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On the State of Egypt: What Made the Revolution Inevitable
“Alaa Al Aswany is among the best writers in the Middle East today, a suitable heir to the mantle worn by Naguib Mahfouz, his great predecessor.” –Jay Parini, The Guardian (UK)
From one of Egypt’s most acclaimed novelists, here is a vivid chronicle of Egyptian society, with penetrating analysis of all the most urgent issues—economic stagnation, police brutality, poverty, the harassment of women and of the Christian minority, to name a few—that led to the stunning overthrow of the Mubarak government. Al-Aswany addresses himself to all the questions being asked within Egypt and who will be the next president, and how will he be chosen in a land where heretofore only simpletons, opportunists and stooges involved themselves with elections? What role will the Muslim Brotherhood play? How can democratic reforms be effected among a people used to such contradictions as the religiously observant policeman who commits torture? In a candid and controversial assessment of both the potential and limitations that will determine his country’s future, Al-Aswany reveals why the revolt that surprised the world was destined to happen.
“[The] star of a new generation of Egyptian novelists.” – The Independent (UK)
From one of Egypt’s most acclaimed novelists, here is a vivid chronicle of Egyptian society, with penetrating analysis of all the most urgent issues—economic stagnation, police brutality, poverty, the harassment of women and of the Christian minority, to name a few—that led to the stunning overthrow of the Mubarak government. Al-Aswany addresses himself to all the questions being asked within Egypt and who will be the next president, and how will he be chosen in a land where heretofore only simpletons, opportunists and stooges involved themselves with elections? What role will the Muslim Brotherhood play? How can democratic reforms be effected among a people used to such contradictions as the religiously observant policeman who commits torture? In a candid and controversial assessment of both the potential and limitations that will determine his country’s future, Al-Aswany reveals why the revolt that surprised the world was destined to happen.
“[The] star of a new generation of Egyptian novelists.” – The Independent (UK)
192 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2004
21 people are currently reading
338 people want to read
About the author
Alaa Al Aswany
33 books1,827 followersعلاء الأسواني
Alaa al-Aswany (Arabic: علاء الأسواني), Egyptian Arabic (Masri) "علاء الاسوانى" (born 1957) is an Egyptian writer, and a founding member of the political movement Kefaya.
Trained as a dentist in Egypt and Chicago, it took him 9 years to earn his degree from Chicago National University where he spent 17 years in his life, al-Aswany has contributed numerous articles to Egyptian newspapers on literature, politics, and social issues. His second novel, The Yacoubian Building, an ironic depiction of modern Egyptian society, has been widely read in Egypt and throughout the Middle East. It has been translated into English, Danish, Finnish, French, Norwegian, Greek and Dutch, and was adapted into a film (2006) and a television series (2007) of the same name.
Chicago, a novel set in the city in which the author was educated, was published in January 2007.
Al-Aswany participated in the Blue Metropolis in Montreal, June 2008, and was featured in interviews with the CBC programme "Writers and Company".
Other forms of name: Alaa al-Aswani, Alaa El Aswany, Ala Aswani, Ala El Aswani
Alaa al-Aswany (Arabic: علاء الأسواني), Egyptian Arabic (Masri) "علاء الاسوانى" (born 1957) is an Egyptian writer, and a founding member of the political movement Kefaya.
Trained as a dentist in Egypt and Chicago, it took him 9 years to earn his degree from Chicago National University where he spent 17 years in his life, al-Aswany has contributed numerous articles to Egyptian newspapers on literature, politics, and social issues. His second novel, The Yacoubian Building, an ironic depiction of modern Egyptian society, has been widely read in Egypt and throughout the Middle East. It has been translated into English, Danish, Finnish, French, Norwegian, Greek and Dutch, and was adapted into a film (2006) and a television series (2007) of the same name.
Chicago, a novel set in the city in which the author was educated, was published in January 2007.
Al-Aswany participated in the Blue Metropolis in Montreal, June 2008, and was featured in interviews with the CBC programme "Writers and Company".
Other forms of name: Alaa al-Aswani, Alaa El Aswany, Ala Aswani, Ala El Aswani
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
April 12, 2011
If you have been following the news recently you will have noticed the huge shift in power from the corrupt government to the people on the streets in both Tunisia and Egypt. If you haven't, then there is probably no point in you reading any further, your head is probably too far up your own backside to ever come out. If on the other hand, you did see the news ;) and you want to know "what on earth happened to make all these protesters come out in such force and with such determination?" then this book is a MUST READ!
Some of you may have heard about the Yacoubian Building or Chicago, also written by Alaa Al Aswany, both great reads if you haven't read those either. This man has a way with words, a profound passion and a mind that inspires, intrigues and interests you at every level. If I was allowed one dinner guest, Alaa Al Aswany would be at the top of my list. I love this man!
Compiled from a series of articles that ran in Egyptian press, how he wasn't arrested and detained as a political prisoner I have no idea, but none the less, these articles explain what has been happening in Egypt, the dire state the country is in and the 'turn the other cheek' attitude that has allowed it to happen.
He writes in a commanding way that to close the book without having finished an article leaves you wanting more. His common sense approach to life, his intelligence and his moral way of thinking are skills to be admired and replicated.
I have spent the last 15 years of my life learning about the politics in Egypt and other parts of the Middle East, studying the people and the lives they lead. I have come to my own conclusions over the years and have doubted, until reading this book, whether as a 'foreigner' I have understood the situations correctly. Every last insight, every opinion written in this book mirrored my own findings and feelings. My frustrations with the government (lack of) leadership, my passions and wants for each, combined with my love of the Egyptian people are all in this book.
So in short, if you wish to understand the politics of the revolution in Egypt, and those in other countries, this is the best place to start.
And Mr Al Aswany, if you are free for dinner, let me know!
Some of you may have heard about the Yacoubian Building or Chicago, also written by Alaa Al Aswany, both great reads if you haven't read those either. This man has a way with words, a profound passion and a mind that inspires, intrigues and interests you at every level. If I was allowed one dinner guest, Alaa Al Aswany would be at the top of my list. I love this man!
Compiled from a series of articles that ran in Egyptian press, how he wasn't arrested and detained as a political prisoner I have no idea, but none the less, these articles explain what has been happening in Egypt, the dire state the country is in and the 'turn the other cheek' attitude that has allowed it to happen.
He writes in a commanding way that to close the book without having finished an article leaves you wanting more. His common sense approach to life, his intelligence and his moral way of thinking are skills to be admired and replicated.
I have spent the last 15 years of my life learning about the politics in Egypt and other parts of the Middle East, studying the people and the lives they lead. I have come to my own conclusions over the years and have doubted, until reading this book, whether as a 'foreigner' I have understood the situations correctly. Every last insight, every opinion written in this book mirrored my own findings and feelings. My frustrations with the government (lack of) leadership, my passions and wants for each, combined with my love of the Egyptian people are all in this book.
So in short, if you wish to understand the politics of the revolution in Egypt, and those in other countries, this is the best place to start.
And Mr Al Aswany, if you are free for dinner, let me know!
July 18, 2012
J'ai adoré les romans de Alaa El Aswany au point de m'inspirer d'eux pour essayer, sans succès, d'en écrire un : au bout de quelques pages j'ai réalisé que ma plume n'égalerait jamais celle de l'auteur de "L'Immeuble Yacoubian" ou de "Chicago" et j'ai capitulé.
Je suis d'autant plus déçu par le chroniqueur dont les éditoriaux publiés depuis 2010 sont traduits chez Actes Sud (par l'ancien consul de France à Alexandrie Gilles Gauthier).
Cette publication est doublement opportuniste. L'éditeur a entendu d'une part joué sur la vague de popularité dont jouit le romancier. Au lendemain des printemps arabes et de la chute de Moubarak, la publication de ces chroniques a d'autre part le mérite de flatter le lecteur occidental ; car Al Aswany est du "bon" côté, de celui qui défend les pauvres d'Egypte, les victimes de la corruption, les femmes obligées de porter le niqab. Il combat la tentative de succession héréditaire ébauchée par Hosni Moubarak en faveur de son fils Gamal.
Hélas, les travers du romancier - dont la subtilité n'était pas la qualité première - sont plus flagrants encore à la lecture de ses chroniques. Aussi politiquement correctes soient-elles, ses chroniques forcent le trait, critiquant sans nuance les méchants musulmans dont la foi se réduit au respect des formes et les hommes politiques coorompus qui, ne tenant leur mandat que de la volonté du Raïs, n'exercent pas leurs charges pour le bénéfice des citoyens mais pour la satisfaction de leur maître.
Ses écrits frappent par leur ultra-nationalisme qui dérive fréquemment dans l'antisionisme voire dans l'antioccidentalisme.
Les 45 chroniques réunies dans ce recueil n'évitent pas l'écueil de la redite : là où le romancier fourbit son oeuvre, l'éditorialiste reproduit chaque semaine un raisonnement répétitif. Très pertinent dans sa critique des maux qui frappent la société égyptienne, Al Aswany se révèle un politique moins visionnaire : ainsi prend-il fait et cause pour Mohamed El Baradei dont il s'est avéré qu'il ne bénéficiait d'aucun soutien dans le peuple.
Vivement son prochain roman !
Je suis d'autant plus déçu par le chroniqueur dont les éditoriaux publiés depuis 2010 sont traduits chez Actes Sud (par l'ancien consul de France à Alexandrie Gilles Gauthier).
Cette publication est doublement opportuniste. L'éditeur a entendu d'une part joué sur la vague de popularité dont jouit le romancier. Au lendemain des printemps arabes et de la chute de Moubarak, la publication de ces chroniques a d'autre part le mérite de flatter le lecteur occidental ; car Al Aswany est du "bon" côté, de celui qui défend les pauvres d'Egypte, les victimes de la corruption, les femmes obligées de porter le niqab. Il combat la tentative de succession héréditaire ébauchée par Hosni Moubarak en faveur de son fils Gamal.
Hélas, les travers du romancier - dont la subtilité n'était pas la qualité première - sont plus flagrants encore à la lecture de ses chroniques. Aussi politiquement correctes soient-elles, ses chroniques forcent le trait, critiquant sans nuance les méchants musulmans dont la foi se réduit au respect des formes et les hommes politiques coorompus qui, ne tenant leur mandat que de la volonté du Raïs, n'exercent pas leurs charges pour le bénéfice des citoyens mais pour la satisfaction de leur maître.
Ses écrits frappent par leur ultra-nationalisme qui dérive fréquemment dans l'antisionisme voire dans l'antioccidentalisme.
Les 45 chroniques réunies dans ce recueil n'évitent pas l'écueil de la redite : là où le romancier fourbit son oeuvre, l'éditorialiste reproduit chaque semaine un raisonnement répétitif. Très pertinent dans sa critique des maux qui frappent la société égyptienne, Al Aswany se révèle un politique moins visionnaire : ainsi prend-il fait et cause pour Mohamed El Baradei dont il s'est avéré qu'il ne bénéficiait d'aucun soutien dans le peuple.
Vivement son prochain roman !
December 23, 2014
My favorite chapter was noura and the national team, very powerful, broke my heart. Loved this book, learned a lot from it. Alaa al aswany is an inspiration.
December 15, 2024
Interesante pero desfasado con artículos del autor de hace 10-15 años.
August 7, 2016
The revolution of Egypt occurred in 2011 and i was not well versed in it back then . Most of my classmates studied in Egypt back then and has been vocally supporting the revolution. My facebook wall filled with a huge support of Muslims Brotherhood posts and eager to see the candidate from the Islamic party to take over once Mubarak resigned. I am not surprised either given the fact that most of them studied at AL-Azhar University. At that time, however, i was restrained to voice out my own opinion. I always support the ideals of secular government ; away from ambiguity of religion standard and crystal clear implementation of good governance. However, i cant say this lightly. I will be framed as infidel or someone who pushes Islam away and i have no strength to defend myself. Here we are, in 2016, which i am manage to dig and read more to understand the Egypt revolution. Mr Alaa writing it perfectly and even in its own simplicity, one cant turn away from all the facts that he wrote and assembled it in his book. Being an Egyptian himself, he shared his devastation and sadness seeing his own country being harmed by despotism government and corrupt officers and politicians. He lamented of what Egypt used to be and compared it to the current state of Egypt. This is truly powerful and insightful book.
December 18, 2015
Hvis man vil vide, hvorfor Egypterne gjorde oprør mod Præsident Mubaraks styre i 2011, er Al-Aswanys bog om Egyptens Tilstand et godt sted at starte. Gennem et udvalg af klummer fra avisen al-Dustur (de fleste fra 2009 og 10) beskriver han nuanceret og i til tider grufulde detaljer det egyptiske samfunds problemer spændende fra manglende demokrati, manglende udfoldelsesmuligheder og korruption til kvindehad og religiøst hykleri. Det er al-Aswanys faste overbevisning, at egypterne ikke ville blive ved med at finde sig i dette, og demokratiet ser han som en forudsætning for at løse problemerne.
Al-Aswany hamrer klumme efter klumme sine (gode) pointer fast i læseren, og som en samling af dem kan bogen naturligt nok derfor godt komme til at virke gentagende. Samtidig indbygger han dog variationer i sin argumentation - som baserer sig på både anekdoter, personlige oplevelser, statistik, nyhedsdækning og meget andet - og det gør, at bogen bliver ved med at være læseværdig.
Al-Aswany hamrer klumme efter klumme sine (gode) pointer fast i læseren, og som en samling af dem kan bogen naturligt nok derfor godt komme til at virke gentagende. Samtidig indbygger han dog variationer i sin argumentation - som baserer sig på både anekdoter, personlige oplevelser, statistik, nyhedsdækning og meget andet - og det gør, at bogen bliver ved med at være læseværdig.
May 28, 2016
Revolt In Cairo (On) 21 October 1798
Anne-Louis Girodet
* A political book describing the miserable stage Egyptians were living in the five year before the 2011 revolution .
** This book is aiming to highlight Egypt's social-political that led to revolt , thus the Western's can have a clear vision of Egypt's status , and to reduce the vast gap between the West & the Arab world.
*** It showed how the west treats Egypt ( ally ) & Iran (enemy ) differently ( torture , democracy & fraud election ) to serve the interests of Israel
**** the regime used the Muslim brotherhood as the boogeyman to frighten western countries from democratic solutions
Book contents:
1) Gamal Mubarak as a successive candidate
2) Mubarak's health issue
3) Fraud Elections
4)Brutal force
5) Mr. ElBaradei/ Dr Ahmed Zewil as an alternative solutions
6)Gaza paying the price, to pass the succssion plans ( to please Israel)
7) Boycotting fraud elections
8) Superficial religions and Wahabism
9) Pope Shenouda endorse that Gamal Mubarak inherit the presidency of Egypt
10) Dictator solitude
11) Sultan's jurist and the phenomenon of new proselytizers
12) Sycophantic ministers in despotic regime
Quotes from the book
1. The floodgates of hatred have been opened wide
2. A wave of hatred for Arabs & Muslims is now sweeping the West .
3. Killing is easier when we dehumanize the victim
4. The Egyptian regime has understood that the key to the West's heart is in Israel's hand
5. Egypt has reached rock bottom in the full sense
6. Revolution is not a slogan or a prior objective but a stage a society goes through at a certain moment , when everything becomes liable to ignite
7.Egypt has enough talent & intellectual power to save ten countries together
8.But I do understand that someone who has already lost something cannot then give it away , and someone who is willingly to kiss people's hands in public cannot defend anyone's dignity
9. More important than all that is the fact that in his great success ElBaradei has not depend on connection or relatives. He has proved himself by his hard work , his talent & his dedication.
10. In other words, the Egyptian regime spends twice as much as subjugating , detaining & repressing Egyptians as it spends on providing them on healthcare
11. A leader who defends the rights of the nation must always remain on the field of the battle.
12. This story teaches us that all autocratic rulers considers themselves great heroes & live in such state of perpetual self delusion
13. In fact , in my opinion , rigging elections is much more worse than bearing false witness, because bearing false witness deprives an individual or a family of their due whereas rigging elections deprives the whole nation of its due.
14. The concept of the benevolent dictator, just like the concepts of the noble thief , or the honest whore , is no more than a meaningless fantasy.
15. The prophet Muhammed did not choose a successor because he wanted Muslims to be free to choose their ruler.
16. I have been given authority over you, and I am not best of You. Abu Bakr ElSeddik
17. In a democratic system the president is the servant of the people in the full sense of the word & as soon as he takes office he loses his privacy & his whole is exposed to the World.
18. Lord Milner is said to have lost his way in the streets of Cairo one day and when his driver asked a passerby for directions , the man replied "Tell Englishman to ask Saad Zaghloul Pasha in Paris"
19. We should bear in mind that intellectuals who loose their way always start by despising the people
20. Last year I went to vote in the elections at the sports club I belong to & found crowds of club members who had come on their day off to stand in long lines to elect new board members.
21. Most of these parties are paper puppets on strings held by the regime
22. It seems that the Brotherhood is destined never to learn from its mistakes.
23. " Imagine God forbid, what would have happened if someone less wise than president Mubarak were ruling Egypt. It would have been a disaster. " Mustafa ElFekky
24> Religiosity so prevalent today is superficial and without substance
25. Mubarak regime continues to support Wahabism in order to benefit from the political submissiveness it installs in people's minds.
26. What happened in central Cairo shows that the great collapse has already begun
27. we all have a duty to act to save our country from the bleak future that looms on the horizon
28. Before we urge young men not to harass women, we first have to teach them how to respect women.
29. Islam never required women to cover their faces. Otherwise, if we could not see any part of women's face in the first place , why would God tell us to avert our eyes
30. Before Wahabi ideas started spreading we were less interested in the externals of religion & more religious in the more sense , more just, more honest & more tolerant.
31. Even the prosecutor general, after questioning Aryan Youssef on a charge of throwing a bomb at the prime minister's motorcade, stood up to his desk, shook Aryan's hand & embraced him, saying : " May God protect you my child. You are a patriot who loves Egypt. "
32. Every time they have been tested, Egyptians have passed the test with distinction, but afterward they go back to the substitute's bench
33. The " Three no's Theory " , no job , no marriage , no future.
34. He told me how he asked the only girl he ever loved to forget him because he could not marry her or have her wait for him.
35. Recent Gallup survey found that Egyptians are the most devout people on the face of the earth.
36. Goytisolo turned down a prize worth 150,000$ because it was incompatible with his moral coscience
37. Because I can no longer withstand being a women on display
38. In the end, the proposal was defeated & copts won one of the greatest battles in modern history by refusing to accept a sectarian privileges under any guise.
39. The Egyptian regime that has failed to protect Copts is the same regime the Coptic Church supports with all its strength.
40. The consequences of courage are never worse than the consequences of fear.
41. In fact they believed , just like the peasant in the story, that they could coexist with the regime, bow down before the oppressor , and then set up their own small safe world for themselves & their children.
42. then the regime's iron grip will be broken & meet the fate it deserves.
43. Gaber Asfour did not feel the slightest embarrassment in taking a prize that a major international writer had rejected in solidarity with the Libyan people against the despotic Gaddafi regime
Best Articles
1. The only way to evict Mr. Batista
2. A surprise dinner with an important person
3. Does rigging elections count as a Major sin
4. Egypt sits on the Substitute's Bench
5. Nora and the National squad
6. Egypt awakened
7. Does subservience protect us from injustice
8. A discussion with a state security officer
References mentioned advised to read
1. Chameleon by checkov
2. Farah Bahlavei
3. كتاب النقاب عادة وليست عبادة ، دكتور علي جمعة
4. the phenomenon of new proselytizers
ظاهرة الدعاة الجدد
5.memoir of aryan youssef
مذكرات عريان يوسف -الذي حاول قتل يوسف وهبة باشا بعد ان قابل وفد الانجليز
6. Tartuffe, Moliere
7.قاموس العادات والتقاليد ،، احمد امين
8. الف ليلة وليلة
9. كتاب الأغاني للأصفهاني
10. كتاب الامتاع والمؤانسة
11. مفاخرة الجواري والغلمان
12. محمد فتحي
13. محمود سامي البارودي
14.عباس محمود العقاد
15. طه حسين
16. ألفريد فرج
17. عبد الرحمن الشرقاوي
18. Albert Camus
19. SartreJP
20. Bertrand Russell
21. Gabriel García Márquez
22. saramago
23.Pablo Neruda
24.dostoyevski
25. GOYTISOLO JUAN
26. Wael abbas's blog
March 4, 2023
Citaat : Ze worden van de ene toppositie naar de andere verplaatst zonder al te veel na te denken over hun geschiktheid of ervaring.
Review : De Egyptische Al Aswani is schrijver, tandarts en mede-oprichter van de politieke bewe-ging Kefaya. In zijn politieke columns in de Egyptische krant Shorouk in de jaren voorafgaand aan de revolutie in Egypte haalde hij meedogenloos uit naar het regime van Hosni Mubarak, dat op 11 februari van dit jaar ten val werd gebracht. Deze observaties, alhoewel niet recent, zijn evenwel niet gedateerd; ze zijn ter verduidelijking van de aanloop tot de revolutie in Egypte en hoe de schrijnende misstanden in het land leidden tot een breed gedragen ‘genoeg!’, zoals hij in het voorwoord toelicht.
Al Aswani richt zijn pijlen op allerlei aspecten van de Egyptische maatschappij die hij voor verbete-ring vatbaar acht en vooral de politieke machtsstructuur, die is vergeven van de corruptie, moet het ontgelden. Gezien de grove schendingen van mensenrechten is die verontwaardiging volko-men terecht, en je haar rijst soms ten berge en vraag je je als lezer vertwijfeld af op het nog ooit goed komt met de democratie in Egypte. Ongeletterdheid, toenemende armoe en corrupte ba-nensysteem hebben Egypte ontvankelijk gemaakt voor het wahabisme, voorzien van brandstof door Saoedi-Arabië en dat zich als een olievlek verspreidt. De redelijk geëmancipeerde rol van de vrouw werd daarmee teruggedraaid, zoals het fundamentalisme op elk gebied een funest-eroderende werking heeft. De voorbeelden die Al Aswani aanhaalt om het regime van Mubarak te hekelen, zijn te veel om op te noemen. Grove missers stapelen zich op, en de profiterende elite heeft vrijwel elke noodzakelijke investering in infrastructuur, onderwijs, economie laten liggen.
Al Aswani vertrok in 1985 naar Chicago om er een universitaire opleiding te volgen. Het idee om daar te blijven was verleidelijk, maar hij koos er bewust voor in en over zijn vaderland Egypte te schrijven. Zijn boek The Yacoubian verscheen in 2007 in Nederlandse vertaling en was een bestseller van formaat. In deze beresterke roman kaartte hij onderwerpen aan, homoseksua-liteit, prostitutie, godsdienstfanatisme enz, die eigenlijk onbespreekbaar waren in Egypte. Alaa al Aswani is een groot denker én schrijver.
Review : De Egyptische Al Aswani is schrijver, tandarts en mede-oprichter van de politieke bewe-ging Kefaya. In zijn politieke columns in de Egyptische krant Shorouk in de jaren voorafgaand aan de revolutie in Egypte haalde hij meedogenloos uit naar het regime van Hosni Mubarak, dat op 11 februari van dit jaar ten val werd gebracht. Deze observaties, alhoewel niet recent, zijn evenwel niet gedateerd; ze zijn ter verduidelijking van de aanloop tot de revolutie in Egypte en hoe de schrijnende misstanden in het land leidden tot een breed gedragen ‘genoeg!’, zoals hij in het voorwoord toelicht.
Al Aswani richt zijn pijlen op allerlei aspecten van de Egyptische maatschappij die hij voor verbete-ring vatbaar acht en vooral de politieke machtsstructuur, die is vergeven van de corruptie, moet het ontgelden. Gezien de grove schendingen van mensenrechten is die verontwaardiging volko-men terecht, en je haar rijst soms ten berge en vraag je je als lezer vertwijfeld af op het nog ooit goed komt met de democratie in Egypte. Ongeletterdheid, toenemende armoe en corrupte ba-nensysteem hebben Egypte ontvankelijk gemaakt voor het wahabisme, voorzien van brandstof door Saoedi-Arabië en dat zich als een olievlek verspreidt. De redelijk geëmancipeerde rol van de vrouw werd daarmee teruggedraaid, zoals het fundamentalisme op elk gebied een funest-eroderende werking heeft. De voorbeelden die Al Aswani aanhaalt om het regime van Mubarak te hekelen, zijn te veel om op te noemen. Grove missers stapelen zich op, en de profiterende elite heeft vrijwel elke noodzakelijke investering in infrastructuur, onderwijs, economie laten liggen.
Al Aswani vertrok in 1985 naar Chicago om er een universitaire opleiding te volgen. Het idee om daar te blijven was verleidelijk, maar hij koos er bewust voor in en over zijn vaderland Egypte te schrijven. Zijn boek The Yacoubian verscheen in 2007 in Nederlandse vertaling en was een bestseller van formaat. In deze beresterke roman kaartte hij onderwerpen aan, homoseksua-liteit, prostitutie, godsdienstfanatisme enz, die eigenlijk onbespreekbaar waren in Egypte. Alaa al Aswani is een groot denker én schrijver.
December 19, 2016
Well written series of journalistic essays. Somewhat repetitive but very interesting. It is a brave book.
Critique of how extremist views have tainted Islam in Egypt leading some to assert:
1) Islam allows only one form, one worldview
2) people who don't agree are enemies
3) virtue involves about advertising your religious superiority
4) religion is about belief, not conduct
5) creating a just society is of no importance
The whole is propagated by televangelists for Wahhabi fundamentalism.
Critique of how extremist views have tainted Islam in Egypt leading some to assert:
1) Islam allows only one form, one worldview
2) people who don't agree are enemies
3) virtue involves about advertising your religious superiority
4) religion is about belief, not conduct
5) creating a just society is of no importance
The whole is propagated by televangelists for Wahhabi fundamentalism.
August 28, 2020
Sono d'accordo con l'autore (uno dei miei preferiti tra l'altro) sul fatto che l'unica soluzione sia la democrazia, ma nel frattempo queste storie sull'Egitto, oltre all'orrore iniziale, mi hanno anche lasciato una sensazione di disperazione dilagante, anche perché sono passati quasi 10 anni dalle dimissioni di Mubarak e non mi sembra che si respiri poi tutta quest'aria di democrazia nel paese, ma mi potrei sbagliare.
December 11, 2019
Very repetitive but did have some interesting anecdotal stories from his own personal experiences and those of other Egyptians. Was to be expected that it would be repetitive since it was a compilation of articles he had published in newspapers. Articles were also chronologically out of order unfortunately. As always, "democracy is the solution" according to Alaa Al-Aswany.
May 21, 2021
A very good book dealing with the social conditions in Egypt.
March 22, 2024
Some interesting points but repetitive
Currently reading
June 18, 2024Not a native but this is slow...
December 29, 2020
4/5 voor de analyses
2/5 voor het hoge herhalingsgehalte
2/5 voor het hoge herhalingsgehalte
April 26, 2011
Solid collection of newspaper articles published by Aswany in Arab newspapers over the last 5 years or so, focusing on the corruption, inequality, police brutality, suppression of political discourse, lack of ministerial accountability to anyone other than the president, and cronyism of the Mubarak regim. He also goes off on some of the blatant contradictions of certain devout Muslims within the administration who follow strict religious tenets but don't seem to apply general moral values in their lives when abusing political dissidents and protestors.
I read this while in Egypt to give me a better understanding of the current political situation, and it certainly served its purpose. However, by halfway through the book, I had well picked up on the repetitive pattern of the 4-page articles that all had a similar conclusion. This book makes a clear argument against autocracy and its particular manifestation in Mubarak's Egypt, and it supports the case for democracy. But read a small random sampling of the ~200 pages, and you can arrive at the main points pretty quickly.
I read this while in Egypt to give me a better understanding of the current political situation, and it certainly served its purpose. However, by halfway through the book, I had well picked up on the repetitive pattern of the 4-page articles that all had a similar conclusion. This book makes a clear argument against autocracy and its particular manifestation in Mubarak's Egypt, and it supports the case for democracy. But read a small random sampling of the ~200 pages, and you can arrive at the main points pretty quickly.
January 14, 2012
One thing I enjoyed about this book was the author's sarcasm, besides that there isn’t much to say. There are certain aspects I disagree with or think could have been addressed more coherently. One of them is Aswany’s utmost belief that with gaining political freedom through the implementation of real democratic bodies, the social problems would undoubtedly be addressed. Most of those currently in Egypt and elsewhere who advocate for “reform” through the channels of voting i.e. democracy forget that economic freedom is intertwined with political freedom. Political freedoms are based on economic aspects more so than anything else and should be acknowledged and addressed as such. Besides that, I enjoyed reading his rants. I enjoyed the personal touch of the book and his obvious anger at the system.
February 14, 2013
The author most known for his book 'The Yacoubian Building' writes about the failings of the Egypt Government during the Arab Spring 2011. He provides an in-depth analysis of the rising social and political unrest contributed by various factors, such as the ill-treatment of women, corruption, which leads to the fall of the Murabak Government. The writer also gives ample elaboration on each factor and consistently prompts the reader to reflect at the end of each chapter with the sentence "Democracy is the solution".
This book is suitable for those who want to know more about the problems Egypt face in term of the economic, political and social aspects. The writer approaches the topic using an argumentative style of writing to convince readers that change is needed for there to be improvements in Egypt as a whole.
This book is suitable for those who want to know more about the problems Egypt face in term of the economic, political and social aspects. The writer approaches the topic using an argumentative style of writing to convince readers that change is needed for there to be improvements in Egypt as a whole.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 6, 2011
Ik heb dit boek opgepikt in de boekhandel op Schiphol. De "Arabische Lente" was nog in volle gang en ik dacht hier iets van te kunnen leren. Inderdaad, deze verzameling columns geeft een goed inzicht in de redenen van de Egyptische jeugd om hun revolutie vol te houden. Al Aswani is een schrijver met lef. Hij is kennelijk te beroemd om hem op te pakken voor wat hij schrijft. Al deze columns zijn al uitgekomen voor de revolutie. Hij is de schrijver van "the Yacoubian building". een kennelijk heel bekende roman (ook in het Nedrlands vetaald) en in Egypte zelf verfilmd. Dat boek zal ik bestellen. Deze verzameling krantencolumns is heel leesbaar en zeer informatief.
December 14, 2015
This is a basically a collection of op-ed pieces Alaa Al Aswany wrote and published in newspapers at various times during 2009-2010. Some are very insightful, but for the most part it reads like propaganda. The repetitiveness of the entire thing started to wear on me after a while. He literally repeats the same anecdotes over and over again. I found it annoying.
It's also kind of hypocritical to end every essay with "Democracy is the solution" and then support the military coup against the country's democratically elected president just because he belongs to a party you don't like, but that is, in fairness, beyond the scope of this book.
It's also kind of hypocritical to end every essay with "Democracy is the solution" and then support the military coup against the country's democratically elected president just because he belongs to a party you don't like, but that is, in fairness, beyond the scope of this book.
August 6, 2011
This was a book that I wouldn't have selected on my own, but it was a book club selection. Initially, I wasn't sure if I would like it. It started out sounding like it might be more of a political commentary involving Issues in an ear about which I was not familiar, but as I continued to read I found that it truly to be more of a commentary of civil rights and women's rights. It made me feel very appreciative of the civil rights we enjoy In this country. It was tough to imagine the hardships in Egypt.
July 29, 2013
Tanto como cuando cayó Mubarak como ahora que se consumó el golpe de estado contra Mursi este libro es un claro reflejo de lo que es la sociedad egipcia actual. Llegó un cierto momento en el que dije: este hombre me esta leyendo la mente respecto a lo que yo creo que debería ser el islam y que desafortunadamente no es. Si tu eres un interesado en este país debes de leer este libro porque vas a desengañarte y conocer la realidad cruda de Egipto. Y que en cierto modo te sientes identificado con alguna verdades que en mi caso me pegó como mexicana.
March 8, 2011
Some of the stories reminds me of high school writing assignment, barely done.
I did not muster to go cover to cover on this. My thought in the middle of the book was, someone told the author to quickly publish after the success of the yacoubian building.
Sadly this does not approach the yacoubian building in neither language or story telling..
I did not muster to go cover to cover on this. My thought in the middle of the book was, someone told the author to quickly publish after the success of the yacoubian building.
Sadly this does not approach the yacoubian building in neither language or story telling..
December 28, 2011
In answer to the question, "Why did the revolution occur and what do the protesters want?" Alaa Al Aswany offers a collection of his old blog posts. Decent, quick read, but nothing special. Do keep in mind that Aswany offers a fairly liberal perspective.
January 14, 2012
Een verhelderend inzicht in de Egyptische samenleving (door een van de leden van intelligentsia) voor de val van Mubarak. Maar slecht vertaald naar het Nederlands. Ook de redactie had scherper mogen zijn; veel herhalingen van onderwerpen.
January 30, 2012
Provocative and thoughtful essays by the author of The Yacoubian Building. Topics include things like: “Why Egyptians harass women” (because the hijab de-humanizes them) and “Why Egyptians don’t take part in elections” (because they are always rigged).
January 10, 2016
I am learning about the middle east and it's problems trying to get a picture of what is happening and this book is helping to piece the puzzle together. The book is well written in short chapters as newspaper article style.
April 2, 2012
"This man doesn't believe much in religion but his gracious and magnanimous behavior puts him at a higher level of real piety.
March 17, 2013
Al Aswany is clearly a gifted writer and has a very poignant and relevant viewpoint. However, compiling 200 pages worth of columns into a single book becomes a bit repetitive.
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