The Egyptian Revolution in early 2011 saw President Mubarak step down. Many books offer insight into the causes of the revolution. Three eBooks are: Egypt on the Brink by Tarek Osman, Inside Egypt by John R Bradley and The Last Pharaoh: Mubarak and the Uncertain Future of the Middle East by Aladdin Elaasar.
Egypt on the Brink by Tarek Osman
This very topical book was published on Jan. 11, 2011. The book covers (among other aspects) the following subjects.
- What has happened in Egypt since Nasser became President in 1954
- The part played by Egypt in the development of Arab Nationalism and "radical Islam"
- The relationship between Muslims and Christians
- The "rift" in Egypt that now separates the "cosmopolitan elite" and the "mass of undereducated and underemployed population"
Inside Egypt by John R Bradley
This book has as its subtitle "The Land of the Pharaohs on the Brink of a Revolution." Given the events in Egypt in early 2011 this subtitle was accurately prophetic. The book was initially banned in Egypt, then the ban was quickly rescinded.
The book has been widely praised. One review states that the author sees Egyptian politics and society slowly disintegrating under pressure from "a ruthless military dictatorship at home and a flawed Middle East policy in Washington." Words and phrases used to praise the book in reviews include the following:
- "offers a compelling explanation for the anger now being seen on the streets of Cairo"
- "highly readable and thoughtful"
- "a highly informed and temperate account"
The Last Pharaoh: Mubarak and the Uncertain Future of the Middle East by Aladdin Elaasar
The subjects covered by the book include:
- Egyptian History from 1952
- the Mubarak regime
- a prediction of the fall of the Mubarak regime
- how the fall of the Mubarak regime will affect the interests of the United States and the West in the Middle East
According to website reviews of the three books, they offer insight into what led to the 2011 revolution and the role played by former President Mubarak. These books and many others on Egypt may help the discerning reader understand how the 2011 revolution may affect not only the policy of America and the West in the Middle East but also what the impact may be on important countries such as Iran.
Sources
The Yale University Press Website Egypt on the Brink
The Macmillan Website - Inside Egypt
The Barnes and Noble Website - The Last Pharaoh
John Bartels - John is a Lawyer (retired). A qualified Attorney, Notary Public and Conveyancer John has a BA,LLB from the University of Cape Town, South ...
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