The New Yorker blog has a post about the ten biggest Africa stories of 2010. It prompted me to think about the best/most influential or provocative books about Africa I've read lately. They are

Ethiopia Since the Famine by Peter Gill – detailed reportage on Ethiopia post-1985

The Plundered Planet by Paul Collier – the resource curse and its consequences

War Games by Linda Polman – a critique of the aid business

Beneath The Lion's Gaze by Maaze Mengiste – a heartbreaking novel about Ethiopia's civil war

No doubt others will come to mind as I head off to today's meetings, and I'll expand the list. Other suggestions also welcome!