Amata haeng pa prem: chak patiwat 19 kanya thung chutchop “thaksin” (The Eternal Pa Prem: From the September 19 Coup to the End of “Thaksin”) (2008) by Watsana Nanuam (ISBN: 9789743072734). A journalist for the Bangkok Post specializing in military affairs, Watsana has written a compelling account of the power and influence of General Prem, the so-called “invisible hand” (มือที่มองไม่เห็น as Watsana puts it) of Thai politics. The 333-page book is written in the style of popular investigative reporting. Here is the blurb and table of contents for interested readers.
[This post is provided by the National Library of Australia as part of our Book Zone feature. For further information on the featured publications contact Saowapha Viravong at sviravong@nla.gov.au]
6 responses so far ↓
1 Dickie Simpkins // Dec 19, 2008 at 7:17 pm
I would *love* to hear what Thaksin said against the ‘people behind’, word for word in his state of anger.
Given the nature of openness that NM like to talk about, don’t you think they should broadcast what he said word for word, and let the enlightened public of Thailand decide for themselves?
2 David Brown // Dec 20, 2008 at 12:12 am
I am really surprised, the book seems to be published by Post Books, related presumably to the Bangkok Post…
Is the book banned in Thailand?
I would love to see the text in english… my wasted life… I could have learned to read Thai!!!
3 Joy // Dec 20, 2008 at 3:19 pm
I also would love to read the book! I think I can get hold of it soon after the New year break!!
4 Srithanonchai // Dec 20, 2008 at 4:50 pm
No need to be excited about this book. Her previous one was about the coup. Just an endless journalistic narrative with no references to the public discussions about the event, and with no obvious research gone into it. There also is a chapter on Prem in that text–very weak, barely even mentioning the obvious. So, I would not expect too much from her new book.
5 Ralph Kramden // Dec 20, 2008 at 6:52 pm
Had a quick scan of it and there seems nothing much in this, unless you want to know what songs he likes. A bit of hagiography. But even hagiographies can be useful I guess when there is relatively little about.
6 Martin Landau // Dec 25, 2008 at 11:55 pm
honestly, i do not think that nanuam’s recent work is worth a look. Considering her various contributions in the BP, one can not expect a solid and valid scientific discussion about thailand’s past two years.
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