“This masterful history of the construction and impact of the TAZARA, one of Africa's most vital transportation corridors, tracks the railroad from its conception to its daily use as a passenger train.”

“Blessedly economical and unpretentious . . . no one else is capable of writing about this region with such nuance.”
 — James Giblin, University of Iowa

“An extremely nuanced and textured history of negotiated interests that includes international stakeholders, local actors, and—importantly—early Chinese policies of development assistance.”
 — James McCann, Boston University

“Africa's Freedom Railway is a valuable addition to the social history of postcolonial Tanzania. . . . This book provides and excellent example to follow.Vol. 50 2009”
 — Emma Hunter, Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge

“An important contribution to the expanding field of Sino-African Studies. Vol. 200”
 — The China Quarterly

“Africa’s Freedom Railway is an insightful and well-informed book that bears testament to the experience of those Tanzanians and Chinese who worked on TAZARA railway as well as those whose lives have benefitted from its presence. By documenting the experience of those people affected by TAZARA, Monson effectively illustrates how the railway benefitted the majority of Tanzanians. Similarly, the book’s wealth of sources enables Monson to write about contemporary Tanzania in a historical context, as TAZARA has shaped the present.Vol. 11.2-3 Spring 2010”
 — Nicholas T. Smith, University of California

“This insightful account of transnational infrastructure cooperation will no doubt be welcome reading not only for academics and students, but most importantly for African leaders who have to make critical development choices for the benefit of their own people.Vol. 115 Feb. 2010”
 — Peter A. Dumbuya, Fort Valley State University

“The depth of material and analysis makes this essential for development studies and especially Chinese-African relations as the People's Republic expands involvement in the continent.Feb. 2010”
 — Choice

“An interesting account of a remarkable chapter in the chequered history of Tanzania's development.# 94 Sept.-Dec. 2009”
 — John Sankey, Tanzanian Affairs

“[Africa's Freedom Railway] becomes the definitive multidisciplinary account. . . . [This book] is a model of transport historical geography. . . . [Monson] tells human stories about a massive transport project: its proponents, practitioners and petitioners take centre stage.18.4 July 2010”
 — Journal of Transport Geography