This House Has Fallen Midnight in Nigeria

The title suggests the disturbing and eloquent rendering of midnight in Nigeria that this book provides. Maier's writing has continued to develop since his two earlier books to create one of the few magnificent accounts of contemporary African politics. Stories from Nigeria's colonial and post-colonial past are seamlessly linked to Maier's own travels. This book is just as important as Philip Gourevitch's account of Rwandan politics, and should be read by everyone.For an interesting and thoughtful review of this book you should also see the The Economist's website.

I begin by nailing my colours very firmly to the mast-this is easily one of the best books on Nigeria I have ever read. Any one who has ever been to Nigeria will relate to Maier's tale right from the "airport experience", and the novice will be eqully gripped. The rest of the book maintains the high standard. I suspect that part of the reason this book is so credible is that it is based on Maier having "been there and done that" to an extent that makes me as a Nigerian vaguely ashamed that a foreigner appears to be more widely travelled in, and to know my own country better than I do. Add to this the fact that he had wide access to different sources, and that he presents his story humorously yet seriously, and the reasons why this is such a good book become clearer. The greatest acheivement of this book is that it gives a picture of Nigeria(past and present) that is uncluttered by any prejudices of the author, which is no mean feat. An excellent book, warmly recommended.

Incredible piece of work that kept me asking, how did he (Karl Maier) get so close to ask somuch. We never had a National leader. We had and still have villans. Karl Maier exposes the deception in the Sharia question, and the lies of a monolithic North. He exposes the entire history of Nigeria as a fraud, it is very embarassing and makes me very certain that some one will someday ask for accoutability. Every Nigerian should read this book. Embrace it for the credibility it has. Using Fr. Mathew Kukah, Dr. Mahadi, Bala Usman, to mension a few as sources only makes me feel that every Nigerian must read this.

FEMI FANI KAYODE, writes in the Vanguard Daily, Lagos, Sept 17, 2000: American Karl Maier's newly released, highly celebrated and simply excellent book titled "This House has fallen: Midnightin Nigeria"...the book particularly is essential reading for anyone that really wishes to understand the monumental challenges that this country faces. Maier, in the finest tradition of professional journalism, has not only done his research thoroughly and written his book extremely well but he also speaks eloquently and dispassionately and with complete authority and understanding about the extremely complex problems of Nigeria.

This book is a good review of Nigeria's political history over the past 35 years. It is fairly even-handed. As with any project that is so broad there are certainly many areas that are left out or covered superficially. Also the book jumps around quite a bit. That being said there are few books that are successful in putting Nigeria "in perspective". This is one of them.