Appearance
A Soldier's Story: From Ottoman Rule to Independent Iraq: The Memoirs of Jafar Al-Aksari
Jafar Al-Askari was a man to admire and he is a man that all Arabs should be proud to call their own. Jafar was one of the bravest soldiers of World War II, out-witting all the Western generals (he fought against the British with the Germans and after the Ottoman Sultan murdered many of his friends, he came to see that Arab lands would never know freedom under the Ottomans; then he switched sides and fought WITH the British.) He won the highest medals from both the German Army and the British Army, and was greatly admired by soldiers from both countries.This was a man who was so brilliant that he wowed the biggest statesmen of the world. While serving Iraq as Foreign Minister to Iraq, he obtained his law degree in England and became a barrister!In 1936, Jafar returned to Iraq at the request of the Prime Minister, who happened to be his brother-in-law, and best friend, Nouri Al-Said, the man who ruled Iraq (under King Faisal I, II, and King Ghazi I). Tragically, Jafar was the first of the Iraqi Ministers assassinated, setting off a stream of events that led to Saddam Hussein, the first Gulf War and the second Gulf War. Had Jafar lived, it is believed that the formation of modern day Iraq would have had a much better outcome. Certainly, the wars fought by Iraq against Iran, Kuwait, and the Western governments would have been avoided. Think of the lives that would have been saved if only this one man had lived. Jafar was a statesman who believed in compromise, and he would have led Iraq in a different, more peaceful direction.This man was the grandfather of the modern day Mayada Al-Askari, whose story is told in Mayada, Daughter of Iraq. Jafar was killed before Mayada was born, but she was told about the wonderful Jafar by her own beloved father, Nizar. Mayada lived in Iraq under the brutal Saddam, and escaped after being falsely arrested and thrown into prison.These two books, A Soldier's Story, and Mayada, Daughter of Iraq, should be required reading. Both books are lively and entertaining, yet filled with so many interesting Iraqi antedotes that if a reader was to read these two books ONLY, that person would receive an entertaining education on Iraq, and much of the Arab world.I highly recommend these two books. I hope everyone who reads this review takes my advice. You won't regret it.Also: Both books are perfect gifts for soldiers in the field, those brave men and women who are putting their lives on the line.
A Soldier's Story: From Ottoman Rule to Independent Iraq: The Memoirs of Jafar Al-Aksari
I recently met the author of Mayada, Daughter of Iraq, and made the wonderful discovery that Jafar Al-Askari, a great Arab hero, is the paternal grandfather of Mayada. It's a wonderful edition to Mayada and I plan on recommending this book to many people. The Al-Askari family was indeed special and had Mayada's grandfather lived (he was assasinated in 1936 when serving as Defense Minister of Iraq)I believe that Iraq's history would have been very different.This story about Mayada's grandfather is wonderful. I do recommend it, along with the story of Mayada. (That one written by Jean Sasson.)
Things I'Ve Had to Learn over and over and over (Plus a Few Minor Discoveries)
... and his friends. Charles Schulz definitely had a gift for looking below the surface for something deeper and then distilling what he found into a line drawing and a single sentence caption. If you want to laugh, cry, and think a little at the same time, this book is perfect. A great gift too.Highly recommended.
Educating Your Child in Modern Times
This booklet is a three paper compilation on the issues with modern education.I read this set as a book, and was disappointed; Mostly because no major issues are conquered or thesis's proven.Rather each section, opens the readers eyes to the problems in modern education. If you want to read a refreshing point of view, or if you know of someone who could use the mental shakeup, then this booklet will be worthwhile.Two of the selections in this set are abbreviated versions of much larger books (and hence are available elsewhere).I didn't gain much from this set, but I'd already read the much larger book by John Taylor Gatto, which made up section 2 in this booklet.
More Than Petticoats: Remarkable Wisconsin Women (More than Petticoats Series)
I've read about four of these books so far and they've all been interesting. If you love history and insight into the past, you'll love these books!
The Tesseract (Nova Audio Books)
As a Filipino American, I read this book with a critical eye. I was impressed initially of Garland's grasp of Filipino language and his descriptions of Manila life. The narrative was not the greatest, at times slow, mundane, and lacking in texture. Part II of the book was, I think, most unbelievable. The book left me wondering whether Western writers actually see places like Manila the way it is written in The Tesseract. If so, then it gives reason not to read this book.