Pakistan: Eye of the Storm by Owen Bennett Jones (2003)

Having willfully ignored Pakistan for years, I finally sat down to read Owen Bennett Jones' book ... and discovered I couldn't put it down. And by so doing, I filled an important hole I'd been ignoring in my overview and understanding of Asia. Pakistan's history is short but turbulent. This excellent, well-researched, beautifully written book covers its history, personalities, politics, and issues in chapters that first present an overview of Pakistan's history then proceed to address each major issue the nation (nations, after east and west separate and Bangladesh emerges) topic by topic -- the role of language, the tribal states, Kashmir, Bangladesh, the Army, the leaders, democracy, nationalism, the jihadists, the atomic bomb -- by weaving back and forth between chapters, recalling events and names into they merge into a comprehensible whole. The details are many and captivating--while often horrific. Betrayals, lies, greed and subterfuge cross with idealism, hope, and at times incredible bravery in the face of overwhelming odds, rubbing against people so abused by their leaders that while some live in rich feudal sanctuaries, others live in unthinkable poverty. The author is a BBC correspondent who obviously has done extensive and thorough research on his topic, and this edition is a new one that updates the original edition from 2003 to roughly 2010. ( )

Clearly the American cannot fully understand what we are and have been doing in Afghanistan without a background in the history and recent events of Pakistan. I had just finished reading Holy War Inc and then read Jones Pakistan and they are such an obvious pair. What I especially like about the book is the chapter Nationalism that shows how the influx of Indians at partition affected people already living in Pakistan, and also the independence movements within the region.Remember, as a country Pakistan is only 65 years old. When the US was 65 we had just finished a Civil war over many of the same issues. A nice short summary with thumbnails of the past rulers and chapters on
the Bomb and the Army. ( )

This is an excellent beginner's introduction to a country which I knew very little about. Bennett Jones was a BBC correspondent in Pakistan for three years, but explicitly set out to write a general history rather than a journalist's memoir. He divides up the history thematically, which for me worked very well - with chapter titles like "The Bomb", "The Army" and "Democracy" - and strikes the right balance between providing enough information without swamping the reader. He also has a great eye for the telling quote or anecdote, which makes the book very readable. For example, in the photo pages there is a series of pictures of Pakistan's rulers, each one accompanied by a derogatory quote from that person's successor. ( )