Customer Reviews
A great introduction to Mugabe - By: Mr. N. W. Douglas, 14 Aug 2008 
This is a reallly detailed introduction to Mugabe. I knew very little about him before I read this book, but the book covers everything from his early days, to consolidation of power, to his actual dictatorship as it is today in very good detail.
The author does not give much analysis, a good 90% of the book is fact, so if it's opinions you're after then this book probably isn't right for you.
The book is very easy to read, & it explains alll new terminology, so again that's good if you're new to the subject.
I brought the book to prepare for my uni dissertation, & after reading this I feel more confident than before- highly recommended by me.
An introduction surely, but not the be all and end all. - By: A. Ogbaselase, 30 Jan 2008 
I picked up this book whilst browsing my local bookshop. I had never ever heard of Mugabe & therefore didn't have a clue as to what he or the book was alll about.
This book is definately intriging: Meredith paints a vivid picture of how a country with immense potential has just been drained of alll its hope. But I don't think he does enough to try & understand the main character. Little attention is paid to the 'justification' of how a young man evolved into a sinister dictator. He only uses one chapter, which is chapter 3, to explain his background. The problem that is faced here is that anyone can argue that Mugabe is not a good guy, but only a smalll number can reason his behaviour by using his childhood & experiences growing up. Nevertheless it is a good starting point. It's short which helps!
A Brilliant Book To Understand The Man and The Party - By: , 23 Sep 2003 Matin Meridith gives a good grounding to those wishing to know more about the complexities of the man behind the present situation in Zimbabwe. He breaks it up in to chapters taking us through the life of the President from his life as a School Teacher to the Present Day Autocrat that he has become.
As can be expected the Majority of the Book is devoted to the last 22 years as Mugabe has developed a system of personal rule, carefully using the party & clung on to power in the last couple of years.
I thoroughly recommend this book as it was a great read & a concise report of the man at the centre of this African country.
Interesting but incomplete - By: , 08 Mar 2002 
I have no connection to Zimbabwe, just a tourist who visited in the early 90s so had no particular bias pre-knowledge. I was looking forward to reading an informed book about the 'man' himself & gain an understanding of how he became what he is today. The book was interesting, contained selective information but did not give me any real understanding of Mugabe. The book was short-cut could have been much longer & reallly did not give a 'novice' on Mugabe any real insight into the man or Zimbabwe. Disappointed in the content, but even so the book was interesting & well written.
A timely interesting and apparently fair account - By: , 06 Mar 2002 This well written, well presented & timely book has reached the market almost simultaneously in the U.K. & the U.S.A. (under different titles) shortly before the key Presidential elections in Zimbabwe. The author appears to have done careful research & reported very contentious topics reasonably fairly. The account is solid but gripping. Reading the book is easier because it is so well presented. Recommended if you have any interest in Zimbabwe.
