Reconciliation

Islam, Democracy, and the West

By: Benazir Bhutto

Narrated by: Rita Wolf

Length: 12 hrs and 34 mins

Publisher's summary

Benazir Bhutto returned to Pakistan in October 2007, after eight years of exile, hopeful that she could be a catalyst for change. Upon a tumultuous reception, she survived a suicide-bomb attack that killed nearly 200 of her countrymen. But she continued to forge ahead, with more courage and conviction than ever, since she knew that time was running out - for the future of her nation, and for her life. She was assassinated on December 27, 2007.

In Reconciliation, Bhutto recounts in gripping detail her final months in Pakistan and offers a bold new agenda for how to stem the tide of Islamic radicalism and to rediscover the values of tolerance and justice that lie at the heart of her religion. Bhutto persuasively argues that America and Britain are fueling a turn toward radicalization by supporting groups that serve only short-term interests. She believed that by enabling dictators, the West was actually contributing to the frustration and extremism that lead to terrorism.

With her experience governing Pakistan and living and studying in the West, Benazir Bhutto was versed in the complexities of the conflict from both sides. She was a renaissance woman who offered a way out.

In this riveting and deeply insightful book, Bhutto explores the complicated history between the Middle East and the West.

She speaks out not just to the West, but to the Muslims across the globe, who are at a crossroads between the past and the future, between education and ignorance, between peace and terrorism, and between dictatorship and democracy. Bhutto presents an image of modern Islam that defies the negative caricatures often seen in the West. After listening to this audiobook, it will become even clearer what the world has lost by her assassination.

Download the afterword, written by Bhutto's family.

©2008 Benazir Bhutto (P)2008 HarperCollins Publishers

A Powerful Story

First book of 2021 and it was such a powerhouse! Amazing story of a woman who's love and commitment to country unparalleled. She showed the world the teachings of Islamic principles from a different vantage point. just beautiful

Interesting life story

Where does Reconciliation rank among all the audiobooks you???ve listened to so far?

It ranks in the middle.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Reconciliation?

Her description of the inner workings of the political scene in Pakistan.

Which character ??? as performed by Rita Wolf ??? was your favorite?

Bhutto

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

no

Any additional comments?

no

Want to know an insider's insight on Islam?

A great book that helps you understand the state and plight of Islam, how they got there, how US policy worsens the situation, and what positive measures can be taken to help fix these problems and enjoy a positive relationship with the Muslim world.

Give it a try

It's pretty good. One must keep in mind the political view from which she is coming but, nonetheless, it's nice to hear from someone who has a non-fundamentalist view of the future of Pakistan. Spends an abundant amount of time on history but still a decent read.

Female Muslim insight

I believe she offers a voice that deserves a hearing. Perhaps she knew her demise was imminent. There is almost too much history of people we don't know, yet the last 2 hours of the book promoted good ideas for possible solutions that need more air. The reader was superb, and I did enjoy the read.

She is a rare sample

Where does Reconciliation rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Remarkable, in a world of extremism it is difficult to find a lady that can achieve her goals in wrestling the most powerful military leaders who were able to silence the millions in a country who produce the chaos of terrorism.
She topled Zia Alhaq followed by Musharraf , they are not just two, they are two nation.

Brilliant Bold & Beautiful

Ben azure is one of the most inspirational female leaders of our times with her honest, open, fair, thoughtful plans to bring about peace and reconciliation across not only the Islamic world but the world.

Don't waste your time

The history and perspective at the beginning was a welcome start from a political insider of several generations. Then there is some candid, but sadly flawed analysis. The MAJOR one being a constant confusion (conflation) of the ideas of democracy, civil liberty, constitutionality and the role of capitalism. It's all just rolled into one happy ball called "DEMOCRACY", which it turns out is the solution for everything (almost). She touches on some of the manifold internal inconsistencies with the example of the recent election of HAMAS in a free election in Palestine, but gives no salient suggestion for resolving such ideological contradictions.

Finally, it all comes home a the end when find that, in addition to democracy, the real solution includes massive government hands outs from the West, to wean the radicals off the madrasas. Spending plans (100's of billions and tens of times larger than it's model, the Marshal plan)so large the West is going to need to join with China, Europe, Russia and Oil rich Arab Muslims to all pitch in to afford this plan for the poorest radicals.

By the end, what I hoped would be a cogent and critical work had turned into just another irrelevant, irrational, INSANE Marxist pipedream.

Don't waste your time or money, many better titles out there.

P.S. I hated to slam this title. I have great respect for P.M. Bhutto, she is still a hero in my book, just flawed.

Rhetoric

Thought this was going to be an intellectual experience, but was rather just religious dogma from another person who thinks they have the answer.