Gaddafi. His was a name that I only ever heard in politics and associated with fear. This book is a much needed read for a new perspective on this fallen dictator and his most loyal advisor.

I grew up hearing about Gaddafi; he wasn’t a good guy. This book grabbed my attention because it was from a perspective of someone close to him. Someone who was around him quite a bit. A perspective that nobody else had and that intrigued me immensely. I was easily pulled into his world and found it fascinating how he ruled his people but lived humble.

This was a wonderful book by what appears to be a very brave woman. Anyone who cares to stare down a person like Gaddafi deserves a lot of credit.

Very interesting read. Learned a lot. I didn’t know much about Gaddafi. So was good to learn more. . He was certainly an interesting character. The book was very well written

Colonel Gaddafi, no one my age or older would not know this name and that he was the leader of Libya until he was deposed, many would have memories of the news stories we saw, the flamboyance, the drama and the fact that he was someone ‘a bit different’ in our worlds, and also often called an enabler of terror
Daad Sharab however knew him very well, a Jordanian who unusually for a woman was at the top of the Arab business world and was the foremost advisor to Gaddafi for 20 years, then to her shock imprisoned by him for 21 months until he was overthrown
This is a fascinating, really eye opening account of Gaddafi and Libya, how he worked, played and lived, I could have read another 240 page of her stories
I loved that she was honest, she didn’t portray him as an angel but nor as a devil and spent equal time on his good and not so good ways and ideals including all that happened re Lockerbie
It is a frank, no gains to herself memoir of a thrilling life most of us could not imagine and an unprecedented look at the engima that was/is Colonel Gadaffi

10/10
5 Stars

An interesting view of life of Col. Gaddafi and how the workings of a leader in Libya differs from the West.
I enjoyed this glimpse into another life, it provides a real eye opener and not everything you are told in the West is the full truth! There certainly seems to be two sides of Col. Gaddafi.
A good read and well worth your investment.

As a young 30-something, much of the history covered in this book surrounding Libya happened before my time.

That being said, the biography is exceptionally well written, giving a highly detailed account of how a young Arab woman broke the mould and ended up a confidant to one of the worlds most feared leaders at the time.

Often branded as a dictator, womaniser and tyrant, Daad Sharab gives a behind the scenes look at how Libya struggled to find its place on the world stage under the leadership of Colonel Gaddafi.

It was a true eye-opener not only to how business dealings were undertaken several decades ago.

Having read the novel, I don't pretend to be a backer of all things Gaddafi; however, it makes me question how the media and politicians in all countries often change their foreign policies and positions at the drop of a hat.

A well worthwhile read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher Pen & Sword Military for an advance reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Daad Sharab was never going to be a dutiful stay-at-home Arab wife. Encouraged to study by her father, the brilliant young Jordanian woman became a highly-educated businesswoman who decided to work for the intriguing Colonel Gaddafi in Libya. Her father advised her not to go but she was offered a prestigious position negotiating lucrative contracts for Gaddafi with high pay, and she liked the sound of the opportunity. Here, she tells her fascinating story, and she paints a very different picture of the Colonel, and describes some of the important figures she met.

Daad became a close personal adviser to Gaddafi, so she knew him very well, but allegations of an affair are completely untrue. She writes that, although eccentric, he was concerned about his country, and tried to do his best for ordinary Libyans. He also promoted women's rights and literacy, and Libya's healthcare system was excellent by the standards of other countries in the region. She thinks that he went 'off the rails' with his Pan-African and 'King of Kings' ambitions.

The rumours of his philandering with and even sexually assaulting the women of his famous 'Revolutionary Nuns' are untrue, she thinks. However, he did rely on a designing woman to procure young women for him, according to Sharab. She made friends with some of his guard, who were well-educated, and treated well.

Sharab met world leaders, including the first President Bush, Prime Minister Blair, and powerful people, such as Hilary Clinton. Although Gaddafi imprisoned her, she doesn't hold a grudge against him, and she provides an extremely interesting account of his relationship with these leaders, especially Blair, and his downfall. She also writes about her court battle with a powerful Saudi Prince, and how she endured great family tragedies, and the hardships of her career.



This book is somewhat harrowing at times, but well-worth reading to see a different view of the Gaddafi regime.

I received this free ebook from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

The Colonel and I: My Life with Gaddafi is the inside story of the extraordinary world of Libya’s fallen dictator, Muammar Gaddafi.

For almost half his 42-year reign Daad Sharab was his trusted trouble shooter and confidante – the only outsider to be admitted to his inner circle. Down the years many have written about Gaddafi, but none has been so close.

Now, a decade after the violent death of ‘The Colonel’, she gives a unique insight into the character of a man of many contradictions: tyrant, hero, terrorist, freedom fighter, womaniser, father figure. Her account is packed with fascinating anecdotes and revelations which show Gaddafi in a surprising new light.

Daad witnessed the ruthlessness of a flawed leader who is blamed for ordering the Lockerbie bombing, and she became the go-between for the only man convicted of the atrocity. She does not seek to sugar-coat Gaddafi’s legacy, preferring readers to judge for themselves, but also observed a hidden, more humane side. The leader was a troubled father and compassionate statesman who kept sight of his humble Bedouin roots, and was capable of great acts of generosity.

The author also pulls no punches about how Western politicians, such as Tony Blair, George Bush and Hillary Clinton, shamelessly wooed his oil-rich regime.

Despite her warnings the dictator was ultimately consumed by megalomania and Daad was caught up in his dramatic fall. Falsely accused by Gaddafi’s notorious secret service of being both The Colonel’s mistress and a spy, her story ends in betrayal and imprisonment. Caught up in the Arab Spring uprising, she faced a fight for life as bombs rained down on Libya.

This was a five star read! Fascinating and recommend you read this one!

A fantastic story filled with intrigue and insider information. What a fascinating life the well-educated author led as Gaddafi’s close confidante and troubleshooter for over 20 years in Libya. She met so many influential people including world leaders. She had an uphill battle with others around Gaddafi being a woman and from Jordan. Advance electronic review copy was provided by NetGalley, author Daad Sharab, and the publisher.