{"product_id":"revolution-for-dummies-laughing-through-the-arab-spring","title":"Revolution for Dummies: Laughing Through the Arab Spring","description":"\u003cp\u003e\"Hilarious and Heartbreaking. Comedy shouldn't take courage, but it made an exception for Bassem.\" --Jon Stewart\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"The Jon Stewart of the Arabic World\"--the creator of The Program, the most popular television show in Egypt's history--chronicles his transformation from heart surgeon to political satirist, and offers crucial insight into the Arab Spring, the Egyptian Revolution, and the turmoil roiling the modern Middle East, all of which inspired the documentary about his life, Tickling Giants.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBassem Youssef's incendiary satirical news program, Al-Bernameg (The Program), chronicled the events of the 2011 Egyptian Revolution, the fall of President Hosni Mubarak, and the rise of Mubarak's successor, Mohamed Morsi. Youssef not only captured his nation's dissent but stamped it with his own brand of humorous political criticism, in which the Egyptian government became the prime laughing stock.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSo potent were Youssef's skits, jokes, and commentary, the authoritarian government accused him of insulting the Egyptian presidency and Islam. After a six-hour long police interrogation, Youssef was released. While his case was eventually dismissed, his television show was terminated, and Youssef, fearful for his safety, fled his homeland.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn Revolution for Dummies, Youssef recounts his life and offers hysterical riffs on the hypocrisy, instability, and corruption that has long animated Egyptian politics. From the attempted cover-up of the violent clashes in Tahrir Square to the government's announcement that it had created the world's first \"AIDS cure\" machine, to the conviction of officials that Youssef was a CIA operative--recruited by Jon Stewart--to bring down the country through sarcasm. There's much more--and it's all insanely true.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eInterweaving the dramatic and inspiring stories of the development of his popular television show and his rise as the most contentious funny-man in Egypt, Youssef's humorous, fast-paced takes on dictatorship, revolution, and the unforeseeable destiny of democracy in the Modern Middle East offers much needed hope and more than a few healing laughs. A documentary about his life, Tickling Giants, debuted at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2016, and is now scheduled for major release.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhat happens when a heart surgeon becomes the most wanted comedian in the Middle East?\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eAgainst the Odds: \u003c\/b\u003e Follow Bassem Youssef's unbelievable transformation from a respected heart surgeon to the creator of the most popular--and controversial--television show in the Arab world.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eThe Muslim Brotherhood: \u003c\/b\u003e Get a front-row seat to the absurd hypocrisy of the ruling powers, from their conspiracy theories about Jon Stewart to their announcement of a machine that cures AIDS with the power of a kabab sandwich.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eMiddle East Politics: \u003c\/b\u003e A raw, behind-the-scenes look at the Egyptian Revolution, the promise of Tahrir Square, and the political turmoil that followed.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eRaw Honesty: \u003c\/b\u003e After being interrogated by police and forced to flee his own country, Youssef lays bare the personal cost of speaking truth to power.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Dey Street Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51984335470823,"sku":"9780062446909","price":19.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0449\/4075\/5096\/files\/imageloader_a81c6ab2-2866-4a6f-bd57-f7359bcfcedb.jpg?v=1776316807","url":"https:\/\/arvidabookco.com\/products\/revolution-for-dummies-laughing-through-the-arab-spring","provider":"Arvida Book Co.","version":"1.0","type":"link"}