Saturday 22 September 2012

Karama! Journeys through the Arab Spring, by Johnny West

Decent read for anyone wanting to get a feel for the thoughts, feelings and aspirations of those on the ground - in Egypt, Tunisia and Libya - who took part in the Arab uprising last year. Though the book is not conclusive as to why exactly the protests succeeded this time round in toppling those in power (Mohammed Bouazizi and Khalid Said cited as catalysts in the case of Tunisia and Egypt respectively) nor where these three nations are headed (creating jobs and restoring order cited as high concerns), it can't be held as a criticism of the book as that is not the author's objective. I found the first two parts on Tunisia and Egpyt much better reads than the third part on Libya, which seemed rushed and contained less characters (and more facts and stats and stuff!) than the first two parts. Overall: good, simple to read, easy to follow insight into some of the thoughts, feelings and aspirations of those on the ground before, during and immediately following the uprising.

Wednesday 12 September 2012

No guts, no glory

Know guts. Know glory.

(Nice play on words I saw somewhere a few days back [can't remember where] and stuck in my head.)

Saturday 1 September 2012

Book Review: Pakistan – A Personal History, by Imran Khan

This book is an absolute must-read for anyone interested in Pakistan and the surrounding region, or just interested in Imran Khan! It's a good blend of Imran Khan's personal biography mixed together with Pakistan's short history. It was sad – and somewhat comical – to read about Pakistan's succession of corrupt leaders since its inception. Yet, at the same time, it was hugely impressive to read about Imran Khan's achievements in his life, his philosophies on success, his balance of religion and his ideas for Pakistan: justice, fairness and anti-corruption of course high up on the agenda. If he continues with the integrity that he has demonstrated thus far in his political career, he certainly has my vote... were I eligible to vote!