In his insightful book, Jason Brownlee analyzes the political dynamics of late-Mubarak era Egypt. He argues that the plan to install Gamal Mubarak as his father's successor was a critical miscalculation. This 'hereditary republic' project alienated key pillars of the regime, especially the powerful military establishment, and fueled widespread public discontent. Brownlee masterfully details how this internal power struggle created deep fractures within the ruling elite, ultimately weakening the state and setting the stage for the 2011 uprising that led to Hosni Mubarak's downfall. The book is a compelling examination of authoritarian fragility.