To Stop a Warlord

Praise

“How far would you go to stop a murderous Ugandan warlord who had turned thousands of children into soldiers? As the head of a human rights foundation, Shannon Sedgwick Davis did something unprecedented: She hired private military contractors to train an army to stop him. This is an extraordinary memoir by an extraordinary leader—it’s impossible to read without feeling moved to do more to help those with less.”—Adam Grant, New York Times bestselling author of Originals and Give and Take

“In this remarkable book, Shannon Sedgwick Davis proves what can be achieved when you have the courage and determination to end suffering. Her story reminds us that we have more in common than we suspect, and more power than we believe.”—President Jimmy Carter

“Shannon Sedgwick Davis is a mom, a lawyer, and the leader of a powerful foundation, but most of all she is someone deeply committed to justice for all. Her captivating story takes the reader on an adventure like no other, one that challenges us to rethink how we make change in the world.”—Sir Richard Branson, philanthropist and chairman of the Virgin Group

“I’d always admired Shannon Sedgwick Davis’s deep compassion, relentless determination, motherly protective instinct, and steadfast courage. And then I read To Stop a Warlord, a beautifully written memoir, and smiled knowing that her story will inspire so many more to follow in her footsteps.”—Blake Mycoskie, Founder and Chief Shoe Giver, TOMS

“Shannon Sedgwick Davis imagined, planned, and launched a brilliant, courageous effort that empowered local African heroes to defeat one of the world’s most brutal and evil terrorist organizations. Even more stunning, she and her team helped win the peace. One of the most remarkable leaders I’ve ever encountered, Shannon proves what a citizen can do. Now she has shared her story in a superb book—a blend of grand vision, bold decisions, gritty operations, wrenching heartbreak, and enduring inspiration. She writes like she leads —with modesty in herself, unrelenting dedication to the mission, and hope for humanity.”—Ambassador Henry A. Crumpton, former U.S. Coordinator for Counterterrorism, and author of the New York Times bestseller The Art of Intelligence

“I have met Joseph Kony face-to-face and spent years trying to convince him to peacefully surrender. As a Ugandan from the LRA-affected areas and a mother myself, I found this book truly remarkable and inspiring. It shows how we can make a change outside our backyards in a meaningful and culturally appropriate way.”—Betty Bigombe, Senior Director for Fragility, Conflict, and Violence at the World Bank, Chief Mediator for the peace initiative with the Lord’s Resistance Army, 1994–2005