The Bottom Billion

Michela Wrong, New Statesman Books of the Year A must-read for anyone who has tired of the emotionalism of the Geldof-Bono aid brigade.

Max Hastings, The Guardian An important book.

Sunday Times Important and provocative.

New Statesman d Important new book... compelling.

The Economist Set to become a classic... his book should be compulsory reading for anyone embroiled in the hitherto thankless business of trying to pull people out of the pit of poverty.

Niall Ferguson, International Herald Tribune Collier's is a better book than either Sachs's or Easterley's for two reasons. First, its analysis of the causes of poverty is more convincing. Second, its remedies are more plausible.

Max Hastings, Sunday Times Review This extraordinarily important book should be read by everyone who cares about Africa, but who recoils from the egotism and self-indulgence of Comic Relief and Live Aid.

Niall Ferguson, The New York Times Book Review It is time to dispense with the false dichotomies that bedevil the current debate on Africa. If you've ever found yourself on one side or the other of those arguments - and who hasn't? - then you simply must read this book.

Heather Stewart, Economics Editor, The Observer Powerful...This important book wants citizens of G8 countries to fight for change.

Tim Harford, Financial Times columnist and author of The Undercover Economist This is an arresting, provocative book. If you care about the fate of the poorest people in the world, and want to understand what can be done to help them, read it. If you don't care, read it anyway.

Martin Wolf, Financial Times A splendid book... rich in both analysis and recommendations... Read this book. You will learn much you do not know. It will also change the way you look at the tragedy of persistent poverty in a world of plenty.

Edward Hadas, TLS [a] significant contribution... a good and helpful book. Collier uses his basic insight to challenge the conventional wisdom of both Left and Right.

George Soros A path-breaking work providing penetrating insights into the largely unexplored borderland between economics and politics.

Niall Fergusson, Sunday Telegraph Paul Collier brilliantly anatomises the true causes of Africa's post-colonial failure.

Sir Nicholas Stern, Head of the UK Government Economic Service Paul Collier's book is of great importance. He has shown clearly what is happening to the poorest billion in the world, why it is happening and what can be done to open up greater opportunities for them in a world of increasing wealth. His ideas should be at the centre of the policy debate.

Edward Hadas, TLS A good and helpful book. Collier uses his basic insight - that the poor are in a very different situation from the rest of the world - to challenge the conventional wisdom of both the Left and the Right.

New Zealand Herald A powerful book.