Revolution for Dummies

It’s not often that I review a book before I have even finished it but I could not wait. And it’s not often I buy a book on Kindle and then feel the need to buy a physical copy too. That’s how much I am enjoying this funny, wise, elegantly written, informative excursion by one of my heroes. Courage comes in many forms and Youssef has it. The courage to point at the emperor and say he has no clothes, and then laugh because a naked man leading a parade is funny.Read this because it’s an important book. Read it to learn some truths about a very complicated region of this earth. And read it to learn something about life and politics wherever you live. Nothing any human being does or says is too sacred for satire.And finally, read it to have a good laugh, because goodness knows, we all need one.

If you really want to understand what happened in Egypt for the last 6 years, this is the book to read. Written by a doctor and a satarist. Quite funny and informative without the boring technicalities that more political analysts put in. Great job Bassem.

> "If you ask questions you are either a traitor, an infidel, or both. Fact checking authorities is looked upon as a form of mutiny against the country or against God. If you challenge those claims, you don't like the country or you are misinformed by "mainstream media", which is not telling you the "truth.""Quick sanity check - do you think that the quote above references the current Egyptian dictatorship under Sissi or the current US government under Trump's administration?The correct answer is actually Egypt, but isn't it weird that you have to think about it? Bassem Youssef's book chronicling his adventures and experiences through not one BUT TWO revolutions in Egypt is a fantastic read. His insights into the kind of populism that led to a religious dictatorship, followed by the current military dictatorship under Sissi are extremely intelligent and thought provoking.He had to literally leave his country because he was going to get arrested and probably jailed forever (maybe executed?) for hosting an Arab version of the Daily Show that didn't always show the Egyptian government in great light. It was literally the most popular show in Egypt at one point.After spending the first ⅔’s of the book chronicling the Egyptian revolutions, he shares some good insights into the parallels between what he experienced there and what he saw during Trump's campaign.> "But as I was inside the Republican convention it was deja vu for me. I would sometimes translate parts of their speeches in my head and they would sound exactly the same as the ones I heard back home. The fear, the xenophobia, the hate, they all came in different shapes and forms; only, they were wearing more expensive suits and had much pastier skin."This was a really good read, and I'm glad that Youssef didn't "disappear" back in Egypt, which looks like it could have been a distinct possibility *several* times. I'll definitely keep an eye out in the future for books like this that help give me more of a global perspective of the world.>"Just when I thought I'd left the madness behind me, I came to America to find the Orange Menace taking over your country. Is it me? Am I bringing bad luck everywhere I go? Am I a dictator magnet?"

Bassem Youssef is an extraordinary personality who deserves to be a major international star. He gets billed as the "Jon Stewart of Egypt" but Stewart himself acknowledges that Youssef had it a lot more difficult; Stewart was never at risk of arrest or of having his show shut down. And you can't help but admire someone who can do humor (and satire) in two different languages.The book is a highly informative, frequently humorous accounting of his five years from the beginning of his show "Al Bernameg" to his exile in the United States. If you've seen his many interviews or seen the documentary film "Tickling Giants," much of the material here will be familiar, but it provides greater detail and a requisite amount of snark. Buy it. Buy it for your friends.

I was a skeptic of Bassem Youssef, thought he was was trying too hard to be funny compared with Jon Stewart, then almost had a chance to work as a video editor on his documentary "Tickling Giants." I didn't get hired. Instead, I worked on doc about Syria and ISIS for NatGeo. In retrospect, working on a documentary about the Arab Spring in Syria drew many parallels with Egypt and stories Bassem recounted in his book. I have a renewed respect for him. His comments about the establishment mimic those of the people in Egypt whom I know personally and who believe the propaganda. I just wonder if he believes that if Sissi shouldn't have run for president, who should have? Does he think there would have been fair elections?

The "Jon Stewart of Egypt" describes his role in the Arab Spring and his view of its tragic failure, as Egypt went from hope to hypocritical religious dictatorship to a secular military dictatorship that was even worse and even more absurd. At one point the military announced that they'd developed a machine that cured Hepatitis C, cancer, and impotence, and their supporters believed it completely, saying any evidence to the contrary was a fake news conspiracy to make Egypt look bad (sound familiar?) Bassem Youseff's narrative is filled with humor, but also anger and deep sorrow for what his country has become. A must-read.

I enjoyed the book. I thought the descriptions of all the events happening in Egypt at the time were very enlightening. However, I only give 3 stars due to the author’s decision to comment on American politics. He doesn’t hide that he has an obvious slant to the left. His consistent comments about Trump (as though the Dems are any better) was a turn-off. Given all the nonsense with Black Lives Matter and how corrupted the Biden campaign is with huge tech companies such as Apple and Google, I wonder if the author’s opinion has changed? Because he is an imigrant, probably not, which diminishes his credibility as a true “satirist.” Will he make fun of BLM or Biden? Wait and see. Nope.

Received the book in a good condition and earlier than it should be.Great book, gear writer.

Great book . Full of information about the Arabic spring with loads of humor .

Bassem Youssef logra con mucho éxito contar la historia del éxito (y fracazo) de la primavera árabe y cómo la política, la religión y las redes de poder harán cualquier cosa para preservar el status quo seguir en dominio, aún si se trata "sólo" del programa de sátira política más visto en la historia de la televisión egipcia.Revolution For Dummies es un libro muy ligero lleno de humor que recomiendo mucho si te gusta el estilo de John Stewart, Stephen Colbert, Trevor Noah o Samantha Bee... Vale muchísimo la pena.

One of the most welcome suprises and positive sidce-effect suprises of the Arab Spring was the emergence of Bassem Youssef and his show Albernameg . The former heart surgeon started recording youtube videos with a political thematology during the first days of the Arab Spring in Egypt . Although with no prior stand up comedy or acting experience , Youssef proved to be a natural comedian in front of the stage , goofy , geeky and adorable and soon was the host of the most popular political satire show on Arab tv . Most importantly though , Youssef is opinionated , politiacal creature with well rounded thoughts and low tolerance on political manipulation and he didn't shy away from that on his show .The book chronicles his rise to fame in a time of great turmoil but also great hope for Egypt to the persecution and hassling that eventually followed first by the islamists and then by the army status quo , to the inevitable exile first in Dubai and then in the US . The mood of the book also changes as the pages turn , displaying initially lots of self-sarcasm and awe of the new possibilities for Youssef , to the despair and anger that followed . The cheeky emoji on the cover and the funny tittle prepare you for some harmless biopic with ,aybe some light policial commentary but the final product is something much darker . The chapter where the egyptian army claims to have discovered a devide that cures AIDS in order to fire up nationalism among the population is especially blood-chilling .Youssef has become a good friend of his idol Jon Stewart and Stewart has repeatedly pointed out the remarkable bravery of Youssef to pull the show off for as long as it went in a climate that made that extremelly dangerous . In an interview available for youtube organized by Chicago Ideas , an arab spectator asks Youssef during a Q&A "if there's any reason to give back where you came from ? " , The question felt more like an accusation and one can see Yousseff answering calmly that the place needs you to give you the conditions to allow you to offer . Saddly today's Egypt doesn't . Youssef though with his presence and career has already given back so much and helped also challenge many racist stereotypes that have prevailed in many people's minds ( including mine i'm ashamed to admit ) about the arab world of being something monolithic , made up of mostly apolitical , conspirancy loving and ultra conservative individuals . Its voices like Youssef's and femisist writer Mona Elthahawy's that display wit and brilliant intelligence that leaves you eager to hear , listen and learn more about this region of the world .

It is less funny and more intense. It is a total from the heart memoir about a medical professional getting in to comedy at the thick of the Egyptian Revolution.I totally loved reading this book. I didn't feel like putting it down. The real life story moves at a very fast pace and you are anxious for what happens next. The author endures a lot and it gives us a lot of glimpse into the life and culture during the revolution in a very first had account.