Books

Shake Hands with the Devil Review

Shake Hands with the Devil
The Failure of Humanity in Rwanda

Is a book by Canadian LGen Romeo Dallaire, the man that led the UN mission in Rwanda during the mass genocide of 1994-95.

This is easily my favorite book. I wasn't sure it would be that good a read, I was thinking "this guy is a soldier, not an author", so figured the book might be kinda dry and a 'justthe facts' kinda read. Man was I off.

Romeo is an excellent storyteller, the book is a very smooth read and INTENSE. He takes you alongwith him through all the insanity. He doesn't pull a single punch and is very good at describingdetail. Sometimes you have to set the book down and just shake your head at the depths human beingscan sink to. There are some very tense moments in the book that would have me reading till the weehours when I had planned on maybe reading another half hour before bed.

At the end of the book, Romeo reflects back on the events in Rwanda to see if we can learn anythingfrom it. He gives his view on where the world is today, where we should be going, and how wecan get there.

This book is amazing. Go get a copy.