Hosni Mubarak

Children's Literature

Hosni Mubarak is such a private man that it was difficult to write a thorough biography, so this book is more a history of modern Egypt than an "up close and personal" look at the President of Egypt. Mubarak was a pilot and military leader, picked from the ranks to be Anwar Sadat's Vice President and then tossed by fate into the presidency. He is portrayed as a scrupulously honest man who dislikes the pomp and ceremony of office. "When every chicken lays an egg, must I be present for the photographer," he once asked. Mubarak, however, while still respected as an Arab leader, has not been able to solve the issues that have plagued Egypt for decades—abject poverty and dependence on foreign aid as well as the rise of Islamic fundamentalism at home and the Israeli-Palestinian issues abroad. The information is thorough and useful for student reports and both the index and chronology are good. But there are few interesting photos, human interest anecdotes or even attention-getting subtitles, so it is not likely to be read cover to cover. The series covers a wide range of leaders from Yasir Arafat and Menachem Begin to Jimmy Carter, George W. Bush, Vladimir Putin and Vicente Fox. The opening essay on leadership by noted historian Arthur Schlesinger is intellectually demanding and unappealingly printed in small type with small margins. This would be valuable primarily for generating discussion or writing projects by very advanced students. Part of the "Major World Leaders" series. 2003, Chelsea House,
— Karen Leggett