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Original Essays | September 23, 2009

Jonathan Lethem: IMG Stops: On Those Things My New Novel Forgot to Be About, Maybe

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For me, there's a weird, unfathomable gulf — I almost wrote gulp — between the completion of a novel and its publication. Some days this duration feels interminable, as though the book has... Continue »
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1 Burnside Africa- Liberia
8 Local Warehouse Biography- General
2 Remote Warehouse Sociology- General

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Blue Clay People: Seasons on Africa's Fragile Edge

by William Powers

Blue Clay People: Seasons on Africa's Fragile Edge Cover

Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments:

“A haunting account of one man’s determination and the struggles of a people living in a deeply troubled country.”—Booklist

When William Powers went to Liberia as a fresh-faced aid worker in 1999, he was given the mandate to “fight poverty and save the rainforest.” It wasn’t long before Powers saw how many obstacles lay in the way, discovering first-hand how Liberia has become a “black hole in the international system”—poor, environmentally looted, scarred by violence, and barely governed. Blue Clay People is an absorbing blend of humor, compassion, and rigorous moral questioning, arguing convincingly that the fate of endangered places such as Liberia must matter to all of us.

Synopsis:

Powers went to Liberia as an aid worker in 1999 and was given the mandate to "fight poverty and save the rainforest." It's not long before Powers discovers how Liberia has become a Fourth World country--poor, environmentally looted, scarred by violence, and barely governed.
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About the Author

William Powers directed food distribution, agriculture, and education programs for the largest non-governmental relief group in Liberia. His commentaries on international affairs have appeared in the New York Times and on National Public Radio.

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What Our Readers Are Saying

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Average customer rating based on 1 comment:
Lehmanmo, October 10, 2008 (view all comments by Lehmanmo)
Blue Clay People by William Powers (www.williampowersbooks.com) is a compelling current events memoir about Liberia. Mr. Powers strives towards understanding not just contemporary Liberia, but West Africa as a whole. It’s a fast-paced book that reads like a novel. For example, the book explores what having “enough” really means. The Liberians have too little. They lack food, water, shelter, and security; the things Westerners take for granted. The writing style holds interest and the subject, Mr. Power’s first-hand account of his experiences is captivating. For those visiting West Africa, this book is truly significant. Mr. Powers did the world justice by sharing his experiences. You should help spread the word to those with a social conscience, or those who are just interested in what’s going on in the world.
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Product Details

ISBN:
9781582346441
Subtitle:
Seasons on Africa's Fragile Edge
Author:
Powers, William
Author:
Powers, William D.
Publisher:
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Subject:
Africa
Subject:
Sociology - General
Subject:
Travelers
Subject:
Personal Memoirs
Subject:
Africa - General
Copyright:
2005
Publication Date:
May 2006
Binding:
Paperback
Language:
English
Pages:
292
Dimensions:
810x590x80 60
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