'Dead Aid' by Dambisa Moyo/'Visions of Heat' by Nalini Singh

[annwfyn]

Two radically different books for me to review today.

First of all, the one I started first, and finished last.

'Dead Aid' by Dambisa MoyoI picked this book up randomly in Waterstones. Dambisa Moyo is from Zambia, but left in her teens to pursue her education. She's studied economics at Harvard and Oxford, and worked for the World Bank. She also

Comments

[browngirl]

I've made a note of Dead Aid, and I really like your reviews of Ms. Singh's works.

[annwfyn]

Oh thank you :) I enjoy writing them, for I am really quite involved with that series at the moment. There will be more to come soon as I've got the next two books on the way.

[waelisc]

Dead Aid - wow, important topic. Apparently it hasn't been released in the U.S. yet; Amazon will have it next month.

I'm curious how faith-based assistance fits into the picture, that is, aid programs financed by denominations or religious consortiums. On one hand, those projects are typically controlled directly by the organization providing the funding, so the money isn't going to a government: good. On the other hand, proselytizing: not good, imo.

I do think the faith-based assistance of today has become more motivated by a desire to help people in need than just convincing them to convert, at least, compared to 75 or 100 years ago. Still, is there an element of deciding what people need and providing that? Rather than asking "How can we help?"

(I don't mean to be throwing stones at someone else's glass house; I've given money to the relief agency run by my own denomination with the completely unexamined assumption that it should be supported

[annwfyn]

I do recommend it. It's really really good and is very challenging. It really made me look at my own assumptions re: helping Africa.

She didn't look at religious assistance at all - tbh - her focus is much more on government to government aid which is subject to most of her criticism.

Do read it. It'll make you think an awful lot.

[annwfyn]

Thank you for that link. That was really interesting.