally. But this must have been a really difficult book to write. The book does amazing job of depicting facts and events as they were (well researched) with minimum emotional interpretations. I have tremendous respect for Samantha Power for this.

The reality of circumstance

This book is a testament to the politics of genocide. The author artfully puts the global community of bystanders on notice for their inaction in 20th century genocides while they also attempt to occupy higher moral ground. The genocides discussed, some during war and some during peace, each reveal something about each of us, even today. I still have to read my physical copy of the book, but given my notes in the audio version, I anticipate the book living up to this version for my research purposes. I don't have anything critical at the moment.

Comprehensive

The thorough analytical style of research and telling was very impressive in Powers’ narrative. I greatly appreciated her insight into the workings of the US govn’t from Lemkin’s crusade through George W Bush.

Good book about a bad thing.

If you're looking for a feel good book look elsewhere. If you're interested in the history of this subject this is a good place to start.