On Indonesia (and Beyond) — Selection of Books (October 2019) by Mirwan Andan

Jul 3, 2026

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Curated book selection titled “On Indonesia (and beyond)” commissioned for the exhibition Rossella Biscotti (8 September 2019—5 January 2020). The reading list introduces Indonesia through history, culture, politics, and social life, recommending works by Indonesian and international authors and spanning political brochures, diaries, academic textbooks, and fiction. It emphasizes starting from an early stage to understand Indonesia and broader Southeast Asia, including sources available through the Riwanua library in Jakarta.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLiterature

FormatPDF

Pages1

Reading Time2 min

On Indonesia (and beyond): curated reading list

Purpose and context of the selection

Suggested books and references

“On Indonesia (and beyond).” — Selection of books (October, 2019) by Mirwan Andan This reading list – of which some books are only written in Bahasa Indonesia.– has been commissioned in conjunction with the exhibition Rossella Biscotti, new work (8 September 2019—5 January 2020). To understand Indonesia, as a history, as a culture, as a politics, and as a social life, of course it is not enough with only a short list of reading references. From Riwanua, my small library that can be accessed by appointment at Gudside (part of Gudskul Ecosystem project), Jakarta, at least these books in the list below, are the books that I always recommend to whoever want to begin from early stage to know and to understand Indonesia and beyond (including Southeast Asia as a region). Combined with political brochure, diary, academic textbooks, fictions, etc., by authors both from Indonesia and abroad, and from various generations, after reading all these books in this short list will make you think that Indonesia is not only a tourism destination. Azhari Aiyub, Kura-Kura Berjanggut, Banana Press, 2018 Erni Aladjai, Kei (translated from Bahasa Indonesia by Indriyatno Nurhayat Mohamed), Dalang Publishing, 2014 Syed Hussein Alatas, 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, Frank Cass Publisher, 1977 Pramoedya Ananta Toer, De Stroom Uit Het Noorden (translated from Bahasa Indonesia – Arus Balik-by Hendrik M.J. Maier), De Geus, 1995 Mirwan Andan (ed.), 20Kuldesak: Networking, Moving, Maneuvering, Rebelling, Kuldesak Network, 2018 Benedict Anderson, Imagined Communities: Reflections on the Origin and Spread of Nationalism, Verso, 1983 Nirwan Ahmad Arsuka, Karaeng Pattingalloang’s Heaven and Earth, Journal Inter-Asia Cultural Studies, Volume 3, 2002-Issue 2 Azyumardi Azra, The Transmission of Islamic Reformism to Indonesia: Network of Middle Eastern and Malay-In donesian ‘Ulama in the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries, Allen & Unwin, 2004 David Bourchier & Vedi R. Hadiz (ed.), Indonesian Politics and Society: A Reader, Routledge-Curzon, 2003 Hilmar Farid, Rethinking the Legacies of Bandung, Journal, Inter-Asia Cultural Studies, Volume 17, 2016-Issue 1 Vedi R. Hadiz, Daniel Dhakidae (eds.), Social Science and Power in Indonesia, Equinox Publishing, 2004 Wijaya Herlambang, Cultural Violence: Its Practice and Challenge in Indonesia, VDM Verlag, 2011 Alanda Kariza, Sophismata, Gramedia Pustaka Utama, 2017 Susia Kartika Imanuella, Mangara Banua: Merawat Memori Orang Toraja (Upacara Penahbisan Tongkonan Di Toraja, Sulawesi Selatan, Jurnal Ilmu Budaya, Volume 5, No 1 Januari-Juni 2017 Sartono Kartodirdjo, Modern Indonesia: Tradition & Transformation, Gadjah Mada University Press, 1988 Tan Malaka, Naar de Republiek Indonesia, (firstly published in Canton, 1925, publisher unknown, reprinted in Indonesian edition by Yayasan Massa, 1962) Rudolf Mrázek, A Certain Age: Colonial Jakarta through the Memories of Its Intellectuals, Duke University Press, 2010 Anthony Reid (ed.), Witnesses to Sumatera. A Travellers’Anthology, Oxford University Press, 1995 M.C. Ricklefs (ed.), A New History of Southeast Asia, Palgrave Macmillan, 2010 Soe Hok Gie, Catatan Seorang Demonstran, LP3ES, 1983

FAQs

Why does the reading list focus on more than a short set of references?

It argues that understanding Indonesia requires multiple perspectives—history, culture, politics, and social life—so a short list must be supplemented by varied genres such as political brochures, diaries, academic textbooks, and fiction.

What event is this reading list commissioned for?

It was commissioned in conjunction with the exhibition Rossella Biscotti, new work, dated 8 September 2019 to 5 January 2020.

How is the Riwanua library related to the recommendations?

The list is presented as part of Riwanua, a small library in Jakarta accessible by appointment at Gudside, within the Gudskul Ecosystem project.

Jul 3, 2026

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