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The Mayor of Mogadishu: A Story of Chaos and Redemption in the Ruins of Somalia
"This is a triumph of a surprising, informative, and humane." —Alexander McCall Smith"Stunning." —Foreign Affairs"Pieces together Nur's astonishing biography and follows him when he became mayor in 2010 and tried to restore confidence and bring back investment to the battered Somali capital." —NPR“Part on-the-ground war reporting, part investigative biography, Harding’s book captures both the fragile hopes and the appalling violence of Somalia . . . .” —The New York Times**A Foreign Affairs Best Book of 2017****One of Book Concierge's Best Books of 2016**In The Mayor of Mogadishu, one of the BBC’s most experienced foreign correspondents, Andrew Harding, reveals the tumultuous life of Mohamoud “Tarzan” Nur - an impoverished nomad who was abandoned in a state orphanage in newly independent Somalia, and became a street brawler and activist. When the country collapsed into civil war and anarchy, Tarzan and his young family became part of an exodus, eventually spending twenty years in north London.But in 2010 Tarzan returned, as Mayor, to the unrecognizable ruins of a city now almost entirely controlled by the Islamist militants of Al Shabab. For many in Mogadishu, and in the diaspora, Tarzan became a galvanizing symbol of courage and hope for Somalia. But for others, he was a divisive thug, who sank beneath the corruption and clan rivalries that continue, today, to threaten the country’s revival.The Mayor of Mogadishu is a rare an insider’s account of Somalia’s unraveling, and an intimate portrayal of one family’s extraordinary journey.
298 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 29, 2016
50 people are currently reading
1458 people want to read
About the author
Andrew Harding
3 books43 followersI'm the BBC's Africa Correspondent, based in Johannesburg. I'm the author of "These Are Not Gentle People," a true-crime novel set in South Africa and published in South Africa, the UK and the Netherlands. The book has been turned into a BBC Radio 4 series and podcast, "Blood Lands." Alexander McCall Smith described the book as "a masterpiece." Philippe Sands called it "utterly gripping, timely and shocking. "This is In Cold Blood meets Midnight In The Garden of Good and Evil. Believe me, Andrew Harding has given us an instant classic," said Justice Malala.
I also wrote the internationally acclaimed non-fiction book, "The Mayor of Mogadishu" - the tale of a nomad, turned street brawler, turned refugee who left his family in London to return to take charge of the war-ravaged ruins of Somalia's capital. It was praised by the New York Times, The Economist, The Washington Post and chosen as one of NPR's books of 2016.
I also wrote the internationally acclaimed non-fiction book, "The Mayor of Mogadishu" - the tale of a nomad, turned street brawler, turned refugee who left his family in London to return to take charge of the war-ravaged ruins of Somalia's capital. It was praised by the New York Times, The Economist, The Washington Post and chosen as one of NPR's books of 2016.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
September 26, 2021
A contemporary history of Somalia told through the life of one man, Mohamud "Tarzan" Nur, the former mayor of the capital of Mogadishu. I wasn't sure what to expect from this book at first and was about to get turned off by its overwritten first few pages, but I'm glad I persevered. This is a thoughtful, immersive, and sympathetic trip into one of the most isolated and dangerous countries on earth – a naturally beautiful place, where, despite the wounds of history that they have suffered, millions of decent people are still trying to make lives for themselves. Nur returned to Somalia along with the waves of diaspora Somalis from every part of the world who arrived at the notional end of the civil war. He is something of an anti-hero, which makes the book far more interesting and honest than most of its genre. An orphan who grew up fighting on the streets of Mogadishu, Nur grew into a charismatic, and many say corrupt, figure among Somalia's new political exile elite. The author leaves the question of who Nur really is somewhat unsettled. He simply calls things as he sees them. Determining the objective facts of things, no easy task in most places, in an unstructured society like Somalia is something nearer to impossible.
The images of Somalia, its people, and natural landscape portrayed here are engaging throughout. The ruined buildings, gun battles and violence are portrayed by Harding so immersively that your stomach really begins to turn at some moments. You also really start to root for the Somali people to overcome the burdens that history has laid down to them, and Harding is good at laying out the intricacies of clan politics that have shaped so much of life there. The book offers probably one of the best high-level introductions to the country that I have read. I'd recommend it to those with a casual interest in the Horn of Africa and its peoples.
The images of Somalia, its people, and natural landscape portrayed here are engaging throughout. The ruined buildings, gun battles and violence are portrayed by Harding so immersively that your stomach really begins to turn at some moments. You also really start to root for the Somali people to overcome the burdens that history has laid down to them, and Harding is good at laying out the intricacies of clan politics that have shaped so much of life there. The book offers probably one of the best high-level introductions to the country that I have read. I'd recommend it to those with a casual interest in the Horn of Africa and its peoples.
March 29, 2018
This book is somewhat unique among biographies in that the author (admittedly) does not have a fully formed view of his subject. It appears that Mohamad Nur’s can-do spirit and enthusiasm were instrumental in rebuilding Somalia’s capital city.
The best part of the book is Nur’s childhood. You learn the harsh life of a nomad child. It was a relief to be taken from his starving family by an aunt. She got him a place in an orphanage where he got his nickname Tarzan. The Italian colonizers left a good infrastructure and many Italians chose to stay after Independence. Life in 1960’s Mogadishu is depicted as pretty good. There is some normalcy in Tarzan's childhood. He DID have an orphanage to "care" for him; there were movie theaters, basketball leaguesand beaches. Harding shows the small ways that the 1967 war and turn towards authoritarianism nested into the lives of ordinary people.
How Somalia went from strict military rule to chaos is not clear. Harding touches on factors: the clans, general unrest and the drought/famine. While the pirates, the kidnappings and Black Hawk Down make the western headlines they are hardly mentioned here, but continual bombings and assassinations are. Many Somalis who could, fled and became successful in The US, the UK and other countries.
Tarzan returned from the UK to help recover his country's normalcy in 2010. In his short administration you see the difficulties of building normalcy amidst violence. While individual initiatives had mixed success, the trend for the city and country was upward. I’d have liked more information on how this worked, for instance, how/why did the Turks come to install lighting on Mogadishu’s streets? How did the bank get its reserves?
However all this was done, many exiles like Tarzan returned with sophistication and cash from elsewhere. While they are an asset to the improving country there is resentment from those who stayed and suffered. The violence, much abated does not stop. Harding gives sketches of some of the returnees; some get burned out.
While parts on the Mayor and his administration are like a string of vignettes, the overall value of this book is that it fills a void of information on Somalia's recent history. Here are some takeaways:
• Somalia may be the only African nation with a distinct ethnicity. While there are many clans, all of them speak the same language.
• The strange shape of the country was set by the British after WWII, which for many Somalis meant that their herds, grazing on Somali land for generations, are now grazing now in Ethiopia. How this works with nomadic border crossing wasn't clear. but a major piece of the country was lost.
• Nur/Tarzan is typical of the Somali ex-pats who have achieved in their adopted countries and returned to serve Somalia. While they have allegiance to Somalia, their children who grew up elsewhere do not.
The best part of the book is Nur’s childhood. You learn the harsh life of a nomad child. It was a relief to be taken from his starving family by an aunt. She got him a place in an orphanage where he got his nickname Tarzan. The Italian colonizers left a good infrastructure and many Italians chose to stay after Independence. Life in 1960’s Mogadishu is depicted as pretty good. There is some normalcy in Tarzan's childhood. He DID have an orphanage to "care" for him; there were movie theaters, basketball leaguesand beaches. Harding shows the small ways that the 1967 war and turn towards authoritarianism nested into the lives of ordinary people.
How Somalia went from strict military rule to chaos is not clear. Harding touches on factors: the clans, general unrest and the drought/famine. While the pirates, the kidnappings and Black Hawk Down make the western headlines they are hardly mentioned here, but continual bombings and assassinations are. Many Somalis who could, fled and became successful in The US, the UK and other countries.
Tarzan returned from the UK to help recover his country's normalcy in 2010. In his short administration you see the difficulties of building normalcy amidst violence. While individual initiatives had mixed success, the trend for the city and country was upward. I’d have liked more information on how this worked, for instance, how/why did the Turks come to install lighting on Mogadishu’s streets? How did the bank get its reserves?
However all this was done, many exiles like Tarzan returned with sophistication and cash from elsewhere. While they are an asset to the improving country there is resentment from those who stayed and suffered. The violence, much abated does not stop. Harding gives sketches of some of the returnees; some get burned out.
While parts on the Mayor and his administration are like a string of vignettes, the overall value of this book is that it fills a void of information on Somalia's recent history. Here are some takeaways:
• Somalia may be the only African nation with a distinct ethnicity. While there are many clans, all of them speak the same language.
• The strange shape of the country was set by the British after WWII, which for many Somalis meant that their herds, grazing on Somali land for generations, are now grazing now in Ethiopia. How this works with nomadic border crossing wasn't clear. but a major piece of the country was lost.
• Nur/Tarzan is typical of the Somali ex-pats who have achieved in their adopted countries and returned to serve Somalia. While they have allegiance to Somalia, their children who grew up elsewhere do not.
December 8, 2016
my thanks to Lauren at St. Martin's Press for this excellent book.
I didn't quite know what to expect as I sat down to read this book, but The Mayor of Mogadishu turned out to be a book I couldn't put down once I'd started it. Not only is the "mayor," Mohamoud "Tarzan" Nur," a fascinating subject in his own right, but the book also offers its readers a brief look at the history of this country, one that is probably best known by most people outside Somalia from what they've heard on the news. But broadcast news rarely gives too much time to the people and especially the history behind these stories, hence the importance of books like this one.
British journalist Andrew Harding has chosen to focus his story on Mohamoud Nur, aka "Tarzan," a name Nur picked up while living in an orphange beginning in 1960, just as Somalia was about to celebrate its independence from colonial rule. He served as Mayor of Mogadishu between 2010 and 2014, and Harding's book examines his policies, his politics, and his efforts to bring a city back from the rubble. It was in 2010 that a new provisional government was formed and he was called on to be a part of it; as the author states in an interview with NPR, he was "this one man who had a few city blocks where he could experiment and make a difference."
To his credit, however, the author presents Nur not just as some sort of major hero but also examines competing views of this man since he sparked a major amount of controversy while in office. He is evidently a figure about whom people will have to make up their own minds, but however he comes out in the historical record, he's a man worth reading about.
At the same time, what makes this book so compelling is not just Nur's story, but the fact that the author, who's been in Somalia and Mogadishu a number of times, really gets that it's important to get past the stereotypes by getting into the history of this area and the history of the people here in order to try to gain an understanding. He makes no bones about describing misguided foreign policy based on a lack of cultural knowledge that actually may have helped with the current state of affairs in a less than positive way. It's a book that people really need to read because, as I said, those who depend solely for the nightly news are only getting the very tip of the iceberg, possibly making faulty judgments on an entire people without really knowing anything about them. As this phenomenon is becoming more prevalent nowadays, books like this one which inform but also reveal much compassion are absolutely necessary these days.
http://www.nonfictionrealstuff.com/20...
Highly recommended. Absolutely.
I didn't quite know what to expect as I sat down to read this book, but The Mayor of Mogadishu turned out to be a book I couldn't put down once I'd started it. Not only is the "mayor," Mohamoud "Tarzan" Nur," a fascinating subject in his own right, but the book also offers its readers a brief look at the history of this country, one that is probably best known by most people outside Somalia from what they've heard on the news. But broadcast news rarely gives too much time to the people and especially the history behind these stories, hence the importance of books like this one.
British journalist Andrew Harding has chosen to focus his story on Mohamoud Nur, aka "Tarzan," a name Nur picked up while living in an orphange beginning in 1960, just as Somalia was about to celebrate its independence from colonial rule. He served as Mayor of Mogadishu between 2010 and 2014, and Harding's book examines his policies, his politics, and his efforts to bring a city back from the rubble. It was in 2010 that a new provisional government was formed and he was called on to be a part of it; as the author states in an interview with NPR, he was "this one man who had a few city blocks where he could experiment and make a difference."
To his credit, however, the author presents Nur not just as some sort of major hero but also examines competing views of this man since he sparked a major amount of controversy while in office. He is evidently a figure about whom people will have to make up their own minds, but however he comes out in the historical record, he's a man worth reading about.
At the same time, what makes this book so compelling is not just Nur's story, but the fact that the author, who's been in Somalia and Mogadishu a number of times, really gets that it's important to get past the stereotypes by getting into the history of this area and the history of the people here in order to try to gain an understanding. He makes no bones about describing misguided foreign policy based on a lack of cultural knowledge that actually may have helped with the current state of affairs in a less than positive way. It's a book that people really need to read because, as I said, those who depend solely for the nightly news are only getting the very tip of the iceberg, possibly making faulty judgments on an entire people without really knowing anything about them. As this phenomenon is becoming more prevalent nowadays, books like this one which inform but also reveal much compassion are absolutely necessary these days.
http://www.nonfictionrealstuff.com/20...
Highly recommended. Absolutely.
January 11, 2018
A fascinating story/country/city, though missing the narrative arc that would tie things together. Harding inserts himself within the story too often, muddling the focus and creating a disjointed narrative. Misses a big opportunity to be an accessible introduction to the history of Mogadishu and the nation.
November 6, 2016
I've read several nonfiction books about governments/conflict in Africa, but this is the first book I've read about Somalia. Going into it I was worried it would be on the dry side, but I actually found it very engaging. Tarzan's story is told in a way that makes him appear as neither hero nor villain, but rather just a product of his environment. I found the whole "clannism" thing interesting and it seems to be a similar problem in other developing countries I've read about. Overall, I'd recommend it to anyone interested in African politics or conflict areas. It gives a lot more nuanced information that what you'd read in an NGO's situation report.
September 23, 2017
This book is both a biography of Mohamoud "Tarzan" Nur and an examiniation of the recent history of Mogadishu. Harding, a BBC journalist, applied his investigative skills to understanding a charismatic and elusive man whose life is riddled with contradictions, which mirror present day Somalia in some unexpected ways. While describing Tarzan's life, the author took many detours to explore culture, clan dynamics and historical context - all of which deepened my interest in the book and helped me better understand the political puzzle of Somalia.
July 30, 2017
"Home is where the heart is" could not ring more true when one reads this inspiring and heart-wrenching history of the Somalian Diaspora who had miraculously escaped from the violent past of Somalia to the comforts of the first world, only to return back with a hope of restoring their country to its past days of glory and to restore Mogadishu into the bustling metropolis it once was.
In my view, Andrew Harding's experience as a BBC correspondent from Conflict zones helps to shape a balanced view on the history of Somalia by following the life of one man, Tarzan, whose life eerily mirrors the highs and lows of Somalia itself.
The author's description of Italy- influenced culture of Mogadishu in the past serves also as a recollection of other great cities of Africa which have now been destroyed to dust by violence and clan-politics. Overwhelmingly sad.
In my view, Andrew Harding's experience as a BBC correspondent from Conflict zones helps to shape a balanced view on the history of Somalia by following the life of one man, Tarzan, whose life eerily mirrors the highs and lows of Somalia itself.
The author's description of Italy- influenced culture of Mogadishu in the past serves also as a recollection of other great cities of Africa which have now been destroyed to dust by violence and clan-politics. Overwhelmingly sad.
April 5, 2017
Andrew Harding has written a biography of Mohamed "Tarzan" Nur, who rose up from being born as a nomad in Somalia's remote Ogaden region to becoming in 2010 mayor of the fractured and troubled city of Mogadishu. Nur grew up in an orphanage in Mogadishu, became a basketball star and then worked in Saudi Arabia before joining the Somali diaspora in London in the 1980s; much of the book chronicles Somalia's sad descent into chaos and failed state status, riven with clan warfare and disunity, the misrule (and sometimes success) of the dictator, Siad Barre, and Nur's political fall, (amidst rumors of corruption, never proved.) Somalia has improved in the years since the country fell apart, but still has a long way to go. Fascinating profiles.
June 2, 2017
Seriously one of the best nonfiction books I've ever read. Using the mayor as the lens through which to view and explore Somalia/Mogadishu was brilliant, and brought the culture and people of this city to life. I couldn't stop reading. More people need to read stories like this if we're ever going to find an educated and practical approach to ease the suffering in this world. Highly recommend.
April 9, 2020
This is a great study of ‘Tarzan’ the mayor of Mogadishu in the 2010’s an orphan and street fighter who returned from the UK Somali disapora to try to bring order and ‘normality’ to Mogadishu. It is ultimately a story of hope but doesn’t pull its punches in presenting a less than perfect picture of ambition and compromises needed to make things happen. There are a few sloppy editing mistakes (typesetting, repeated sentences) but this is an inspiring story well written by one of the BBC’s best foreign correspondents
July 4, 2023
Very interesting, I learned so much about Somalia, especially as my baseline knowledge was essentially zero. It was made even more readable for me by being a biography of Tarzan Nur, who became the Mayor of Mogadishu and ushered it into a new era as Al Shabab pulled out of the city (but not the country) and Somalia began to become more than just a failed state. The author is a long time foreign correspondent for the the BBC and I appreciated that his journalism is also a part of this story, that it's not told by some off-page narrator.
August 28, 2017
Thank you to the author and publisher for a copy of this book! All opinions are my own, and you can find more of my reviews on my blog at spinesinaline.wordpress.com
I don't read a lot of nonfiction so I don't know that I would've picked this one up if I wasn't approached first. That said, I'm very glad I accepted because I knew very little of the history of Somalia, or current affairs, before I read this book. While the author presents all this as honestly as he can, he’s also sure to include a more human side of the story, focusing his book on the former mayor but also many others he’s met during his travels.
The author writes like a journalist (which he is) but it translates well to book form, and it’s obvious that the he’s in his element. As a journalist, Harding is perhaps best suited to be sharing this story, as he does so honestly while always maintaining respect for those people whose lives he covers.
This is largely a biography of former mayor, Mohamoud Nur, but the author uses his story to tell the story of Somalia, and it’s through learning about his life and those around him that we’re able to see a more human side of this country. Like the nicknames that are such a huge part of Somalian culture – for the mayor, he gains his nickname Tarzan as a young boy. Or President Siad Barre’s attempts to establish a Somali alphabet, which increased the literacy in the rural areas of the country exponentially. These aspects are rarely covered in popular media but here they allow us to see a fuller picture of life in Somalia.
Violence is still ever-present in Somalia and the author doesn’t shy away from this. The country has faced daily bombings and shootings, corruption, and famine. Tarzan’s own family has long missed the days where they felt safe in their own country.
Still, this doesn’t stop people from returning home, including Tarzan himself. No matter where he moves in the world, he always finds his back to Mogadishu. Many refugees seem to feel the same hope for what the country and city could be.
On one of Harding’s later visits to Somalia, he’s surprised to see a traffic cop directing traffic in what has been a very volatile area. I wanted to end off my review with this passage because I think it sums up well what the author writes of the hope that persists in Mogadishu in the face of violence,
“The famine wasn’t over. Al Shabab remained an existential threat. But here was a middle-aged man – someone who must have been able to remember how smoothly this roundabout had functioned two decades ago – charging out into the chaos, waving his arms at the traffic, convinced that in this city of brandished guns and quick tempers, the time had come for someone to try their luck with a whistle.” (201)
I don't read a lot of nonfiction so I don't know that I would've picked this one up if I wasn't approached first. That said, I'm very glad I accepted because I knew very little of the history of Somalia, or current affairs, before I read this book. While the author presents all this as honestly as he can, he’s also sure to include a more human side of the story, focusing his book on the former mayor but also many others he’s met during his travels.
The author writes like a journalist (which he is) but it translates well to book form, and it’s obvious that the he’s in his element. As a journalist, Harding is perhaps best suited to be sharing this story, as he does so honestly while always maintaining respect for those people whose lives he covers.
This is largely a biography of former mayor, Mohamoud Nur, but the author uses his story to tell the story of Somalia, and it’s through learning about his life and those around him that we’re able to see a more human side of this country. Like the nicknames that are such a huge part of Somalian culture – for the mayor, he gains his nickname Tarzan as a young boy. Or President Siad Barre’s attempts to establish a Somali alphabet, which increased the literacy in the rural areas of the country exponentially. These aspects are rarely covered in popular media but here they allow us to see a fuller picture of life in Somalia.
Violence is still ever-present in Somalia and the author doesn’t shy away from this. The country has faced daily bombings and shootings, corruption, and famine. Tarzan’s own family has long missed the days where they felt safe in their own country.
Still, this doesn’t stop people from returning home, including Tarzan himself. No matter where he moves in the world, he always finds his back to Mogadishu. Many refugees seem to feel the same hope for what the country and city could be.
On one of Harding’s later visits to Somalia, he’s surprised to see a traffic cop directing traffic in what has been a very volatile area. I wanted to end off my review with this passage because I think it sums up well what the author writes of the hope that persists in Mogadishu in the face of violence,
“The famine wasn’t over. Al Shabab remained an existential threat. But here was a middle-aged man – someone who must have been able to remember how smoothly this roundabout had functioned two decades ago – charging out into the chaos, waving his arms at the traffic, convinced that in this city of brandished guns and quick tempers, the time had come for someone to try their luck with a whistle.” (201)
May 3, 2025
Frank, engaging, honest about the horror without falling into miseryporn, and required some insanely brave reporting.
April 11, 2017
Despite living in Cape Town for 4 years, my knowledge of any countries in the northern part of Africa is still limited - geographically and politically. So I was pleased I picked up this book at my local library from the new non fiction books, partly attracted by the cover! Because the author chose to tell the story of one man in Somalia, the book had direction and plenty of politics but was easy to follow. I kept thinking I would love to visit and swim at Lido Beach but then another explosion and you remember this country is continuously in free fall no matter who is governing or sending aid. It surely gives some background as to why Somalians are fleeing their country and risking their lives on a boat trip across the Mediterranean. If you want to learn about Somalian history and its current problems, this is an excellent book to get you started.
June 5, 2017
I absolutely adored this book. It is perfect for anyone interested in African politics and specifically of how Somalia descended into civil war and piracy. The author shares his story by following the life of "Tarzan," the man who would become the Mayor of Mogadishu from his meager beginnings as a nomad and then orphan in Mogadishu. It provides an in depth account of the nomads and how various circumstances have contributed to the steady decline into a failed state. He makes sense of Al Shabab and the forever disruptive and corruptive network of clans. The author also speaks of the Somali diaspora and their return to try to save the country. Most importantly, the story is told from the life events and memories of Somalis. It left me feeling somewhat hopeful that change could occur over time. Overall, an informative and entertaining read!
August 2, 2017
After many years of turmoil and destruction, a semblance of order now exists in Mogadishu. How did this come about? Much can be attributed to the work and efforts of a man nicknamed "Tarzan," an energetic political facilitator and catalyst. Harding, a BBC journalist, "covered" Tarzan (real name, Mohamud Nur) for five years after first gaining his trust and cooperation. Indeed he became almost imbedded into his personal life. A compelling story it is, both about Nur's family and about the details of how he governed in a chaotic environment. Before reading this book I had little knowledge of Somalia. Yes, I could point it out on the map. And yes, I knew about "Blackhawk Down" and all that. Now I know something of the culture, the clannish rivalries, the vicissitudes of Somali life. I've gained appreciation for the nation. A "cool" place to visit? Not yet.
April 15, 2017
This is a really interesting read. Andrew Harding tells the story of "Tarzan" a member of the Somalian diaspora, from birth to the current day. Within the story is mixed the essential history of Somalia from the perspective of the Somalis. This perspective is unique and quite different from reading a report of events that have transpired. Interestingly, Tarzan doesn't become president, and there is no notation of this, but the current new president of Somalia is mentioned several times in this book. It is engaging, and thought provoking. I was a bit disappointed that Tarzan seems to be simply fading into the background, but...at the same time, this seems to be a big part of the story of Somalia, and the diaspora.
Definitely recommend.
Definitely recommend.
January 2, 2017
After spending six months in Somalia in 1993 while serving in Operation Continue Hope I have become fascinated by the country. In the intervening years Somalia has made halting efforts at becoming a functional country, but the unfortunate east African nation continues to be beset by spasms of corruption, clan fighting and Islamic terrorism. In recounting the enigmatic story of the "Mayor of Mogadishu", Mohamud "Tarzan" Nur, Harding tells the modern story of Somalia in a compelling readable book.
February 6, 2017
This is a well-written, accessible and informative account of the troubled and turbulent history of Somalia, focussing in particular on one man, Mohamoud “Tarzan” Nur, who from a disadvantaged start in life became the Mayor of the capital Mogadishu and battled the influence of Al-Shabab. Never taking anything at face value, Harding attempts to get at the facts, whilst always keeping an open mind. His examination remains thoughtful, insightful and balanced at all times, and makes a complicated situation as clear as it can be. An excellent introduction to Somalia and its people.
March 4, 2018
As an Africa analyst, I have read many popular books on Somalia and this was one of my favorites. I appreciated the time the author took to paint a picture of the history of Somalia along side current events in a way that is not often shown in the Western media. I met Tarzan at an event in London a few years ago and was intrigued to learn more of his story. Excellent reading for those who want to learn more about the history, culture, and state of Somalia.
November 23, 2016
*Received as Goodreads Giveaway* I enjoyed the flow of this book, how the different stories were linked together while maintaining a central figure. The author was honest with his viewpoint and inherent biases. Mayor of Mogadishu is an excellent book for people who want to know more about Somalia in an easy way.
June 1, 2017
This book reads like fiction, but recounts the history of Somalia through the life story of former mayor, Tarzan Nur. It provides insight into the descent into chaos of this troubled state. The author is a journalist who spent a lot if time there and researched his material through various sources. Highly recommended.
September 25, 2016
If you only ever read one book about Somalia, let it be this. An intriguing quest to find the true nature of a strong-willed boy, 'Tarzan', who goes from Mogadishu orphanage to being Mayor of the city via exile in London, as the country transits conflict to emerge from the ashes.
January 28, 2017
Very readable account of an interesting man and interesting place. Learned a good deal about Somalia and I hope it gives me some additional insight into our large Somali refugee population here in Minnesota.
Read
January 20, 2025This book is a collection of personal memories from an assortment of Somalians with cultural explanations and a bit of history tossed in here and there.
I found this book choppy and hard to get into, lots of anecdotes strung together.
I found this book choppy and hard to get into, lots of anecdotes strung together.
September 1, 2018
Fascinating! All I ever hear about Somalia is war, famine, refugees, hopelessness. And while there is a lot of that, this book shows there is so much more. This is am honest look at a difficult, complicated country. Definitely a must read!
September 8, 2018
4.5 stars. A book about a guy named "Tarzan." What is not to like here? A fascinating history on what has gone on in Somalia for the past sixty years with one man as the entry point. Learned a great deal.
November 18, 2016
Interesting profile of "Tarzan" and an easy read.
good luck
**ARC/publisher/NetGalley
good luck
**ARC/publisher/NetGalley
July 6, 2017
Real Somali
Intriguing, a rare picture of real Somali people living through the vissitudes of daily Somali life with its incomprehensible violence and love.
Intriguing, a rare picture of real Somali people living through the vissitudes of daily Somali life with its incomprehensible violence and love.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews