Mali, 2010: In the remote reaches of the Sahara, disparate groups of Islamic fundamentalists affiliated with Al-Qaeda have stealthily taken root.
Against this backdrop, a famed Canadian geologist toiling away at a remote exploration camp near Timbuktu discovers the motherlode of gold like no others. Alas, the law of unintended consequences reigns supreme. His compound is raided and in the ensuing confusion, Ayesha, his beautiful wife, is abducted.
An esteemed geologist has been attacked, his compound in a remote part of northern Mali ransacked, and his foreign-born wife (a beautiful slave originally from Mauritania) abducted.
Our hero, Jake Hall, a rising star, mid-thirties high-level executive on a due diligence visit on behalf of his alcoholic, corrupt boss, is confronted with the greatest dilemma of his life: To do something in his power to save the poor woman (after all he has a helicopter and a pilot available to him), do nothing and return to his base in another part of Mali, or report the incident to the corrupt police and unwittingly become a suspect.
Everything the West believed about China’s peaceful rise was wrong. Now, there is a broad consensus that China is actively undermining key elements of the international rules-based order. And so it’s no surprise that resource-rich countries such as Canada and Australia are casting a critical eye on any proposed Chinese resource acquisitions that involve companies under their jurisdictions.
Could it be that the Viola MacMillan Award foreshadows misfortune for its recipients? The correlation is too strong — and eerie to ignore. Looking back to when the award was first introduced in 1985, many recipients have experienced a decline in their fortunes, reputation, or a combination of both.
When under crisis, the tendency is to hunker down and hope the problem will fade away. But that’s precisely the mistake. Prompt and credible disclosure, tireless communication and the courage to face tough questions could have earned management goodwill and sympathy.
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“Imagine the Earth as a stage, you as an actor in life’s grand play, and the Universe scripting roles for your own personal growth and development.”
Mali, 2010: In the remote reaches of the Sahara, disparate groups of Islamic fundamentalists affiliated with Al-Qaeda have stealthily taken root.
Against this backdrop, a famed Canadian geologist toiling away at a remote exploration camp near Timbuktu discovers the motherlode of gold like no others. Alas, the law of unintended consequences reigns supreme. His compound is raided and in the ensuing confusion, Ayesha, his beautiful wife, is abducted.
Enters Jake Hall, a young and rising mining executive set to visit the camp to assess the scope of the discovery. As Hall escorts his host to Timbuktu for urgent medical care, he’s thrown off course, leading to his own capture by a band of smugglers. His life balances on a knife’s edge as he is forced to journey through some of the most rugged places on earth and endure the desert’s dangers.
Alternating between Hall and Ayesha, Into the Unknown is a gripping tale of captivity and survival of two people who are as different as day and night. Both harrowing and hopeful, the book explores themes of immortality, life’s purpose, prejudice, and the spread of Islamic fundamentalism.
