Customer Reviews

No Regrets: Reflections of a Presidential Spokesman

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This book brings a great insight on the events during the presidency of Abdurrahman Wahid, widely known as Gus Dur.
The events are outlined in fair details for public consumption to the best extent possible and this was made possible through this book and in the capacity as the Chief presidential spokesman of Wimar Witoelar, the author.

Wimar shares many of his personal beliefs and principles related to the unfolding events throughout the chapters. The tracking of events do provide an excellent balance of the issues that most Indonesians would hear on single-sided basis through the press. Many of the aspects of his opinions and beliefs are shared by specific group of his fellow countrymen who share the strong belief and hope of good performing, people oriented and transparent governance and contributed to the advancement of those beliefs and hopes through their professional lives.

Despite of my late purchase given the release date of the book, I do enjoy the writing styles and overall presentation, as I have always enjoyed Wimar's writing skills. I would recommend the book and would like to iterate the reader-to-be to engage in a wonderful experience that takes you to the situation behind the magnificent gesture of the Presidential Palace. A place which I would not think nor plan to enter as an ordinary Indonesian, but a place which resembles my great respect and honor to my own country having known that the 2 respectable 'Orang Biasa', Wimar and Gus Dur, who are extraordinary have served there.

I was so disappointed by this book. It could have given great insight as to President Abdurrahman Wahid's short rule, but instead Witoelar constructs a log of oh-my-gosh, gob-smacked, name-dropping of all the celebrities and politico's he gets to meet in the company of the President. I learned a lot more reading Greg Barton's biography of Wahid. For anyone seriously interested in Indonesia and that time, I'd highly recommend that book instead of this one.