Instant Empire: Saddam Hussein's Ambition for Iraq

by Simon Henderson

Recounts the life of Iraqi president Saddam Hussein and places it in the context of contemporary Iraqi history

288 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1991

Reviews

[Josh Murray · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was another non fiction I felt lacked a real thesis. Each chapter documented different parts of Saddam’s rise and early years leading Iraq with different levels of effectiveness. The section on the use of chemical weapons and super guns in particular was strong, as they highlighted a plan for how Iraq was to establish itself as a super power in the Middle East. This was not true with other chapters, as many simply discussed different manners in which Hussein displayed paranoia and traits of narcissism. Sure, maybe ambitious for himself but this supports my statement above.

Overall I learned a lot but more deliberation and a narrower scope would have helped a knowledgeable writer deliver a better product.

3/5