Elizabeth Tai

I finished this book in two days - Mosab's life (of terrorists, political intrigue and special intelligence - is really something out of a thriller, and this memoir is written the same way a thriller novel would've been written: tightly paced, exciting Hamas/espionage operations etc. Son of Hamas gives you an insightful look at the inner workings of Hamas, and you can't help but wonder at the insanity hatred creates between two societies unwilling to forgive.

The only problem I have with this book is that I have a hard time really getting on Mosab's side. Mosab doesn't really explain - at least not adequately to me - why he decided to work for Israeli intelligence. I couldn't shake off the feeling that he may have been suffering from Stockholm's Syndrome when he capitulated. After all, after the brutality of his prison living conditions, he was amazed that the Israeli agents treated him like a human being. He paints his Israeli intelligence colleagues in a very favourable light, which makes me a tad suspicious too. I just can't shake off the feeling that the agents were far more interested in using him and his connections than regarding him as a friend. It doesn't help that he reveals that they pay he so well that he could afford a sports car.

All this, of course, makes me question Mosab's true motivations. It is therefore inevitable that some would accuse him of being a traitor (who not only betrayed his people, but his family) and of being opportunistic.

But perhaps Mosab isn't interested in getting us on his side. Why would a man jeapordise his life, alienate his people and family, by coming out this way? But I agree wholeheartedly about his assessment about the peace in the Middle East. The only way it could be achieved is if they embraced Jesus' teachings on forgiveness (he became a Christian later): Love your enemies.

I had to DNF this book because it was just so badly written! You know, I hardly ever one-star a book if you notice my reviews. It takes a lot to annoy me.

I was initially attracted to this book's premise: an EMP wave gets rid of the technology we've come to rely on, a small town struggles to survive.
The whole plot promises a lot of action but fails to deliver. It's not that nothing happens in the book, it's more like the characters spend most of their time TALKING about the action AFTER it happens. That's right, we have a book where the ‘action' takes place in meetings. I remember thinking during one such meeting where, damn, why couldn't the author plonk our main character in the thick of the action so that we can see and experience it through his eyes?

I gave the book as good as it got - read 50% - and just couldn't anymore. There are far better books out there.

3.5 stars.

I was pretty excited to find out that Tiago wrote a book about his Second Brain PKM system. But alas i have to dock a star because he does ramble a bit.

Every chapter starts out with a story or anecdote on why having a second brain is so useful. Then he talks about why its important to have it. When this is repeated almost every chapter it becomes rather tedious and you are crying inside, “I get it! Can you just teach me how to do this already ??”

Alas gave up on the book after 100 pages as I feel the plot wasn't terribly intriguing...

Had a lot of trouble keeping up with the backstory, which is full of secret societies, evil villains with mysterious names and supernatural (I think) conflicts. Need simpler tales these days.