The Maldives: Islamic Republic, Tropical Autocracy Paperback – Illustrated, 18 Nov. 2015

It is unusual for a book entirely dedicated to the Maldives to come out, and here it is from an English journalist who lived and worked there for four years. The book is a compendium of his time there. It touches upon many aspects of Maldivian life, with special attention to the political dimension. Loads of facts and footnotes but also some opinions and evaluations. The book is written loosely in chronological manner, and it ends with the author's departure in 2013.The general approach is typically English, ie detached. John J gets to know a lot about the Maldives but one does not get the impression he ever fell in love with the country, or was emotionally involved with it at all. But that is not a criticism, in fact perhaps it is a good thing in a journalist!What the book lacks is a more critical organization of the issues, but perhaps as a journalistic chronicle it was never intended to delve in political analysis. Still, you will find more raw material for political analysis her than in any other book I know of that has been written on this country in the last decades.I recommend reading this book to understand more about a country known mostly for its resorts. May I also suggest my own book Viaggio alle Maldive: Arcipelago in bilico: una non guida per svelare le isole which is out in Italian, with an English version coming out soon here on Amazon.

A very surprising expose of the dark underside of the idyllic Maldives. It doesn't hit the headlines as much as it should. There is clearly a small coterie of people who are manipulating the Maldivian society to their own ends much to the disadvantage of the majority.

A must read to understand the socio-political atrocity in Maldives. Most people know Maldives as a beautiful tourist attraction and want to exploire it's beauty, but if you like to exploire Maldives' hidden miseries The Maldives: Islamic Republic, Tropical Autocracy, is the best read. Azra Syed- journalist/ researcher on human rights and political issues.