Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.
Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.
Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.
OK
No Lost Causes Hardcover – October 2, 2012
It’s one of the great, unexpected turnaround stories in modern history: Just a decade ago, Colombia was regarded as a “failed state,” besieged by megalomaniacal drug kingpins, ruthless terrorist groups, and abominable poverty. But since 2002, it has been dramatically transformed into a far more peaceful, stable modern democracy with a promising future. Now, the man who led the transformation, former Colombian president Alvaro Uribe Velez, offers the untold story of how, at enormous personal risk, he refused to accept Colombia’s perilous status quo.
Extremely captivating, No Lost Causes reveals how President Uribe severely weakened the neo-terrorist group, the FARC, which held Colombia captive and caused the brutal murder of his father. It relates the gripping account of how President Uribe staged the daring (and bloodless) jungle rescue of Ingrid Betancourt in 2008, and eventually restored the rule of law across the country. It also explores practical lessons of hands-on management—relevant to both political and business leaders—and provides a thrilling behind-the-scenes look at newsmaking U.S. foreign affairs and never before discussed details and dealings with various world leaders.
Unlike any other presidential memoir, No Lost Causes is not only a compelling story of leadership, but an epic, heart-racing account of how bravery and hope gave a failing nation a brighter future.
- Print length336 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherCelebra
- Publication dateOctober 2, 2012
- Dimensions6.5 x 1.25 x 9.5 inches
- ISBN-100451413814
- ISBN-13978-0451413819
Customers who bought this item also bought
Editorial Reviews
Review
"Certain political leaders, whatever their aspirations, become overwhelmed by events they once thought they could master...Other leaders, though, meet enormous challenges with a vision and a resolve that allow them to shape events and guide the course of history...To this second group belongs Alvaro Uribe Vélez...What is most interesting about No Lost Causes...isn't so much the narrative of [Mr. Uribe's] achievements but the insights he offers into his own character and the life experiences that created it."
About the Author
Before becoming president, Mr. Uribe was a senator, governor of Antioquia state, and mayor of Medellin, among other positions. He holds a degree in Law and Political Science from Universidad de Antioquia and a postgraduate degree from Harvard University in Management and Administration. At Harvard, he also studied Conflict Resolution. He was a Senior Associate Member from Saint Antony’s College at Oxford University. Since leaving the presidency, Mr. Uribe has served as a visiting scholar at several universities and as vice chairman of the UN Secretary Panel of Inquiry investigating the May 2010 flotilla incident in Gaza. Nowadays, he’s a Fellow in the Bipartisan Policy Center.
Product details
- Publisher : Celebra (October 2, 2012)
- Language : English
- Hardcover : 336 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0451413814
- ISBN-13 : 978-0451413819
- Item Weight : 1.25 pounds
- Dimensions : 6.5 x 1.25 x 9.5 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #2,147,877 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #175 in Colombian History
- #278 in Cultural Policy
- #1,526 in Caribbean & Latin American Politics
- Customer Reviews:
About the author
Discover more of the author’s books, see similar authors, read author blogs and more
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on Amazon-
Top reviews
Top reviews from the United States
There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.
Almost all the Colombians I met will tell you how much they love their country, and in the same conversation tell how they bought themselves out of serving in the military. Uribe in his book describes how he and a lot of his fellowmen are much different than a large percentage of the Colombian population.
The book played down some of his weak spots, in my opinion. He did mention his temper, but I saw it in action one time and for a little guy, he can sure explode!
A very good book to read about Colombia. I hope its required reading for students in Colombia and any student of political science.
On the future of Uribe, I hear he might run for a seat in the Colombian senate, but I hope he finds other ways to use his energy.
On the future of Colombia, I hope Santos gets a little more grit in dealing with the FARC. At present, I suspect if he wrote a book, it will be titled "Tiptoeing through the tulips".
There were roads that people could not use as they were controlled by thugs. Kidnapping for money was rife and murder was much too common.
Uribe was a dedicated public servant who worked very hard to make Columbia better, and more governable. He worked with the police and armed services and strengthened and supported them in combating the druggies and FARC.
A wonderful and inspiring leader who Columbia was blessed to have as their president for eight years.
leders should take note.
Top reviews from other countries
Often, I had the chance to talk to local people. Many of them were praising Alvaro Uribe for changing the country into a better place. My trip itself was not more dangerous than other trips I made before.
Ever since, I have been following the fortune of Colombia and was therefore quite positively surprised when I saw that Alvaro Uribve had written his Autobiography.
Of course, this is the subjective story of the guy himself, nevertheless I felt deeply impressed by the dedication (and even fanatism) with which Uribe tried to achieve a better future for the country. Despite multiple attempts to murder him, he never gave back a single inch.
Even his first presidential campaign as an independent candidate was impressive. It reminds me a little bit of Beppe Grillo, the Italian comedian which did the same thing: Just travel around and speak with people. Altthough traveling around in "pre Uribe" Colombia was comparably much more dangerous.
I am sure that he might have exagerated to a certain extent, but nevertheless this guy is in my opinion a prime example how one dedicated man can change a lot, even the fate of a whole country.
The book itself is suprisingly "dramatic", ususally with some kind of "cliff hanger" in each chapter which then gets solved in the next chapter. Sometimes it is a little bit confusing because the chapters go back and forth in history but overall it is quite easy to follow the "story".
All in all a very inspiring book especially for anyone who has some connection to Colombia.