logo

34 pages 1 hour read

Paul Rusesabagina

An Ordinary Man

Paul RusesabaginaNonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 2006

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Book Brief

logo
Paul Rusesabagina

An Ordinary Man

Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 2006
Book Details
Pages

224

Format

Book • Nonfiction

Setting

Rwanda • 1990s

Publication Year

2006

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Roundup icon

Super Short Summary

An Ordinary Man is the 2006 autobiography of Paul Rusesabagina, the manager of a Belgian-owned Rwandan hotel. Written with journalist Tom Zoellner, it centers on the struggles Rusesabagina and his family overcame to survive the racially motivated genocide in Rwanda in 1994, a story later turned into the 2004 film Hotel Rwanda. The narrative uses a conversational tone and plain language. Topics include the Rwandan genocide and its atrocities.

Inspirational

Contemplative

Emotional

Dark

Unnerving

Reviews & Readership

4.4

7,263 ratings

81%

Loved it

13%

Mixed feelings

6%

Not a fan

Roundup icon

Review Roundup

Drawing from multiple reviews, An Ordinary Man by Paul Rusesabagina is lauded for its compelling, firsthand account of the Rwandan genocide, highlighting the author’s bravery and humanitarian efforts. However, some critics find the writing style straightforward to the point of being overly simplistic. Overall, it’s an inspiring but somber memoir that sheds light on a dark period in history.

Who should read this

Who Should Read An Ordinary Man?

A reader who would enjoy An Ordinary Man by Paul Rusesabagina is deeply interested in personal narratives that intersect with global history, human rights, and moral courage. Fans of Night by Elie Wiesel and The Diary of Anne Frank will appreciate its poignant, firsthand account of the Rwandan Genocide.

4.4

7,263 ratings

81%

Loved it

13%

Mixed feelings

6%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

224

Format

Book • Nonfiction

Setting

Rwanda • 1990s

Publication Year

2006

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Continue your reading experience

Subscribe now to unlock the rest of this Study Guide plus our full library, which features expert-written summaries and analyses of 8,000+ additional titles.