Revolution for Dummies: Laughing Through the Arab Spring; Library Edition

by Bassem Youssef

"The Jon Stewart of the Arabic World"--the creator of The Program, the most popular television show in Egypt's history--chronicles his transformation from heart surgeon to political satirist, and offers crucial insight into the Arab Spring, the Egyptian Revolution, and the turmoil roiling the modern Middle East.Bassem Youssef's incendiary satirical news program, Al-Bernameg (The Program), chronicled the events of the 2011 Egyptian Revolution, the fall of President Hosni Mubarak, and the rise of Mubarak's successor, Mohamed Morsi. Youssef not only captured his nation's dissent but stamped it with his own brand of humorous political criticism, in which the Egyptian government became the prime laughing stock.So potent were Youssef's skits, jokes, and commentary, the authoritarian government accused him of insulting the Egyptian presidency and Islam. After a six-hour long police interrogation, Youssef was released. While his case was eventually dismissed, his television show was terminated, and Youssef, fearful for his safety, fled his homeland.In Revolution for Dummies, Youssef recounts his life and offers hysterical riffs on the hypocrisy, instability, and corruption that has long animated Egyptian politics. From the attempted cover-up of the violent clashes in Tahrir Square to the government's announcement that it had created the world's first "AIDS cure" machine, to the conviction of officials that Youssef was a CIA operative--recruited by Jon Stewart--to bring down the country through sarcasm. There's much more--and it's all insanely true.Interweaving the dramatic and inspiring stories of the development of his popular television show and his rise as the most contentious funny-man in Egypt, Youssef's humorous, fast-paced takes on dictatorship, revolution, and the unforeseeable destiny of democracy in the Modern Middle East offers much needed hope and more than a few healing laughs.

Genres: Nonfiction, Humor, Politics, Memoir, History, Middle East, Biography

Audio CD

First published March 21, 2017

About the author

Bassem Raafat Muhammad Youssef is an Egyptian comedian, writer, producer, physician, media critic, and television host. He hosted Al-Bernameg, a satirical news program, from 2011 to 2014.

Reviews

[Mohammed Arabey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I never thought I'd recommend this book to any non-Egyptian who wish to know how Orwellian we get after a Dummy of a Revolution..
It may be not 'neutral', but it's just accurate..

من بعد الوقف الأورويلي لبرنامج البرنامج ، اللي كان ظاهرة لم تتكرر في تاريخ التليفزيون العربي..بيرجع لنا باسم يوسف بكتاب
الغريب أنه في مقدمته بيقول أنها قصة حياته مش كتاب تاريخ...أنت غلطان ياباسم

ده كتاب تاريخ وكمان تقليب مواجع..كتاب زاد من اكتئابي

من ثورة أشتعلت بشكل مفاجئ ، لعملاء وجواسيس وعلاقات جنسية كاملة ، لموت مفاجئ "شرعي" للثورة ، لجمعة قندهار والأسلام قادم ، وليالي أضواء البرلمان ، لشهداء ماسبيرو ، وأيه اللي وداها هناك؟ ، للفيلم المسئ ، وجبنة نستو يا معفنين ، والحالة العجيبة لأبو أسماعيل

والأهرامات المبنية بالدعارة ، ثم نصف ثورة أخري واستبدال حكم ديني بحكم عسكري، وكان عندك أيدز وراح

I Believe in Scince :)

لتسجيل المكالمات وعرضها في التليفزيون ، ، أبلة فاهيتا ورموزها ، لمتع السخرية علي الذات العسكرية

بيتخلل ده ، زي ماقالت المقدمة ، قصة نجاح باسم يوسف ، المؤلف
وتقريبا أهم قصة في مسيرته المهنية ... من دكتور قلب لمحاولة عمل فيديوهات ساخرة من النظام علي اليوتيوب -قبل الغزو الساخر الماسخ اللي حصل بعد منه- لعشقه لجون ستيوارت الرهيب ومحاولة صنع ما يشبه برنامجه بأقل الامكانيات
لأنتقاله لأول مرة للتليفزيون تحت إدارة قناة يملكها رجل أعمال مسيحي ، في وقت صعود تيار صاخب من "الأسلام السياسي" لحكم مصر
لتلقيبه بكلب ساويسرس "رجل الاعمال" ، ثم كلب امريكا
ثم أنتقاله لقناة أكبر ، وتحقيقه لحلم عمل برنامج شبيه فعلا بجون ستيوارت
ثم مقابلته لجون ستيوارت


قد اكون لست من كبار معجبي باسم يوسف، ولدي ملاحظات كثير عن اسلوبه الوقح احيانا -ليس الساخر وانما الوقح- ولا أنكر ان الكتاب أهدي إلي مع وعد أنني قد أقيمه بنجمة

لكنه فعلا جذبني من مقدمته

لكن عوضا عن تقديم درس تاريخ ساحق، سأحكي لكم قصتي-ماذا حدث لي أثناء وقوع الثورة، ودوري الغير متوقع بها. نعم، "قصتي" تجعلني أبدو مهما، لكنها حقا حيلة لأجعلك مهتما!، بحق الجحيم، ربما تفكر الآن أنني مغرورا أبن عاهرة لأني أعتقد أن الناس قد تشتري كتابا لقراءة "قصتي"، وأنت محق في هذا؛ -ابن مين انا في مصر عشان يتعملي كتاب؟

"السطر الاخير فقط من تعديلي، ايموشن باسم سمرة"
إلا أن المقدمة أضحكتني كثيرا اليوم وأعتقد انني وقعت في حب هذا الكتاب
كتاب الكتاب، مع باسم يوسف

لكن الحقيقة ، الكتاب فعلا بيرصد الثورة من وجهة نظر ظريفة وشاملة ....غير محايدة طبعا لكن ده ميمنعش أنها حقيقية
وحتي الكلام عن الشريعة وتاريخ الحكم في مصر من الستينات ورعاية أمريكا للمجاهدين فعلا مكتوب بشكل حلو جدا

وحتي نهايته ، برغم من وقاحة سطره الأخير التشاؤمي لكنه للاسف حقيقي

ساكمل مقتطفات من الكتاب.. مش عارف حقيقي المفروض ده لو اترجم يبقي بالعامية ولا باللغة العربية...ححاول امزج بين الاتنين :)
تفتكرو حينزل في مكتبات مصر ولا حيتقضي مضروب بس؟
ولا حد حيقدر يترجمه ولا حياخد نفس الحكم الاورويلي

محمد العربي
في 26 أبريل 2017

[Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I must confess that I won "Revolution for Dummies: Laughing Through the Arab Spring" in a Goodreads Giveaway, and it is not a book that I ever would have purchased. Such wonderful serendipity that this terrific work came my way! Like most Americans, my knowledge of events in modern Egypt could be written on the head of a pin, with room left over for the Gettysburg Address. Bassem Youssef, quite possibly the world's most unlikely television star, shines an unwavering light on his homeland's recent events and his role in them.
And what events they are! He describes a veritable festival of murder, terror, betrayal, political incompetence, religious intolerance, willful ignorance, avarice, and many other hallmarks of general political and societal collapse. Although he writes as a satirist and not as an academic of any description, his unflinching eye and keen intellect bring the Egyptian Revolution and it's aftermath into sharp focus, and his injection of humor does little to mitigate the horror of it all.
A very surprising, and quite disturbing, facet of this narrative is the appalling parallels between the methods of operation employed by the corrupt and incompetent Egyptian government and the present American leadership as piloted by Donald Trump. Bold faced and patently absurd lies buttressed and defended by yet more comically infantile lies, both willful and unintentional ignorance of reality and pertinent facts, the creation and presentation of Bogey Men as the public's real enemies to draw attention away from their utter lack of competence as leaders, and many other blood curdling similarities are starkly apparent.
This is a far more interesting and important work than it's rather silly title would suggest. Initially, it's seems simply to chronicle the tragic political collapse of Egypt, but it ultimately serves as a warning to humanity of how easily a country can slip into chaos if incompetent leadership is allowed to proliferate unchecked.

[هدى يحيى]

اللي يرفعهولنا بي دي اف
ليه دعوتين حلوين
:D

[James Kimmet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow

Several years ago, I came back from Afghanistan with a narrow view of Muslims. I got home and the lone wolf killings began. I spouted some of the same vitriol that Trump people use today.

As the years passed and I started to remember in my blind rage that I had Muslim friends, I am an American, and how can I justify stereotyping? took affect. But I couldn't name my confusion.

I saw Bassem Youssef for the first time on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. This was in my rage phase. I was confused. He was nothing like I expected or had experienced....it got me thinking even harder.

This book did it for me. And early. He gave focus and clarity to my confusion and named it. Muslim vs. Islamist. And I laughed the whole time. In spite of it being terribly depressing. I have read all the wonky books, and rarely read a book like this, but this is the best depiction, description, and clarifying read I have had on the subject. Probably because it was as if we were having a conversation instead of a lecture.

Would any of us be strong enough to be this guy? I hope so, but I also know we won't have to find out. We're lucky, and very lucky that Dr. Youssef got here with his family before we banned Muslims. We are better for it. At least we can change things for real every four years. We take that for granted.

Thank you, Dr. Youssef.

[Malia · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The textbook of fear is the same everywhere."

Bassem Youssef has a unique voice and a great way of telling a serious, important story without being horribly depressing. He is a comedian and uses his wit and intelligence to explain how his life in Egypt changed with the Arab Spring and ensuing troubles. As someone who has always had a particular interest in Egypt, this was a truly gripping, eye-opening read. I would highly recommend it to anyone trying to better understand the conflicts and history of this country.

Find more reviews and bookish fun at http://www.princessandpen.com

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although there are moments that I found myself laughing, like all satirical comedy, it's the truths in between that really made me sit up and pay attention. Referred to as the Egyptian Jon Stewart, Bassem Youssef takes Western readers into the heart of the events around the Arab Spring. Not what our Western media tells us happened, but what actually transpired and what it all means for Egyptians. I am glad that I gave this book a chance. Definitely recommend!

[Mellow · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't know what to think of this book. It paints what I believe is a fair retelling of what happened in Egypt during the Arab Spring and the events that followed (bear in mind, I'm not Egyptian). It was off to a good start, but somewhere around the middle things started to unravel. I felt like Bassem was trying to justify himself and his choices. Primarily that of leaving his country. And I couldn't help but sense his bitterness over what happened. Bassem was undeniably a phenomenon in the Arab World, and now he's been abandoned, almost forgotten. His feelings are absolutely understandable, but they were the weakness of this book. The last third was him blaming everyone around him for what happened. While he was making fun of conspiracy theorists, he himself built a conspiracy theory that puts him as the victim of evil plotters. He painted himself as the hero Egypt needed but didn't deserve, a man of morals where literally everyone around him was corrupt. While this is somewhat right, he didn't take any responsibility over the events, not even a bit. (in my opinion, you don't sign a contract with MBC without selling at least a bit of your soul). This whole holier-than-thou attitude is a sign that he wrote this book too soon, that he still needs time to process what happened, to admit to mistakes made, and to eventually give a more balanced view.

[Nada Elshabrawy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I missed Basem’s sense of humor. However the book is designed for people who haven’t been around during this crazy time. So I didn’t find it useful for me.

[Amanda Mae · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this entertaining and surprisingly heart-felt look at the Arab Spring in Egypt from the top satirist from that country, rightly compared to Jon Stewart. We trace his career as a heart surgeon to a comedian hosting the most popular Egyptian television show. I have a pretty limited understanding of Arab politics, and the author gives a clear explanation that he says is probably too simplistic, but that's not what this book is aiming for! He's here to talk about comedy in a oppressive regime and the life and death of his TV show! And he delivers. Plenty of warnings for our country's current political situation, too. The chapters are frequently brief, so this makes for a great lunchtime read if your time is limited. Definitely recommended!

[Hiba · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought I was going to read another trashy book by some TV-show host, but no, I did not. I surely did not just finish a trashy book.

This is not just a book about Bassem Youssef himself and what he and those close to him had to go through during the Egyptian revolution and after, but also a fair retelling of what really happened, not a news representation, but one that comes from someone who really went through it all, and was there to witness what actually happened.
This was all brought in a funny frame, trying to maybe let loose some of those knots that form up in us when we're talking about the Arab spring.

I also learned so many things I ignored about Bassem Youssef, the heart surgeon who shifted from a medical career to a "threat" to the oppressive regimes.

[Mara · Rating 4 out of 5]

The only reason I'm not giving this 5 stars is because I watched Bassem's "Tickling Giants" documentary before reading this and they both cover a lot of the same ground.

[Mosharaf Hossain · Rating 5 out of 5]

আহ! স্বপ্নের মতো দুটা দিন কেটে গেল। এই বছর আর কোনো বই এতটা হাসিনি, এতটা বাস্তবতা হজম করিনি। ৩৫০ পৃষ্ঠার বইটা শেষ করার পরে আমার বারবার কেন জানি মনে হচ্ছে, "কি হারাইলাম আমি?"। হয়ত লেখককের প্রতি আমার পূর্ব আসক্তিই মূল কারণ।

বাসেম ইউসুফ এর বই, "বেকুবদের জন্য বিপ্লব"। মিশরের এই কমেডিয়ান নিজ ডাক্তারি পেশা ছেড়ে যখন ভন্ড রাজনীতিকদের নিয়ে স্যাটায়ার করা শুরু করল, তখন হয়ত ভাবেনি এই ভাবে বড় স্বাদের আরব বসন্ত চুরি হয়ে যাবে। তিউনেশিয়ার বিপ্লব প্রচন্ড মার খেয়ে যায় লিবিয়া, সিরিয়া আর মিশরে এসে। সেখানকার বেকুবরা পারেনি তা হজম করতে।

মিশরের Jon Stewart বলে পরিচিত Bassem Youssef মূলত লিখেছেন হোসনি মুবারকের পতন, মুসলিম ব্রাদারহুডের অপসারন আর সেনা বাহিনীর ক্ষমতা দখলের দিনগুলো নিয়ে। লিখেছেন কিভাবে ক্ষমতাবানরা ভয় পেত তার প্রতিটা জোককে, কিভাবে তাকে বাধ্য করেছিল দেশ ছাড়তে।

তিনি এমন একটা দেশের কথা লিখেছেন, যেখানে সেনা বাহিনীকে সম্মান করা হয় ধর্মের থেকেও বেশি। যেখানে ইসলাম পন্থীরা চুরি করেছিল জনতার বিপ্লব। ধর্ম রক্ষার নাম করে শুরু করেছিল কর্তৃত্ববাদী শাসন। যেখানে তারুণ্যের বিপ্লবকে নাম দেওয়ার হয়েছিল, "যৌনতার বিপ্লব"। সমালোচনার বিপরীতে মানুষ দাবি করত কল্লা। সাংবাদিকরা পরিণত হয়েছিল দলকানা হাতিতে। এমন একটা দেশ যেখানে নারী সম্মেলন হত নারীর অংশগ্রহন ছাড়াই। যেখানে উদারপন্থীরা দিনশেষে নিজ খোলস ছেড়ে রূপ নিয়েছিল ফ্যাসিবাদী। ব্রাদারহুডের রক্তে রাস্তা ভিজে যাওয়ার পরে চুপ ছিল মানবতাবাদীরা। অথচ এই ব্রাদারহুডেই আগে নিয়মিত ছেঁটেছিল আর্মির পা। আর তাদের আর্মি পরিণত হয়েছিল একটা ব্যবসা প্রতিষ্ঠানে। প্রসিডেন্ট দাবি করেছিল সেনাবাহিনী আবিষ্কার করেছে এইডস এর ঔষুধ। যেখানে ২০ মিনিটের বিচারের ফাঁসির আদেশ দেওয়া হয়েছিল কয়েকশ মানুষকে।

পুরো বই পড়তে গিয়ে হেসেছি অনেকবার, তার থেকেও বেশি অনুভব করেছি ভীষণ যন্ত্রণা। মাঝেমধ্যে মনে হয়েছিল আমি পড়ছি দক্ষিন এশিয়ার আরেকটা দেশের কথা। যেখানেও একই রকম ঘটনা ঘটছে প্রতিদিন। যেখানের মানুষও হাসতে ভুলে গেছে, প্রতিদিন গুম হয়ে যাচ্ছে তাদের মন, তাদের আত্না । দুর্ভাগ্যবশত আমি সেই দেশের নাম মনে করতে পারছিনা।

একজন কমেডিয়ান কতটা ঝুঁকি নিতে পারে তা দেখে অবাক হয়েছি বারবার। চ্যানেলের পর চ্যানেল তার শো বন্ধ করেছিল, কৌতুক করার অপরাধে গিয়েছিল জেলে, গ্রেফতার হয়েছিল পরিবারের সদস্যরা। তবুও হার মেনে না নেওয়া।

পুরো বই খুব কাছ থেকে দেখছি কিভাবে ক্ষমতাবানরা ভয় পায় সমালোচনাকে। সেটা ধর্মীয় শাসক হোক, স্বৈরাচার হোক আর সেনা শাসকই হোক। কীভাবে সামান্য একটা কৌতুক তাদের মনে জাগাতে পারে মসনদ হারানোর ভয়। আর দেখেছি কিভাবে মানুষ ভালোবাসে ভয় পেতে। মানুষ চায় না তার শাসককে নিয়ে হাসতে।

মধ্যপ্রাচ্য বিশেষ করে মিশরকে বুঝতে খুব সহজ, সোজা সাপটা এবং রাগঢাকহীন একটা বই। অসাধারণ। দিনশেষে বাসেম ইউসুফ বলে যায়, "But I can firmly state that in all the possible outcomes for our universe, the one remaining constant is that the Arab world will always be fucked!"

[Emma · Rating 1 out of 5]

I will admit, I didn't actually finish but I can't force myself to read this any more. This is one of the most sexist and misogynist books I have ever read. I am offended, and feel differently about the multitude of trusted entertainment figures like John Stewart and Samantha Bee who promoted this book. It was crude, rude, and unfunny. I cringed at many of the "jokes". I will not be finishing this book.

[Hameed Younis · Rating 5 out of 5]

رغم ان هذا الكاتب كان يعتبر ليبرالياً متطرفاً في يوماً ما الا ان هذا الكتاب ينفي كل المزاعم والشكوك التي القت ظلالها على شخص باسم يوسف
الشخصية الاكثر اثارة للجدل في الشرق الاوسط قبل ثلاث سنوات من الآن
ولا انكر ان هذا الكاتب له الحق (نوعاً ما) بما يشكو ويتحجث، لكونه لاقى ما لاقى على ايدي الاسلاميين المتطرفين وعلى ايدي اليبراليين على حد سواء، وهذا كله القى ظلاله عليه فكان لنا اعلامياً لا يتكرر، على الاقل في هذا العقد الحالي الذي نعيش فيه
اقتبس للكاتب هذه الكلمات الرائعة التي تمحو عنه الكثير من الالتباسات والتشكيك الذي اصاب شخصه من قبل، فيقول في نهاية الكتاب
قبل ان تكره يجب ان تخاف، وهذا حال جميع الانظمة في الشرق الاوسط، او حتى لدى ترامب في الولايات المتحدة او لسياسيو بريكست في بريطانيا، الخوف هو دائما سلاحهم الاشد، الخوف من اللاجئين، من الناس الذين لا تبدو هيئتهم كأشكالنا، الخوف من فقدان الدين والهوية، الخوف من الحرب، ومن الدمار الذي لا محال سيقع اذا لم تتبع دكتاتورك بصورة عمياء، او ببساطة، الخوف من التعامل مع الحقائق، الواقع، والعلم، لأن الحقيقة هي ليست بالضرورة صديقتهم.

Before you hate you first need to fear. And this is what all these regimes in the Middle East, or even Trump in America or those pro-Brexit politicians in Britain are so good at. Fear has always been their best weapon. Fear of refugees, of people who don’t look like us, fear of “losing our religion and identity,” fear of war, and the destruction that will happen if you don’t blindly follow your dictator, or simply the fear arising from dealing with facts, reality, and “and science, because truth is not really their friend”

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious and Painful. Containes information we -the public- do not know about what happened to Bassem Youssef , his show and why he left the country suddenly.
For Non-Egyptians this a really scary bedtime story but for Egyptians this is their damn Real life!
I cried, laughed, rewatched the YouTube Videos, and reminisced all the glorious moments and disappointments while reading this book.
Highly recommended.

[Hope · Rating 4 out of 5]

ريفيو مؤقت لغاية ما افضى اكتب ريفيو
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.
.
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هو الكتاب ده مكنش وقته خاااالص
بس الصراحة في الجون
باسم اتكلم على حاجات كتير وأحداث حصلتله ورا الكواليس، ولقاءات مع ناس من السلطة يا إما اتعتم عليها أو هو متلكمش عنها
ناس كتير اتكلم عليها معرفتش هما مين غير لما اتفرجت على حلقات قديمة من البرنامج عشان اعرف مين الشخصيات دي " بس الصراحة مسح بكرامتهم الأرض :D"
كواليس خناقة CBC وتفاصيل عقده مع ال MBC واللي حصل بعدها والقضية اللى اتحكم عليه فيها
الكتاب سيرة ذاتية من منظور شخصي، بس بحكم الشخصية نفسها وإنها كانت لاعب في الأحداث في الفترة دي فالكتاب وثق للفترة من يناير 2011 لغاية ساعة كتابته

معلومات كتير وأحداث نسيناها او تناسيناها
وبغض النظر عن النبرة التشاؤمية وتحامله - من اللى حصله- إلا إن الكتاب يستحق القراءة ويستحق إننا نفتكر إللى حصل فعلا مش غسيل المخ اللى بيتعمل دلوقتي

[Kara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bassem Youssef is a true comic hero seeking truth through satire. Experiencing Egyptian politics through the lens of his television show puts U.S. politics and resistance into perspective at a timely juncture. Yes, we are wimps in comparison! Youssef makes it clear that he is speaking from his own experience and presenting his own interpretation. With that said, I learned far more about the social and cultural nuances presented in his writing than I understood through study and while watching the events unfold in the media. As with the Arab Spring, there is no laughable ending.

[Albaraa Najjar · Rating 5 out of 5]

سيرة ذاتية مختصرة موجهة للجمهور الأمريكي عن قصة باسم يوسف الاعلامية .. مثل برنامج البرنامج كانت ممتعة، مفيدة قليلاً، غير محايدة تماماً ومليئة بالسخرية.

[Whisper19 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought it would be funnier.

[Yaaresse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jon Stewart introduced Bassem Youssef to US viewers of The Daily Show as "the Jon Stewart of Egypt." It was not a casual comparison. Youssef consciously patterned the Egyptian Al-Bernameg after The Daily Show. Al-Bernameg became the first political satire show in Egypt, the first show in the Middle East to use a live audience, and the most watched show in Egypt. It ran for three years before the military shut it down, issued a warrant for Youssef's arrest, and caused him to flee the country for his safety. Apparently the Egyptian government is a bit thin-skinned and terrified of satire.

Bassem Youssef is whip-smart. He is funny. (He's easy on the eyes, too.) I have seen him on The Daily Show and Colbert's Late Night, and I watched a few episodes of his Democracy Handbook show. I was prepared to love this book. It was a little disconcerting to get into it and find myself thinking, "Eh? Maybe this isn't going to be as good as I thought. Is this going to be a three-star book? And why?"

Youssef's comedic skill is satire, but his gift is timing. It's a gift that shines in interviews and monologues, but doesn't translate as well in written form. (BTW, I think Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert have the same problem: their humor depends on the voice and the timing of the punch line and doesn't translate as well to books.) In the first chapters of Revolution for Dummies, it seemed Youssef was trying too hard to be funny and depending too much on profanity for the punch line. It's a common tactic that nearly always falls flat. The f-bomb is just more effective and funny in spoken comedy than it can ever be in writing. Use profanity more than a couple times in either spoken or written form, and it just becomes a crutch to lean on rather than a stick to poke with. So there's that. But there's also a feeling that Youssef couldn't quite settle into how to approach the reader. The content was still interesting--the man has a way of explaining the chaos of the Middle East that actually starts to make some sense-- but it was awkward. First date awkward. Cocktail party awkward.

Fortunately, he hit his stride after a few chapters as he began to explain the social and political climate surrounding the regime changes within Egypt and the Egyptian version of the Arab Spring demonstrations/revolts. (Yeah. Remember the Arab Spring? Ever wonder what happened with that? Read the book.) Youssef outlines the all-too-brief history of his show and the increasing difficulties (read that as "dangers") in speaking out about hypocrisy and corruption in the government. It's true that he sounds a little self-congratulatory at times, but when you realize what this guy was managing to do and under what conditions, he deserves to pat himself on the back! How many of us live with the fear our friends and family will be arrested because we dared to make fun of the president?

And this is where the book gets real. When South African native Trevor Noah took over for Jon Stewart at The Daily Show, one of the first observations he made about the American political climate and the posturing of some of its leaders was "Hey, you know, I've seen this before...in African dictatorships and military regimes." Youssef is saying the same thing. "Hey, I'm looking at what's going on in this lovely country and a lot of it is starting to seem much too familiar. I've seen this behavior before!" At one point, Youssef points out that the speeches he heard at a Trump rally, when translated into Arabic, were indistinguishable from content and phrasing of speeches he'd heard made by Mubarek, Morsi, or Sisi regimes. The methods used to create loyalty based on fear and hate are also similar: Create a personality cult; spread conspiracy theories; discredit (and control) the media; seed paranoia; accuse those who don't agree with being unpatriotic or supporting enemies of the state; revise history with "alternative facts." Any of this sound familiar, people?

Youssef doesn't create the similarities, he simply points them out. He is, once again, being the court jester who uses satire to describe what is evident rather than what the king wants the court to believe. It's a damned thankless job, really.

Now if he could just drag Jon Stewart out of retirement. I'd pay good money to watch Stewart and Youssef do an Al-Bernameg/Daily Show together . Imagine two court jesters, Muslim and Jewish, calling out all the emperors and their sycophants. It would drive politicians everywhere insane.

(Speaking of conspiracy theories, have you ever noticed that Sisi is Isis backward? How is it that Sean Hannety has never mentioned this?)

[Mani · Rating 5 out of 5]

Been following Bassem Youssef since Jon Stewart's days. And this book has been on my list for a very long time. A must-read for anyone interested in politics and polarization.

I can see my own country going through a similar phase, and this book is a good blueprint for what happens when religious radicalization overtakes common sense.

[Eslam الغني · Rating 3 out of 5]

Till I consider having another look at it later.

[George Nageh · Rating 5 out of 5]

متهيألى مفيش يوم أفضل من 25 يناير إنى أقرا فيه كتاب زى ده ، استعدت معاه أحداث الثورة و كل ما تلاها من أحداث و كنت مهتم جدا بتحليله السياسي ، برنامج البرنامج مكانش مجرد كوميديا لكن أكبر فرصه اتوفرتلنا نعرف عن السياسه و النظام و القيم و حرية التعبير و ضرورة محاسبه المسئولين على كل كلمة و تصرف ، باسم يوسف ضربلنا أقوى مثال فى قول الحق و التعبير عنه رغم ضغوط و تهديدات بالقتل ليه و لعيلته مثال حقيقي للثورة ، الثورة بمفهومها الاعلامى انك تقول الحقيقه و متطبلش للنظام ( أيا كان النظام ) ، كان ثابت على موقفه و مبادئه حتى بعد حكم الأخوان و وصول السيسي للحكم ، إعلامى زى باسم المفروض نكرمه و نديله مكانته مش يكون مكافئته انه يتغرم و يتغرب و ميقدرش يرجع بلده ، أراء و كلام باسم يوسف هتفضل دايما أكبر مصدر إلهام ليا و كانت اول و اكبر وسيلة لتكوين وجهة نظر عن البلد و السياسه و الدولة و أول نافذه أفهم منها عن الحاجات دى ، متهيألى هو كتب الكتاب مكانش متوقع ان ناس كتير فى مصر تقراه لكن بيتقرى و رسالته بتوصل ، و الأيديولوجى لم ينتهى بسفره من مصر و بوقف البرنامج لكن هيفضل دايما نافذة نور و نداء للصحوة و التفكير و حريه التعبير و تحكيم المنطق و التفكير و حقوق الانسان و الأقليات ، كتاب هيغير فيك حاجات كتير و هيفتحلك زاوية مختلفه تقرا بيها المشهد و متتخدعش باللى بتشوفه كل يوم من الميديا الموجهه ، أنصح بيه بشدة.
I see how my work inspired millions of young people around the Middle
East to make their own contributions. With every video, vine, and meme, I see
the youth using the Internet to challenge the hideous propaganda machine. They
are finding ways to make fun of these brutal dictatorships, and in a small way I
feel that my show is still going on. A revolution is not just an event, it is a long
process. And the process might start with those young people losing respect for
the establishments that controlled and brainwashed their parents through religion
and fake nationalism. Those young people are questioning everything. Nothing
is off limits and nothing is taboo anymore. Questioning in itself is a prequel to a
revolution. The fall of the social, religious, and military idols that controlled the
Middle East is already happening. Those idols are losing their most important
asset, being respected and being revered. The young generation is not taking this
bullshit again. They may rule for a while with fear and brutality but the respect is
long gone. It is just a matter of time.

[J.D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartbreaking

The "Jon Stewart of Egypt" describes his role in the Arab Spring and his view of its tragic failure, as Egypt went from hope to hypocritical religious dictatorship to a secular military dictatorship that was even worse and even more absurd. At one point the military announced that they'd developed a machine that cured Hepatitis C, cancer, and impotence, and their supporters believed it completely, saying any evidence to the contrary was a fake news conspiracy to make Egypt look bad (sound familiar?) Bassem Youseff's narrative is filled with humor, but also anger and deep sorrow for what his country has become. A must-read.

[Areej Abuali · Rating 4 out of 5]

In our world fear always had the upper hand..that was the case till the Egyptian revolution erupted in 2011..bassem the most famous Arabic comedy show host lived those days and it turned his world upside down..all the events mentioned in the book are very personal to me I lived it and it brought me to tears ,I got to see young Egyptian people full of integrity, pureness,empathy and love talking about thier dreams of a new great egypt..it is a very easy and enjoyable book to read

[Adam Hasan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Saying this book is fantastic is a grand understatement.

Bassem is incredibly funny. It recaps the Egyptian revolution and the rise of Bassem's fiery career.
I recommend this to my friends who might wonder why Iraq's October revolution failed, this book will explain it, while also making you (literally) laugh out loud.

P.S. : If you can, try to listen to the audio-book. It's narrated by Bassem himself and his narration is excellent.

[Jackalacka · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've seen him on the Daily Show and was intrigued to know more about him. The book does not disappoint. What a f'ed up world we live in.

[Bogdan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting autobiography located in the tumoultos recent history of Egypt. The author is a heart surgeon transformed by the events in a satiric journalist that has hosted the most watch show from the history in the Arab world and now lives in the USA. Why is that?!

Because of the persecution from the bad guys in Power. For now, the Army representants.

The visit of Trump coincided with me reading this peculiar book and I was impress about the way the egyptians are ruled and what they have to endure day by day.

I`m not easy to be entertain, but I found myself smiling at some of the comments, but in fact this reads more like an real social drama than a satirical book.

Tremendous stuff that puts in some light the relations between power and religion in that corner of the world.

Highly recommended!

[Rachel Post]

I'm sucker for stories about people who find their life calling in middle age (or in this case, late 30s) after having a totally different career. Youssef is truly meant to be a satirist. He's deeply funny, principled, intelligent, and unyielding despite all the setbacks of living in an authoritarian state. It's unfortunate how rare that is these days.

The book has very brief chapters that fly by. The wry jokes come thick and fast. I learned a lot about the differences between various islamist sects in Egypt. The comparisons of the Muslim Brotherhood vs the Salafis as being like Southern Baptists vs Westboro Baptist was very helpful. Audiobook is the way to go as Youssef has excellent narration skills.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let me start out by saying that I love Jon Stewart and the amazing comedians who were influenced by him. Bassem Youssef created what seemed impossible at the time, an Egyptian version of the Daily Show. What amazing courage he showed making fun of dictators, the military and religion as the country descended into anarchy.

He now lives in my home town, Oakland, and cannot return to Egypt. He continues to work in media and wonders if satire and protests ever do any good. Even though it is easy to get discouraged in the short term, things do improve with time. The United States can't seem to elect a woman president, but Angela Merkel of Germany is now the leader of the free world. If Germany can survive the Nazis and become a model democratic state, then America can survive Trump.

Thank you, Dr Youssef, for your work in Egypt and welcome to the Bay Area.