Jassim - The Leader: Founder of Qatar

by Mohamed Althani

The Gulf state of Qatar tops the Forbes list of the world's richest countries. In 2010 the country had the world's highest GDP per capita, and its reserves of oil and natural gas are vast. Yet Qatar has climbed to this pinnacle of wealth and influence in a remarkably short time, and from a starting point of obscurity and insignificance. This astonishing transition is the direct result of the efforts nearly two hundred years ago of one visionary man-Jassim bin Muhammad Bin Thani, known as "the Leader."

Shaikh Mohamed A. J. Althani is a former minister in the Qatari government.

224 pages, Hardcover

First published December 1, 2012

Reviews

[Awale Abdi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Despite my being born and raised in the neighboring UAE, Qatar has always been something of a blind spot for me so I thought I'd rectify that. It's especially great that this book was written by an actual Qatari and, to his credit, it doesn't really read like some fluff propaganda piece. Instead, it felt very much like an informative piece of historical literature that gives you a picture of how Qatar now exists as a state.

Certainly quite reverent towards the namesake of the book, yet it still remains grounded and gives you an image of a man beset on all sides by great powers and all sorts of political and tribal intrigues he doesn't always come out on top of. Yet in the end, he did manage to pull an independent nation out of that messy mix and that does deserve some reverence. I never knew how relatively independent Qatar was at various points when compared to some of the other Sheikhdoms of the Persian Gulf. I think it perhaps helps make some sense of how they behave and position themselves in Gulf dynamics to this day.

Anyway, it was a succinct, short and informative read. Would recommend it to anyone interested in the history of Qatar.

[Razeen Muhammed rafi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jassim the Leader: Founder of Qatar
Book by Mohamed A. J. Althani .I received this book while I participated in an event with author conducted by Qatar National Library. Author was former minister of economy and trade in the State of Qatar.This book on leader who laid foundation stone for creation of Qatar. Qatar a country which become richest from rags was primarily a pearl producing country before discovering fossil fuels. This book gives details on life of these pearl collecting tribe and how Jassim made Qatar from uniting Bedouin tribes and gives details on relation of Qatar with other Arab countries, Ottoman and British.

[Shahbaz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an invaluable resource for everybody who is interested in reading about the history of qatar and the struggle of its great and wise leadership during its creation. There are some amazing facts and references in this book relating to some of the most important events that happend in qatar and the neighboring gulf states during that time, the topic about pearling and the crash of pearl market in 1907 is very interesting.

[Shikha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good introduction to the evolution of Qatar. I was surprised by the facts and figures, this book projects. Those interested in the history of Qatar or curious about the evolution of Qatari culture and physical built fabric will be benefited.

[Abdulmalik Ismail · Rating 5 out of 5]

very good book

[Ryan Enser · Rating 4 out of 5]

This important history of Qatar was especially relevant to me when I lived there.