'Race Against Time' is a Massey Lecture series, a compilation of 5
lectures of Stephen Lewis as he discusses the plight of Africa in
the face of HIV/AIDS, poverty, the status of women and the lack of
education for children.
Stephen Lewis having spent the past 20 years working for different
factions of the UN including his current post as the UN
Secretary-General for HIV/AIDS in Africa has seen the devastation
the disease has inflicted on the African people.
This book opened my eyes to the disappointing reaction from the
international community to the problems affecting the African
nations. Stephen Lewis succinctly describes his personal
experiences visiting many African countries, and details the few
positive steps being made as well as the social atrocities the
countries face due to poor government response both locally and
internationally. I feel disappointed that the international
community doesn't seem to pay full attention to a very real
problem. Whole generations of Africans are growing up orphans due
to AIDS and sub-Saharan Africa is slipping further into poverty,
yet the world does almost nothing to help.
This is an eye-opening book which will expand your view of the
world and the international community. Each lecture is best read in
one reading, as they are quite dense with information.