African Arguments

A captivating read, painting a lively picture of the West African cocoa trade from a variety of perspectives. * Daniel Balint Kurti, Global Witness *
Arresting and provocative. The author's interviews with labourers movingly illuminate the struggles that lie behind an icon of western indulgence. * Financial Times *
Presents the tragic and shocking detail behind the world's favourite confectionery. * New Agriculturist *
I gave up eating chocolate years ago after seeing at first hand the exploitation that surrounds its production in Africa. Since then, endless panaceas and fair trading schemes have failed to improve the lot of the farmers. It was about time a book like this was written. * Stephen Chan OBE, author of The End of Certainty *
Paints a disturbing and subtle picture of an industry few chocolate consumers think about. * Sydney Morning Herald *
A fascinating account of the struggles of cocoa producers in West Africa, almost all of them smallholders, and what it takes to turn a crop of cocoa into a warehouse full of Ferrero Rocher. * The Guardian *
That Mmmmoment when our lips meet the meltilicious chocolate bar we've been waiting for all day ... well, it could be the last bite we take of it that tastes right after reading this expose of the cocoa industry. "Fair trade" is a great feelgood advertising line, but it is often a contradiction in terms. Not much profit trickles down from the shelves of our shops to the farmers and child labour (in reality, trafficked or slave labour, Ryan says) of Ghana and Ivory Coast whose poverty is covered up by weasel words from trade associations and financial interests glibly defending exploitation and profiteering. * The Times *
A courageous and thoughtful account of a murky industry. * Times Literary Supplement *