We Wish to Inform You That Tomorrow We Will Be Killed with Our Families

Stories from Rwanda

By: Philip Gourevitch

Narrated by: Philip Gourevitch

This program is read by the author.

Winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award.

An unforgettable firsthand account of a people's response to genocide and what it tells us about humanity.

This remarkable audiobook chronicles what has happened in Rwanda and neighboring states since 1994, when the Rwandan government called on everyone in the Hutu majority to murder everyone in the Tutsi minority. Though the killing was low-tech - largely by machete - it was carried out at shocking speed: some 800,000 people were exterminated in 100 days. A Tutsi pastor, in a letter to his church president, a Hutu, used the chilling phrase that gives Philip Gourevitch his title.

With keen dramatic intensity, Gourevitch frames the genesis and horror of Rwanda's "genocidal logic" in the anguish of its aftermath: the mass displacements, the temptations of revenge and the quest for justice, the impossibly crowded prisons and refugee camps. Through intimate portraits of Rwandans in all walks of life, he focuses on the psychological and political challenges of survival and on how the new leaders of postcolonial Africa went to war in the Congo when resurgent genocidal forces threatened to overrun Central Africa.

Can a country composed largely of perpetrators and victims create a cohesive national society? This moving contribution to the literature of witness tells us much about the struggle everywhere to forge sane, habitable political orders, and about the stubbornness of the human spirit in a world of extremity.

©1998 Philip Gourevitch (P)2019 Macmillan Audio

Incredible coverage

The author had some incredible coverage on the Rwanda genocide from 1994 and other parts of history. I felt though that the book lingered on towards the end though when he finished with most of Rwanda’s history and went to other countries. He did tie it altogether later but could have shortened the book in my opinion. The than that, fantastic coverage.

Clear, harrowing account of an underreported tragedy

Gourevitch does a masterful job of telling the stories of genocide survivors, perpetrators, apologists, and opponents without losing his compass or falling into the all-too-common tropes of both-sidedism or neocolonial dismissiveness. His critique of the international community and humanitarian organizations' response is thoughtful as well as damning.

Comprehensive book of Rwanda’s history

I enjoyed listening to WWTIYTTWWBKWOF because I wanted to know more about Rwandan culture and as a supplement of what I already know. The book is detailed, riveting and info graphic.
The author’s voice and tones were appropriate throughout this book and I also commend him on his bravery for having traveled back and forth to and from Rwanda during those fragile years post their genocide. I learned a descent amount and have more intelligence about Rwandans and their vultures and their governments roles... it still pangs me that a France plus other western nations and organizations were/ still are assisting the perpetrators of the genocide and the other slaughtering that took place before or after the 94’ Genocide.

We have to understand the tragedies of the past to prevent them from happening in the future. Case and point Bosnia, America’s Chattel Slavery, ...

A must read!

Powerful and moving commentary on people and influence. A reminder to stand for what is right.

Enthralling and Heart-Wrenching

An incredible ethnography of the lives of those who lived through one of the world's most shocking tragedies. I could barely stop listening even when I felt like I should. Some of the stories are unbelievable, but I commend the author for taking us all the way there. The narration and writing is superb!

must read

Children should learn how identity politics have killed millions. Books like this help reflect on how we act in society today.

A must read

This should be required reading for anyone interested in Rwanda. Well written and engrossing. A must read

Essential for understanding contemporary Rwanda

Having just returned from a lengthy stay in Rwanda, during which I learned a great deal about the 1994 genocide, it’s precursors and its aftermath, this book was recommended to me by several of my Rwandan friends. Read beautifully by the author, full of detail, it has given me a more nuanced and detailed understanding.

Unimaginable

Philip Gourevitch has written a most remarkable book, award worthy in every way. The story of the Rwandan genocide is so shocking it's nearly impossible to take it in. Processing the horror isn't possible. He breaks it down, and with such intimate precision, takes the reader there. But it's still so shocking as to not seem real. It's as horrifying as any Holocaust rendition. And yet it's not at the forefront of any discussion on genocide.

Gourevitch gives no one a pass, no government or any body. Truly it's a very unbiased work. He sticks to the genocide and rarely if every veers off course. His passion is palpable. What an astounding work.

Well written and researched story

Half the book was about the genocide. What is more important is tye second half of book, which is the aftermath of what happened in surrounding countries rwandans dealt with each other after the genocide.