The rise of Ellen Johnson Sirleaf to become the president of Liberia and the first woman elected to lead an African nation is one of the most inspiring stories of our time. But Sirleaf could not have done it alone. Among the people who worked tirelessly to help her achieve her victory was Washington, DC-based international consultant and lobbyist K. Riva Levinson. Choosing the Hero is Levinson's compelling account of her life and career, and how she joined forces with Sirleaf to fight for a cause bigger than either of them.
With gripping anecdotes, Levinson describes her adventures working in some of the most dangerous places on earth, from Somalia to Iraq. But it is her efforts on behalf of Ellen Johnson Sirleaf that form the heart of Choosing the Hero. Levinson chronicles her behind-the-scenes lobbying for the exiled Sirleaf in Washington, DC, as well as her on-the-ground work in Liberia. It took three tries for Sirleaf to finally win the presidency in 2005. President Sirleaf won the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize, and in 2018 she oversaw the first peaceful, democratic transition of presidential power in Liberia in seventy-five years.
Choosing the Hero is an exciting narrative about Sirleaf's struggle to create a future for Liberia. It's a bird's-eye view of the inner-workings of the lobbying and public relations business in Washington, DC, and the making of US foreign policy. But most of all, it is Riva Levinson's personal story of how she found a hero, fought for a worthy cause, and discovered her soul in the process.
About the Author :
K. Riva Levinson is the president and CEO of KRL International LLC, a Washington, DC-based communications and government relations firm that focuses on the worldʼs emerging markets. A top strategist in managing international policy issues, She has served as a long-time adviser to Africa's first woman president, Liberiaʼs Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, also a Nobel Laureate for Peace.
K. Riva Levinson is the president and CEO of KRL International LLC, a Washington, DC-based communications and government relations firm that focuses on the worldʼs emerging markets. A top strategist in managing international policy issues, She has served as a long-time adviser to Africa's first woman president, Liberiaʼs Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, also a Nobel Laureate for Peace.
Review :
"A deeply personal and thoughtful book on some of the most important foreign policy issues of our time, and a great read!"
-- "Lloyd Pierson, former director, US Peace Corps, former president, African Development Foundation "
"A riveting geopolitical thriller...which only makes this true life story more compelling. The voice is unique, authentic, and enlarges the world as we know it."
-- "Foreword Reviews"
"An excellent behind-the-scenes book, chronicling the country's journey and Riva's."
-- "Forbes"
"An inherently fascinating and consistently compelling account from beginning to end. Candid, detailed, informative, and unique."
-- "Midwest Review of Books"
"Peace and democracy seemed far, far off to Liberians when brutal warlord Charles Taylor ruled. This fast-paced, crisply told story of Liberia's rebirth under Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is inspiring and impressively honest."
-- "Representative Ed Royce, Chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs"
"The inspiring story of two brilliant women who overcame the odds to make positive change in Liberia. A must-read for any aspiring global change maker!"
-- "Dr. Rajesh Panjabi, CEO, Last Mile Health"
