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lsparrow's review against another edition
3.0
It was so great to read more about this woman who was such a force in Pakistan. It was amazing how eloquent she was in discussing islam, democracy and women's rights. I also appreciated the review of Pakistan's history ( although she at time appears to blindly idealize her father, the idea of Pakistan and her own role in Pakistan politics). The reason I could not rate it higher was the writing. It was as though it never got the proper editing. The chapters have several different styles and some information is repeated while other issues get a brief treatment. Despite that it made me want to read her earlier book.
boreasword's review against another edition
5.0
Required reading for anyone who wishes to better understand the tense relationship between Muslim majority Nations and the West. Academically rigorous, powerful, and enlightening.
rcpope's review against another edition
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
3.5
michellel123's review against another edition
3.0
Fascinating reading. Taught me a lot about Islam and the historical relationship between Islam and the West. Bhutto is such a loss to our world.
veessa's review against another edition
4.0
I read this book on and off since late 2022, and going back to it this December I can say that I got something out of it.
erikars's review against another edition
3.0
In the end, this is kind of a two star book that gets an extra star because it contains a first hand account of the some of Pakistan's struggles with democracy.
In this book Bhutto -- who was assassinated not long after she returned to Pakistan and shortly after the book was completed -- tries to do many things. She gives an Quranic exegesis of why Islam and democracy are compatible despite the claims of extremists, she shares a personal account of her role in Pakistan's struggle for democracy, she gives a history of Pakistan, she takes us on a whirlwind tour of democracy in Muslim nations, and she presents her case for taking a stance for reconciliation between Western and Muslim nations and rejecting the Clash of Civilizations view of the relationship between Islam and the West.
Bhutto's exegesis is fairly successful in so far as it is sufficient to show that the Quran, like the Bible, can be interpreted in many ways. She did not convince me that the Quran was being misused to to justify violence anymore than I am convinced by progressive Christians that the Bible can't be used to justify any number of horrible things. However, she did convince me that it could also be used to justify a worldview that supported equality, democracy, and modernization. (When you don't believe these books come from a divine source, you don't get so caught up on their plurality of perspective.)
The other part of the book that is successful is where she is presenting her role in Pakistan's history as a memoir. Her account of the first attempt on her life the night of her final return to Pakistan was particularly compelling. When she switches to broader themes, it's clear that she is presenting a biased case -- not an unfairly biased case, but biased in the way that politicians always emphasize the themes that align with their goals.
Overall, I'm glad I read this, because I did learn a lot. But sadly -- and likely because of time and political pressure -- this book did not have the opportunity to grow into what it was attempting to be.
In this book Bhutto -- who was assassinated not long after she returned to Pakistan and shortly after the book was completed -- tries to do many things. She gives an Quranic exegesis of why Islam and democracy are compatible despite the claims of extremists, she shares a personal account of her role in Pakistan's struggle for democracy, she gives a history of Pakistan, she takes us on a whirlwind tour of democracy in Muslim nations, and she presents her case for taking a stance for reconciliation between Western and Muslim nations and rejecting the Clash of Civilizations view of the relationship between Islam and the West.
Bhutto's exegesis is fairly successful in so far as it is sufficient to show that the Quran, like the Bible, can be interpreted in many ways. She did not convince me that the Quran was being misused to to justify violence anymore than I am convinced by progressive Christians that the Bible can't be used to justify any number of horrible things. However, she did convince me that it could also be used to justify a worldview that supported equality, democracy, and modernization. (When you don't believe these books come from a divine source, you don't get so caught up on their plurality of perspective.)
The other part of the book that is successful is where she is presenting her role in Pakistan's history as a memoir. Her account of the first attempt on her life the night of her final return to Pakistan was particularly compelling. When she switches to broader themes, it's clear that she is presenting a biased case -- not an unfairly biased case, but biased in the way that politicians always emphasize the themes that align with their goals.
Overall, I'm glad I read this, because I did learn a lot. But sadly -- and likely because of time and political pressure -- this book did not have the opportunity to grow into what it was attempting to be.
myounis's review against another edition
3.0
It's been a while since I read it. When I was a teenager.. Need to read it again.
monica_r_jae's review against another edition
5.0
Such an important book. Whether you agree with the Bhutto family politics or not, this book provides invaluable insight into a centuries old conflict.
arixen's review against another edition
3.0
I was mildly disappointed that this wasn't more about Pakistan. It was more about quoting the Quran and citing other people's ideas. I was expecting way more than the run of the mill east vs west in democracy and how to make it work. Clearly the ideas don't seem to be working...
k8iedid's review against another edition
4.0
This has been on my TBR list for years and it was pure subconscious that I (finally) picked it up right after finishing Albright's FASCISM. It was really wonderful to immerse myself into these 2 women's perspectives on global politics.
I learned a lot about Islam and politics and am so glad I finally read this.
I learned a lot about Islam and politics and am so glad I finally read this.