Name: Tomorrow, god Willing: Self-Made Destinies in Cairo
Price: 994.00 ZAR
Availability: InStock
Author: Unni Wikan
ISBN: 9780226898353

portada Tomorrow, god Willing: Self-Made Destinies in Cairo

Tomorrow, god Willing: Self-Made Destinies in Cairo

Type

Physical Book

Publisher

University Of Chicago Press

Author

Unni Wikan

Year

1996

Language

English

Pages

352

Format

Paperback

ISBN

0226898350

ISBN13

9780226898353

Edition No.

Synopsis "Tomorrow, god Willing: Self-Made Destinies in Cairo "

"I, without earning a penny, have to be the provider!" Thus Umm Ali sums up the nearly impossible challenge of her daily existence. Living in a poor neighborhood of Cairo, she has raised eight children with almost no help from her husband or the Egyptian government and through hardships from domestic violence to constant quarrels over material possessions. Umm Ali's story is amazing not only for what it reveals about her resourcefulness but for the light it sheds on the resilience of Cairo's poor in the face of disastrous poverty. Like countless other poor people in Cairo, she has developed a personal buoyancy to cope with relentless economic need. It stems from a belief in the ability of people to shape their own destiny and helps explain why Cairo remains virtually free of the social ills—violent street crime and homelessness—that have eroded the lives of poor people in other major cities. Unni Wikan first met Umm Ali and her family twenty-five years ago and has returned almost every year. She draws on her firsthand experience of their lives to create an intimate portrait of Cairo's back streets and the people who live there. Wikan's innovative approach to ethnographic writing reads like a novel that presents the experiences of Umm Ali's family and neighbors in their own words. As Umm Ali recounts triumphs and defeats—from forming a savings club with neighbors to the gradual drifting away and eventual return of her husband—she unveils a deeply reflective attitude and her unwavering belief that she can improve her situation. Showing how Egyptian culture interprets poverty and family, this book attests to the capacity of an individual's self-worth to withstand incredible adversity.

Customers reviews

Have you read this book? Login to add your review.

More customer reviews

0% (0)
0% (0)
0% (0)
0% (0)
0% (0)

Questions and Answers about the Book

Do you have a question about the book? Login to be able to add your own question.

Opinions about Bookdelivery

More customer reviews

Tomorrow, god Willing: Self-Made Destinies in Cairo - Unni Wikan

Synopsis "Tomorrow, god Willing: Self-Made Destinies in Cairo "

Customers reviews

Frequently Asked Questions about the Book

Is the book original?

In what language is the book written?

What is the format of this book?

Questions and Answers about the Book

Opinions about Bookdelivery