What do you think?
Rate this book
A Word Before Leaving
Sir Crispin Tickell, GCMG, one of Britain’s outstanding diplomats and one of the word’s leading proponents of ‘climate change’, says of this book: “Here John Pedler takes the broadest of views, ranging from politics and science to religion and beyond, and paints a picture of the world as most of us have yet to see it. As a former diplomat there is almost nowhere he does not know; and as a writer he puts a thousand stories together and makes elegant and convincing sense of them.”
Leading international journalist John Pilger says:
“In these wise reflections, John Pedler reminds us that the best diplomats are mavericks, exceptions to the rules of power. Acutely aware of history and a sense of right and wrong, Pedler exemplifies an intellectual and moral independence that’s all too rare today.”
-------------------------
This book is for all those worldwide with an interest in foreign affairs who are increasingly concerned about climate change/over-population, and the spread of religious violence - fearing that the world’s politicians may be taking us in the wrong direction. John Pedler, now 86, joined the British Diplomatic Service in 1951 and has ever since been involved with foreign affairs. This is his 'Valedictory Despatch' in the weltanschauung (world-view) genre, a new genre, in which he sets out how he has come to see our world and what may lie beyond.
Subjects include: Russia and the EU; our wars: Vietnam, Afghan, and Iraq; sex in politics; ‘political correctness’; advertising; media self-censorship and News International; world religions and Islam: ‘moderate’, Wahabist, and ‘Jihadist’. It’s in the form of answers to his adult children’s questions so it’s an easy, and often gripping, read.
As well as his diplomatic postings in Europe and the Far East, John Pedler was a war correspondent in Vietnam, a businessman in Mao’s China, and the first Director of the Cambodia Trust. He worked for the Bosnian government during the siege of Sarajevo. He was educated at the Browne and Nicholls School, Cambridge, Mass. USA and the London School of Economics (where he took a subsidiary course in Comparative Religion).
Leading international journalist John Pilger says:
“In these wise reflections, John Pedler reminds us that the best diplomats are mavericks, exceptions to the rules of power. Acutely aware of history and a sense of right and wrong, Pedler exemplifies an intellectual and moral independence that’s all too rare today.”
-------------------------
This book is for all those worldwide with an interest in foreign affairs who are increasingly concerned about climate change/over-population, and the spread of religious violence - fearing that the world’s politicians may be taking us in the wrong direction. John Pedler, now 86, joined the British Diplomatic Service in 1951 and has ever since been involved with foreign affairs. This is his 'Valedictory Despatch' in the weltanschauung (world-view) genre, a new genre, in which he sets out how he has come to see our world and what may lie beyond.
Subjects include: Russia and the EU; our wars: Vietnam, Afghan, and Iraq; sex in politics; ‘political correctness’; advertising; media self-censorship and News International; world religions and Islam: ‘moderate’, Wahabist, and ‘Jihadist’. It’s in the form of answers to his adult children’s questions so it’s an easy, and often gripping, read.
As well as his diplomatic postings in Europe and the Far East, John Pedler was a war correspondent in Vietnam, a businessman in Mao’s China, and the first Director of the Cambodia Trust. He worked for the Bosnian government during the siege of Sarajevo. He was educated at the Browne and Nicholls School, Cambridge, Mass. USA and the London School of Economics (where he took a subsidiary course in Comparative Religion).
- GenresClimate Change
300 pages, Paperback
First published April 28, 2014
About the author
John Pedler
8 books4 followersJohn Pedler is a former British diplomat now a diplomatic consultant based in France. He was posted to Vienna, Singapore, Saigon, Vientiane, Phnom Penh and Paris. He was a war correspondent in Vietnam, a businessman in Mao’s China, and the first Director of the Cambodia Trust. He worked for the Bosnian government during the siege of Sarajevo.
He was educated at the Browne and Nicholls School, Cambridge, Mass. USA and the London School of Economics (where he took a subsidiary course in Comparative Religion).
He was educated at the Browne and Nicholls School, Cambridge, Mass. USA and the London School of Economics (where he took a subsidiary course in Comparative Religion).
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 of 1 review
March 19, 2015
Pre-publication review by Claire Coveney for Population Matters:
If, like me, you have read many books on the subject of population growth, the impact of global warming, mass consumption and globalization, and fancy something a little less 'dry' shall we say, then I thoroughly recommend this book.
Described as a 'a former Diplomat's Weltenschauung', this book is essentially an essay that John Pedler (who is indeed a former British diplomat), now 85, describes as an effort to answer all of this children's questions about his life, his opinions, what he has learnt from his many years of service etc.
Not your average starting point for a book that covers huge subjects; a snapshot of which includes: religion, war, terrorism, science, the media, as far-reaching as World War II, to Rupert Murdoch's media empire, to the current civil war in Syria. However, the result is a captivatingly honest and emotive (without being sentimental) essay on how these factors have all collectively influenced the way in which governments and individuals consider the major issues that the world is facing today, such as populations growth and climate destabilisation.
This book is not despairing or preachy, but rather heart-felt, insightful, and at times quite funny. The over-riding sentiment I believe can be felt in these imploring words by Pedler in a section titled 'The next generation': 'A house is built of many bricks, but each one must be laid and each one plays its part however minuscule in the creation of the whole building.' A message that at times can get lost in the sea of academic documentation on the major problems that the world is currently facing, which is why 'A Word Before Leaving' is so refreshing.
If, like me, you have read many books on the subject of population growth, the impact of global warming, mass consumption and globalization, and fancy something a little less 'dry' shall we say, then I thoroughly recommend this book.
Described as a 'a former Diplomat's Weltenschauung', this book is essentially an essay that John Pedler (who is indeed a former British diplomat), now 85, describes as an effort to answer all of this children's questions about his life, his opinions, what he has learnt from his many years of service etc.
Not your average starting point for a book that covers huge subjects; a snapshot of which includes: religion, war, terrorism, science, the media, as far-reaching as World War II, to Rupert Murdoch's media empire, to the current civil war in Syria. However, the result is a captivatingly honest and emotive (without being sentimental) essay on how these factors have all collectively influenced the way in which governments and individuals consider the major issues that the world is facing today, such as populations growth and climate destabilisation.
This book is not despairing or preachy, but rather heart-felt, insightful, and at times quite funny. The over-riding sentiment I believe can be felt in these imploring words by Pedler in a section titled 'The next generation': 'A house is built of many bricks, but each one must be laid and each one plays its part however minuscule in the creation of the whole building.' A message that at times can get lost in the sea of academic documentation on the major problems that the world is currently facing, which is why 'A Word Before Leaving' is so refreshing.
Displaying 1 of 1 review