Libya

John Oakes' book provides a detailed journalistic account of Muammar Gaddafi's rise and four-decade rule in Libya, charting political developments, repression, and foreign relations.

It explores key events such as the Cultural Revolution, the creation of the Jamahiriya, human-rights abuses, and Libya's international isolation.

Oakes draws on interviews, archival material, and reportage to contextualize how oil wealth and personal rule shaped Libya's institutions and society.

The book assesses Gaddafi's domestic policies and international provocations that contributed to his pariah status.

It is a readable synthesis for those seeking to understand Libya under Gaddafi and the country’s trajectory into the 21st century.