Reviews for I Didn't Do It for You: How the World Betrayed a Small African Nation

The average rating for I Didn't Do It for You: How the World Betrayed a Small African Nation based on 2 reviews is 3 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2016-01-16 00:00:00 Melissa Mcdonald I can't remember the last time I had such mixed feelings as a book. Its not that Wrong is a bad writer, or that her narrative of Eritrea seems untruthful or dishonest. There's something about the inferences she draws from casual statements, and her over-reliance on rumour and myth that detract greatly from her natural skills as a writer. There's a little too much influence of the journalist reporting whatever she hears, and a too little of the researcher seeking to check their facts. One glaring example is the title of the book; supposedly said by a British officer to a ululating Eritrean woman after removing the Italians from the region during World War Two (in the story, the title phrase is followed by the officer referring to the woman with a particularly offensive term). In spite of the fact that it is almost certainly untrue (why would the officer address someone who didn't speak English this way; and how would people who didn't speak English remember and repeat the story?). It is treated as fact by Wrong, as are a number of other stories which are almost certainly myths or rumours. Additionally, Wrong has a strong desire to infer racism, conspiracy and plot where it doesn't necessarily exist. One glaring example being that after pages of decrying a particularly pedantic UN bureaucrat, Wrong reports one European as reporting that "these people" are holding up the UN mission on Eritrea's future. Wrong infers that he meant greasy, untrustworthy Latinos, in spite of having no reason for asserting that. Its much more likely and believable that the individual meant the kind of pedantic bureaucrats that Wrong herself was decrying. I think that what left me with a bad taste in my mouth after reading this book is the simple fact that I am tired of reading books by Westerners presenting themselves as really 'getting Africa' by complaining about other Westerners who just don't get it. Wrong is very clearly presenting herself this way, and as someone who has spent enough time in Africa to understand that I don't and never will 'get it', I can't help but roll my eyes at people who act as they do. At the same time, she clearly has talent at weaving together an interesting narrative. This is by far the best book I have ever given a two-star rating.

Review # 2 was written on 2007-08-28 00:00:00 Victor Culafic Before I read this book I knew absolutely nothing about Eritrea. I still don't know enough, but I am glad this was my introduction. Despite the cover and title it does not toe the typical "Oh, poor Africans; let's throw subsidized food and expensive pharmaceuticals at them and then all will be well" line. It does not paint such a simple story, rather it tells the tale of a nation that has been required to fight everyone: the Italians, the Ethiopians, the U.S., the British, the UN--the list goes on. The main thesis is that everyone has screwed Eritrea, so the Eritreans have done it their own way and nobody should expect an apology any time soon. The author is a brilliant, somewhat-Hobbesian journalist--plus, she's a woman, which is bonus points in my book.