The Instigators (Kindle Single) [Kindle Edition]

David Wolman (Author), The Atavist (Editor)

Book Description

In 2008, a small band of political activists in Egypt led by a young engineer named Ahmed Maher began organizing on Facebook under the moniker April 6 Youth. Dodging the secret police both online and off, they built a Web page into a movement. Then, in January 2011, they helped architect a final showdown with the country's dictator. David Wolman unspools the riveting behind-the-scenes story of these daring activists and how they planted the digital seeds of a revolution.

Award-winning journalist and author David Wolman is a contributing editor at Wired, a former Fulbright journalism fellow and a winner of the 2011 Oregon Arts Commission individual artists fellowship. He is the author of two works of nonfiction. His third book, The End of Money, will be published in February.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Egypt, January-February, 2011: It is indeed a brave new world. A handful of people, a simple message, and some social-media savvy can launch a revolution. But the image of an impromptu, leaderless Egyptian uprising, sprung spontaneously via Facebook and Twitter, was at least in part "preconceived, nurtured, and set in motion" by the organizing activists themselves. For several years David Wolman communicated with one of the central figures, Ahmed Maher, and The Instigators tells both his and the Egyptian revolution's story. Although relatively peaceful, the overturning of power was by no means bloodless, and Wolman documents its development--from the blogosphere to Tahrir Square--with deep reverence for its central lesson about the evolution of democracy: Citizens of the world, we still need principles, and we still need leaders, but we already have the tools.--Jason Kirk

Product Details

• File Size: 169 KB
• Print Length: 36 pages
• Publisher: The Atavist (May 2, 2011)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B004Z2GW24
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #94,533 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
  • #25 in Kindle Store > Kindle Singles > The World Stage
  • #30 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Nonfiction > Politics & Social Sciences > Politics & Government > Ideologies & Doctrines > Democracy
  • #31 in Kindle Store > Kindle Singles > Page-turning Narratives

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

37 of 38 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Phenomenal storytelling of a paradigm-shifting event May 4, 2011

By C. Vorhees

Format:Kindle Edition

I bought this piece expecting I would read it later--maybe tonight, maybe over a couple of evenings before bed--yet an hour has gone by and not only have I already plowed through it, I've also found myself rereading entire sections.

Wolman gives us a backstage tour of a revolution years in the making. The details are so specific, so well-researched, so vibrant, that I occasionally forgot that I was reading nonfiction. If you followed the events in Egypt as they unfolded, and even (especially?) if you didn't, I highly recommend this fascinating piece.

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The digital dish re the Egyptian revolution May 4, 2011

By M. Farrell

Format:Kindle Edition

A postively fascinating read! "The Instigators" delivers compelling and detailed insight into the April 6th Youth activist group and its founder, Ahmed Maher. The article provides both a thorough history of the evolution of this innovative movement as well as showcases the ways in which it served as a catalyst to the recent revolution in Egypt. In addition to recounting the captivating facts leading up to the ousting of President Mubarak, Mr. Wolman acquaints the reader with Ahmed Maher on a personal level, as both an affable and inspiring example of leadership within the Facebook generation.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Backstage Pass to a Revolution May 4, 2011

By Joshua Davis

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

I remember reading Wolman's story in Wired a number of years ago about these no-account revolutionaries in Egypt. They tried to fly a kite as a protest but they couldn't even get it in the air before Mubarak's thugs beat them. I remember thinking, "Nothing will ever change." Well, I was wrong and Wolman was right to bring these students to our attention. Those same kids who couldn't even manage to fly a kite have just re-written the rules of revolution. This in-depth look at how they did it is fascinating and important. But it's also thrilling to feel like you are right there with them as they overthrow a government.