Revolution for Dummies: Laughing Through the Arab Spring

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.

This is the most awesome book I've ever read and that is no exaggeration. This is real. A guy put his life on the line to show people how utterly ridiculous the leaders of his country are. i can't imagine the bravery of such a person who would take on the fear and hatred like he did. He's a Jedi Knight but instead of a light saber he wields words that are even stronger.And to top it off I highlighted more in this book than I ever have in any book. This is wisdom worth keeping.

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 LOVED this book. I figured I would since I like Bassem. Despite not being Egyptian, I have been obsessed with the country for almost a decade, and had to snap myself out of seeing Cairo with rose-colored glasses regularly while I was there. Egypt has a problematic political history, and it's nice to see a native acknowledge it, and call out who needs to be called out.Much of the book is written how one would expect a comedian to write it, but then it takes a turn when he describes how he had to leave his home country. If the reader is focused while reading the book, they can appreciate how he prepares you for it.

> "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?"

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.

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.

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 .

Highly recommended as an alternative to the dusty academic tomes about Egypt’s short-lived “Arab Spring” of 2011. The author speaks from a unique position as the leading television satirist of the country’s ruling classes, a dangerous role that eventually sees him the targeted from all sides. Read this, compare it to US elections of 2016 and the current behaviour of the ruling Conservative Party in the U.K. then be afraid, be VERY afraid.

Great insight to Arab spring from one who lived through it. America always blamed but not always at fault. Good insight from a man with sense of humour. Recommend it highly

Great insight of what had happened.He is a great satire comedians.

An interesting book from someone who lived through one. A sad eye opener