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UNtold: The Real Story of the United Nations in Peace and War
Drawing on personal experience with the UN, this combination of informative text and whimsical cartoons describes how the organization is supposed to work, how it actually behaves, and why there is a difference. UNtold lets readers in on the quirks and mysteries of international diplomacy and global decision-making. Delightfully irreverent, the message is that this vital body really can represent “We the peoples of the world.” The book has something to offer everyone, from high school and college students involved in model UNs to secretaries of state and senior diplomats.
176 pages, Paperback
Published November 1, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
August 5, 2019
The United Nations is a huge, unwieldy beast that was originally established to prevent another devastating world war.
Somewhat unfairly, it gets blamed for almost everything that goes wrong in the world, including not being able to "police" rich and powerful nations; not doing enough to stop genocide; civil wars; various forms of oppression, etc. etc.
Before reading this I was unaware of some of the less "glamourous" work of the UN, including agencies such as the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), which helps ensure we can get on a plane and expect that aviation standards are met where-ever we fly to; or the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), which establishes global communications standards so that when we pick up a phone we can expect to talk to whomever we want to across the globe.
The UN's World Health Organization (WHO) has tried to prevent local epidemics from becoming global. ?remember SARS? UNICEF vaccination programs have ERADICATED entire diseases, like smallpox and polio. UNAID has made sure millions of Africans have access to HIV drugs which otherwise would have cost $100,000 per person yearly.
UN action like defining and challenging member nations to meet the Millenium Development Goals have actually meant extreme poverty and hunger have been drastically reduced globally.
Because the UN is large and complex, I'm really glad to have read this short and concise primer which a really good overview of the WHO/WHAT/WHEN/WHY/WHERE
of the UN; especially in the area of international relations, in times of war and in times of peace. It does not shy away from blunt criticism of where the its major sponsors, including the USA, have actively sabotaged UN missions; or launched smear campaigns against the UN when unhappy with Security Council decisions.
Warts and all, the first 70 years of the UN has made our world a safer place, despite the violence we still see on a daily basis. It could have been worse.
Somewhat unfairly, it gets blamed for almost everything that goes wrong in the world, including not being able to "police" rich and powerful nations; not doing enough to stop genocide; civil wars; various forms of oppression, etc. etc.
Before reading this I was unaware of some of the less "glamourous" work of the UN, including agencies such as the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), which helps ensure we can get on a plane and expect that aviation standards are met where-ever we fly to; or the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), which establishes global communications standards so that when we pick up a phone we can expect to talk to whomever we want to across the globe.
The UN's World Health Organization (WHO) has tried to prevent local epidemics from becoming global. ?remember SARS? UNICEF vaccination programs have ERADICATED entire diseases, like smallpox and polio. UNAID has made sure millions of Africans have access to HIV drugs which otherwise would have cost $100,000 per person yearly.
UN action like defining and challenging member nations to meet the Millenium Development Goals have actually meant extreme poverty and hunger have been drastically reduced globally.
Because the UN is large and complex, I'm really glad to have read this short and concise primer which a really good overview of the WHO/WHAT/WHEN/WHY/WHERE
of the UN; especially in the area of international relations, in times of war and in times of peace. It does not shy away from blunt criticism of where the its major sponsors, including the USA, have actively sabotaged UN missions; or launched smear campaigns against the UN when unhappy with Security Council decisions.
Warts and all, the first 70 years of the UN has made our world a safer place, despite the violence we still see on a daily basis. It could have been worse.
October 6, 2020
If one is seeking to work for the UN, or simply has "views" on the UN, this is a must read. It is short, balanced, and presences a clear explanation for anyone who wonders "why the UN hasn't solved world peace already", or is inclined to declare that the "UN has failed". It does not praise the UN. It does, however, help the reader understand what the UN does (and does not) have a mandate to do.
Must-read for any new UN staff to manage expectations.
Must-read for any new UN staff to manage expectations.
August 21, 2020
The author describes the functioning of the UN system, especially that of the Security Council horse trading, achievements of all the UN Secretary Generals, and how the UN has become a punching bag for everyone, especially the big powers.
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May 30, 2020It is a good book for general information about UN and how the system works. But for people who have worked at the organization, these are not the UNtold stories by far.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews