How Sweet this Dangerous Dream: a literary and political biography of Muammar Gaddafi, Leader of the Revolution

by Debbie Davis

A literary and political biography of Muammar Gaddafi, Leader of the Revolution. Most Western readers do not know the real story of a man, who was born in a Bedouin tent, destined to follow a nomadic life, wandering across Libya with his family. But his father recognized that this long-awaited son was special, and he sent the boy to school at age 10. Little Muammar had to walk the more than 20 miles to the school and back home on weekends. Despite his extreme poverty--he slept on the Mosque floor at night--he not only loved to learn, but to share what he learned with other children too poor to go to school. Like American boys, he loved his family, his religion and his country. He longed to make a difference and to honor all three---and he grew up to do just that. To the end of his life, he remained true to his Muslim faith, his family and the country he rescued from Colonial enslavement. He was always on the side of freedom and supported those who fought for it. He was not a terrorist and he didn't support terrorism, but he became the man the West loved to hate and demonize. Though he was only known as his country's Leader and Guide, he invented a form of democracy his nation practiced, and he sought to help the countries of Africa, the West branded and described him as a "brutal dictator". Despite overwhelming evidence that his country loved and wanted him to remain their leader, the West was dermined in 2011 to do what their previous assassination attempts had failed to eliminate Gaddafi. Shortly before his death, Gaddafi told the West that he "was in a place you will never get I am in the hearts of millions." Once you know his life story, you will see why this has remained and will continue to remain true.

Genres: Africa

758 pages, Paperback

Published June 6, 2017

Reviews

[Bobby Daugherty · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the only book I could find on Gaddafi that wasn't obvious propaganda. I remember him from the 80's and the Reagan hostilities. When Hillary Clinton cackled on the news in celebration of his murder, and I saw the footage of his violation on the news repeatedly I could feel nothing but disgust. Disgust at the cowardly way he was murdered, at the blatant destruction of Libya for no other reason than it could not be exploited as much as some wished, and that the honor and chivalry that the west could boast of in the past was nowhere to be found. That said the book is a pro-Gaddafi book and it offers some insight into what helped to mold his character. The author seemed to be ignorant of his book "My Vision" as she only discusses "The Green Book" and "Escape to Hell". The paperback is double spaced, so it is a quick read even at over 700 pages.

[Ellis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good historical overview. It does have a tendency to make long tangents bug the history is some of the best accounts I’ve seen yet of Gaddafi. It includes some quite important details about how the Fatah Revolution was carried out and the development of it towards the Cultural Revolution and then the Jamahiriya.
The ending could have been aided by more analysis of the uprising, the lies said about Gaddafi and the invasion of Libya by NATO imperialist states.

Overall a good look at who Gaddafi was!

[Luis Biel · Rating 5 out of 5]

La triste historia de un hombre que se enfrento al Sistema