AN Ordinary Man: An Autobiography and over one million other books are available for Amazon Kindle. Learn more

Kindle Edition
Read the Kindle edition on Kindle, iPhone, iPad, Android, BlackBerry, PC and Mac.
 
   
Have one to sell? Sell yours here
An Ordinary Man: The True Story Behind Hotel Rwanda
 
 
Share your own customer images
Search inside another edition of this book
Start reading AN Ordinary Man: An Autobiography on your Kindle in under a minute.

Don't have a Kindle? Get your Kindle here, or download a FREE Kindle Reading App.

An Ordinary Man: The True Story Behind Hotel Rwanda [Import] [Paperback]

Paul Rusesabagina (Author)
4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (49 customer reviews) |

Available from these sellers.


Formats

 Amazon Price New from Used from
Kindle Edition --   $12.99 --
Hardcover --   -- --
Paperback $10.20   -- --
Paperback, Import, 2007 --   -- --
Audio, CD, Audiobook --   -- --
Unknown Binding $24.81   -- --
Audible Audio Edition, Unabridged $18.35 or Free with Audible 30-day free trial

Product Details

  • Paperback: 288 pages
  • Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC; New Ed edition (2007)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 074758558X
  • ISBN-13: 978-0747585589
  • Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5 x 0.8 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
  • Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (49 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,749,774 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

    •  Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?

More About the Authors

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.
Paul Rusesabagina
Tom Zoellner

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
33 of 33 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Paul Rusesabagina, the inspiration for the Oscar nominated film, Hotel Rwanda, is not an ordinary man but an extraordinary one. He is the recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the National Civil rRghts Museum's 2005 Freedom Award - rightly so. During the 1994 bloodbath in Rwanda that resulted in the slaughter of some 800,000 people, he sheltered over 1,200 in the luxury hotel that he managed.

It all began with the shooting down of a plane carrying the Rwandan and Burundian presidents. Utter madness almost immediately ensued. When Rusesabagina turned to U.N. representatives for assistance their response was all but ludicrous.

How he managed to endure some 100 days of utter devastation and at the same time save the lives of others is a tale of heroic proportions. Here, in An Ordinary Man we're able to hear his story in his own words for the first time. He is candid about the details of that dreadful 100 days, as well as his personal views of actions that might have been taken by international peacekeepers.

Voice performer Dominic Hoffman offers a riveting narrative of an this courageous man's story during this nightmarish time in world history.

- Gail Cooke
Comment | 
Was this review helpful to you?
15 of 15 people found the following review helpful
An Extraordinary Man April 17, 2006
Format:Hardcover
Well written, provocative and emotionally captivating. "An Ordinary Man" should be required reading for everyone, especially young adults - our future generation. I had the pleasure of meeting Paul Rusesbagina when he spoke at a local college on April 10th to a crowd of over 1000. He is humble, bright and compassionate. He escaped death at least half a dozen times during the spring of 1994. I can only wonder if God's plan was not only for him to save 1268 lives, but to bring the whole issue of genocide to the forefront of the minds of the hundreds of thousands who will read this book.

I bought his book on the spot and have been consumed by it for the past week. I've stayed up late; I began researching genocide and I've been lost in deep thought and prayer for those who were murdered and those who are being murdered by genocide as you read this. I plan on reading it again, more slowly in a few months in order to digest all of his ideas, opinions and suggestions.

History was presented to me in a boring manner in high school, but the movie "Hotel Rwanda" and now this book, have caused me to stop what I am doing and take a good hard look at the whole issue of genocide.

Not only genocide, but I can see how the power elite (high level politicians in our country) try to build a case with rhetoric and faulty arguments to get Americans to unknowingly agree with some ludicrous and dangerous beliefs, such as support for the current war in Iraq and possible aggression toward Iran.

In 1994, I remember listening to radio commentary that suggested that the US stay out of Rwanda's affairs and I agreed because that's the case that was built and that's what I heard on the radio. Now I know differently. Imagine if the US stayed out of the affairs of the Nazi holocaust - would there be 6 million more deaths in the 1940's? Because of this book, I have a renewed interest in history. And please, media, don't let me hear you say "ethnic cleansing." The term is genocide.

As far as I'm concerned, Paul Rusesabagina is on the level of Mother Teresa and has a lot in common with her - an ordinary man who was just doing what he could, using peaceful means. And today, Paul heads a foundation that helps the displaced orphans (500,000+).

Read this book as soon as you can and take heed - genocide is something that is ongoing in the Congo and Sudan, and may erupt again in the near future, if not in Rwanda, then somewhere else.
Was this review helpful to you?
30 of 35 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I heard Mr. Rusesabagina speak on April 4th at Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, and was fortunate enough to buy an autographed copy of the book. The writing is amazingly beautiful, and every page is filled with ideas that, if followed, will make us all better people. I'm on chapter two at the moment and preparing for the grisly details to come... but am astonished at the hope and spirituality evident even in the face of such ugliness. Paul Rusesabagina is a saint for modern times, and I would recommend not waiting for the paperback edition of this book.... it is destined to become a classic.
Was this review helpful to you?
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Extra Ordinary
"The cousin of brutality is a terrifying normalcy."
-- "An Ordinary Man", P. 121

Have you ever really looked at the word "extraordinary"? Read more
Published 3 months ago by Dienne
A man who kept his head.
Paul Rusesabagina is a man who kept his head, in both senses of the term. By refusing to give in to the murderous insanity around him, and applying the diplomatic and planning... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Miles D. Moore
An Ordinary Man
This is the powerful story of Paul Rusesabagina and how he survived the Rwandan genocide, whilst trying to help as many others at the same time. Read more
Published 14 months ago by Spider Monkey
Extremely Well read!!!
Others have already written accurately of this author's wonderful, poignant prose and the need for us to be learned about this and other genocides and atrocities. Read more
Published 19 months ago by William R. Toddmancillas
There is Nothing Ordinary about this Hero
"This autobiography of a true hero tells how and why Rusesabagina was willing and able to save lives during the genocide in Rwanda in 1994. Read more
Published 22 months ago by BookManBookWoman TV REVIEWS
Highly recommend
Paul Rusesabagina, in powerfully simple prose and with the effective use of repetition, recounts the background and horrific facts of the 1994 Rwandan genocide, including how he... Read more
Published 22 months ago by Indian Prairie Public Library
An important record of a very sad bit of recent human history
Paul Rusesabagina, son of a Hutu and a Tutsi, is no ordinary man. Born and raised in Rwanda, he works his way up to becoming the first African manager of the most luxurious hotel... Read more
Published on March 16, 2010 by Phillips
An Ordinary Man: An Autobiography
A well written book about the beauty and struggles of Rwanda, before, during and after the Genicide. Read more
Published on January 30, 2010 by T. Walker
Valuable Eyewitness Insight
This is an inspiring tale. It is good insight from the man who was there. I highly recommend it. Read it to your family. Read more
Published on December 15, 2009 by Peter Wannemacher
If you have even one thread of humanity lurking in your bones, you'll...
It all began with a trickle of discontent. Like the precursor to a blizzard, little snowflakes or hints of what was to come, fluttered in the winds of Rwanda. Read more
Published on September 26, 2009 by D. Fowler
Search Customer Reviews
Only search this product's reviews
Front Cover | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Search Inside This Book:
Inside This Book (learn more)
Browse and search another edition of this book.
First Sentence:
I WAS BORN on the side of a steep hill in the summer of 1954. Read the first page
Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
banana beer
Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Mille Collines, United Nations, United States, John Bosco, Central Africa, Hotel Diplomates, New York, Sabena Corporation, Hutu Power, President Habyarimana, Roman Catholic, Romeo Dallaire, World War, Bik Cornelis, Paul Kagame, President Juvenal Habyarimana, Security Council, State Department, Thomas Kamilindi, White House, Georges Rutaganda, International Criminal Tribunal, Ruvayaga Valley, Tourist Consult
New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats
Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Search Inside This Book:

Books on Related Topics (learn more)
 
 

What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?

› Explore similar items

Suggested Tags from Similar Products

 (What's this?)
Be the first one to add a relevant tag (keyword that's strongly related to this product).
 
(59)
(60)
(85)
(76)
(35)
(47)
(37)
(18)
(14)
(21)

Your tags: Add your first tag
 
See most popular tags

Customer Discussions

This product's forum
Discussion Replies Latest Post
No discussions yet

Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
 


Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
Search all Amazon discussions
   
Related forums


Look for Similar Items by Category

Look for Similar Items by Subject

Search Books by subject:







i.e., each book must be in subject 1 AND subject 2 AND ...