Peter Popham

I’ve just finished reading “The Lady and the peacock” and what an interesting and eye-opening read it has been! Popham not only tells us the life story of THE famous human rights activist and one of Burma’s finest and best-known persons, but also gives the reader a brief history of Burma since WWII until ca 2010 and explains the culture, traditions and mentality of the Burmese nation. There is a lot to learn from this book, therefore it may not be an easy read for those only getting show more interested in Burma’s heartbreaking history. I also found the often non-chronological order of events a bit confusing at times, but all in all the book was rather clear and well written, with interesting comments and reflections and not just the dry facts.
What I also liked about the book was the fact that it wasn’t only a story of a politician or activist, but it offers quite an in-depth look into Suu’s personal life: being famous parents’ child, being a foreign student in Oxford, being a wife and a mother and finally being that individual who decides to make a huge sacrifice to make a difference. It’s a very inspiring book altogether and I’m really glad I took the time to read it. Well worth reading! show less

Popham brings this study to a restrained but moving conclusion. And it sets up the next phase of Aung San Suu Kyi's life and career with even higher stakes. Popham makes a compelling argument for the importance and correctness of her choices, and goes into detail on how her moral example has worked in Burma/Myanmar. But now of course she is a member of parliament, embedded in the messy choices of politics. What comes next? I had my quibbles with this book, but it deserves to be read very show more widely in Singapore. show less