Danny Hoffman is Associate Professor of Anthropology at the University of Washington and the author of The War Machines: Young Men and Violence in Sierra Leone and Liberia, also published by Duke University Press. As a photojournalist, he documented conflicts in southern Africa and the Balkans from 1994 to 1998.

“Monrovia Modern is a beautiful and perceptive book. It will appeal to both architecture and anthropology scholars concerned with ruins, violence, material culture, photography and West African politics.” - Pauline Destree (Allegra Lab) "A beautiful book that weaves together urban theory, architectural comprehension, photographic excellence, and rich anthropological immersion in the lives of Monrovians. . . . Few books are as ambitious or as creative as this one. . . . Monrovia Modern will likely inspire scholars looking to combine photography, architectural design and critical social theory." - Jeffrey W. Paller (Journal of Modern African Studies) "Brave venture of a book.  . . . A pioneering work in the way it combines different methods, media, and disciplines. . . . Hoffman’s newest is a beautiful work that one truly enjoys reading." - Ilmari Käihkö (Anthropos) "Danny Hoffman provides us with new empirical insights on West Africa, and a fascinating and original way of thinking the city that can inspire future scholarship." - Maarten Bedert (African Studies Review) "Hoffman’s book encourages fruitful thought about the politics of architecture and urban dwelling. . . This volume is rewarding reading." - Anne S. Lewinson (International Journal of African Historical Studies) “Monrovia Modern is a testament to the complexities of the relationships humans hold with their creations and offers a rare perspective on those connections after the destruction of war has altered their form and functionality.... The book will be of interest to Africanists of all disciplines, but especially urban anthropologists, geographers, and students of architecture.” - Barbara Hoffman (Africa Today)

• Illustrations  xiiiPreface  xviiAcknowledgments  xxiiiIntroduction  11. Live Dangerously, My Brothers: Ex-Combatants and the Political Economy of Space  332. The Ministry of Defense: Excessive Architecture  613. E. J. Roye: The Corporate (Post)Modern  914. Hotel Africa: The Uncritical Ruin  1155. Liberia Broadcasting System: Three Utopias  1436. Finding Urban Form: A Coda  175Notes  183References  189Index  203

Danny Hoffman is Associate Professor of Anthropology at the University of Washington and the author of The War Machines: Young Men and Violence in Sierra Leone and Liberia, also published by Duke University Press. As a photojournalist, he documented conflicts in southern Africa and the Balkans from 1994 to 1998.

“Monrovia Modern is a beautiful and perceptive book. It will appeal to both architecture and anthropology scholars concerned with ruins, violence, material culture, photography and West African politics.” - Pauline Destree (Allegra Lab) "A beautiful book that weaves together urban theory, architectural comprehension, photographic excellence, and rich anthropological immersion in the lives of Monrovians. . . . Few books are as ambitious or as creative as this one. . . . Monrovia Modern will likely inspire scholars looking to combine photography, architectural design and critical social theory." - Jeffrey W. Paller (Journal of Modern African Studies) "Brave venture of a book.  . . . A pioneering work in the way it combines different methods, media, and disciplines. . . . Hoffman’s newest is a beautiful work that one truly enjoys reading." - Ilmari Käihkö (Anthropos) "Danny Hoffman provides us with new empirical insights on West Africa, and a fascinating and original way of thinking the city that can inspire future scholarship." - Maarten Bedert (African Studies Review) "Hoffman’s book encourages fruitful thought about the politics of architecture and urban dwelling. . . This volume is rewarding reading." - Anne S. Lewinson (International Journal of African Historical Studies) “Monrovia Modern is a testament to the complexities of the relationships humans hold with their creations and offers a rare perspective on those connections after the destruction of war has altered their form and functionality.... The book will be of interest to Africanists of all disciplines, but especially urban anthropologists, geographers, and students of architecture.” - Barbara Hoffman (Africa Today)

• Illustrations  xiiiPreface  xviiAcknowledgments  xxiiiIntroduction  11. Live Dangerously, My Brothers: Ex-Combatants and the Political Economy of Space  332. The Ministry of Defense: Excessive Architecture  613. E. J. Roye: The Corporate (Post)Modern  914. Hotel Africa: The Uncritical Ruin  1155. Liberia Broadcasting System: Three Utopias  1436. Finding Urban Form: A Coda  175Notes  183References  189Index  203

Danny Hoffman is Associate Professor of Anthropology at the University of Washington and the author of The War Machines: Young Men and Violence in Sierra Leone and Liberia, also published by Duke University Press. As a photojournalist, he documented conflicts in southern Africa and the Balkans from 1994 to 1998.

“Monrovia Modern is a beautiful and perceptive book. It will appeal to both architecture and anthropology scholars concerned with ruins, violence, material culture, photography and West African politics.” - Pauline Destree (Allegra Lab) "A beautiful book that weaves together urban theory, architectural comprehension, photographic excellence, and rich anthropological immersion in the lives of Monrovians. . . . Few books are as ambitious or as creative as this one. . . . Monrovia Modern will likely inspire scholars looking to combine photography, architectural design and critical social theory." - Jeffrey W. Paller (Journal of Modern African Studies) "Brave venture of a book.  . . . A pioneering work in the way it combines different methods, media, and disciplines. . . . Hoffman’s newest is a beautiful work that one truly enjoys reading." - Ilmari Käihkö (Anthropos) "Danny Hoffman provides us with new empirical insights on West Africa, and a fascinating and original way of thinking the city that can inspire future scholarship." - Maarten Bedert (African Studies Review) "Hoffman’s book encourages fruitful thought about the politics of architecture and urban dwelling. . . This volume is rewarding reading." - Anne S. Lewinson (International Journal of African Historical Studies) “Monrovia Modern is a testament to the complexities of the relationships humans hold with their creations and offers a rare perspective on those connections after the destruction of war has altered their form and functionality.... The book will be of interest to Africanists of all disciplines, but especially urban anthropologists, geographers, and students of architecture.” - Barbara Hoffman (Africa Today)

• Illustrations  xiiiPreface  xviiAcknowledgments  xxiiiIntroduction  11. Live Dangerously, My Brothers: Ex-Combatants and the Political Economy of Space  332. The Ministry of Defense: Excessive Architecture  613. E. J. Roye: The Corporate (Post)Modern  914. Hotel Africa: The Uncritical Ruin  1155. Liberia Broadcasting System: Three Utopias  1436. Finding Urban Form: A Coda  175Notes  183References  189Index  203