In this episode of Gateway Books by Crestance, we explore the consequences of cultural blindness and global exploitation. We begin with The Poisonwood Bible, Barbara Kingsolver’s unforgettable novel set in the Congo. We then turn to King Leopold’s Ghost, Adam Hochschild’s searing history of Belgian colonial atrocities, and Cobalt Red by Siddharth Kara, which brings the modern-day horrors of cobalt mining into focus.

These works ask us to confront the interconnectedness of history, industry, and everyday life—and to question what we choose not to see.