Ebook The Pirates of Somalia Inside Their Hidden World Jay Bahadur 9780307476562 Books

Product details Paperback 336 pages Publisher Vintage; Reprint edition (August 21, 2012) Language English ISBN-10 0307476561

The Pirates of Somalia Inside Their Hidden World Jay Bahadur 9780307476562 Books Reviews

• When I first heard about this book while the author was on his book tour, he was described as this kid who'd been unable to find a job as a journalist who had flown to Somalia. So, I had thought this book was an account of how he'd survived after doing this incredibly stupid thing. But in reality he was much smarter than that, he planned his adventure so he had a greater than 50 percent chance of coming home. He hooked up with a local agency that provided him with UN trained bodyguards, secure housing, translators, clan access. So, he wasn't stupid which makes the book much more interesting to read. You get the sense that the local people appreciate that an outsider sat down and let them tell their story, even if their story strains credibility frequently. It is a remarkably fair and balanced account. It is a lively fact-based story.
  
  Where it failed for me was the epilogue where he comes to the conclusion that the solution to the problem is a generous influx of cash with few strings attached. The solution to most problems -- the US educational system, third world garbage pickers, the end to our reliance on fossil fuels, unemployment -- could all be fixed by massive influxes of non-judgmental cash. One more set of people with their hand out, saying just trust us, we'll make somebody's life better, we'll get back to you on that, doesn't really convince me at this point.
• "Pirates of Somalia" is a stupefyingly audacious book. Actually, it brings it a far bit short to call Jay Bahadur's work simply a "book." It's more life-altering project. Bored writing marketing reports, he conceives an idea to fly to Somalia and get the straight scoop on this international phenomenon by talking directly to its protagonists. Amazingly, he finds a willingness in the people he writes to and - a mere weeks later - he's winging it into a nearly ungovernable country meeting up with contacts heretofore unseen. Say what you want about the book's execution, but in terms of sheer audacity of action Hats off, my man. Bravo.
  
  I knew I was in the right place when Bahadur's references Aidan Hartley's The Zanzibar Chest early on. I view Hartley's book as a masterpiece of reporting and memoir. It's easily one of the best five books I've read. Bahadur quotes a passage in which Hartley "describes in chilling detail the life-and-death importance of clan lineage during the worst days of the [Somalian civil] war." If you see Hartley as your model, I'm in.
  
  Bahadur focuses his reporting on the Puntland State of Somalia, the hotbed of piracy. He seeks to cover what he enumerates as the "four main causes explain[ing] the rise of piracy in Puntland geopolitics, environmental factors, economic adversity, and breakdown of governance." What makes the book sing this is no armchair analysis from a comfortable, far-away seat. This is face-to-face, winning-hearts-and-minds, chew-the-khat, ride-the-Toyota Surf-to-the-small-village, meet-the-elders, hire-the-bodyguards-and-translators reporting. Very, very well done.
• Very informative. It gave a unique perspective on the crisis.
• I gave this 3 stars (almost 4) but just could not do it in good faith. I really admire Jay for just
  doing this book in the first place. For those who are interested in how and why the Pirates got
  started....it's a good book. Some of the book is a little boring....but I did get through it. The
  pirate "business models" seemed a little contrived....but who knows...they may be "right on"
  I liked his discriptions of the towns and some of the characters he met. I recommend this book!
  Chase Johnson
  Charlotte NC
• Excellent factual book on what is going on in Somalia.
• Bought the book after watching the movie. Book story line feels redundant at times but otherwise is quite captivating
• Freakonomics style read for somali pirates, entertaining and informative!
  In this thorough research, Bahadur highlights the reasons for piracy and describes the daily activities of pirates.
• Great book