The ways in which Dr. Boko analyzed the economical developments in many West African countries was outstanding. He was able to convey a detailed and well organized examination of the impact of the fiscal decentralization on subnational resource mobilization capacity and macroeconomic stability.

Usually economic books are extremely dense and quite frankly "hard reads" but Decentralization and Reform in Africa was not. Indeed it was thought-provoking and complex, but Boko seemed to relate ideas and recommendations in an understandably unique fashion.

In the end, it was quite simply a great read. I look forward to future works by this author.

I WAS IN THE UNIVERISTY WHEN I FIRST HAD TO READ NGUGI'S DECOLONSING THE MIND. I CAN HONESTLY SAY THAT THIS WAS THE BOOK THAT DEFINED THE DIRECTION OF MY COLLEGE CAREER. THROUGH PERSONAL EXAMPLES AND GENERAL OVERVIEWS OF THE CORRUPTION OF THE NEO-COLONIAL AFRICAN STATE, NGUGI HAS WRITTEN A MUST-READ FOR ANY AFRICAN WHO HAS COME INTO CONTACT WITH WESTERN CULTURE, MAY THAT BE THROUGH LANGUAGE, SCHOOLING, OR ONE'S PLACE OF RESIDENCE. UNTIL I READ THIS BOOK, I DID NOT REALIZE HOW PROFOUNDLY THE RACIST NOTIONS OF THE WESTERN WORLD AFFECTED MY THOUGHT PROCESS AND THE WAY THAT I VIEWED THE WORLD AROUND ME; ESPECIALLY THE WAY THAT I VIEWED MYSELF. THIS BOOK WILL BECOME INDISPENSABLE TO ANY PERSON THROUGHOUT THE AFRICAN DIASPORA WHO HAS EXPERIENCED ANY OF THE FEELINGS OF DISPLACEMENT, SELF-HATRED, AND ANXIETY THAT NGUGI SO ELOQUENTLY DESCRIBES. A MUST HAVE.

Claude Ake has once again written a very insightful book on the precarious situation currently facing Africa (more specifically Sub-Saharan Africa). His analysis, although sometimes a tough read, is well planned and descriptive, and he thoroughly explains his original thesis on what he believes is the best course for Africa to embark on both politically and economically. His discussion of current and past trends and efforts at the development and democratization of Africa is very informative, original, and well-researched. Ake's use of statistics and examples of events are very accurate and do not appear (on further research) to be misused or taken out of context to misrepresent what has occured and is occuring as fact. This book has proven very useful to my studies in the democratization processes currently transpiring througout Africa and offers a fresh insight and ideas for future developments.

Development, State and Society is a nuanced overview of economic thought, political formations and social issues applied to Africa. In this thought-provoking book, Seyoum Hameso argues that the promise of development was taken to heart by millions throughout the world. After half a century of "development," it remains unfulfilled for millions in Africa. The swollen bodies of children, emaciated faces of women, a relentless scourge of conflicts that have become a way of life, all point to a continent ill at ease with itself and less at ease with its external engagement.

All this indicate that there is a pressing need for the redefinition of the existing approaches and practices with a view to help chart alternative development.

The book contains two parts. The first part presents theoretical and historical aspects of development problematic. The second part deals with practical issues on economic performance, political governance, the role of culture and Africa's relationship with the external world including the IMF, the World Bank and problems associated with globalization.

The book is a timely contribution and a commendable reading for anyone involved in historical, political and social background of development problems.

It is a thought-provoking book on development, state and society in contemporary African context by an author of Ethnicity and Nationalism in Africa.

Another impulse buy (despite the convenience of Amazon, the ability to browse the occassional page will forever more keep me loyal to old-fashioned bookshops). South Africa is the scene, and the story of two women gently unfolds, narrated by a middle-aged member of the boer white trash community. She tells the story of a local myth, of a certain english woman who once ran an ostrich farm, way back when whites were whites and blacks were trash, when ostrich feathers were in fashion, when africa was still the dark continent. Its a moving story about the schizoprenia of society, where racial lines were as strong as sexual ones, where women and men had clearly identifiable roles. Our turn-of-the century rule-breaker is a little like the female lead from'the god of small things'. Very much so. Our narrators story also evolves, and the mythical woman takes on a fantastic journey as the personalities of the narrator and narrated get all jumbled up into one raging ball of unspent emotion, frustration, alcoholic stupor, forsaken love, misplaced feelings and confused identities. I'd say this is a good book, although its similarities in many ways to Arundhati Roy's work prevents it from being a great book. There are some disadvantages of being a second, even though its a damn good read, and probably written in parrallel to Roy's.

I wonder why the english speaking world have suddenly fallen head over heels with books about the indian subcontinent - witness the irrational admiration for soap opera's extraordinaire such as 'a suitable boy' and 'a fine balance'. I think africa or latin america, (for that matter) could do with a little more attention, and are equally fascinating.

The Dilemmas Of Africanization: Choices And Dangers For Sub-Saharan Africa describes the inevitable consequences of new and emerging African governments implementing a policy of replacing certain existing classes of non-black business owners and plantation-scale farmers with their own (often untrained and inexperienced) citizens. While the white owners of these farms and commercial enterprises departed the country, no native citizenry accepted the opportunity to continue their operations which resulted in the ravaging of the mercantile section of the economy while plantations ceased to be productive. Adding to the severe economic situation was the permanent deprivation of intellectual capital necessary to adequately conduct development -- and a sharp decrease of available capital for investment. Even in the face of decades of national examples of this deeply flawed social and national policy, Zimbabwe continues to confiscate white farms even with a ruined economy running rampant and South Africa after the removal of apartheid is experiencing incidences of white commercial farmer assassination and general white flight which does not bode well for its economic and political future. Very highly recommended reading for students of African national cultures, politics, economics, and international relations, Dalton Cato's The Dilemmas Of Africanization is a revealing, documented expose based upon years of his personal research and experience while traveling and working in African, assisting people to deal with post-independent governmental experiments, polices and politics.

This book is great. When the Lion King came out, I loved it, so I got this book for Christmas. I had my mom read it over and over and when she couldn't, I'd read it myself! This is a terrific book so if you loved the movie, don't miss out on this beautiful adaptation

This book tells the story of a strong relationship between a mighty lion ruler, Mufasa, and his son, Simba. When Mufasa is killed, Simba leaves the lion pride, thinking his father's death is all his fault. On his journey, Simba is befriended by a kind warthog and meerkat.Simba adopts their carefree motto "Hakuna Matata". The young lion prince grows up with his two new friends not willing to accept responsibility. One night, he sees his childhood friend, Nala, in the jungle. She tells him about lack of food and water at home, yet, he still refuses to return. That night, his father appears in the twilight, telling his son to return home, help the pride, and become king. Simba goes back home and puts everything back into place again. Then he assumes the throne, Pride Rock and chooses Nala for his queen. They soon have a cub of their own. The Circle of Life will continue!

As the twentieth century is about to begin, family patriarch Sir Gilliard Asleigh, makes it abundantly clear that he loathes his four surviving grandchildren. In the mind of their martinet grandfather, they cannot live up to the legendary ghost of their now deceased oldest brother, who allegedly died while attempting to rescue General Gordon at Khartoum.

Nothing any of the four siblings do ever satisfies the senior citizen. The eldest living member of the foursome, Vere, duplicates his older brother by his valor on the battlefield. However, he mistakenly survives the mission in the Suden, refuses to rejoin a regiment, and turns to art leaves him (as usual) disappointing Gilliard. Valentine is in utter disgrace because he has been unfairly accused of rape. Margaret simply runs away with her Italian lover. Finally, imperfect Charlotte abused over a deformed leg) marries a commoner. Failure is all the patriarch sees for posterity.

A DISTANT HERO is a dynamic turn of the century family drama filled with superb characterizations that bring alive the strict social class system of England. The sequel to A QUESTION OF HONOUR is a top rate that will bring plenty of new fans beating to the drum of Emma Drummond.

Harriet Klausner