A Long Way Gone cover art

A Long Way Gone

Memoirs of a Boy Soldier

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A Long Way Gone

By: Ishmael Beah
Narrated by: Ishmael Beah
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About this listen

In A Long Way Gone Ishmael Beah tells a riveting story in his own words: how, at the age of twelve, he fled attacking rebels and wandered a land rendered unrecognizable by violence. By thirteen, he'd been picked up by the government army, and Beah, at heart a gentle boy, found that he was capable of truly terrible acts.

This is how wars are fought now by children, hopped up on drugs, and wielding AK-47s. In the more than fifty violent conflicts going on worldwide, it is estimated that there are some 300,000 child soldiers.

Ishmael Beah used to be one of them. How does one become a killer? How does one stop? Child soldiers have been profiled by journalists, and novelists have struggled to imagine their lives. But it is rare to find a first-person account from someone who endured this hell and survived.

This is a rare and mesmerizing account, told with real literary force and heartbreaking honesty.

 Africa Military & War World Memoir
All stars
Most relevant
Loved this book. How can humans endure so much? How can humans inflict so much horror on others? This book goes some way to explain.

Hard to ignore

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Incredible book, 100% recommend it! Do wish the ending went into more of his life in USA

Unbelievable and amazing

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Loved the book, so challenging to hear about Ishmael's life and the plight of child soldiers. i felt it finished abruptly and left me wanting to know some of the linking story, but overall it was engaging to hear

Amazing and sad story

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This book is profoundly evocative and hauntingly visceral. Estimates suggest that as many as 300,000 child soldiers are active in conflicts around the world. 40% of armed forces (including national armies, militias, gangs, terrorist organizations and resistance forces) in the world use children. Then there are the children killed in war zones or taken into slavery.

I am grateful beyond words to have never experienced war and I hope I remember this book when I want to complain about trivial things.

Peace to my Sierra Leonean friends who survived the civil war.

Incredible!

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What a life some people have!! Very sad at times but very much worth listening to!!

Important story

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I didn't know what to expect but I'm glad I listened to this audiobook. While it is such a sad story in so many ways, it is also a wonderfully inspiring story. And it was made all the more engaging being spoken by the author. There was much to take away from this book and I'd recommend it to any reader.

Sad and inspiring story

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I chose to read this book with a senior literacy class and they couldn't get into it despite such pressing subject matter. It was terribly structured. Half way through my students doubted the authenticity of the story and found compelling articles from the Australian that totally discredit Beth's version of events. We felt cheated for sympathising with him. Sad, because I am sure Beah's story would be strong enough without gratuitous embellishments.

Needs editing.

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This story broadened my horizons. I thought it was written well but it was really the subject matter being unfamiliar to me and the honesty of the author that made it worth reading. It
is amazing what he has overcome.

Broadening my horizons

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In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.