An autobiography of one the more remarkable political figures of the 20th century and one of the few leaders to emerge from the Balkan Wars with their moral standing enhanced. Before he became leader of Bosnia, Alija Izetbegovic had been a political prisoner and an Islamic philosopher living under Tito's rule in Yugoslavia. When Yugoslavia collapsed and a war of annihilation targeted Bosnian Muslims, he refused to indulge in the politics of hatred embraced by most of his rivals. This book is a loosely arranged chronology of his life, starting with his early years as a laborer and political prisoner and leading up to the events of the war and beyond. Much of the book consists of excerpts from his speeches, arranged in such a way that they tell the story of his life and wartime Bosnia.
This isn't a proper autobiography in the sense of Nelson Mandela's Long Walk to Freedom. Rather, its an attempt to forge such a biography out of the notes of Izetbegovic's life. The fact that people have attempted to do so is a testament to how important and unique a person that he was. Despite its inevitably editorial shortcomings, this is a highly recommended book about a man who helped save his people from genocide through the force of his character.
HELOOOOO??!!!!!!! THIS IS SOOOOO D N F'ed This was my first auto biography and it did no go so well. Absolutely disgusting. For those ppl obsessed with history go ahead. But for me no ty.