This book is in French. The book review is posted in English and French.
English Translation
Marc Juhel is a poker faced lecturer who doesn’t mince his words. He dissects the inner workings of development with panache with smartly balanced sentences. And just when you note his style is academic, after a last comma, he throws in three words like a slap in the face – stinging awfully true twist! You are left speechless. “Extreme poverty is a curse… wealth is a responsibility.” Marc quotes the Dalai Lama: “No one is born under a bad star; there are only people who don’t know how to read the sky.” Drawing on examples in the company of the leaders and the powerful, or among the left behind at the back of a warehouse, Marc takes us on a journey across all continents. The examples, sometimes related to ports and logistics – specialties that earned Marc his professional reputation – point to universal lessons. The journey is illuminating and pleasurable, and the question arises: why the title? The answer will come. The brilliant style becomes intimate, the diatribe transforms into confidence, memories become personal. Marc leads us “where life is earned day by day, through effort and sharing, and the recognition of being alive”. “In the South, they still know how to read the sky.” Thank you, Marc!
Review in French
Marc Juhel est un pince sans rire qui n’a pas la langue dans sa poche. Il vous démonte les dessous de la politique du développement dans un style châtié, un verbe abondant, des phrases balancées au superbe, et quand vous sentez le style un brin académique, à la dernière virgule, il vous lance trois mots comme un gifle – retour de manivelle cinglant et tellement vrai! Vous en restez baba. « L’extrême pauvreté est une malédiction… la richesse est une responsabilité ». Marc cite le Dalai Lama : « Il n’y a personne qui soit né sous une mauvaise étoile, il n’y a que des gens qui ne savent pas lire le ciel ». D’exemples pris dans la bonne compagnie des grands de ce monde, où dans une arrière-cour d’entrepôt, Marc nous entraine sur tous les continents ; Les exemples parfois portuaires et logistique – spécialités qui ont fait la renommée professionnelle de Marc – pointent vers des leçons universelles. Le voyage est autant leçon que plaisir, et la question se pose : pourquoi le titre ? La réponse viendra. Le style brillant deviendra intime, la diatribe se changera en confidence, les souvenirs se feront personnels. Marc nous amènera là « où la vie se mérite au jour le jour, dans l’effort et le partage, et la reconnaissance d’être vivant » : « au Sud, on sait encore lire le ciel ». Merci Marc !
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* Maryvonne Plessis-Fraissard is former Director, Transport and Urban. She is a Director of the Board, and Coordinator of the Yoga Club, at the 1818 Society.
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KEYWORDS development, journey, poverty
A very well-written book, full of wisdom and experiences accumulated in a lifetime dedicated to international development. Many of us share the same feelings, experiences, and ideas – he just expresses them better ;-). Marc was/is not only a brilliant professional but also a great speaker, full of wit and charm – hence no wonder that his pen is similarly good. Will there be a reading?