This book is a must for anyone intending to work in Africa, or on Africa, or who is interested in development and women's rights. I'm no expert, but after six years of humanitarian work on the continent I found myself nodding along with Metcalf's observations about people, misunderstandings and experiences. It is impossible to generalise about 57 different and unique nations, but when Metcalf writes about an individual country, you feel she has immersed herself. She is refreshingly unsentimental about the local traditions than rate women barely above livestock. She understands that westerners who romanticise vile and brutal customs do no one any favours, and that human rights are universal and paramount. Her descriptions of the mutilation forced on millions of little girls across Africa is shattering and memorable. She also demystifies the nonsense talked about development and the millions wasted in futile and inappropriate aid projects. This is a brave book, and an essential read for those who wish to understand why westerners should not bunder into Africa unprepared.