Poisoned Wells: The Dirty Politics of African Oil

Shaxson produces a highly readable and informative blend of anecdotes and analysis to make sense of Africa's oil predicament. Shaxson avoids glib solutions and easy judgements. It is the lesser-known oil producers which he does best on, notably Sao Tome and Principe and Equatorial Guinea. He has a good and detailed grasp of the subject matter, but has the wit and narrative skills to keep the less-informed reader on board with a series of entertaining almost travelogue-style pieces on indiviual countries visited.

Of the current crop of "what is wrong with Africa" books including "The Shackled Continent", "The White Man's Burden" and "The Trouble with Africa", Nicholas Shaxson's analysis and prescriptions for change are the most radical and on-the-money. Shaxson's book should be widely read and discussed. Unfortunately, too much invested in the status quo by all concerned to see much likelihood of change within the next few decades.