Author Guide · Investigative Journalism
Books Written by
Linda Polman spent years in the places where the world sends help: Somalia, Rwanda, Haiti, Sierra Leone, Afghanistan. What she saw made her ask an uncomfortable question: whether humanitarian aid sometimes prolongs the wars it is meant to relieve. Her book about the aid industry, published in ten languages, made her a controversial figure among aid workers. Later she turned to Europe's response to refugees. This guide covers her key books in order, with which ones are in English, and where to start.
By Lisanne Swart · 3 books · Investigative journalism · 1997–2019 · Updated October 2026
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Quick answer
Linda Polman's key books are 'k Zag twee beren (1997), about UN peacekeeping missions, in English We Did Nothing; De crisiskaravaan (2008), about the humanitarian aid industry, in English The Crisis Caravan (also War Games); and Niemand wil ze hebben (2019), about Europe and refugees, published in Dutch.
Where to Start with Linda Polman
If you want the famous one
→ De crisiskaravaan (2008).
If you want peacekeeping
→ 'k Zag twee beren (1997).
If you want the most recent
→ Niemand wil ze hebben (2019).
All 3 Linda Polman Books, in Order
'k Zag twee beren
The UN peacekeeping missions in Somalia, Rwanda and Haiti, seen from the ground. In English it is We Did Nothing.
De crisiskaravaan
The dark side of humanitarian aid in war zones: how aid can be diverted, exploited and used to fuel conflicts, from Rwanda's refugee camps to Afghanistan. Published in ten languages; in English it is The Crisis Caravan in the US and War Games in the UK.
Niemand wil ze hebben
No English edition · available in Dutch
Eighty years of Western governments lamenting the fate of refugees while keeping their borders closed, from the 1938 Évian conference to the camps on the Greek islands.
How Many Books Did Linda Polman Write?
Three key books between 1997 and 2019, two of them in English.
- Aid and intervention — 'k Zag twee beren and De crisiskaravaan. Read the entries →
- Refugees — Niemand wil ze hebben (2019). Read the entries →
In What Order to Read Linda Polman
Her books read well in order: peacekeeping, aid, and finally the politics of refugees.
A reading path
1. De crisiskaravaan (2008)
2. 'k Zag twee beren (1997)
3. Niemand wil ze hebben (2019)
Quick facts about Linda Polman
- Born
- Amstelveen
- Work
- Freelance investigative journalist; long-time correspondent in West Africa
- In English
- We Did Nothing; The Crisis Caravan / War Games
How Linda Polman Works: Questioning Good Intentions
Polman reports from inside the operations she investigates, among aid workers, soldiers, officials and the people they are meant to help.
She writes with dark humour and asks the questions that the aid world often avoids, about consequences rather than intentions.
Frequently asked questions about Linda Polman's books
Which Linda Polman books are in English?
We Did Nothing (from 'k Zag twee beren) and The Crisis Caravan, also published as War Games (from De crisiskaravaan).
What is The Crisis Caravan about?
The Crisis Caravan examines how humanitarian aid in war zones can be exploited and can even prolong conflicts.
Footnotes
Bibliography last verified 1 October 2026.
This list was not put together by a machine.
The notes are all mine,
and the books are all hers.
Lisanne x
Written by Lisanne Swart, who has curated reading lists and author guides at lisanneswart.com since 2021.
See more on her personal bookshelf.
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