Senthang su fangfan nayokratthamontri khon thi 27: Aphisit Wetchachiwa (Road to the Dream, the 27th Prime Minister: Abhisit Vejjajiva ) (2009) by Thanomsak Chirayusawat (ISBN: 9789747306484). This modest volume provides an informative coverage of Abhisit’s private and political life. The first half is about his early life in Thailand and the UK, his time at Oxford, and his family life. The second half is about his political career, such as his so-called ผลงานชิ้นโบว์แดง (’red ribbon achievements’) while government minister in the 1990s, and culminates with his accession to the primeministership. Here is the table of contents.
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3 responses so far ↓
1 Jessie // Mar 11, 2009 at 9:30 am
A must have in my private library!
2 Nudi Samsao // Mar 11, 2009 at 11:13 am
A path to a dream indeed. What this man achieves is just dream. As a statesman he is yet to prove himself. And don’t call him a scholar. His performance so far is not in keeping with that label.
3 Susie Wong // Mar 12, 2009 at 7:19 am
Seeing this book, I realize why scholarship in Thai studies is going no where. Its approach reflects the lack of intellectual content. Even people in the profession of journalism can certainly provide a better and accurate report of the story. It is insulting for anyone to believe that Abhisit became a PM because he was a good student and athletic and followed his dream. Seven times, Abhisit competed in the election and the Democrat party performed poorly to the point that they were discussing about replacing him with a new leader. Thai people see through Abhisit, they neither trust him nor believe he has any credible ability.
I suggest professors in Thai studies should begin the teaching with the book review assignment by asking why the book was written and its major shortcomings.
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