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Quick answer: If you read How Europe Underdeveloped Africa, continue with The Wretched of the Earth, Open Veins of Latin America, King Leopold's Ghost and Decolonising the Mind. All examine empire, exploitation and the voices of colonized peoples.
Walter Rodney's 1972 classic argues that Africa's poverty was produced by European colonialism and the slave trade, not by any lack of African ability. The books below extend that argument through history, economics and literature. All are nonfiction, and all are real, in-print books. They reflect different schools of thought, so read them as part of a wider conversation.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Wretched of the Earth | Frantz Fanon | Adult | the closest companion |
| Open Veins of Latin America | Eduardo Galeano | Adult | Latin America parallel |
| King Leopold's Ghost | Adam Hochschild | Adult | accessible history |
| Decolonising the Mind | Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o | Adult | language and culture |
| Black Skin, White Masks | Frantz Fanon | Adult | psychology of colonialism |
| Discourse on Colonialism | Aimé Césaire | Adult | a short polemic |
| Orientalism | Edward Said | Adult | cultural theory |
| The Scramble for Africa | Thomas Pakenham | Adult | colonial history |
| Capitalism and Slavery | Eric Williams | Adult | economic history |
| The Black Jacobins | C.L.R. James | Adult | revolution history |
| Pedagogy of the Oppressed | Paulo Freire | Adult | education and liberation |
| Why Nations Fail | Daron Acemoglu and James A. Robinson | Adult | institutional view |
| Dead Aid | Dambisa Moyo | Adult | opposing view |
| The Looting Machine | Tom Burgis | Adult | today's resource trade |
| Africa: A Biography of the Continent | John Reader | Adult | big-picture history |
1. The Wretched of the Earth by Frantz Fanon
A psychiatrist and revolutionary writes on violence, colonialism and national liberation. Fiery and influential, it is the natural companion to Rodney.
Best for: the closest companion.
2. Open Veins of Latin America by Eduardo Galeano
Five centuries of Latin American resource extraction told with passion. Parallels Rodney's argument for another continent.
Best for: Latin America parallel.
3. King Leopold's Ghost by Adam Hochschild
The story of Belgian exploitation in the Congo and the campaign against it. Narrative history that reads like a novel.
Best for: accessible history.
4. Decolonising the Mind by Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o
A Kenyan writer argues for using African languages in literature. Short, direct and lively.
Best for: language and culture.
5. Black Skin, White Masks by Frantz Fanon
Fanon analyzes the psychology of racism and colonial identity. Dense and brilliant.
Best for: psychology of colonialism.
6. Discourse on Colonialism by Aimé Césaire
A short, fierce essay that attacks European colonial hypocrisy. Poetic and sharp.
Best for: a short polemic.
7. Orientalism by Edward Said
Shows how Western writers constructed an image of the East to justify rule. A foundational text.
Best for: cultural theory.
8. The Scramble for Africa by Thomas Pakenham
A detailed history of how European powers carved up Africa between 1876 and 1912. Rich in narrative.
Best for: colonial history.
9. Capitalism and Slavery by Eric Williams
Argues that slavery funded Britain's industrial rise. A landmark in Caribbean history.
Best for: economic history.
10. The Black Jacobins by C.L.R. James
The story of the Haitian Revolution and Toussaint Louverture. Vivid and political.
Best for: revolution history.
11. Pedagogy of the Oppressed by Paulo Freire
A Brazilian educator argues for teaching that frees people. Influential in education and politics.
Best for: education and liberation.
12. Why Nations Fail by Daron Acemoglu and James A. Robinson
Argues that institutions decide whether countries grow rich or stay poor. A mainstream counterpart to Rodney.
Best for: institutional view.
13. Dead Aid by Dambisa Moyo
A Zambian economist argues that foreign aid hurts Africa. A very different view that sparks debate.
Best for: opposing view.
14. The Looting Machine by Tom Burgis
A journalist follows how oil, gold and minerals flow out of Africa. Modern and angry.
Best for: today's resource trade.
15. Africa: A Biography of the Continent by John Reader
A wide-ranging history from deep prehistory to the present. Accessible and long.
Best for: big-picture history.
How to Choose
For the closest match, read The Wretched of the Earth. For narrative history, King Leopold's Ghost and The Scramble for Africa. For other regions, Open Veins of Latin America and Capitalism and Slavery. For opposing views, Why Nations Fail and Dead Aid. Reading a book from each side helps you judge the arguments. Because these books argue from a specific viewpoint, check the author's background and publication date, then read at least one source that disagrees. Many university libraries list reading guides on decolonization and development economics that can help you plan a path through the debates.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is How Europe Underdeveloped Africa about?
Rodney argues that European colonial rule and the slave trade actively drained Africa and blocked its development.
Who was Walter Rodney?
He was a Guyanese historian and political activist who taught in Tanzania and was assassinated in 1980.
Is the book still relevant?
Many scholars still cite it, although some of its arguments have been challenged or refined.
Is it an easy read?
It is clear but dense, with data and long arguments, so take your time.
What should I read for a different view?
Dead Aid and Why Nations Fail present other explanations for poverty in Africa.
Is the book about all of Africa?
It focuses on Africa's relation with Europe from the fifteenth century to the colonial period, using examples from across the continent.
Where should I start if I am new to the subject?
King Leopold's Ghost is an engaging history, and Rodney's book is the natural next step.
Is this list in order of quality?
No. The books are listed by similarity and variety, so start with the one that sounds best to you.