Nonfiction

Some consider her adventures heroic, while others see her exploits as privileged opportunism. The life of Emma McCune was complex and thrilling, which is why her actions in Sudan have inspired both fictional and biographical portraits. Lauren Young examines a novel and a semi-biography of the romantic Brit with ulterior motives. Through the lens of McCune, the two books also examine the roles of Westerners on idealistic foreign aid missions. 

Behind every great man is a great woman, so the saying goes. Katherine Chen delves into J.M. Coetzee's memoir, Boyhood: Scenes from Provincial Life, to find the phrase also extends to elusive Nobel Prize winning authors.

Paul Collier is an optimist. Following the contrails left in the wake of The Bottom Billion, Wars, Guns and Votes examines baser elements of society (poverty, violence and more) to bolster his conclusion that the spread of democracy is a sure way to lift billions out of the muck and mire of destitution and political turmoil. Robert Spain takes a look at the provocative hypothesis to find that, despite some misfires here and there, Collier appears to be onto something. 

On October 9, 2009, the Nobel Committee announced that President Barack Obama had been awarded the coveted peace prize for "his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples." How can Obama live up to such lofty expectations? One almost needs a roadmap. In Power & Responsibility, three authors provide just that. Lauren Young reviews.

In 2005, Malalai Joya became the youngest person ever elected to the Afghan parliament. Two years later, she was suspended for her denunciation of warlords and their cronies in government. Under constant threats of violence and death, Joya continues to expose anti-democratic forces in Afghanistan. Recently, she launched her new book, A Woman Among Warlords, in New York City. Here is the text of her urgent, emotional speech of that night.