Share with us what you have read on Pakistan. What will you recomend other guppies to read. What are your comments on books/authors.
I feel it’ll be a very informative exercise.
Pakistan / Afghanistan **
**The Idea of Pakistan (Steven Cohen)
A must read for every Pakistani & foreigner alike.
In the Graveyard of Empires: America's War in Afghanistan (Seth G. Jones)
If you wants to know why British, Russian, American's failed & Why will Pakistan will win :)
Descent into Chaos (Ahmed Rashid)
Would you like to know the in-depth about Taliban/Extremists Phenomena in Af-Pak? If yes, then this books is consider authority on this subject.
Friends not masters (Ayub Khan)
A good read on the Pakistan around 1950 to late 60's, even though i don't agree with most of the written content.
The Future & Past
The Next 100 Years: A Forecast for the 21st Century (George Friedman)
A good read on the Geo-politics around the world, specially the chapters on Muslim Countries.
How Islam Created the Modern World (Mark Graham)
A must read for every psycho-goat-lover-mullah, so you will know what were we and how we get into this gutter.
Re: Pakistan Affairs Book Club
Thanks Firenze. It will be wonderful, if you give some more description of each book and what you liked or disliked about these.
Jinnah: Wolperts book on the man is the definitive account ..'nuff said
Zulfi bhutto of Pakistan : Brilliant account of Pakistans most brilliant and flawed political genius.
Sherbaz Mazari: A journey into disillusionment ..a depressing read of the world of opposition politics, the Baloch tragedy with glimpes into the lives of many of the most famous political actors to walk Pakistans stage.
Ayesha Jalals works ..Modern South Asia: History, Culture, and Political Economy
the writer radically challeneged the traditional views ofaccepted the Pakistan movement..arguing that Jinnah in fact would have a loose confederation and used the Pakistan card as a negotiationg position till he was forced to accept it due to the intrasigence of Nehru
Feroz Ahmad: Ethnicity And Politics In Pakistan Slightly old book, but the author analyses pakistans complicated class and ethnic breakdown and explains the genesis and failure of many movements as well as challenging many myths. (e.g, answers why the Pakhtunistan movement never posed a real challenge to the Pakistan state, what were the origins of the MQM? )
Mukulika Banerjee Pathan Unarmed: Opposition & Memory in the North West Frontier. The story of a Muslim pacifist struggle and reform movement against the British ..a bit of an acdemic read but an inspiring and very topical story in this day and age.
Hussain Haqqani: Pakistan Between Mosque and Military ..Never liekd the author but he writes a concise history of Pakistan.
Hassan Abbas: Pakistans drift into extremism .. a modern day look at Musharrafs regime and terrorism
A few other honourable mentions..the last days of United Pakistan by GW Chodhry, a mirror to the Blind: AbduL Sattar Edhi and three cups of tea..
Pakistan / Afghanistan ** **The Idea of Pakistan (Steven Cohen) A must read for every Pakistani & foreigner alike.
In the Graveyard of Empires: America's War in Afghanistan (Seth G. Jones) If you wants to know why British, Russian, American's failed & Why will Pakistan will win :)
Descent into Chaos (Ahmed Rashid) Would you like to know the in-depth about Taliban/Extremists Phenomena in Af-Pak? If yes, then this books is consider authority on this subject.
Friends not masters (Ayub Khan) A good read on the Pakistan around 1950 to late 60's, even though i don't agree with most of the written content.
The Future & Past The Next 100 Years: A Forecast for the 21st Century (George Friedman) A good read on the Geo-politics around the world, specially the chapters on Muslim Countries.
How Islam Created the Modern World (Mark Graham) A must read for every psycho-goat-lover-mullah, so you will know what were we and how we get into this gutter.
are these available in india?
strange
Thanks Firenze. It will be wonderful, if you give some more description of each book and what you liked or disliked about these.
han jee yeh sahi rehay gaa
Re: Pakistan Affairs Book Club
@Frienze
Friends not matter by Ayub khan, is it still available in book stores in Pakistan or on net ?
@Frienze
Friends not matter by Ayub khan, is it still available in book stores in Pakistan or on net ?
i bought it from Amazon, it was used.
Oki found one, for you - again it’s used. but it’s worth to be part of your library.
are these available in india? strange
nawa aya way sohneya ?
A Historial Dictionary of PAkistan by Javed Barki - Probably the BEST dictionary of Pakistan from an amazing author. The only issue is that it was published in the late 90s. I remember being part of the recommended reading list from Cambridge University for their PAkistan Studies Olevels GCE examination. Barki is probably the most outstanding economist that Pakistan has ever seen and was working in World Bank at that time.
Cant remember the title, but Nadeem (or Naeem) Qasir had a book about the Ayub, Zia and Bhutto era. Again this book covered land reforms and political upheavals and were very neutral.
Stan Wolpert's books on Jinnah and Bhutto, no need to elaborate.
Re: Pakistan Affairs Book Club
Actually the historical dictionary of Pakistan now has a third edition updated in 2006... he added all the events till 2006... Just ordered my copy, trust me, its worth the $120 Hardcover.
Re: Pakistan Affairs Book Club
^ thanks i am ordering it.
Re: Pakistan Affairs Book Club
^ trust me, you will love it :D if you want to save a bit, go for t he paperback version... I bought hardcover because I feel a little guilty, back in the late 90s I was an Olevel student and I couldnt find this book all over Islamabad so I ended up photocopying the whole thing and it helped me score an A in Pak Studies. I think I owe that to Mr. Barki.
Thanks
Re: Pakistan Affairs Book Club
Pakistan, Between Mosque and Military
by Hussain Haqqani.
He shows military’s use of religion to define Pakistani identity … and the result of it.
Why would anyone want to read “Friends Not Masters”?! It’s an old old old book.
why would anyone want to read "Friends Not Masters"?! It's an old old old book.
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Well, I am little interested in the history from 1948 to 1960 and also in Ayub Khan era and his views.
It’s always been old, I mean for all of us who were born well after it was written but then again, it’s a great way to revisit history from the perspective of a person who was such an instrumental part of it.
Re: Pakistan Affairs Book Club
ISLAMIC PAKITAN
ILLUIONS & REALITY
A Comprehensive and detailed Plitical history of Pakistan
Throughout the chequered political history of Pakistan two factors have remained decisive: Islam and the army, in collaboration with civilian bureaucracy and feudal aristocracy. The intact feudal structure and religious institutions all worked in tandem for common interests in retaining the status quo and still pose a threat to any real social transformation. The dubious ruling regimes and opposition movements trying to dislodge them, both exploited Islam to the utmost. Those in power, used "religious" sentiments of ignorant masses to maintain their power and those thirsting for power, exploited the same sentiments in an attempt to manoeuvre their way in.
The book itself is not so heavy and author put his views very simply with references its start from Jinnah`s Vision about Pakistans and latter role of army and political parties.
This book is available on net for Free if someone interested I try to find out the source.
It's always been old, I mean for all of us who were born well after it was written but then again, it's a great way to revisit history from the perspective of a person who was such an instrumental part of it.
When i read history of us around 50s to late 60's, i was astonished how much liberal/tolerant our society was, people have less but they were happy. Heck, Pakistani's don't need VISA's for half of the so-called developed world.
Could you imagine a night club, Alcohol seller, a mosque, a church & a temple in a same row, this was real back then - and now ... this, my heart bleeds !