Julia Firley

The Capital of the Superficial (eBook, ePUB)

• Format: ePub

Produktbeschreibung

Nothing is as it seems. Illusion is their means, and façade is their power. Colorful stories of colorful people from all corners of the world.

Humans are, first and foremost, storytellers, and expatriates tend to be the best at it. The individuals in this book have inspiring experiences, complex personalities, real struggles, amazing resilience, and, in many cases, a remarkable grasp of reality. There is the German who came to the Middle East to hide from her past; the French wife whose husband left her for a younger woman and took all the money, but who managed to turn it all around and emerge stronger and happier than ever; the Slovak who traded herself for big promises that proved to be lies; the Filipina who wanted to kill herself after her nude pictures were posted online; the European man who has several wives; and the Pole who made a home in Arabia. Then, there are the locals who fight against corruption, and the renowned intellectuals who resigned themselves to servitude and duplicity.

Alongside these true stories, the book provides facts and analysis that enhance our awareness, because what happened in this oil-rich Middle Eastern state has been happening worldwide.

This is the story of how a small, impoverished country was transformed almost overnight into a rich, powerful welfare state controlled by a few shrewd families. We witness what happened to the people who suddenly found themselves wealthy and observe how foreigners flocked from all corners of the world, either to work hard or to exploit others. We see how some benefited from the diverse and tolerant society, while a parallel system was created to serve the few at the expense of the many. We explore how people were brainwashed into accepting a thinly veiled caste system and a Big Brother regime. We learn how this small country amassed power and influence over superpowers, and how some politicians used their wealth and realpolitik to interfere in other countries. The façade became their strength, and lies superseded truth. Ultimately, we see how humans are fundamentally similar, despite their different ethnicities, cultures, languages, and religions. It shows how hope triumphs over obstacles.

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Produktdetails

• Verlag: Liberty In Print
• Erscheinungstermin: 11. August 2025
• Englisch
• ISBN-13: 9781739308612
• Artikelnr.: 75163098

Autorenporträt

Julia Firley is a European writer who studied and worked in different Western countries before she unexpectedly found herself living in the Middle East, interacting with people from diverse cultures, backgrounds, and ethnicities. The life stories of these individuals, residing in a foreign land for various reasons, fascinated her and compelled her to document and share them with others.

In her book, The Capital of the Supeficial, written over several years, Julia shares stories of perpetual expatriates who are on the move all the time, natives who are trying to change their world, and the country they inhabit.

Through these narratives, we witness how some of these people were able to find happiness and serenity despite considerable obstacles and daunting challenges. Yet, others fell prey to deception, paying a high price for their kindness, gullibility, or greed.

The cast of characters includes a German girl escaping her past, a French woman who turned her life around after her husband left her for a less-demanding, younger partner, a Slovak who traded herself for grand promises that proved to be lies, a European man who became a polygamist, and an American Southern belle who made a home in this region. We also meet the locals who stood up against radical ideas and censorship, and the intellectuals who resigned themselves to servitude and duplicity. Lastly, we learn about how taboo mentality deprives people of their basic needs and rights. These tales promise to inspire and move readers as they reveal the depth and complexity of human experiences.

Alongside these true stories, the book provides facts and analysis that should provoke cause for concern, because what happened in this small oil-rich state is a pattern repeating in many different countries worldwide. Julia describes the creation of a system that benefits a select few at the expense of the many, and a society conditioned to accept a thinly veiled caste order.