Interventions: A Life in War and Peace

I recently bought this book as a Christmas present for my dad but after reading the prologue chapter, I ended purchasing the kindle version for myself! This is a very candid and thought provoking account of Kofi Annan's experiences as Secretary General of the UN. The book starts off with a quick biographical chapter on his early life in Africa and US education, then the next few chapters dive into the global conflicts around the world involving UN Peacekeepers (Somalia, Rwanda, Bosnia, Kosovo, East Timor, etc). After these first few chapters my interest level waned as the book began to sound more like a UN speech, but my interest picked up again with the last few chapters on middle east peace process, Iraq and Afghanistan. That is probably just because I'm more interested in the conflict rather than a philosophical discussion about the purpose and scope of the UN or the global fight against poverty.The book reminds you on how difficult it is to run the UN when the member states have such divergent ideas and political motivations. Often the book recounts the UN's failures and very few of its success stories. I would not say that he blames others for the failings of the UN but rather he mentions the difficulties of getting the security council to act given the different member state agendas and priorities (these are his memoirs afterall and the narrative comes from his viewpoint). Kofi certainly doesn't pull any punches when it comes to the US. George W Bush doesn't come off looking very good, and although he says some positive things about Clinton, the Clinton administration was a roadblock to many UN efforts (i.e. Rwanda). Some of the most interesting parts of the book are when Kofi recounts behind the scenes conversations/memos with world leaders.I give the book 4 stars out of 5, mostly because I can be a harsh grader and 2 of the 8 chapters really didnt hold my interest as much as the other 6. I would definitely recommend this book to those who like biographies, historical accounts, or those interested in politics and international affairs.

For many many years I have admired Kofi Annan for his courage, steadfastnessand wisdom so when I saw he had written his book - I had to read it.-I am his age - I have worked in Africa and Asia for 45 years helping mankindso have reality on what he is talking about.... though he gave many details ofdisaster after disaster he had to handle he probably did not even give us10% of the worries and problems he had and had to deal with on a 24/7 basis.Yes I admire him - to hold his position literally and otherwise for so many yearsand face what he did and do what he did - is quite something.It was very wonderful too to hear his account of the time he grew up in Ghanaya I understand that very well too - that was a very, very special time -He is like my brother - he even married a Swede - I am Danish and married a Ugandan - at a time when that was not so common - so yes - Kofi Annan is like my brother.He is blessed - in a world with so many who have prostituted themselves toPower - so many who have sold themselves to evil it is quite extraordinary tohave here in Kofi Annan one who didn't.For me it was a very personal experience to read Kofi Annan's book as I alsopolitically am very engaged - and here and there got some of the missing holesfilled in.So thank you Kofi Annan for being who you are and doing what you did.Bente Petersen

Often we do not understand what leaders go through. This helps us understand better.

This is a great book, and I feel like I know Koffi Annan personally, for anyone who wants a life in diplomacy this is definitely a good guide. Conflict resolution is tackled in an effective way, with a human face, the highlight for me was the East Timor resolution, I believe that remains one of Koffi Annan's greatest achievements. So many lives have been changed by the work he has done because of his ability to bring social issues to be discussed in the Security Council. I look forward to reading the next books by Annan.

I have rarely read a book more eloquently written while being highly accessible at the same time.By giving us the opportunity to look at the recent history of wars and carefully brokered peace deals from inside the UN, I finally understand what I failed to grasp when atrocities were happening. It's one of those insightful books that are hard to put down. Former Secretary General Kofi Annan sheds light on the workings of the UN, especially the Security Council and the Peace Keeping Operations, without trying to conceal the failings. His candid way of explaining how and why peace operations failed, shows what a great and intelligent man he is.I feel privileged to have read his memoir; without this book I would have never understood how 800.000 people could die in Rwanda without us being able to prevent it, or how the world could abandon Somalia. He explains history we all have been part of.His book should be a must-read for AP history students and is highly recommended for all who want to understand recent wars from the inside. At the same time it's also a very informative read for those who otherwise aren't interested in the day to day activities of the UN. By reading this book your eyes are being opened.I'm highlighting sentences while reading this book; there is so much I want to fully understand and remember. I highly recommend this book!

Very fair and somewhat modest autobiography. I wish he described more detail on one sided decision to invade Iraq by US and Britain while UV was investigating Iraq. I

Loved this book, it took me through a decade or more of conflict. Conflicts that I remember and can relate too. What a powerful global leader and diplomat.

Generally, it is enriching to read about people that participated in the events we study in school. This book may be a little biased by the personal view, however, it's useful to listen to Kofi Annan's experiences.

My guess is this one of those weighty coffee table books with a buying to reading ratio of about 5:1. In this regard, it shares some noble company with other autobiographies of the great and good. Which is a profound shame. For about half way though this book, suspicion that this is yet another attempt to (re)write history lest future historians take a less positive view of this multilateral era, gives way to a growing admiration of a man who faces an impossible task. For the exercise of leadership requires followership, and the position of Secretary-General is more secretary than general; more servant than master. So it with increasing respect that I read of his attempts to steer a course through the messy politics of what many regard as the anachronism of the UN Security Council.I am also exercised by the political imperative to engage with leaders who seem set on destruction of their own people, and/or rape their countries in the odious pursuit of personal wealth. Yet he demonstrates that to engage is not to condone. And his honest admission that UN diplomacy is rarely successful yet rarely wasted provides a reality check for those who seek a more ideologically pure role for the UN.These are lessons that become clearer towards the end of 'Interventions', and I confess that I only truly began to appreciate this book - and this man - when I reached chapters 7 and 8, addressing wars and conflict in the Middle East and Iraq.As with many books which attempt to provide a brief summary of events, the narrative becomes somewhat simplistic at times; on numerous occasions he uses the phrase, "I decided...", which surely belies the complex process of consultation required, and perhaps plays down the contribution of many who surely provided advice and ideas.But this is a sobering and important read. And a fascinating insight into the world of the UN in the 21st century.

Awakens a realisation of just how onerous and deep were the challenges confronting Kofi Annan during his tenure as UN Secretary General and who, despite the persistent lack of political will of member States, possessed a courage and tireless resolve to intervene in intra-State conflicts, tackle poverty and the HIV epidemic and by so doing, saved thousands of lives. An inspiration and revelation.

Kofi Annan is one of those people who for me is like Mandela and Gandhi, not perfect but he does really care about people and what is happening to them. He try's hard to improve the lot of many people, including the Palestine's.It written so it is easy to get into and follow it, and he makes some interesting comments about world leaders.Glad I bought it.

Less of a memoir and more of an exoneration/justification of his actions during his time as UN sec-general, Annan comes across by turns as a messiah and a badass. There are no shocking revelations - Annan's accounts of various key events (Somalia, Rwanda, Bosnia, Iraq) toe the party line of majority public opinion. The focus is very much on these high-profile conflicts as well as the Millennium Development Goals, and there was no mention of the more obscure human rights issues going on around the world, for example in Western Sahara.All things considered, a good read and a decent modern history of the UN, but I was expecting a lot more from this unique perspective.

I should begin by saying this book is worth the read for anyone curious about the operations of the UN and international diplomacy. Having said that, the book highlights massive flaws in the structure of the UN: it's dependency on the US, it's lack of real power and an apparent over-empowerment of the Secretary General as opposed to the institution of the UN. Going by the language this book was written, the number of "I decided to..." In the book will have you think the UN is Mr Annans personal private enterprise.