"This Child Will Be Great": A Memoir of Remarkable Life of Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Africa's First Woman President

Kumbi .M.: Beautiful book, really enjoyed this, Africa's First Female President

United Kingdom on Oct 29, 2023

Kym Hamer: I first 'met' Ellen Johnson Sirleaf in the book Women and Leadership by Julia Gillard and Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and was inspired to read more about her. While this is an autobiography, what I loved was how much I learned about Liberia - this small West African nation I'd barely heard of - and its tumultuous history. The events were shocking and hard to believe sitting in my safe developed Western world perspective and Ellen's courage and belief in a better Liberia for Liberians was awe-inspiring. It's an extraordinary story about an extraordinary woman in extraordinary times, and a fascinating 4 star read.

United Kingdom on Apr 09, 2022

Patricia L. Morgan: This review request is well-timed - my Book Club will talk about this book tonight and my opinion may be over-ridden. I looked forward to reading this book due to its timely subject (first female President in Africa) and timely subject matter (how a third world country was tossed into total chaos when "democracy" failed). Thus I encourage readers interested in female leadership and the fragility of political systems to read the book. My gripes with it are with how it is written, not what it is written about. First, the book contains "everything you ever wanted to know about Liberia and Ms. Sirleaf and much you don't need to know if you never knew anything about either Liberia or Ms. Sirleaf." In other words, in my opinion, Ms. Sirleaf needed a stronger editor, if not a ghost writer. The book is ponderous in sections ... I rarely "leaf through" a book; I did so at times with this book. Second, and important to me, Ms. Sirleaf did not convey an emotional sense of her journey. For example, she left her children with others while she attended schools and worked abroad, which surely would grip a mother with sadness. It is not conveyed. Further, she was imprisoned
and in mortal...

United States on Oct 24, 2016

D Traore: This book inspired me, especially on questions of political leadership for African women.

Canada on Sep 16, 2015

Grizzrob: I finished this ebook with a renewed respect for Pres. Johnson. The text and thoughts were very well composed and fluent. This book is a good read for anyone interested in the past, present and future direction of Liberia and Africa in general. Ms. Johnson spends valuable time and effort describing her unique and courageous views on Liberian policy and historical mistakes.

On a trip to Liberia not too long ago, she was on my same flight and walked around the plane to greet me and the other passengers - I appreciated her down to earth attitude then, and even moreso now after reading this book. Her visceral account of the absolute horrors that have pillaged Liberia was gripping. She wrote it like she claims to live - without fear. I appreciated her blunt accounts of the attitudes of her countrymen - enemies and firiends. There were a very few passages that seemed self promoting and maybe a little grandiose, but Ms. Johnson is a politician, after all.

United States on Jan 10, 2015

Lucy Scanlon: This is an absorbing and well-written story of a fascinating woman who succeeded by luck, by skill, and by seizing the opportunity. This is the most comprehensive account of the history of Liberia that I have read and gives a very understanding picture of the conflicts between the tribal people and the elite settler class. Coming from tribal roots with the education of the privileged puts Mrs Sirleaf in a unique position to carry this country forward in spite of overwhelming odds.Her determination to overcome corruption and social injustice shines through and she seems to grasp the large picture of the many problems while having the skill to solve the details of managing money and personalities and political realities.

United States on Apr 14, 2013

Peter Johannsen: no time
No time heisst keine Zeit dafür. Die jetzige Präsidentin habe ich in Liberia kennengelernt als sie noch Sekretärin in einer Bank war

Germany on Nov 24, 2012

Rumiko: ...

Japan on Apr 03, 2012

Carol E. Smith: Having taught in Liberia with the first group of Peace Corps volunteers (1962-64); and having returned for a two week visit in the midst of upheaval, between one coup and the next attempt (1985); and having heard Ellen Sirleaf Johnson speak in Portland, OR in 2008; having recently visited with Bishop Bennie Warner, vice president in Tolbert's administration (1977-1980) who escaped the executions on the beach by happening to be in the U.S. at the time; and now reading Sirleaf Johnson's memoir, I believe her history to be accurate and her viewpoint believable. Would also recommend the memoir, The House at Sugar Beach, by Helene Cooper, a family member of what are called Americo-Liberians or Congos, who also escaped to U.S. in 1980 and is currently a journalist with Wall Street Journal and New York Times.

United States on Oct 12, 2009

J. McCrary: This Child Will Be Great: Memoir of a Remarkable Life by Africa's First Woman President

President Sirleaf's absolutely riveting memoir clearly explains how and why Liberia imploded in 1980. She gives us an unvarnished look at Liberia's founding in 1822 by freed American slaves, carries us through the superficially peaceful Tubman years, and explains how her country's history and American ties led to the horror of 14 years of total anarchy. She ends her story with hope, pride, and plans for both Liberia and Africa.

Her personal story is a strong, honest and inspirational narrative. From an abused teenage wife to a United Nations assistant secretary general, from living in exile to being elected president, she has lived an amazing life and she tells the story well.

My family lived in a mining town in the Liberian bush from 1964-1972. We knew many of the problems that the country faced, and we had fears for its survival. President Sirleaf's memoir makes me want to return to help rebuild this remarkable country.

United States on Jun 20, 2009