Reviews

The Myth of the Lazy Native: A Study of the Image of the Malays, Filipinos and Javanese from the 16th to the 20th Century and Its Function in the Ideology of Colonial Capitalism by Syed Hussein Alatas

orianeosaurus's review

challenging informative reflective slow-paced

4.25

Very interesting interesting #hottake on "Revolusi Mental" published by UMNO in 1971, on Mahathir, on the opium trade, on class criticism, on Karl Marx, on colonial capitalism & ideology prior & during colonialism in these 3 countries. 

Nice to read non-mainstream opinions!

emiranjani's review

3.0

I'll be brief.

The topic of discussion and evidence presented is undoubtedly interesting. This was one of those books that I *immediately* decide to read upon reading the title. Alatas really explored and dove deep into the prejudice of the colonizers. However, I am bothered by the repetitive patterns of ideas and the seemingly monotonous view. Particularly the element of native's indolence, which the author strongly and repeatedly emphasized throughout the book.

Regardless, I still recommend the book as it really delivered some highly intriguing views of colonialism in Southeast Asia.

milagrodemadre's review

informative reflective medium-paced

5.0

A good and careful observation from fellow Asian about the condition of Asian. This book answered the question why Asian always considered to be lazy. Many unique fact we can got from this book. 

acikulatbuku's review

5.0

Enlightening analysis of how the lazy native narrative began.

pagesofelly's review

5.0

"The refusal of a slave to work with enthusiasm is natural. But the desire of a man to let others do his work for him by force is true indolence." ⁣
⁣
#bookreview