Bringing Down Gaddafi: On the Ground with the Libyan Rebels

by Andrei Netto

In February 2011, Andrei Netto, a reporter for O Estado de São Paulo , one of Brazil's main newspapers, traveled without permission into a region of Libya controlled by the regime, aiming to cover the first armed revolution of the Arab Spring. One of the first foreigners to reveal to the world the extent of the uprisings, he spoke to hundreds of Libyans, including many of the students, shopkeepers, doctors, teachers, and intellectuals who armed themselves with rifles, grenades, and anti-aircraft guns to attack the armored vehicles of an illegitimate regime responsible for 42 years of torture, murder, and terrorism. This is their story. A unique and memorable account of a revolutionary war, Bringing Down Gaddafi provides previously unpublished information about the Libyan conflict, including the circumstances of Gaddafi's death, behind the scenes diplomacy at the UN Security Council, and the supply of weapons to the Libyan rebels from abroad. Andrei Netto's testimony alerts the world to the atrocities committed by both sides in the conflict ended with Muammar Gaddafi's summary execution on the outskirts of his home city. Netto provides a powerful journalistic narrative with the spirit of a road movie and the elements of suspense worthy of a thriller.

Genres: History, Journalism, Politics, Libya, Nonfiction

320 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

Andrei Netto é um jornalista e escritor brasileiro. Trabalhou na Gazeta Mercantil e no jornal Zero Hora. Atualmente é correspondente do jornal O Estado de S.Paulo em Paris, na França. Graduou-se em Comunicação pela Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, onde também fez mestrado, e fez seu doutorado em sociologia na Université René Descartes, em Paris.
Cobriu a Guerra Civil Líbia de 2011 e acabou preso, ganhando notoriedade nacional pelo ocorrido. Registrou seus testemunhos em um livro, O silêncio contra Muamar Kadafi - A revolução da Líbia pelo repórter brasileiro que esteve nos calabouços do regime, que foi lançado posteriormente em inglês, sob o título Bringing Down Gaddafi: On the Ground with the Libyan Rebels.

Reviews

[Michael Dickson · Rating 3 out of 5]

More about this Brazilian journalists adventures during the Libyan revolution than actually being about Gaddafi's fall. Also what kind of journalistic record book about a single country DOESN'T INCLUDE A MAP OF THE COUNTRY. Maybe he just assumes we should all know precisely where Tripoli Benghazi Zintan Misrata and Sirte all are in relation to each other. Meh.

[Guy Gibson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant book, definitely worth reading!

[Jennifer Collins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Netto's account of the Libyan uprising against Gaddafi is both extensive and detailed, coming together as a complex history and a compelling feat of journalism.

Beginning with the actual capture of Gaddafi and the surrounding chaos, Netto then moves backward to the beginning of his own journey crossing the border into Libya illegally and traveling with the rebels to tell their story. Yet, despite his obvious sympathies as expressed in his reasoning for being in Libya at all, Netto does an impressive job of giving an objective view to the entirety of the conflict and politics surrounding the revolution. Throughout his narrative and history, Netto never backs off from calling attention to faults in reasoning, humanity, and understanding...on both sides. As a result, Netto's work looks both forward and backward in history, examining the path which led to the violence he witnessed and the ongoing rebellion, and managing to look forward to the faultlines already being laid for future attempts at peace-keeping.

If there is a real fault to the work itself, it is Netto's attention to detail. Names and individuals and places are constant, and unfamiliar readers will struggle to keep up with who's who and where's where, as quickly or carefully as they read. Still, the story and the meaning comes through. As a help, Netto includes at the back of the work a careful timeline of "Gaddafi's Libya", detailing notable political and socio-cultural happenings going back to September of 1969. It's in any reader's interest to take a look at this timeline before reading the book.

All told, this is a compelling and detailed read, and Netto can only be applauded for his journalism and his efforts. Considering world events, reading this book is in anyone's best interests at this point in time. It sheds a careful look on the political difficulties and rebellions in the Middle East, and it gives a smart look to a situation and history which may otherwise seem incomprehensible.

Is this an easy read? No. Is it necessary and compelling? Absolutely.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mr. Netto, a journalist that sought for himself what occurred during the rebellion against Omar Gaddafi's reign in Lybia, braved the conflict firsthand in order to bring readers his and the Libyan Rebels story.

He writes of their ordeals in an easily readable book format. Not only does Netto add to, "Bringing Down Gaddafi . . .", the thoughts, hardships and emotions of everyday Libyans --- he writes about both sides and what is done to achieve their goals by committing horrendous acts upon one another.

The plain horror of fighting against Gaddafi and his minions are written in vivid colors. Being in the "hot seat" is much different than writing from a safe haven.

An insightful look into the world of the rebels and their sacrifices to take down a tyrant.

I recommend this book to those whom enjoy reading about history and desire an insider's view into a world I believe most people are unable, nor wish to enter physically.

I received this book through a first reads GoodReads giveaway.
The review above is my opinion.

[Lissa00 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Journalists often risk their lives in order to go behind the scenes and describe what really happens in war torn countries. Andrei Netto, a Brazilian journalist, attempts to discover what is really going on during the rebellion in Libya. This harrowing account follows him as he makes the dangerous journey into Libya and travels with rebels through the fighting. He also give background on Libya’s tumultuous history and geographic and cultural information. This book is well written and really does lays out the current rebellion simply and honestly as seen from an eye witness. I received this from the LibraryThing giveaway.

[Tamar · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent and very detailed account of the before, during, and after of the downfall of Gaddafi. I can't emphasize how much detail there was - this was a fantastic thing. Netto's experience is much more real due to the little things he chooses to include, such as the description of the cell in which he was imprisoned, or the mini-bios he provides for his fixers. This book gives some great political and historical lessons on Libya, and I learned a lot about this period of time in a country that previously had not really been on my radar.

Note: I received this book through LibraryThing's Early Reviewers program.

[Ken · Rating 4 out of 5]

Passionately told, well researched, and splashed with history, this book is an articulate account of the revolution in Libya in 2011. It provides just enough backstory to Libya and the Gaddafi regime to show what led to the eventual boiling point in a hard nosed dictatorship. Admittedly, it was somewhat slow to start, but before long it draws you into the lives and sometimes deaths of some of Libya's most critical revolutionaries. A great insight in to a country still waging its war for democracy to this day.

[Pat · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book through the Good Reads First Reads Giveaway.

This book is a sincere and professional journal of the events leading to the overthrow of Gaddafi. The author is a brave journalist who suffered great personal hardships to get this story. "Bringing Down Gaddafi" is valuable to anyone interested in that part of the world. His conclusions, however, seem overly optimistic for the future of Lybia.

[Charles Davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some interesting reporting that bolsters the interpretation that the uprising was organic and that those rising up weren't just "jihadists," while at the same time showing that NATO intervention, while desired by many Libyans, also enabled war crimes. That said, this information could have been included in a book half the size; there's a lot of day-to-day detail about the reporter's travels that aren't so interesting.

[Donna Wetzel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks Goodreads for my free book I won. Loved this book. Bringing Down Gaddafi made me feel like I was in Libya right along side the reporter. If you want to know more about the middle east or what motivates reporters to risk their lives to be a foreign war correspondent, than this is the book for you. I loved Mr. Netto's writing style as this was an interesting fast paced informative read.

[Jim · Rating 2 out of 5]

After reading this book I have more respect for reporters in war zone especially when Andrei Netto was arrested in Libyan while covering the overthrow of Gaddafi by force loyal to him,that chapter was very interesting. The epilog was very thought provoking. I won this book thru Goodreads.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Every year, I need to read a few books that satisfy a curiosity. This book was one of those books. A detailed look at the Libyan revolution, this book answers the on-the-ground questions of what happened.

[Bruno Quadros · Rating 4 out of 5]

Livro-reportagem sobre a cobertura do jornalista brasileiro Andrei Netto sobre o levante que derrubou Muamar Kadafi. Netto demonstra profundo conhecimento do país e não escorrega para sentimentalismos quando relata seu período na prisão, ainda que demonstre, no epílogo, um otimismo ingênuo quando ao "êxito" da revolução no país. Pena que não tive oportunidade de ler o livro antes de minha missão à Líbia, em abril de 2014 :-(