Inside Qatar: Hidden Stories from One of the Richest Nations on Earth

by John McManus

An intimate portrait of life in one of the world's richest nations ahead of the FIFA 2022 World Cup.

Just 75 years ago, the Gulf nation of Qatar was a backwater, reliant on pearl diving. Today it is a gas-laden parvenu with seemingly limitless wealth and ambition. Skyscrapers, museums and futuristic football stadiums rise out of the desert and Ferraris race through the streets. But in the shadows, migrant workers toil in the heat for risible amounts.

Inside Qatar reveals how real people live in this surreal place, a land of both great opportunity and great iniquity. Ahead of Qatar's time in the limelight as host of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, anthropologist John McManus lifts a lid on the hidden worlds of its gilded elite, its spin doctors and thrill seekers, its manual labourers and domestic workers.

The sum of their tales is not some exotic cabinet of curiosities. Instead, Inside Qatar opens a window onto the global problems - of unfettered capitalism, migration, growing inequality and climate change - that concern us all.

Genres: Nonfiction, Middle East, Travel, History, Audiobook, Sports, Politics

320 pages, Paperback

First published July 7, 2022

About the author

Librarians note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

For the software engineer, see John McManus.

Reviews

[Andy Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book because I wanted to find out a bit more about Qatar, as it will be hosting this year’s football World Cup in November and December. I never thought that the city state should ever have been awarded one of the world’s greatest sporting festivals and having read this book, I’m even more convinced that handing the competition to Qatar is a grave error that won’t in any way ‘open up’ the country, rather it will be used by its rulers to do what they have always done but with a veneer of respectability. Author John McManus uncovers a nation, almost like no other. A place that is almost totally dependent on exploited migrant labour, who have little or no rights, but whose stories are described sympathetically and with dignity by the author. It’s a fair-minded account of Qatar, which is certainly no hatchet job, but one which leaves you with the distinct impression that this is not a place that anyone really enjoys living or working in. Quite why it will host football’s biggest pageant is anyone’s guess, but given FIFA’s love of lucre, maybe most people will guess right. Inside Qatar is an essential read and a very readable one too.

[Babis Kokovidis · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is a really interesting and informative book about every aspect of life in Qatar.

The academic background of the author helps him to write a full inside into the country he is living.

I expected him being too gentle about Qatar and not so critical about it but on the contrary he writes what he saw and witnessed with a "falcon's eye" like the ones the Qataris love to train.

I recommend it to anyone who wants to know a bit more about a country which we know almost nothing.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

bardzo ciekawe było i bardzo mi się podoba że było dużo wypowiedzi od prawdziwych ludzi

[K. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Trigger warnings: racism, classism, xenophobia,, unsafe work practices leading to death

3.5 stars.

I borrowed this the second it hit my library's Overdrive site because I'm doing a Read Around the World challenge and I've been struggling to find something for Qatar. And then this popped up. It was an interesting read, but I definitely didn't anticipate it being a) as sports-centric as it was and b) as lacking in female voices as it was. I suppose the latter makes sense in a Muslim country with strict rules and regulations for its female population, but I still found myself wishing there was more discussion of what life is like for women, given the nature of Qatar.

Anyway, I wouldn't have picked this up if it weren't for my Read Around the World challenge, and at least now when I have a terrible day at work, I can be quietly grateful for the fact that I don't have to let peregrine falcons wank on my head for a living (because thanks to this book I now know that "artificial falcon inseminator" an actual job in Qatar and it involves people essentially impersonating a female falcon and going through a courtship dance and then the male falcon copulating with a latex hat on the handler's head. Y.I.K.E.S.)

[Shaikha Al-Hemaidi · Rating 1 out of 5]

Imagine visiting a foreign country for a year, spending that time actively seeking out the most vulnerable groups of people and compiling a set of interviews and conversations with them… then publishing them in a book about said country masking it as the real deal.

John Mcmanus author of ‘Inside Qatar’ claims that he is offering a real view of what life is like in Qatar… while simultaneously erasing the qataris from the conversation and focusing solely on delivering a juicy and scandalous view of their lives.

In his extremely weak and rushed book, Mcmanus writes about his conversations with migrant workers in Qatar and their accounts of living and working in Doha. Such workers include: construction workers, baristas, taxi drivers, domestic workers, hotel employees, etc. It is important to also keep in mind that Mcmanus did not even try to validate the stories which he was fed by said workers, he just took their word for it. Such horrific claims include wild stories (or shall I say, fantasies) about married women getting on taxis to cheat on their husbands and theories about “state-backed ethno-nationalist movements” which could be the reason to why Mcmanus failed to befriend any local qataris, an impossible task in the case of qataris.

Now, it is undeniable that labor offenses against migrant workers exist in Qatar… they also exist in every city around the world. The stories shared by the author are not unique experiences that only happen in Qatar, this is a global crisis. If anything, Qatar is actively cracking down on such offenses, by consistently running audits and introducing new law reforms, unlike *some* people. (see: any NATO country)

The book includes accounts from Qataris, however, they are scarce. Also, I can’t help but feel the extreme orientalism coming from Mcmanus’ end. Whenever he talks about Qataris who are undeniably smart, competent and intelligent, he feels the need to justify that by saying that this particular person is smart because they represent an “elite” or because they’re “hybrid qataris” AKA: mixed. As if smart and communicative Qataris are rare creatures. What Mcmanus fails to understand is that education is a pillar in Qatari society. He actively tries to erase the existence of such people, as if they don’t help the message he intends to send through his work.

What boggled my mind the most about this is the fact that although the book is heavily flawed not only is it published, but it is seen as a “valid account” of life in Qatar.

Here’s my hot take (which I believe to be common sense, and yet): you should not publish an entire BOOK and establish yourself as an “expert” on ANY topic unless you have the credentials and experience to do so. It is completely idiotic and nonsensical to do such a thing. I cannot imagine anyone doing what Mcmanus did in this book anywhere else and getting away with it. Reading this tmz-esque hot mess made me understand -and support- the reason it is not on shelves in doha. This work belongs in the hall of shame and every copy of it rightfully deserves to be in paper recycling facilities.

[Paul Allen]

Interesting and very readable vignettes.

[Scott Cumming · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's been difficult to enjoy this World Cup fully knowing the conditions many working at it are suffering and this book lifts the lid on the Qatari culture and the levelling of all the migrant workers toiling to fulfil the needs of the small percentage of Qatari citizens.

What is revealed is the smokescreen of PR put in place along with legislation that is window dressing rather than a catalyst for lasting change. The tales within the book are shocking and surprising in their nature, but a great parallel is struck with the Western world and the way their migrant workers are treated. It's almost the case that Qatar has run with what they've seen as they've shot up in status and employed with painful honesty as opposed to other countries across the globe.

There is a distinct jarring between Eastern traditions and the globalisation of the Western way that seems to have sent Qatar down a certain path that looks unlikely to change as McManus notes that Qatari youth seem to be more conservative than their elders, which again would mesh with Western culture as we continue to see the more right wing parties coming to power across Europe.

The book is highly informative and heart breaking with your average workaday reader over here feeling little more than impotent sitting in my Western splendour that for all its problems does not require me to travel abroad to earn something closer approaching a living wage in a country where I know I will be looked down upon.

[Ernesto · Rating 3 out of 5]

Este fue un libro muy educativo sobre la cultura catarí y muy útil previo a mi viaje en unos días. El autor es un antropólogo que se va a pasar un año a Catar y escribe sobre su experiencia, analizando a la sociedad catarí a través de un lente occidental. Aprendí acerca de su cultura y costumbres, de sus prácticas laborales y de su composición demográfica. Aprendí que los cataríes solo representan el 10% de la población de su propio país y qué hay una estricta estratificación social. Aprendí que existe el sistema de kafala, el cual permite al país importar muchos trabajadores de países menos prósperos pero los tiene en un estatus muy precario y con pobres condiciones laborales. Es común que se les confisque el pasaporte a los trabajadores y tienen muchísimas restricciones para cambiar de empleo, dejar el país o meter quejas por maltrato. Aprendí que la sociedad catarí es muy conservadora pero que también rompen las reglas, beben alcohol y tienen relaciones fuera de matrimonio. Como en todos lados.

Lo que no me gustó del libro es el sentimiento de superioridad moral del autor, creyendo que nuestros sistemas y valores occidentales son superiores a los musulmanes. Me pareció una actitud condescendiente y a veces un poco hipócrita, no la del autor como individuo sino la del Occidente. Los países ricos abusaron de trabajadores durante cientos de años, contaminaron el mundo por cientos de años, violaron los derechos humanos de las minorías por cientos de años, pero ahora son muy críticos con quien lo hacen y no se ajustan a su nuevo sistema de valores. Definitivamente hay cosas terribles sucediendo en Catar pero en vez de criticarlo por hacer lo mismo que ellos hicieron por mucho tiempo, los países occidentales podrían contribuir a que Catar se desarrolle de manera más sustentable y justa.

[James R. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like most people, I'd read the news stories about the appalling working conditions and deaths of migrant workers in Qatar as part of their efforts to prepare for the upcoming World Cup so I was interested to read this book and learn more. As it happens, the books is far deeper and broader look at life in Qatar and it's better for that.

John McManus spends time in the city state and gets to know the lives of the people that live and work there. The day-to-day reality of life in Qatar is frequently grim, particularly for the migrants from poorer countries that facilitate the opulent lifestyles of the wealthy Qataris and Westerners. While McManus is even handed in documenting the (limp) attempts by the regime to improve labour standards, but the indignities and horrendous conditions many workers have to face do not put Qatar in a good light.

It's hard to say you've enjoyed reading such a book as it lifts the lid on such an unpleasant place. But it is intriguing to learn about a culture where suffering of the many for the indulgence of a few is baked into the fabric of society.

McManus admitted himself that he struggled to get close to Qatari nationals in the researching and writing of this book and for that reason their voice is missing from the narrative. This is a shame as it feels like a missing piece of the puzzle in understanding what life is like in Qatar. Otherwise I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book that had accounts from the residents of Qatar and facts about this unique Gulf country. Felt like it hit every major topic including demographics, religion, migrant workers, sports, climate, leisure, etc. Learned a ton about Qatar and thought the author did a pretty good job and encapsulating the Qatari experience.

[Renita D'Silva · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eye-opening

[Kevin Burke · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's not a huge amount that's new in John McManus' look around Qatar - but the explore around the area is still a fascinating read. McManus is up front about how few Qataris - and particular Qatari women - he met on his travels, but that isn't necessarily a problem; after all, 90% of this weird country is foreigners, the issues of women in Islam are well-known (though little commented on apart from that, apart from a brief section on how a lone woman wearing a full veil is as likely to be using it to hide on her way to an illicit rendezvous), and the aloofness of the Qataris he does meet, and the lack of success he has in getting to know them, is revealing enough in itself. Coaches in the football academies "frequently complained to me of students behaving like spoilt little princes" - probably because so many of them were literally that. One Qatari bemoans the Gulf equivalent of "I remember when all this was fields", thinking back to just ten years ago - a sign of how quickly radical change has come about here; the population has more than quadrupled since the turn of the millennium.

There's some pretty left-field info here. 43% of Qataris marry a relative, usually a first cousin. Qatari consumerism is rampant and, despite the well-paid jobs, many are in significant debt - an average of $70k (US) is given. Qataris - and the sovereign wealth fund - own more of London than the Queen. A Qatari living in London tells of his kids' reactions to the move - "He felt that Qatar had been listing too far towards pampering and indulgence. 'It's one of the reasons why I wanted to move', he told me from his new home in London. He was worried his two young children had become accustomed to the gilded nature of life in Doha. 'Here we don't have a car. We recycle. They have to walk to school. We live in a very nice neighbourhood, but for them it's like 'Why do people live like this here?''"

The main area of focus, of course, is the migrant workers, and in particular the way they're treated. Again, that many of them have moved away from a wife and family is well-documented (nearly 75% of the population is male), but exploring the stories in more depth fleshes them out well. But there's other lesser-known areas looked at too. Al-Jazeera has placed itself internationally as a welcome balance against western media - but has very little critical to say about Qatar, and local media is little more than a series of meaningless press releases. The World Cup created a problem because Qatari spin doctors assumed the likes of the Washington Post and the Guardian could be bought off, or at least fobbed off, and were fairly put out to be continually harassed about questions around worker safety.

Worker rights are explored in detail too - the inane system of visas which mean your company has to agree to you moving jobs, like a pre-Bosman era footballer, the physical abuse encountered by domestic servants, and the litany of unpaid wages claims which a branch of the Qatari public service routinely fobs off. Get an employer who doesn't pay you long enough, and you default on your rent, at which point your (likely Qatari) landlord will start deportation proceedings. Not paying paltry wages seems particularly spiteful in one of the richest countries in the world and McManus doesn't really find a reason for this - obviously it's not something the reticent locals would particularly open up about and explain. (His best explanation is a weak attempt to blame British colonialism, but while British colonialism may not have been nice, that's no excuse for the Qataris continuing its nastier traditions). Stronger countries can have stronger embassies that stand up for their countrymen better - and of course the western immigrants rarely have any problems - and as far as worker safety is concerned, there is an element that the workers don't help themselves much either with a cavalier attitude to health and safety equipment.

There are weaknesses though. McManus is a big fan of diversity, and it blinds him to its downsides. "In a chat with a Qatari media executive, the delight I expressed in Qatari diversity prompted a sniffy "I don't like it" followed by a rant about how Qataris are strangers in their own country (all in front of a Sudanese of staff)" - but in an era where mass tourism is prompting similar views and protests, and where western cultures slide towards being minorities in their own lands, this is surely a legitimate point to explore? Curiously, McManus isn't as dismissive when a migrant worker sympathises with the Qataris over exactly the same thing. He doesn't seem to appreciate the irony in how Qatari diversity destroys multi-culturalism, noting how the only Catholic Church in Qatar used to have different services in different languages, but changed that to bring everyone together in English service. All the different foreigners support the same football team (Liverpool) when they visit. A local Filipino radio station gained such popularity among other migrants that they too changed from Togalog to English. "But now the complaints come from Filipinos wanting to hear more of their own native tongue. Bernila adopts a matronly tone as she tells me how they respond. 'We always explain to them that we need to cater also for our friends from other nationalities'" - in other words, the Filipino radio host tells the other Filipinos to sod off.

The chapter on climate change, while a welcome inclusion (Qataris are, per capita, the largest carbon generators on the planet), does suffer too. The excuse offered by the Qataris that this is driven by the large amounts of natural gas they export doesn't seem to stack up - "Would it not, they ask, make more sense to pin the emissions on the countries using it?" - but surely this is what does happen? (The BBC seem to think so - https://www.bbc.com/news/science-envi...) There may be huge emissions in the production of the gas though, which is the Qataris' problem - better production and capture-at-source technologies may be needed, but they have no incentive to do so (climate change not counting as an incentive in Qatar as in most other places, of course)

McManus looks at the excessive air conditioning - not helped by the cavalier attitude of the locals in particular towards energy usage, given how cheap it is - and high-end cars consuming far more petrol that they need as contributory factors at a social level, but doesn't consider the enormous amount of energy spent in the construction boom, or in flying foreigners in from all corners of the world (the westerners, of course, get the best deal - one Englishman tells of six return business-class flights per year), which are surely much higher. And again, here we get to a point which could be considered in a western context - after all, we're also importing people from around the world and building houses to house them to inflate our economy. At what point do we decide this flies in the face of sustainability? Yes, Qatar is doing this on speed as it were, but arguably that makes it an interesting study.

Those weaknesses mean it's not quite a 5* book, but it finishes strongly, with a look to Qatar's future as it tries to wean away from purely gas. Central to Qatar's 2030 development plan "is the need to turn Qatar into a regional hub for knowledge and high-value industrial service activities". McManus adds "It is unclear precisely what this means in practice." A world-class education provider maybe? But UCL has closed its Doha branch, which isn't a great look there. A sports hub? The World Cup, of course, gave hopes of that - but it's too hot, as the women's marathon at the 2019 World Athletics Championships in Doha showed; despite starting at midnight, half the field was unable to finish because of the sweltering heat. Tourism? Dubai has that sorted. Science and technology? But the country's innovation parks haven't achieved anything of note. In the end, all that seems left is investment income - property. Which can't be good news for the rest of us plebs wanting to actually own a house.

Overall, a fascinating look at a bizarre country which - for right or for wrong - punches above its weight in the global picture today.

[Deirdre Mcdonagh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nailed it!

As a Westerner who went to earn tax free money this book truly resonated. I couldn’t live with the disparity between low income workers and everyone else. I had a cleaner, I didn’t need one but it helped her. She had lost her husband in Philippines and had to go to Qatar to support her kids - 11, 8 and 7 now. She hasn’t seen them in five years. I sponsor the family now. It’s so sad. I left after a year. I contemplate going back, but reading your book has reminded me vividly of the reasons I left (plus the heat 🥵).

[Emma Gwynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book very interesting. There is so much wealth and yet a quarter (?) of Qataris are in significant amounts of debt due to the pressures of materialism. It shows what happens to countries when they’re so wealthy that so much is subsidised for their residents: electricity, water, petrol. This is in sharp contrast with the expats and migrant workers.

Indeed migrant workers may be protected legally but in practice they are sadly often abused. I strongly suspect this to be the case in many Western countries as well. How much are we doing in the West to prevent modern day slavery?

Qatar’s wealth comes from its natural resources but its reliance on gas is a double edged sword. Poorly designed glass buildings require extreme amounts of air con in order to habitable. However, the pollution this creates not only causes rises in sea levels which threaten the country but also increases temperatures further.

The question of Qatar’s future is an interesting one. Struggling to compete with Dubai in fields such as finance and tourism; it’s not clear what they can do when the natural gas runs out. Buying up real estate in London and therefore increasing house prices is having a real impact on people in Britain as well. We are all connected.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inside stories from one of the world’s smallest, newest, and richest nations. Only circa 19% of the population are actually Qatari citizens! Qatar fiercely guards citizenship due to the lavish benefits and wealth it gives its citizens (very well paid cushy government jobs, free energy, etc.).

The expat community is highly diverse in terms of nationality, class and income. There are multiple horror stories of the construction workers (mainly from India, Sri Lanka and Nepal) who face gruelling conditions. Household staff also live pretty terrible lives (frequently no days off and essentially prisoners to the homes they serve). Qatar operates a ‘sponsor’ system for work visas, meaning those who employ migrant workers (corporates and individuals) have huge control over them.

The white collar expat community enjoys more luxuries, although are still subject to the sponsorship system and need to adapt to a highly conservative society (hotels are the only place where the rules are more lax).

Qatar is desperately trying to modernise but this often clashes with their conservative values and laws. No one bar the Qataris can permanently settle, everyone else is on temporary arrangements.

[Tracy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit of a marmite book for me - some stuff I enjoyed reading about but others didn't really change the perception I had of Qatar before I started reading this book. It did seem to waffle on a bit at times too and not sure it helped the book or not.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Insightful, balanced read. Having lived and worked in Qatar for 6 years, I feel McManus offers a fair assessment life in Qatar for different walks of life. Unlike many Western media outlets, he is able to look at both sides throughout.

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

After Russia '18, I read a book about life in Russia, so after he appeared on multiple football podcasts it was inevitable I would read McManus' book on life in Qatar. I did learn about the place, and I have a better grasp of the rules of work and society and the extend to which they are implemented, but it wasn't as illuminating as I'd hoped.

McManus is an anthropologist and explained his job is to befriend people to understand more about them and their society, and through the people he meets a picture builds of traditional Qataris and an abundance of wealth that allows people to coast in public sector jobs, the meagre wages on offer to migrant workers (and what rights they can assert) and the temporary nature of Western workers. The author lays bare the realities of capitalism and nationalism (though I can't recall him using that word) and the different strata of Qatari society. I now understand the structure of the society, but not the everyday reality.

To be fair to McManus, he addresses this later in the book, but that was after I'd wondered if the reader was going to meet any Qataris beyond the falcon owner in the first chapter, which was to demonstrate Qatari culture before the discovery of fossil fuels. He was not invited to any Qatari parties or many personal gatherings so never got to witness Qatari citizens' private behaviour. There was still reported speech from his contacts, and the stories of migrant workers were worth telling, but beyond their choice of car (Land Cruiser) I don't know much else about Qataris.

Without a free press, this means that the only words come from more official spokespeople, and McManus had already highlighted the discrepancies between official pronouncements and the reality. Late in the book he takes part in a volunteer beach cleaning operation and this was an apt metaphor - we can see what's left on the beach and make inferences about what Qataris are doing, but we don't actually see it.

As a result, the book is interesting but limited, more detailed and nuanced than a journalist's account from a short visit, but hampered by the tiered structure of society that means Westerners are kept apart from citizens (and can't take top positions at Qatari companies), and the lower classes are kept away from them in turn.

[Elsa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bought this book on a whim at Geneva Airport and it was actually such a quality read. Found the writing style very clever as each chapter is formatted as an interaction with a member of Qatari society so it seldom feels like you're having strings of figures thrown at you. When statistical data is included, it's analysed within the contemporary context and is generally speaking relevant, which is rare let's not lie. E.g. Some figures which stuck with me:
- 3rd highest gdp per capita
- adjusted capita per person $97,000
- qataris 11% of qatar pop
- pop 72% male
To be fair it's one of those books that should be read with a highlighter in hand but personally did not have the energy to truly scrutinise and reflect on every single sentence. Did take a lot out of it though. McManus' take on the FIFA World Cup is the most comprehensive and sensible approach I have come across so far. Legitimately a perfect balance of all arguments, taking into account human, socio-cultural, economic and political aspects. Swear down all you see these days is some instagram infographic claiming '7,500 migrant workers dead in Qatar' with no context whatsoever. Casually reposted by people who apparently only recognise the plight of migrant workers when it's trendy? Flipping love Shein though. But that's just the paradox of modern society for you hah enjoy so fun so quirky so socially aware!!! No genuinely this makes my blood boil but it's besides the point so moving on. Learned so much while reading this book and would recommend to anyone who has some sort of interest in current affairs :) It also offsets watching the World Cup I promise it's like carbon credits

[Ian McHugh · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent insight into Qatar now and prior to the arrival of the World Cup at the end of 2022. The stories told here by McManus give great insight into life here and are illustrative of wider trends in the Gulf and in Qatar specifically and also geopolitical and global trends more widely. The narrative style is brisk and engaging. The most enjoyable aspect of this to me, as an ex-pat/economic migrant resident in Qatar was the empathetic way in which all stories were told. As outlined at the beginning, McManus tells a tale here which is male and 'foreigner' centred as the impenetrable nature of Qatari society to those without Arabic or from outside of Qatari citizenship places a bar on acceptance and engagement *within*.

I wholeheartedly agree with the conclusions of the epilogue to this book and I'd recommend it to anyone looking to live or work or holiday in Qatar in the near future.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, this book was fascinating and dug deeper than some of the mass media narratives about Qatar during the World Cup. McManus immerses himself in Doha and surrounds, learning about this society that isn't what it seems. Because of class, gender, and race segregation, he works hard to gather perspectives (almost all male save a few female domestic workers) that lay out a country that is exploitative of most foreigners (only 11% of the people are Qatari, and Qatari citizenship is virtually impossible to gain if you're not born into a Qatari family), consumes the most energy per capita in the world, and is lost in a fog of oil wealth. Even though the chapters were relatively episodic, this book read very quickly and it was quite a treat to read.

[MRS CHRISTINE TUCKER · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating insight into life in Qatar

I could not put this book down. John McManus looks at many different aspects of the lives of Qatar citizens as well as the development of the country from the start of this century . His book is very readable and often disturbing . It is a society with many layers and he describes these in detail. I didn't really know much about Qatar, and I chose this book as we will stopping over there shortly for a few days and thought it would be interesting to know more about the country. If you want to understand more about Qatar would recommend reading the book.

[Sandeep Dutta · Rating 4 out of 5]

As somebody who moved in to Doha a couple of months back the book really helped me to make better sense of the sub-cultures that one encounters in this country. The writer's anthropological style makes the people of this country...the locals, the South Asian immigrants and the Westerners come alive and one gets the sense that while they all coexist in this glitzy city their worlds are quite separate and their interactions with each other are purely for business. The book has become my invaluable culture guide to the city though I do wish there was a bit more on the Qatari lifestyle and their perspective on the others.

[Pixie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a great read whether you into following FIFA football or other world sporting events as the author, who has resided & worked in Qatar, gives great insight to some of the Qatari culture (being written & published just before World Cup 2022). He's a social anthropologist, going about his job by talking to locals & partipating in as many events as possible to uncover what makes Qatari tick & what the people who live & work there think about the place, & he sprinkles just enough arabic words throughout the text to make one feel the authenticity of the narrative. It's fairly light & entertaining reading despite some of the horrors that he describes concerning the effects of globalisation upon this originally small & not particularly well-known Gulf country. These include some of the latest headlines about employment abuse towards manual workers & domestic helpers within the country & the complex legalities involved. Who even knew that their only business was pearl diving before the finding of 'black gold' & the natural gas deposits that have made this Arab country one of the top ten richest. However, another price has been paid in what appears to be an intense stratification of the working populace combined with strict controls to maintain Qatari culture (both religious & economic). McManus writes from a very 21st century viewpoint as he goes into long-term economic issues & sustainability & even just some basic climate issues (humidity & heat); worth a read just to see something of another country-a melting pot world of many cultures.

[Marçal Neto · Rating 5 out of 5]

Descobri esse livro na véspera da abertura da Copa do Mundo do Qatar. Não consegui ler todo o livro durante a Copa, como eu queria. Mas ainda assim foi útil pra ajudar a compreender esse país tão peculiar. O autor é um antropólogo britânico que morou um ano em Doha. O livro é um pouco acadêmico demais em algumas passagens. Mas no geral eu gostei muito da leitura. Os capítulos são divididos a partir de temas e relatos de conversas com pessoas com quem ele interagiu. Ele conseguiu dar uma boa ideia das complexidades e contradições do Qatar, fugindo do lugar-comum das análises rasas.

[Morag Forbes · Rating 3 out of 5]

The World Cup in Qatar and surrounding controversy sparked my interest to learn more about this country where 85% of the population aren’t citizens. McManus tries to find out what it is actually like to live in Qatar from people of all walks of life from rich Qataris to Kenyan maids to Nepalese construction workers. It had some fascinating nuggets of information but I don’t know if I learnt anything big that was new. More little details and anecdotes. Although the sheer scale of division and inequalities did hit me.

[Adrian · Rating 3 out of 5]

More of a travelogue of Qatar, this book read more like a memoir about the author’s life in Qatar, rather than an informative book about the country’s history and features. The Al-Thanis are the ruling tribe, yet there was not even a history on how they came to power and what they have done for the country, let alone any other biographical, geo-political or historical element that makes the country tick. We already know about kafala, workers’ non-rights and the underground. Left kore questions than answers.

[John Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this book at the library on a whim, having no previous interest. But McManus is an engaging and everyman writer, and has produced an very readable insight into a country that is a strange part of the modern world. He acknowledges his own limitations in navitive (ie citizens by birth) society. But he is a humane and human observer. And his writing style carried me happily along. Very much recommended

[Kalle Wescott · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read /Inside Qatar: Hidden Stories from One of the Richest Nations on Earth/ by John McManus:

https://geographical.co.uk/book-revie...

I was hoping for further insight than McManus gave...

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read for anyone interested in learning more about the World Cup. The author interacts and interviews all sorts of people living in Qatar to give a taste of what it's really like to live in Qatar.