Fascinating man, exciting read, too biased an author.
|
|
Mo Amin was a brilliant and inspiring man and this book provides an important insight into his life, for which I'm really grateful. I'm interested in the media, photography and Africa and thus this book was always going to interest me and it is thoroughly enjoyable. What I did find a bit disappointing was the author's decision to constantly finish sections along the lines of 'needless to say Mo's amazing ability once again allowed him to win the day'; Amin's actions speak for themselves and it felt a little patronising at times which may have come from the author knowing Amin well. For anyone wanting to read about adventure and war cameramen this is good but Jon Steele's 'War Junkie' or Sebastian Rich's 'People I Have Shot' come from the first person which adds an extra dimension.
|
|
Compelling insight into one man's extraordinary life
|
|
Anyone with an interest in the turbulent development of emergent Africa during the 60's and 70's will want to read this book. Mohamed Amin was a remarkable man at the centre of world-shattering events during a remarkable time. He risked his life time and again to bring his stark images to the screens and front pages of television networks and newspapers around the world. His disturbing pictures of the Ethiopian famine, coupled with Michael Burke's commentary were the catalyst for the greatest-ever act of charitable giving. Such a vigorous career had its downside and he was beaten, tortured and shot at countless times. He survied six near-fatal car crashes, lost his arm in an ammunition dump explosion in Addis Ababa and was finally killed in a Ethiopian airliner hijack. Tributes poured in from world leaders and heads of state as he was laid to rest in his native Kenya. After his death a foundation was set up in Nairobi in his name to train African journalists in all the media arts.
|
|
|
United States | 
United Kingdom | 
Canada