Revealing the central yet intentionally obliterated role of Africa in the creation of modernity, This book is filled with countless eyeopeners& All history is, by definition, revisionist. In connecting the various dots, French is inviting us to reconsider what we understand about how we got here.... Painful and necessary& [an] infuriating and hugely enlightening book. The way we think about history is entirely wrong, says Howard W French at the start of this magnificent, powerful and absorbing book.... This is not a comfortable or comforting read, but it is beautifully done; a masterpiece even.... French writes with the elegance you would expect from a distinguished foreign correspondent, and with the passion of someone deeply committed to providing a corrective. There are few words that can express the resounding impact of Frenchs breathtaking work on the known historiography of African and African American history . . . Highly recommended for any audience. A Black journalist reframes modern history by restoring Africa to its rightful place at the center of the story . . . This meticulously researched book eloquently debunks conventional understanding of European conquest . . . A fascinating retelling of modern history that restores Africa to its rightful place. US