Ordinary Man: The True Story Behind Hotel Rwanda
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Product Description
Daily Mail
`Read this book. It will humble and inspire you'
Review
'Read this book. It will humble and inspire you' Mark Doyle, Daily Mail 'Part memoir, part polemic, part social history, An Ordinary Man is a deeply impressive work that pays fitting tribute to the 800,000 who lost their lives' Scotland on Sunday 'He recounts the ordeal with a narrative tension worthy of a superior thriller, and the passages on the build-up to the genocide are particularly compelling ... it is quite as harrowing as you'd expect' Observer 'A fascinating book ... by an ordinary man, about ordinary people, the kind of daring it takes to survive, and most of all the courage it takes to endure' Sunday Telegraph
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
20 of 20 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
One man's story of his experience during the Rwanda genocide of 1994, notable for the author's dignity and humility in the face of insufferably daunting events. He encapsulates his attitude in the quotation I have used for this review.
While he pulls no punches in portraying the harrowing nature of the events, he is at great pains at all times to stress that he was only one of many who were putting themselves at risk in order to protect their fellow man. He is particularly good on the almost casual way in which the hideous and the horrific can very soon be accepted as the norm. The clarity of the writing style turns subject matter which could have been very offputting into a very readable examination of the nature of humankind. An important, moving book.
While he pulls no punches in portraying the harrowing nature of the events, he is at great pains at all times to stress that he was only one of many who were putting themselves at risk in order to protect their fellow man. He is particularly good on the almost casual way in which the hideous and the horrific can very soon be accepted as the norm. The clarity of the writing style turns subject matter which could have been very offputting into a very readable examination of the nature of humankind. An important, moving book.
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I saw Hotel Rwanda last year and thought it was an amazing film, it was no surprise that Don Cheadle and Sophie Okenado both received Oscar nominations or that Paul Rusesabagina was referred to as an African Oscar Schindler.
This book is a welcome addition to the film as it gives Paul's back story. His childhood outside Kigali and early experience of ethnic hatred in the 50's when his father hid Tutsi refugees in their village. As a young man he trained to be a clergyman, but abandoned that when he fell in love later becoming a hotel manager. The story of the siege at the Mille Collines hotel is powerfully told with the tension and heart in mouth feeling I experienced while watching the film.
The benefit of the book over the film comes with bringing Paul's story up to date. The telling of his life now in Belgium with his own children and his nieces whose parents were murdered in the genocide. Rusesabagina himself is never boastful when recounting his actions considering them that of any decent person or an Ordinary Man.
In the same way as the Schindler story and that of Primo Levi - An Ordinary Man is a book that should be read by everyone as a reminder of the worst and best that humanity is capable of.
This book is a welcome addition to the film as it gives Paul's back story. His childhood outside Kigali and early experience of ethnic hatred in the 50's when his father hid Tutsi refugees in their village. As a young man he trained to be a clergyman, but abandoned that when he fell in love later becoming a hotel manager. The story of the siege at the Mille Collines hotel is powerfully told with the tension and heart in mouth feeling I experienced while watching the film.
The benefit of the book over the film comes with bringing Paul's story up to date. The telling of his life now in Belgium with his own children and his nieces whose parents were murdered in the genocide. Rusesabagina himself is never boastful when recounting his actions considering them that of any decent person or an Ordinary Man.
In the same way as the Schindler story and that of Primo Levi - An Ordinary Man is a book that should be read by everyone as a reminder of the worst and best that humanity is capable of.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
You like me are probably drawn to this book from watching the film 'Hotel Rwanda' which highlighted the plight of the many Rwandan's who suffered at the hands of their neighbours and once close friends, but perhaps more sickening the European community at large by their failure to intervene. I was very touched by the nature of this book, it's delivery fairly objective in what, let's face it, was an emotionally terrifying and charged time - being calm and with an understated eloquence wasn't what I expected. Don't get me wrong, the descriptions of the violence aren't shyed away from and are doubly shocking for their detail, it is the understanding of human nature and the wisdom of Mr Rusesabagina that permeates the writing and gives the sense of calm.
There are many lessons to be learned from the book and it delivers them up plentifully and masterfully one of which shows that situations that force you to face your own mortality crystallise those things around you into simple rules/principles. There is a revealing of the 'truth' in the relations of things; your choices are limited and you operate on the basis of the most basic pragmatism - the preservation of life. The complications our lives have are born out of choice and the luxury associated with it built up in layers and are in the most simple illusions - our wants and needs confused.
The points made in the book echo an understanding of humanity and demonstrate a refreshing show of common sense and self reliance providing great lessons for those receptive to it. It is also good at revealing the psychology of a people and how it is built by their culture and social practice and how it can be exploited by the powers in government - in this case to disastrous consequences! ( actually in most cases - eventually!) The author also shows the importance of maintaining a discipline with yourself and considering longterm consequences of negative activity against your fellows no matter how trivial - a good lesson as these will come back and haunt you in due time.
Paul Rusesabagina is a great man have no doubts, he humbly rejects the title of hero but really there is no clearer definition than this account of a mans stand against insanity. All normality around him was crumbling yet he remained steadfast in his conviction to preserve life relying on the simple truths he knew about people and the power of communication, these things I realised were the unchangeable anchors that kept him sane.
A great book with cherished lessons but disturbing afterthoughts.
There are many lessons to be learned from the book and it delivers them up plentifully and masterfully one of which shows that situations that force you to face your own mortality crystallise those things around you into simple rules/principles. There is a revealing of the 'truth' in the relations of things; your choices are limited and you operate on the basis of the most basic pragmatism - the preservation of life. The complications our lives have are born out of choice and the luxury associated with it built up in layers and are in the most simple illusions - our wants and needs confused.
The points made in the book echo an understanding of humanity and demonstrate a refreshing show of common sense and self reliance providing great lessons for those receptive to it. It is also good at revealing the psychology of a people and how it is built by their culture and social practice and how it can be exploited by the powers in government - in this case to disastrous consequences! ( actually in most cases - eventually!) The author also shows the importance of maintaining a discipline with yourself and considering longterm consequences of negative activity against your fellows no matter how trivial - a good lesson as these will come back and haunt you in due time.
Paul Rusesabagina is a great man have no doubts, he humbly rejects the title of hero but really there is no clearer definition than this account of a mans stand against insanity. All normality around him was crumbling yet he remained steadfast in his conviction to preserve life relying on the simple truths he knew about people and the power of communication, these things I realised were the unchangeable anchors that kept him sane.
A great book with cherished lessons but disturbing afterthoughts.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Couldnt put it down
An amazing man and an amazing read! Paul Rusesabagina is a truly inspirational man! You won't be able to put it down!
Published 4 months ago by Carol-anne Bird
The real man!
Paul Rusesabagina is a true African. May your days be long. I've watched the film thrice and on each occasion sobbed. I just finished reading the book. Soul sapping. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Akin Olawale
This story is a disputed one
I haven't read this book, but I have lived in Rwanda and studied its history and politics for my Masters degree. Read more
Published 9 months ago by nagapie
The banality of evil
This book, and John Simpson's books in which he talks about the Congo, were an education in the appalling colonial record of Belgium. Read more
Published 17 months ago by I. Fraser
Not just a book...
... but a journey. Touching, human, and thought-provoking. He takes Rwanda not as one case but as a case we can and should all learn from. Read more
Published on 24 Jun 2009 by TwirlySue
Wonderful book!
I loved reading this book. I do not only admire Paul for his survival and negotiating skills during the genocide but I admire him as a person. Read more
Published on 15 Jun 2009 by J. D. T. Noot
Book Review for University
I had already seen this book and bought it for an extended book review I had to do for university about a book that would be good for general managers of hotels to read. Read more
Published on 5 Feb 2009 by A girl with "mixed" taste
An Ordinary Man
This is the powerful story of Paul Rusesabagina and how he survived the Rwandan genocide, whilst trying to help as many others at the same time. Read more
Published on 8 Oct 2007 by Spider Monkey
An Ordinary Man
This is the powerful story of Paul Rusesabagina and how he survived the Rwandan genocide, whilst trying to help as many others at the same time. Read more
Published on 8 Oct 2007 by Spider Monkey
Saviour
Confronting killers with a combination of diplomacy, flattery and deception, Paul Rusesabagina managed to shelter more than 1,200 Tutsis and moderate Hutus while homicidal mobs... Read more
Published on 14 Sep 2007 by David I. Howells
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