A Thousand Sisters: My Journey into the Worst Place on Earth to Be a Woman

It's a bit awkward to say "I liked it" because the subject matter is inhumane and depressing. Yet, living in the Democratic Republic of Congo, I learned a lot about the country's history, politics, and war especially in the east. I couldn't help but wonder how 5.4 million people were killed and I had never known of the sitaution. Millions of women have been raped, disfigured, and/or killed in the past. Though some say Eastern Congo is a no-conflict zone today, the residents' experiences tell a different story. Lisa Shannon gave up the majority of her comforts in life to pursue the experiences of the people in eastern Congo, particularly women. Her journey to and in the DRC is highlighted in her memoir. The style of writing was not my favorite, but I could overlook it because of the educational value of and sincerity in the book. A worthwhile read about the country considered "the worst place on earth to be a woman."

When I was finished reading this book, I could not just put it away on my shelf. I purchased beautiful table runners handmade by disabled women in the Congo at ShonaCongoStore.com and 30 copies of Lisa Shannon's book, wrapped them up with a brief explanation and mailed them out to every woman I've known or barely known in the hope that charities such as womenforwomen.org, fistulafoundation.org and Lisa Shannon's Run for Congo, might continue to help these women.The author's point in the book was clear. There are women out there who have been maimed by machete, rape and extreme violence and to ignore them is to relinquish our own humanity.This book did its job. It made me do something. It made me appreciate feeling snug in my bed at night. And it made me want to share that feeling of security with others.I truly hope that, some day, women in the DRC can close their eyes at night and know that only sweet dreams will visit them.

A friend of mine told me about this book so I came here to read the reviews. I read some of the 5 star and some of the 2 star reviews. After reading the 2 star reviews I decided that I wasn't going to invest my time, or money, in this book since I already have a ton of books that I want to read. But then my friend asked me to read it so I downloaded a copy to my Kindle. I read the entire book in one day, I literally couldn't put it down. At least one reviewer complained that Lisa spent too much time talking about herself and not enough time talking about the Congolese woman. I disagree. I think this book is as much about her as it is about the Congolese women and I think it would have been lacking if she'd have subtracted herself from the story. The relationship issues Lisa was going through and her quest actually reminded me of another book I absolutely love: Eat, Pray, Love. I am now reading another book that Lisa mentioned in this one: King Leopold's Ghost by Adam Hochschild.

I've lived and worked abroad for 10 years. This woman has no idea how to act in another culture or deal with people. At one point, she basically feels "left out" by the NGO workers. . . and she can't see it's because of her atrocious behavior. They don't want anything to do with her.I just want to agree with Zip.... 100%. Please read their review:http://www.amazon.com/gp/cdp/member-reviews/AL2U33AY5N22W/ref=pdp_new_read_full_review_link?ie=UTF8&page=1&sort_by=MostRecentReview#R1AONF6AITLIMJ

Sure, not the most polished writing. Agreed, not the most enlightened or adept social activist on the planet. However, MAJOR RESPECT to Ms. Shannon for her incredibly courageous and life-altering journey and her transparent honesty in the telling of it: full-disclosure whether flattering or not.I think she's made the right choice in giving us this story in journal form, portraying her own personal growth (and failings) inch by inch. It shows us how much a regular woman, just like us, can accomplish on behalf of our sisters halfway around the world. Readable and motivating.She got up and went. She carries the voice of these Congolese women to us. And... THEIR STORY NEEDS TO BE HEARD!!!

It's interesting reading htis book, because you can't help but judge the writer for some of the shallow or superficial problems she raises, but then you turn around and you're like, "What did I do to help women in the Congo today? I guess I didn't actively perform any female circumcisions, but apart from that, not too much." So does the author "get" to be catty about stuff? I don't know...

I just finished this book in record time. This is not just a book about Congolese women and their struggles, but a story of personal awakening. I can't help but be inspired. I look at my "great" life and often wonder, is this all? Is there nothing else of meaning and purpose for me? I think Lisa Shannon asked the same questions and did something about it. I have been studying up on eastern Congo recently and issues of women in third world countries in general (also highly recommend Half the Sky by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn), so the accounts of atrocities were (unfortunately) consistent with other reports. The most important message of the book is that you can make a difference. Even if the systematic issues in Congo are complex and seemingly insurmountable, what's wrong with helping a few women that you CAN reach??? You have to start somewhere! If you don't put these books down and at least go donate somewhere, you must have ice running in your veins.

Very sad in some parts but worth reading. We need to familiarize ourselves with these atrocities if we are ever going to end them.

This book did not live up to expectations given the rave reviews by others. If you want to know about what is really happening to women in Congo, look elsewhere. If you'd like a story about an American women running around asking strangers to describe their rapes and retraumatizing victims while giving her opinion on everything from the weather to how great she thinks she is, well this is your book. Think Bridget Jones meets Dr.Livingston. While I understand what she is trying to do, the author misses her chance to do something great with this book. I finished reading it, but only after reminding myself over and over that I can't review books until I've read every page. Skip this book and donate your money to a worthwhile cause serving the women in Congo instead.

A well-written book on the perils of being a woman in the Congo where the undisciplined soldiers of warring factions have made life for women extremely dangerous. While I did not always agree with what the author did while in Africa, I do applaud her efforts to make life easier for these beleaguered women. It's more than most of us have done.

Lisa Shannon is an ordinary American woman, engaged and working and planning her life, until she finds out about the atrocities happening to women in The Peoples Republic of Congo. She starts changing her lifes priorities. Running was something she felt she could do, so she set up an initial run of 30 miles, with a goal of sponsoring 1 woman per mile. The sponsored women in Congo would recieve money and training and safety. Shannon's determination to make a difference in the lives of as many Congolese women as possible takes her from fundraising, to a guest spot on the Oprah Winfrey show. We travel with Shannon through Congo and meet many women. Some are grateful for the help and some try to get money from her, and all of them tell her their stories of what the war had brought to them.Shannon makes a powerful witness to the horrors of "Africa's world war". You need to read this book. And once you do, you will be changed.