Updated for the Paperback Edition
During his first term as secretary-general of the United Nations, Kofi Annan was one of the most widely admired men in the world. In 2001, he won the Nobel Peace Prize. Then the UN failed to stop war in Iraq and genocide in Darfur, and the institution was engulfed by the Oil-for-Food scandal. By the time Annan left office in December 2006, both he and the UN had suffered a terrible loss of standing.
Did the UN's failures arise from its own structure and culture or from a clash with an American administration determined to go its own way in defiance of world opinion?
In The Best Intentions, New York Times Magazine writer James Traub traces the entwined histories of Kofi Annan and the UN from 1992 to the present, and offers a definitive portrait of the institution's role in the age of American dominance.
Industry Reviews
On "The Devil's Playground: "Both an engaged civics lesson and a work of social history . . . on every page you learn something." --Adam Gopnik, "The New Yorker "A shrewd and rollicking account." --"Time On "The Devil's Playground": "Both an engaged civics lesson and a work of social history . . . on every page you learn something." --Adam Gopnik, "The New Yorker" "A shrewd and rollicking account." --"Time" "Some want the world to be reformed by getting rid of the UN. That would be catastrophic. What the world needs is the UN reformed. In this book, James Traub tells the story of how difficult that is - and why it is so important." --Bono On "The Devil's Playground": "Both an engaged civics lesson and a work of social history . . . on every page you learn something." --Adam Gopnik, "The New Yorker" "A shrewd and rollicking account." --"Time" "Kofi Annan is, without question, the most significant UN Secretary General in 45 years. He is also a complex man occupying a very complicated post. To this important subject, James Traub brings great intelligence, balance, and insight. The result is a book well worth reading." --Fareed Zakaria, author of "The Future of Freedom" "Some want the world to be reformed by getting rid of the UN. That would be catastrophic. What the world needs is the UN reformed. In this book, James Traub tells the story of how difficult that is - and why it is so important." --Bono On "The Devil's Playground": "Both an engaged civics lesson and a work of social history . . . on every page you learn something." --Adam Gopnik, "The New Yorker" "A shrewd and rollicking account." --"Time" "We watched as the UN failed the people of Iraq in the Oil for Food scandal. We watched as the UN failed innocent people in Rwanda, Bosnia, Darfur in the Sudan, and in the Congo. And we are watching the results of UN failure in South Lebannon. Jim Traub supplies the critical insights for anyone seeking to make sense of the challenges we face." --Newt Gingrich "Kofi Annan is, without question, the most significant UN Secretary General in 45 years. He is also a complex man occupying a very complicated post. To this important subject, James Traub brings great intelligence, balance, and insight. The result is a book well worth reading." --Fareed Zakaria, author of "The Future of Freedom" "Some want the world to be reformed by getting rid of the UN. That would be catastrophic. What the world needs is the UN reformed. In this book, James Traub tells the story of how difficult that is - and why it is so important." --Bono On "The Devil's Playground": "Both an engaged civics lesson and a work of social history . . . on every page you learn something." --Adam Gopnik, "The New Yorker" "A shrewd and rollicking account." --"Time" "Engaging, nuanced, and often fascinating. The Best Intentions is proof that the phrase 'U.N. page-turner' is not hopelessly oxymoronic." --The Wall Street Journal"If you want to understand this vexing creature with its 192 heads, The Best Intentions is one of the finest guides around, indeed, the best in recent memory. . . . Beautifully written and meticulously researched." --The New York Times Book Review"One of the most definitive and accessible studies of the U.N. and its chief executive ever published." --Foreign Affairs"Fascinating . . . The book works, not just as a portrait of Annan but as one of the UN itself, in part because Annan personally encapsulates many characteristics of that inspiring but maddening organization." --Salon.com"A highly readable account of the infighting and drama that have gone on behind the scenes over the past fifteen years, along with often amusingly acerbic thumbnail sketches of several prominent characters." --The Economist Engaging, nuanced, and often fascinating. "The Best Intentions" is proof that the phrase 'U.N. page-turner' is not hopelessly oxymoronic. "The Wall Street Journal" If you want to understand this vexing creature with its 192 heads, "The Best Intentions" is one of the finest guides around, indeed, the best in recent memory. . . . Beautifully written and meticulously researched. "The New York Times Book Review" One of the most definitive and accessible studies of the U.N. and its chief executive ever published. "Foreign Affairs" Fascinating . . . The book works, not just as a portrait of Annan but as one of the UN itself, in part because Annan personally encapsulates many characteristics of that inspiring but maddening organization. "Salon.com" A highly readable account of the infighting and drama that have gone on behind the scenes over the past fifteen years, along with often amusingly acerbic thumbnail sketches of several prominent characters. "The Economist"" "Engaging, nuanced, and often fascinating. "The Best Intentions" is proof that the phrase 'U.N. page-turner' is not hopelessly oxymoronic."--"The Wall Street Journal" "If you want to understand this vexing creature with its 192 heads, "The Best Intentions" is one of the finest guides around, indeed, the best in recent memory. . . . Beautifully written and meticulously researched."--"The New York Times Book Review" "One of the most definitive and accessible studies of the U.N. and its chief executive ever published."--"Foreign Affairs""" "Fascinating . . . The book works, not just as a portrait of Annan but as one of the UN itself, in part because Annan personally encapsulates many characteristics of that inspiring but maddening organization."--"Salon.com""" "A highly readable account of the infighting and drama that have gone on behind the scenes over the past fifteen years, along with often amusingly acerbic thumbnail sketches of several prominent characters."--"The Economist"
