‘An ambitious and engaging book, challenging readers to go beyond simple depictions of development success or failure to examine how colonialism and capitalism are implicated in current global economic and social inequalities, and to consider alternative futures.’
Katie Willis, Royal Holloway, University of London
‘It is very difficult to say something new about development, but this book does just that, particularly in providing new insights on Africa: its importance in the distant and recent past, the present and into the future. The unusual combination of history and human stories makes for great reading.’
Gustavo Esteva, co-author of The Future of Development: A Radical Manifesto
'What can be done to reduce poverty and spur economic development in areas that have been left behind? Brooks's engaging style and interesting nuggets of political history scattered throughout the chapters dealing with the modern period draw the reader into engaging with the important questions he asks.'
Population and Development Review
'The aid industry and African politics are examined in a holistic and critical manner that is most illuminating … fits within a genre of accessible economics texts such as those of Joseph Stiglitz and Naomi Klein … Andrew Brooks has hit the mark.'
New Global Studies
'Succeeds in telling the counter-narrative of ‘development’ by showing that more prosperity does not mean less poverty … rich in examples and figures supporting the main argument that inequality is central to capitalist development.'
Society & Natural Resources
