King Leopold’s Ghost by Adam Hochchild is an essential read.

It’s a raw and brutal account of colonial Belgium in the Congo around the early 20th century. It is shockingly relevant to today because of Leopold’s sinister misinformation campaigns in controlling the narrative for his greedy and murderous enterprises. The rape of the Congo, much like many colonial endeavors, shaped history and lives with us today. Colonialism fueled the beast of Industrialization at the cost of millions of “non-civilized” people. It’s an amazing read, full of primary documentation and rich characterization. I learned so much and highly recommend. Lastly, it is the perfect companion to Joseph Conrad’s “The Heart of Darkness” who is mentioned frequently throughout the book.