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Erdogan Rising
- The Battle for the Soul of Turkey
- Narrated by: Hannah Lucinda Smith
- Length: 14 hrs and 33 mins
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Summary
Everyone has heard of Erdogan: Turkey’s bullish, mercurial president is the original postmodern populist. Around the world, other strongmen are now following the path that he has blazed. For the first time, Erdogan Rising tells the inside story of how a democracy on the fringe of Europe has succumbed to dictatorship.
Hannah Lucinda Smith, Turkey correspondent with The Times of London, has witnessed all that has befallen Turkey and the wider region since the onset of the Arab Spring. From the frontlines of the wars in Syria and Eastern Turkey, through the refugee crisis and the attempted coup against Erdogan, she traces how chaos in the Middle East has blown back on a country that was once heralded as the model of Islamic democracy. With access to key insiders, she also paints a vivid portrait of Erdogan’s descent from flawed democrat to staunch authoritarian.
Erdogan Rising is a story rooted in Smith’s first-hand experiences of a country divided, told through the eyes of a rich cast of characters. She journeys into the Turkey where Erdogan commands a following so devoted they compose songs in his honour, adorn their houses with his picture, and lay down their lives to keep him in power. But on the other side - sometimes just a few hundred metres down the road - she also meets the Turks who are mourning the loss of the country they once knew.
Erdogan Rising serves as a chilling warning of democracy’s fragility - and reveals how much people can change.
Critic reviews
"Warm, funny, engaging and always informative, Smith's writing stands among the finest of a new generation of journalist authors. Essential reading - I was delighted by every page." (Anthony Loyd)
What listeners say about Erdogan Rising
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- Asta Rootsi
- 12-01-21
Many insights, but too sentimentalist
Expected something different from this book, but it is a journalist's, not a scientist's account, so probably cannot complain. While it is based on an impressive amount of interviews and personal experiences of the author, it seemed that there were two books in one. One talking about the rise of Erdogan and the other about something else entirely, while maybe linked to the topic, but only mildly so - mainly the Syrian conflict and the plight of people caught up in it.
It is understandable that it is difficult to disconnect from the terrible suffering of people one meets daily, but it also gives an impression of being unable to stick to the topic. What is said here might also sound like an assessment of a Westerner who just wants to ignore these poor people. Yet, I had a feeling while listening that the author does not help here either, rather feeds into the emotional sentimentalist politics on which all the populists are thriving. Such leaders hide behind the emotional issues, frame everything in the love-hate, excitement-outrage language. This helps them get away with the things that should be at the centre of our attention - abuse of power and corruption that require institutional attention to address. Parts in the book which deal with these issues are the best, but they get drowned, as the moment something serious is presented, the author goes back to talk about Syria and refugees and all those other tragic things. And so it seems that there is nothing one can do about anything and instead of rational understanding of why people like Erdogan rise, we are left with some disconnected tragic stories.
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- andrew warton
- 28-11-19
Great insight and very interesting
Anyone interested in Turkey, it's history and peoples and cultural mix will be enthralled with this unbiased easy going though detailed commentary. It's focus is inevitably also on recent political history and the huge changes to democracy. No one will be left unaffected and probably saddened with the deep tensions permeating society. The narration is spot on and makes the book what it is with a deep sense of respect and warmth for the Turkish people. One of the top ten audiobooks I have listened to.
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- jeremy hurley
- 29-05-20
Diary of a terrorist groupie
The writer seems to have very little emphaty with refugees and that they have been forced from their peaceful lifes. Anything left wing fighters do, is good. While anything Erdogan does is bad. There is a bizarre rant about Lindsay Lohan. But once you get past the bias. The book is very informative.
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- Fraser Allen
- 10-11-21
Brilliant biography - of both Erdogan and modern-day Turkey
I loved this book. Smith pours all her knowledge and fondness for Turkish culture into this fascinating portrait of a man whose power has gone to his head. She brings detail and colour to a complex story, and also lightly weaves her own life story into the narrative with perfect balance. A great listen.
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- Amazon Customer
- 24-11-22
An unbiased introduction to Turkish politics
I enjoyed the information being conveyed objectively by the author herself. A scarce thing in mainstream media these days. The author provides a lucid description of how the AKP's transformation unfolds from a self-proclaimed freedom movement in pursuit of egalistism, to an ultra-right despotism. Ofcourse in great contrast to the Turkish history and demography, an essential part not left uncovered in this book.
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- Anonymous User
- 02-10-19
A must-read for anyone interested in Turkey right now
Hannah Lucinda Smith’s book is only the latest new release on Turkey, but it’s absolutely one of the best. An intense, personal book that ties so many different stories together with elegance. It’s narrated by the author, which is rare and valuable. Highly recommended.
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- Dee
- 22-06-21
Well researched and written.
Well researched and written. I would have given this book 4 stars easily but it was quite subjective at times. Other than that it was a good book.
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- Richard bartle
- 13-12-21
A touching narrative
As someone who lives and works between Istanbul and the UK I was enthralled by Hannah Lucinda Smiths incite into the machinations of Turkish politics. Knowing the culture quite closely myself many of her anecdotes rung deep within me and left me gasping in frustration and awe at the world I am submerged in.
Written in an autobiographical style, interwoven with facts and quotes, Erdogan Rising succinctly lays down and exposes the roots of many of the anxieties I often encounter in the people of Turkey. Her style is warm and personal, her position as objective as one could be when surrounded by such intrigue, and her attention to the lives of the Turkish people full of the knowledge one only gains from living amongst them.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who wishes to learn more about Turkish politics, the Middle East, and the recent history of the region. Equally, if you are already living in Turkey, her propensity to constantly question why she loves Turkey so much, despite its political woes, is very familiar indeed. Likewise, her answer to this question brought tears of empathy to my eyes. Turkey, it’s people, it’s history, and it’s spirit are reflected throughout all its chapters.
Highly recommended.
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- Mrs. G. Moynihan
- 15-06-21
Very thorough
A very thorough and illuminating book, well narrated. The viewpoints from the many Turks interviewed provides another new dimension to the Erdogan character. Interesting to read that his principal rival is Ataturk, who’s been dead 83 years.
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- Anonymous User
- 13-03-21
Could be better book.
Bit of a mess of book no much a narrative but good stuff on Turkey
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