Uneasy Lies The Head

by Hussein I of Jordan, الحسين بن طلال

It was on Friday, July 20, 1951, the second of two days that my grandfather and I were spending in Jerusalem, that tragedy, the cruelest of all teachers, helped to transform me from a boy into a man". Thus begins the author’s account of the assassination of his grandfather King Abdullah, and his explanation of how at his grandfather’s insistence that he, Hussein, wear a uniform, saved the author’s life.

This autobiography by King Hussein comprehensively reproduces the early years of his reign up to 1962, providing a fascinating insight into the growth and development of the kingdom and the beginnings of the Palestinian tragedy.

Genres: Biography, Politics, Middle East

306 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1962

About the author

King Hussein bin Talal (1935-1999)
(Arabic:الحسين بن طلال)

His Majesty King Hussein bin Talal, the father of modern Jordan, will always be remembered as a leader who guided his country through strife and turmoil to become an oasis of peace, stability and moderation in the Middle East. Among Jordanians, his memory is cherished as the inspiration for Jordan's climate of openness, tolerance and compassion. Known to his people as Al-Malik Al-Insan ("The Humane King"), King Hussein established a legacy which promises to guide Jordan for many years to come.

At the time of his passing on February 7, 1999, His Majesty was the longest serving executive head of state in the world. Of great significance to Muslims throughout the world, the late King Hussein was also the fortieth generation direct descendant of the Prophet Muhammad.

He was born in Amman on November 14, 1935, to Prince Talal bin Abdullah and Princess Zein al-Sharaf bint Jamil. King Hussein is survived by two brothers, Prince Muhammad and Prince El Hassan, and one sister, Princess Basma. After completing his elementary education in Amman, His Majesty attended Victoria College in Alexandria, Egypt, and Harrow School in England. He later received his military education at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in England.

Early in young Hussein’s life, and on July 20, 1951, his grandfather King Abdullah was martyred at al-Aqsa mosque in al-Quds (Jerusalem). Hussein was there, with his grandfather, as they went regularly to perform Friday prayers. A medal King Abdullah had recently given the young Prince Hussein, and which he wore after his grandfather’s insistence, saved Hussein from the assassin’s bullet.

On September 6, 1951, King Abdullah’s eldest son, King Talal, assumed the throne. He was soon followed by his eldest son, Hussein, who was proclaimed King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan on August 11, 1952. A Regency Council was appointed until King Hussein’s formal accession to the throne on May 2, 1953, when he assumed his constitutional powers after reaching the age of eighteen, according to the Islamic calendar.

Throughout his long and eventful reign, King Hussein worked hard at building his country and raising the living standard of each and every Jordanian. Early on, King Hussein concentrated on building an economic and industrial infrastructure that would compliment and enhance the advances he wanted to achieve in the quality of life of his people. During the 1960s, Jordan’s main industries -including phosphate, potash and cement- were developed, and a network of highways was built throughout the kingdom.

On the human level, the numbers speak for King Hussein’s achievements. While in 1950, water, sanitation and electricity were available to only 10% of Jordanians, today these reach 99% of the population. In 1960 only 33% of Jordanians were literate, while by 1996, this number had climbed to 85.5%. In 1961, the average Jordanian received a daily intake of 2198 calories, and by 1992, this figure had increased by 37.5% to reach 3022 calories. UNICEF statistics show that between 1981 and 1991, Jordan achieved the world’s fastest annual rate of decline in infant mortality -from 70 deaths per 1000 births in 1981 to 37 per 1000 in 1991, a fall of over 47%. King Hussein always believed that Jordan’s people are its biggest asset, and throughout his reign he encouraged all -including the less fortunate, the disabled and the orphaned- to achieve more for themselves and their country.

continue reading
http://www.kinghussein.gov.jo/biograp...

Reviews

[Lubna ALajarmah · Rating 4 out of 5]

كل ما يكتبه الحسين - رحمه الله - يصيبني بنشوة لا ادري سرّها ... هذا الملك الإنسان الذي ما زالت ذكراه موجودة الى اليوم بعد ثلاثة عشر عاما من وفاته .. أكاد اسمع صوته الآن يهدر على الإذاعة أو التلفزيون المحلي وهو يردد جملته المشهورة "فلنبني هذا البلد .. ولنخدم هذه الأمة".ه

تغطي السيرة فترة محددة من حياة الملك الحسين بن طلال رحمه الله، بدءاً من ولادة الملك عام 1935، وانتهاءً بولادة نجله الملك عبد الله الثاني عام 1961. وهي فترة حرجة مر بها الأردن، روى الملك الحسين الأحداث بأسلوب أدبي مشوّق وسرد تفصيلي للأحداث .. وكان عمره حين كتب الكتاب 26 عاما ..

كم تمنيت ان يكون هناك اجزاءً للكتاب لتغطية كل حياة الملك الراحل .. منذ ولادته حتى وفاته

[Akshay Mijar · Rating 4 out of 5]

An intriguing account of King Hussein’s life and Jordan during the tumultuous Nasserite era, provides a fresh perspective into the lives of the long standing monarchy in Jordan. However the events in this book only cover the early 60’s, thereby missing significant events that would eventually define his legacy.

[Freedom Breath · Rating 3 out of 5]

الصراحة في بعض الامور مطلوبة خصوصاً مايخص السرد التاريخي للأحداث السياسية وهذا اكثر مااعجبني في الكتاب

[Mohammad · Rating 2 out of 5]

ليست إلا محاولة لتلميع صورة أحد أكبر الخونة العرب برأيي.
لكن لا يمنع أنّي استفدت منه بعض الأمور.
مع أنّه يصعب الجزم بصحّة الكثير من الأحداث و ما إن كانت قد سارت هكذا فعلاً.

[Khalid Faisal · Rating 4 out of 5]

كتاب جميل يستعرض تاريخ الملك حسين بشكل خاص و الاردن بشكل عام ، اعجبني الحكمه الملك في الادراه الازمات السياسيه سواء الدخل او خارج . يعطي الملك تاريخ فلسطين علاقته مع اليهود طرح فريد ، انصح كل شاب عربي بذات قراء عن هذه الشخصيه الذي حكمت الاردن ٤٦ سنه

[Omar Elbasty · Rating 5 out of 5]

مذكرات الملك حسين تستعرض وجهة نظر مختلفة عما كان سائدا عن أحداث المنطقة العربية حتى أوائل الستينات من القرن الماضى، و من أبرز ما بهذه المذكرات فلسفة الملك حسين فى الحكم و علاقاته مع شعبه و من حوله من سياسيين، كما يستعرض إطار فكرى مختلف بخصوص الوحدة العربية عن الفكر الناصرى.

[احمد السرحان · Rating 5 out of 5]

الملك الحسين بن طلال بن عبدالله بن علي المغفور له بإذن الله رمز من رموز المملكة الأردنية الهاشمية

[Abeer · Rating 5 out of 5]

very important read for a completely different perspective on events than the one dominating the Arab world by Nasser of Egypt

[Gaser · Rating 2 out of 5]

A long justification for Jordan's creations and her stances and his hatred towards Nasser.

[Ahmad Amireh · Rating 4 out of 5]

وثيقة تاريخية هامة للسنوات العشرة الأولى من عهد الملك الحسين رحمه الله ... وفيها تعريج على شخصيته وطبيعة نشأته ومشاعره تجاه من حوله ... أكثر الفقرات إثارة هي تفاصيل نجاته من محاولات اغتياله المتعددة

[Shirin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I looked up this book because I was interested to know what has happened to the house of Hashims, or Bani Hashim, the descendants of the Prophet Muhammad after Mecca was taken by the house of Saud.

This is an autobiography of King Hussein 1 of Jordan. It was easy to read and quite fascinating although I cannot help feeling tired after reading each escapade ...attempts on His Majesty's life and there were quite a few. I cannot imagine being His Majesty's shoes.

The story began quite care freely, the young Hussein the love of King Abdullah,his grandfather; going to school in England and doing boy things, until the King was assassinated. Hussein's father was temporarily installed as King but due to his ailment, was replaced by Hussein at a mere 17 years old. Hussein had a year's reprieve when he was sent for military training at Sandhurst, still at 18, he was much too young to lose his freedom.

Having spent plenty of time with King Abdullah, Hussein understands that there are not many around the monarch that can be trusted. Those who appears to be loyal to his grandfather ran helter skelter when the old King was shot dead.

Many times when reading this book I thought Hussein as naive after time and again getting duped by Nasser of Egypt. In historical context I do not really car for the egyptians and saudis. I went away from this book with the perception that Nasser was a snake and the country as a whole was as poisonous as Israel. The Saudis are as notorious. The entire behavior of the arabs were nothing to be emulated. This books shows how true that Koran verse that says the arab are the worst of people. what with all the betrayal upon betrayal.

This book was published in 1962, clearly, Jordan lost a lot of its land and historical land mark mentioned by Hussein in the book, in 1967 in the six days war, all of which happened after this book was written.

[Areej M. · Rating 2 out of 5]

طباعة الكتاب سيئة (هناك الكثير من الأخطاء الإملائية)

غلب على السيرة الطابع العاطفي، ابتدأها براوية اغتيال جدهن التي من الواضح انها أثرت على شخصيته.
هناك الكثير من الأحداث غير موجودة في كتب التاريخ المدرسية في الاردن وخاصة ما تعلق بمحاولات الاغتيال، واسباب تنحي الملك طلال، وتفاصيل تعريب الجيش.

وضح على الكتاب هجوم خفي لجمال عبدالناصر الثائر الشيوعي في الدول العربية، وكيف حاول اغتياله غير مرة.

أكثر ما اساء للسيرة ان الكاتب حرص على بيان انه دائما يختار الخيار الصحيح رغم معارضة الاشخاص حوله وفي النهاية يكون قراره صحيح ونتفاجئ بفرحة الناس كلهم.

انتهى الكتاب الى فترة زواجه من الاميرة منى ... وقد كتبها في عمر 26 اي بعد 8 سنوات من توليه الحكم.

[Gundopush · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a good book that covers the tumultuous early life and first few years of King Hussein's rule. The writing is warm, conversational, welcoming, and refreshingly unassuming.

Occasionally the book veers into self aggrandizement, but the tone is so casual, it tends not to come across as arrogant.

Given the niche nature of the book; I am not sure its a book for everyone. If your interests lie in the Middle East and you have a special place in your heart for the little country that could, and God willing will for many more years, this book is for you. I really wish King Hussein had written a follow-up book towards the end of his reign.

[Al-anoud Al-Serhan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once you start you cannot put it down.a very intriguing memoir of a great man who took responsibility at a very young age with so much wisdom and foresight just like his grand father.facing challenges and keeping a much more critical eye on every Jordan's political and economic stability..May he rest in Peace

[Someone · Rating 3 out of 5]

كتاب أثر جداً على شخصيتي، طريقة السرد فيها طابع روائي ولكن هناك الكثير من الاخطاء الطباعية ولكنه كان جيداً، وتعلمت منه أن الملك عليه أن يكون خادماً لشعبه.
اقتباس:
"تذكر أن أهم شيءٍ في الحياة أن يكون لديك التصميم على العمل، وأن تبذل قصارى جهدك بغض النظر عن العوائق والصعوبات التي تواجهك. عندها فقط تستطيع أن تتعايش مع نفسك ومع الله."

[Arij Al-shalalfeh]

يتناول الكتاب حقبة قديمة من التاريخ الحديث، من الجيد ذكرها في مرحلة يقظة عربية أخرى، لنعلم سبب فشل اليقظة الأولى ونتداركها في اليقظة الحالية،،
يتحدث عن نفسه، عن شغفه وعن الأزمة التي فشلت بإبراز قادة حقيقيين ...
في منتصف الكتاب حيث بدأ يسرد الجانب السياسي من حياته ...

[Anajada · Rating 5 out of 5]

من احسن الكتب

[Lena Mohammed]

nith