Dubai: The Vulnerability of Success

All good

Average

What could be a thoroughly absorbing overview of the development of Dubai is thoroughly let down by an infuriating lack of 'live' footnote links. This is not the first non-fiction Kindle purchase I have made but it IS the first which does not allow one to refer to indexing, references or footnoting while reading. I feel like I am missing out on a good deal of information and certainly a great deal of enjoyment because I cannot check footnotes against the text. I tried it once and it took several minutes to find the reference [far longer than it takes with a hard copy book]. For the Kindle price I have paid I feel absolutely ripped off and almost unable to go on [I am only in Chapter One now]. And I am inclined to feel I should purchase another copy -- a 'real' book this time -- so I might gain the insight I need and which the author deserves. Amazon Media should be ashamed of themselves. This is really shoddy work. For an example of how to get it right, look to Robert Lacey's 'The Kingdom'; not only a great read but actually footnoted properly. This book? It's been scanned and lazily sold on to unwitting customers on the basis that it is a real Kindle book when it is nothing but a silly photocopy, a photocopy that comes withOUT notes. Must do better. Much better. Other reviewers have given this book five stars. I wish I could.

There is a great deal to admire in this scholarly approach to Dubai. However, perhaps too much attention is paid to local politics and preservation of a culture now alien to many residents, and not enough to business which is the life-blood of Dubai and the reason for the population growth from 30,000 to 2 million over the past 50 years. I think the threat of terrorism to this success is also overdone. The IRA tried hard in London for 25 years and did not prevent the city's success. Similarly the concentration on side-issues to modern Dubai like money laundering and prostitution are over-stated - again you would not see such things mentioned in a study of London, although the prevalence of both is obvious enough. But this book does take knowledge about modern Dubai an important step forward and perhaps it is too much to expect a fully comprehensive study.

This highly polished and painstakingly researched book is the first serious study of Dubai - one of the world's fastest growing and most headline-grabbing cities. There are eight chapters, beginning with a substantial historical background before turning to the present day development of the economy and the survival of the ruling family. Although respectful and dispassionate throughout, no punches are pulled and the book builds up to a strong climax with a discussion of security and terror threats. In some ways, the author himself is of equal interest as the book, with englishman Dr.Davidson considered to be as influential as a sheikh in some parts of this oil rich region.

Book came in good condition.