Beasts of No Nation

By: Uzodinma Iweala

Narrated by: Simon Manyonda

Now a critically-acclaimed Netflix original film directed by Cary Fukunaga (True Detective) and starring Idris Elba (Mandela, The Wire)—the movie-tie in edition of the harrowing, utterly original debut novel by Uzodinma Iweala about the life of a child soldier in a war-torn African country.

As civil war ravages an unnamed West-African nation, Agu, the school-aged protagonist of this stunning debut novel, is recruited into a unit of guerilla fighters. Haunted by his father’s own death at the hands of militants, which he fled just before witnessing, Agu is vulnerable to the dangerous yet paternal nature of his new commander.

While the war rages on, Agu becomes increasingly divorced from the life he had known before the conflict started—a life of school friends, church services, and time with his family, still intact. As he vividly recalls these sunnier times, his daily reality continues to spin further downward into inexplicable brutality, primal fear, and loss of selfhood. In a powerful, strikingly original voice, Uzodinma Iweala leads the reader through the random travels, betrayals, and violence that mark Agu’s new community. Electrifying and engrossing, Beasts of No Nation announces the arrival of an extraordinary new writer.

sad just sad

how much do we take for granted in this country. what pet peeves so we get upset over. how thankful are we for the lives we live? listen to this book then ask yourself those questions again.

Much better than reading.

It was hard to read due to the writers purposeful bad grammar, punctuation, and English. Listening to it made it much more enjoyable and immersible.

Must watch the movie now

This book is a look through the eyes of a child of violence and abuse in an African rebel militia. I heard about it from a YouTube channel called History with Hilbert. I had to look it up. I must watch the movie now.

Tragic. Unfortunate. Unforgettable.

Tragic story. Truly unfortunate and unforgettable story. Try is one of many books I’ve read written by or about the boy soldiers’ experiences in war torn countries. Very descriptive writing. You can feel the pain, the sweat, the fear in Agu. I hope others enjoy, learn, and experience the true gamut of emotions this book surfaces.

powerful, emotional and engaging read/listen...

loved it... read/listened to it in pretty much one setting... (stylewise, its a fast and easy read) it's an instant classics... incredible complexity of life and unfathomable horrors told in a simple way (it is told from a child's perspective) making it powerful and heavy... and very important read...