Publisher: HarperCollins
Authors: Madeleine Albright
List Price: $25.95
Amazon Price: $16.35
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Reviews:
Summary: An easy read!
It is obvious that Madeleine Albright is a teacher because she knows how to communicate complex issues in an understandable manner.
Summary: I wish she had aimed higher!
Though I had seen Ms. Albright discussing her book on TV, I had not intended to read it until my wife brought it home from our library. Now that I have, I am pleased that I did read it and that she took the time (along with her co-author) to write it. First, Ms. Albright makes clear she is european-born, and raised a Catholic, though Jewish by heritage. We know that she has been our UN Ambassador, our Secretary of State and an experienced Professor at Georgetown University. Thus, I believe, there should be no doubt that she has the intellectual and experiential credentials to shed more light than heat on the current debate / crisis regarding Islam and the Middle East. Unfortunately, I felt, on finishing, that she did not aim sufficiently high, perhaps underestimating her audience, in her approach, and, as a result, touched too many subjects too lightly. Some examples: She devotes a chapter to Learning About Islam. Perhaps necessary, but I would suggest that most who read her book have already done some study, and those who have not, could have been better aimed at one of several available books, for example, The Life and Times of Muhamad by Sir John Glubb, a short history, by an Englishman who actually lived in Arabia for most of his adult life. Also, she leaves questions unexamined. For example, she quotes Abdel Rahman al-Rashad, general manager of the satellite new shannel Al Arabiya as saying: "It is a certain fact that not all Muslims are terrorists, but it is equally certain, and exceptionally painful, that almost all terrorists are Muslims......" Then later, in a footnote following a discussion for Christians, Jews and Muslims attempting to agree, she says "In September 2005, world leaders considered but failed to agree on a definition of terrorism that had been proposed by Kofi Annan. The main issue was whether actions taken to resisit occupation should be considered terrorism if they result in the death or injury of noncombatants." I would have appreciated a deeper analysis--if Muslim clergy can not agree that terrorism cannot include actions taken directly against civilian noncombatants, then what is the rest of the world to think / do?
While she does discuss Iran, it is for the most part an historical discussion of the Shah's period with almost nothing on the current Iranian government / situation. This seems at the minimum an oversight, and at worst, intentional. With chapters on Saudi Arabia and on Africa, I believe more time / analysis should have been given to Iran's role in Islam / terrorism / Middle East supremacy.
I found her suggested Seven Steps, in the eighteenth chapter, a good starting point for positive actions, for example, "Localize don't globalize", and "Don't play with matches". Again, more could have been done with these, creating a process, or a matrix of actions, countries, people and organizations, as points of departure for others to develop.
On the subject of religion, I found it less problematic that leaders would find it difficult to completely divorce their decisions from their beliefs (and I suspect that most of us believe that), but rather that the concept would be introduced by a member of a former Presidential Administration which showed little if any belief in an Almighty, but rather in expedience and indirection.
Finally, and I find this encouraging, I saw in the Amazon page, that more than 80% of those who bought this book, then went on to by Tom Friedman's "The World is Flat". I would suggest that those interested in continuing to learn read both Friedman's "The Lexus and The Olive Tree" and Walter Russel Mead's "Power, Terror, Peace, and War". The latter is a relatively short read, and will provide the reader with more powerful analyses than did Ms. Albright. On the positive side, I found that her regular, repeated emphasis that solutions will require a great deal of time encouraging, especially in light of the constant media barrage of questions why it is taking so long to 'end the war'; 'get Usama bin Laden', 'stop the terrorist homicides against civilians', etc.. We need more writers examining what needs to be done, and less crying for immediate solutions.
Summary: Madeline in the middle?
There is a temptation when dealing with unruley dogs, children, and nations, to think 'fair' means down-the-middle.
Madeline Albright's The Mighty and the Almighty, is not a down-the-middle book. She has a view of religion, world issues and America that has roots deep in her experience and political life. This is not the work of a focused political animal though. The Mighty and the Almighty is the mature, considered and informed thoughts of one of the world's most experienced statespersons.
If you are interested in the way the world is unfolding, why nations think and behave the way they do, and where the perils and the pearls of our future lie you are cheating yourself if you don't read this book. Democrats who don't read the book thinking they know what it will say, and Republicans who shun it thinking, 'same old, same old,' will wind up the poorer for it. There is much in this book both will agree with, and much that will make them think, and likely rethink.
I came to this book reluctantly --- not what I thought I'd want as summer reading, but I'd been encouraged by someone who I knew wasn't a Democrat, and whose opinion I respected. I thank them, and I thank Ms Albright. God has given Ms Albright many advantages and opportunities. He/She likely has high expectations of her. I suspect that with the publication of The Mighty and the Almighty, God is well satisfied with the dividend on the investment.
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