Rating: 
Summary: A disservice to an important issue
Review: A good book on international assistance still needs to be written. The Road to Hell and Graham Hancock's Lords of Poverty are unfortunately too morally indignant and sensationalist to be of practical value. I was witness to much of what Maren wrote about in Somalia. Yes, it was a mess, but his gonzo style and cavalier tone does not begin to give a revealing picture of what was happening, the options available and the subtexts. When I tried to contact Maren by email to clarify certain points on which he wrote erroneously he never responded. It's too bad. International assistance is an extremely important issue, one that many of those involved are constantly seeking ways in which to improve their performance and the value of their efforts. I don't think there are many who are involved in the field would say that they are happy. Still, Maren is just too flippant to be taken seriously.
Rating:
Summary: Sensationalistic and sloppy
Review: As an international aid worker and former Peace Corps volunteer, I was hoping for objective and well-researched criticism of international aid programs. Wrong book. The majority of this book is based on the author's personal experiences and anecdotal experiences of others with a couple of specific aid agencies, which are hardly indicative of the "aid industry" as a whole. The writing was amateurish and the facts so slanted and incomplete that I struggled to finish the book.No aid worker believes that there isn't corruption or incompetence in the field - it's like any other profession in that respect. Maren frequently characterizes aid workers as cowboys who are in it for the money or twenty-five year olds in 4x4s. Working in post-conflict situations is extremely challenging - logistically, mentally, and emotionally. Hard choices and compromises need to be made. But Maren isn't interested in portraying the challenges - he's got an agenda and an axe to grind and he won't let facts or research get in his way. If you want a more thoughtful and interesting but equally critical portrait of Peace Corps life, I strongly recommend George Packer's "The Village of Waiting" over this book. This book is more of a memoir than journalism, although it's presented as the latter.
Rating: 
Summary: Important writing
Review: As the family of man continues to polarize into haves and have-nots we must learn to change the way we mitigate the disasters of others or we shall certainly all fail victim the global crisis that is known as 'overpopulation.' This book gives what must be an overview of the end of todays chaotic international relief efforts, because if this system is not ended, then heaven help us.... An important book, I wish every member of Congress, every person with a charitable thought, and every man who knows that there for the grace go I, should read and reflect on this book.
Rating:
Summary: One of the most important books of recent years
Review: At a time when the answer to most problems seems to be throwing money in their direction, Maren points out graphically and convincingly that a) it doesn't help; and b) it often does more harm than good. As I read his argument he seems to be saying simply that the problems in poor countries are generally caused by the corrupt and/or indifferent practices of thier leadership. Aid and charity always support that leadership and therefore perpetuate the problems. He uses the example of Somalia and other African countries but it's easy to see the full breadth of his argument. Further he shows that most charites like CARE and Save the Children are actively aware of the damage they are causing (he cites internal memos) but continue on their way because they are dependent upon Western governments for tens of millions of dollars in financing that goes along with doing their projects. To my mind, two things make this book unique: First, it's part memoir (Maren has been both an aid worker and journalist in Africa) and told in a riveting narrative style. Unlike most "policy" books, the characters come alive in this one. Second, and most important, Maren is not one of those right-wing cranks who wants do abandon the poor to rot in their own poverty. He believes that the rich countries have a moral obligation to help the Third World. This is the ultimate insider exposé. He does a great job tossing the money lenders from the temple.
Rating:
Summary: A Stunning Achievement
Review: Beyond the shocking information this book provides about the state of charity, the quality of mercy, and the contradictions of human nature, it is a stunning literary achievement. One the best books I've ever read about Africa, about anything.The Road to Hell read like a tightly wrought detective novel.
Rating: 
Summary: Good start, interest faded
Review: First off, I think this book should be retitled to reflect that 95% of the information is on Somalia and the charities & aid organisations there. I was hoping for a broader look at foreign aid rather than one case study. Nevertheless, this book was compelling at the beginning. I loved the personal story of Chris, (who worked for CARE in remote Somalia, his family was with him) for him it all went sadly wrong and this really touched me, and also Michael's own story of his time in Africa. But by the middle of the book, I found my interest waning. The personal stories were fading and I felt like I was bogged down in a boring array of facts. If you are looking for a book on Africa that is a wonderful personal experience, check out Keith Richburg's Out of America - it's brilliant.
Rating:
Summary: This book will rock your world
Review: Forget everything you've ever thought you know about helping people in poor countries. And definitely don't click onto net aid without reading this amazing story. Nothing is black and white in this world, and this book proves it. I was blown away.
Rating:
Summary: Manipulative and sensationalist
Review: I am a humanitarian aid worker with experience across Asia, Africa, and the Balkans and am as cynical as most other aid workers. I've also seen some egregious examples of the sort of money-grubbing and harm that NGOs can do. (My favorite is I once worked for an organization that was using in-kind contributions of medical commodities to leverage grants, even though the donated supplies could not be brought into the country at all, leaving me to manage a medical program without any medicine.) That said.....although there is much truth in this book, the examples used were often manipulative, exaggerated, or the most notorious cases around. There are also a lot of internal contradictions within the book, and scandals from a million years ago. For me, the devils in the details undermined the legitimacy of much of what Maren was trying to say. There was a grain of truth to everything -- but too much manipulative, contracditoray, sensationalistic muckraking that is a discredit to both journalism and humanitarian aid.
Rating: 
Summary: AID Hurts People
Review: I have lived in Africa and worked in the Health Services but I was an immigrant and was paid local (low) salary. Then I met a Foreign Aid Docter from Italy working in the Hospital. His whole atitude was bad and he was doing research on Hepatitis B, using the non paying patients and the the Lab bills were not paid by Italy (only his high salary) but by us the tax payers. The Book of Michael Maren really gives a good background information and how AID is hurting the local food and clothing industry and culture. The worse thing is that every idealist can start an organisation and with good marketing, the money rolls in. That makes one think of the stupidity of the donors. Please stop AID.
Rating:
Summary: Fascinating and unsettling!
Review: I highly recommend this book. Maren takes on that most sacred of cows: famine relief. He convincingly demonstrates
that in both Somalia and Rwanda the aid has been used for some pretty ghastly purposes.
Not only is the book well argued and well researched by someone who has "walked the walk", its an interesting read as well. My one note: it probably makes sense to review the timeline at the back of the book occasionally while reading the book, to keep a sense of what's going on.
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