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A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier Audio CD – Unabridged, March 20, 2007

by Ishmael Beah (Author, Reader)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 7,443 ratings
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This is how wars are fought now by children, hopped up on drugs, and wielding AK-47s. In the more than fifty violent conflicts going on worldwide, it is estimated that there are some 300,000 child soldiers.

Ishmael Beah used to be one of them. How does one become a killer? How does one stop? Child soldiers have been profiled by journalists, and novelists have struggled to imagine their lives. But it is rare to find a first-person account from someone who endured this hell and survived.

In A Long Way Gone Beah, now twenty-six years old, tells a riveting story in his own words: how, at the age of twelve, he fled attacking rebels and wandered a land rendered unrecognizable by violence. By thirteen, he'd been picked up by the government army, and Beah, at heart a gentle boy, found that he was capable of truly terrible acts. This is a rare and mesmerizing account, told with real literary force and heartbreaking honesty.

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Previous page
  1. Print length
    9 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Macmillan Audio
  4. Publication date
    March 20, 2007
  5. Dimensions
    5.53 x 0.83 x 5.57 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1427202303
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1427202307
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Beah's harrowing story of a boy caught up in the civil strife in Sierra Leone is not an audio to curl up with before bedtime. Beah's even-toned narrative is particularly disturbing because it's almost exactly the same whether he is enjoying the company of a newly found uncle or busy shooting and maiming rebels and even burying them alive. His monotone works particularly well when he is recounting his dreams, for he cannot distinguish his nightmares from his waking life. Beah speaks with a thick accent that omits th sounds. Many words are understandable in their context, but a few are not. He also stumbles over some longer and more complex words. Despite these drawbacks, Beah's tale is a riveting snapshot of childhoods stolen from all too many, not just in Sierra Leone but in Somalia, Iraq, Palestine and other places ravaged by civil wars.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review

“Actor Dominic Hoffman's restrained voice, edged with sadness and poignancy, conveys Beah's difficult emotional state.” ―Library Journal

“This absorbing account by a young man who, as a boy of 12, gets swept up in Sierra Leone's civil war goes beyond even the best journalistic efforts in revealing the life and mind of a child abducted into the horrors of warfare...Told in clear, accessible language by a young writer with a gifted literary voice, this memoir seems destined to become a classic firsthand account of war and the ongoing plight of child soldiers in conflicts worldwide.” ―Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“Beah's memoir, A Long Way Gone (Farrar, Straus and Giroux), is unforgettable testimony that Africa's children--millions of them dying and orphaned by preventable diseases, hundreds of thousands of them forced into battle--have eyes to see and voices to tell what has happened. And what voices! How is it possible that 26-year-old Beah, a nonnative English speaker, separated from his family at age 12, taught to maim and to kill at 13, can sound such notes of ­family happiness, of friendship under duress, of quiet horror? No outsider could have written this book, and it's hard to imagine that many ­insiders could do so with such acute vision, stark language, and tenderness. It is a heart-rending achievement.” ―Melissa Fay Greene, Elle Magazine

“Hideously effective in conveying the essential horror of his experiences.” ―Kirkus Reviews

“Extraordinary . . . A ferocious and desolate account of how ordinary children were turned into professional killers.” ―The Guardian UK

“A Long Way Gone is one of the most important war stories of our generation. The arming of children is among the greatest evils of the modern world, and yet we know so little about it because the children themselves are swallowed up by the very wars they are forced to wage. Ishmael Beah has not only emerged intact from this chaos, he has become one of its most eloquent chroniclers. We ignore his message at our peril.” ―Sebastian Junger, author of A Death in Belmont and A Perfect Storm

“This is a beautifully written book about a shocking war and the children who were forced to fight it. Ishmael Beah describes the unthinkable in calm, unforgettable language; his memoir is an important testament to the children elsewhere who continue to be conscripted into armies and militias.” ―Steve Coll, author of Ghost Wars: The Secret History of the CIA, Afghanistan, and Bin Laden, from the Soviet Invasion to September 10, 2001, winner of the 2005 Pulitzer Prize for general Nonfiction

“This is a wrenching, beautiful, and mesmerizing tale. Beah's amazing saga provides a haunting lesson about how gentle folks can be capable of great brutalities as well goodness and courage. It will leave you breathless.” ―Walter Isaacson, author of Benjamin Franklin: An American Life

“A Long Way Gone hits you hard in the gut with Sierra Leone's unimaginable brutality and then it touches your soul with unexpected acts of kindness. Ishmael Beah's story tears your heart to pieces and then forces you to put it back together again, because if Beah can emerge from such horror with his humanity in tact, it's the least you can do.” ―Jeannette Walls, author of The Glass Castle: A Memoir

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Macmillan Audio; Unabridged edition (March 20, 2007)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Audio CD ‏ : ‎ 9 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1427202303
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1427202307
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 8.3 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.53 x 0.83 x 5.57 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 7,443 ratings

About the author

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Ishmael Beah

Ishmael Beah

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Ishmael Beah, born in Sierra Leone, West Africa, is the # 1 New York Times & international bestselling author of "A Long Way Gone, Memoirs of a Boy Soldier" & "Radiance of Tomorrow, A Novel." His books have been published in over 40 languages and won numerous prestigious awards and reviews. His Memoir was nominated for a Quill Award in the Best Debut Author category for 2007. Time Magazine named the book as one of the Top 10 Nonfiction books of 2007, ranking at number 3. Carolyn See from The Washington Post wrote, “Everyone in the world should read this book… We should read it to learn about the world and about what it means to be human.”

His novel, written with the gentle lyricism of a dream and the moral clarity of a fable is a powerful book about preserving what means the most to us, even in uncertain times.

The New York Times finds in his writing an "allegorical richness" and a "remarkable humanity to his characters". His forthcoming book "Little Family, A Novel" will be published in April 28, 2020 by Riverhead Books (Penguin USA).

He is a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and advocate for Children by War, and a member of the Human Rights Watch Children Advisory Committed. He lives in Los Angeles, California with his wife and three children.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
7,443 global ratings
A Long Way Gone Review
5 Stars
A Long Way Gone Review
A Long Way Gone by Ishmael Beah is more than just a story, it's a real life account of surviving unimaginable hardships. Ishmael's experience as a child soldier in Sierra Leone makes his story credible and powerful, showing the true impact of war. His detailed descriptions of his struggles and emotional journey touched my heart, making me feel deep empathy and compassion. Ishmael's narrative reveals the harsh realities faced by many children in war zones. This book is essential for anyone who wants to understand the real cost of conflict and the incredible strength of hope and recovery.
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Top reviews from the United States

Jodee
5.0 out of 5 stars Best book I’ve read all year long!!!
Reviewed in the United States on May 14, 2024
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A Long Way Gone is inspiring but also a horrific memoir that talks about the author Ishmael Beah's experiences as a child soldier in his home land Sierra Leone. Because of his vivid and strong storytelling abilities, Ishmael takes us (his audience) on a journey through the horrors of war, end of his childhood, the loss of his innocence, and the ultimate redemptive power of hope and compassion, all while he is just a young boy. This powerful and unforgettable book is a true horror story of how a young boys spirit is able to endure even the most unimaginable circumstances possible
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Kit
5.0 out of 5 stars What a piece of work is man...
Reviewed in the United States on June 20, 2007
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No matter how you slice it, Ishmael Beah is an amazing man.

This autobiographical account of his life details how a happy, cheerful young boy became a merciless soldier at the age of thirteen (and was not the oldest by far). How he went form living with his family in a small village in Sierra Leone to being a drug-addicted killer, ready to gun down anyone who got in the way. Not just killing people, but often doing so in especially brutal ways.

Most importantly it details his transformation back from the brink of seemingly endless death and violence into a college-educated young man and exceptional writer.

This is, without a doubt, one of the most harrowing, heartbreaking and moving stories I have ever read. Beautiful and honestly written. Passionate and personal, but also painting a larger picture of a world most of will, thank goodness, never experience.

For me personally the image that remains most stark is one of a neighbor of Ishmael's, a boy about his age, who is fleeing their village. The boy is carrying a sack of goods from his family's home. The only things he has left of his entire world. But it slows him down, then gets caught between a couple stumps. What happens to the boy is up to the reader to guess, but given that he was being shot at at the time, the likely conclusion is all too grim.

(rant approaching) Too often we Americans, comfortable in our relatively easy lives, are inclined to forget the rest of the world. If you asked the average person on the street to name five countries in Africa, they MIGHT get Egypt and South Africa, and then would probably wind up including Afghanistan. Our ignorance about the rest of the world in general and Africa in particular is inexcusible.

More than just about anything else this book convinces me that we, as a nation, need to do some sort of "Marshall Plan" for Africa. We can't go in with guns and bombs and make them like us. But we can go in with money, and schools, and medicine. Africa has all the resources it needs to be doing well. But they nevertheless continue to basically suck. Something must be done.

I highly recommend this book to readers 10 years or older. I especially recommend it to people who are in their early teens. Perhaps they can learn the horrible lessons Ishmael learned at their age without going through the traumas he experienced.

The one real criticism I have of the book is that, like "The Sopranos", it didn't END, so much as just STOP. One moment things are happening, you turn the page, and that's it. It's a minor complaint, but it's still there.

This is a book about horrible, horrible war, violence and despair. But it's also a book about hope. I started this review with a quote from Shakespeare, but I shall end with a quote from Cicero who once observed that, "While there's life, there's hope."
9 people found this helpful
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voracious reader
4.0 out of 5 stars Compelling
Reviewed in the United States on July 4, 2008
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This is a compelling true story. A boy named Ishmael leaves his comfortable life in an African village to attend a rap music event with his brother and a few friends. While he is gone, rebel forces attack his village destroying his home and family life. He, his brother, Junior, and his friends then wander the countryside of Sierra Leone trying to survive and avoid both the rebel and government troops. Identifying the enemy is difficult in a country rich in resources and awash with government corruption. Ishmael is separated from his group and eventually attaches himself to another group of teenage boys all under 16. Eventually, the war catches up with him and he and his little band are conscripted into the government troops. For the next two or more years and armed with an AK 47 and RPG's, he kills, maims, and robs in the name of the government. These boy soldiers take many drugs to dull their feelings and allow themselves to participate in the inhumane slaughter. Finally, aid workers either buy the boys' freedom or settle with their army leader and obtain their release. They are taken into the custody of rehabilitation counselors where they are given an opportunity for redemption. Ishmael clearly a natural leader is selected to travel to New York to attend a U.N. conference on child soldiers. While there he makes many friends. I understand that he was taken in by one of them and that he subsequently attended Oberlin college.

I gave this book 4 stars instead of 5, because it drags a bit during the years of army participation and killing. Further, Ishmael's parents are divorced, but he lives with his father. His family is Muslim and that may be why the father retained custody. Very telling in the book was a description on pg. 77 (hardback) of his formal naming ceremony. A huge feast is prepared. First the elders eat their fill, then the men, then the boys and lastly the women and children. I presume that if there isn't enough to share, the women and children starve. I don't know if the author realized what he revealed about his culture by this telling description. However, we never learn the basis of the divorce or why his father retained custody. Living conditions were somewhat primative. The houses were made of concrete brick or mud and they had tin roofs which were particularly noisy when it rained. Their diet was complete though not luxurious, and they were not hungry. However, they walked for miles to save bus fare and did not have electricity or telephones in their homes. Sierra leone sounds like a terrible place. The film, Blood Diamond, was about a similar subject.

I really don't know if there is a solution when countrymen kill one another over money, resources, and power. However, perhaps, this book and the film, Blood diamond, will be the stimulus for a resolution.

This book was worth reading, and I recommend it.
4 people found this helpful
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rafael
5.0 out of 5 stars A Long Way Gone Review
Reviewed in the United States on May 16, 2024
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A Long Way Gone by Ishmael Beah is more than just a story, it's a real life account of surviving unimaginable hardships. Ishmael's experience as a child soldier in Sierra Leone makes his story credible and powerful, showing the true impact of war. His detailed descriptions of his struggles and emotional journey touched my heart, making me feel deep empathy and compassion. Ishmael's narrative reveals the harsh realities faced by many children in war zones. This book is essential for anyone who wants to understand the real cost of conflict and the incredible strength of hope and recovery.
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rafael
5.0 out of 5 stars A Long Way Gone Review
Reviewed in the United States on May 16, 2024
A Long Way Gone by Ishmael Beah is more than just a story, it's a real life account of surviving unimaginable hardships. Ishmael's experience as a child soldier in Sierra Leone makes his story credible and powerful, showing the true impact of war. His detailed descriptions of his struggles and emotional journey touched my heart, making me feel deep empathy and compassion. Ishmael's narrative reveals the harsh realities faced by many children in war zones. This book is essential for anyone who wants to understand the real cost of conflict and the incredible strength of hope and recovery.
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Top reviews from other countries

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renata pinto de aguiar oliveira soares
5.0 out of 5 stars Bom
Reviewed in Brazil on October 31, 2023
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Minha filha leu e gostou
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Avid reader
5.0 out of 5 stars Breathtaking autobiography of a child soldier
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 19, 2024
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I thought I knew about the war in Sierra Leone, but this book showed me I had no idea about what really happened. It is stunning for the insights it provides into the life of a child soldier in that civil war; the brutality, the innocence lost and the occasional flashes of boyhood. A brilliant, troubling read
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Marin
5.0 out of 5 stars MUST READ
Reviewed in Germany on October 23, 2022
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This is an absolute must read.
Such a good soul and such a smart person with such a hell having to deal with.
No matter what you survived it semms like a child play after reading this book.
I hope he is well and i wish that his fundation reaches all the children who are suffering on same and similar way as he did/does.
God bless you Ishmael.
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Alejandro
5.0 out of 5 stars Lectura de calidad
Reviewed in Mexico on December 22, 2020
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Llegó en tiempo comentado y sin ningún problema
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Rachel
5.0 out of 5 stars How to review a book like this one?
Reviewed in Canada on May 13, 2020
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This book has been on my reading list for years without me actually getting around to reading it. I wasn't ready for what I knew would be a heart-wrenching read, but I am very thankful that I finally got around to reading it.

This was heartbreaking, as expected with a memoir of a former child soldier, and also brilliant. Very well written, excellent use of language to bring the reader right into the horrors that he faced. Sometimes I find memoirs of tragic events hard to read because they either brush over the hard stuff, or go too into detail, into "tragedy porn" territory, but I thought this one struck a good balance between putting the horrors on display enough to get through to readers who have no frame of reference, without that being all there is, without crossing that line.

I would say I have decent working knowledge on this issue going in, but reading a first hand account is still incredibly moving. I thought the relatively short length of the book was really good considering the heavy subject matter. I could definitely see this being used in high school or university Poli Sci/ Human Rights class settings. It's a heavy subject matter, but definitely worth reading.
3 people found this helpful
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