Jake Johnston really did his homework for this! While I was not familiar with his work prior to this, he's apparently been visiting, and writing about, Haiti for many years. He knows his stuff. So why did I only give this only three stars? Well, the first part of the book, which is primarily about the 2010 earthquake and the international response to it, is excellent. The final chapters of the book, about the current chaos, and USA's ever-changing response to Haiti's problems, is also excellent. But the middle of the book is kinda chewy; at least it was for me. A rundown of the Aristide, Preval, Martelly and Moise presidencies, it did not hold my interest; too many players, especially when you include the USAID, the UN, the Clinton Foundation, et al. But bottom line is, if you are at all interested in "the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere" and how it came to be, you should have a look.