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lmelden's review against another edition
5.0
Riveting. I kept a map of the Middle East & Wikipedia nearby and learned so much while reading. Gave me a new respect and admiration for journalists - especially those who happen to be women.
luvbug2's review against another edition
4.0
Souad Mekhennet is of Moroccan descent and German birth. As such, she has always walked a line between the Muslim and Western worlds. Fortunately for the rest of us, she is a journalist of the first order and seeks to educate these two worlds about one another's beliefs, experiences, and cultures by writing for The New York Times and The Washington Post, among others.
I am in awe of Mekhennet's bravery, tenacity, and her ability to make connections with some of the most shadowy figures of jihad. Her memoir is a paean to investigative journalism and its increasing importance in our world.
I am in awe of Mekhennet's bravery, tenacity, and her ability to make connections with some of the most shadowy figures of jihad. Her memoir is a paean to investigative journalism and its increasing importance in our world.
shadownlite's review against another edition
5.0
I won this book in a Goodreads First Reads contest
This book was so good! I had expected something memoir-like and was pleasantly surprised to find the book covers the topic of terrorism and the rise of extremists in the Middle East and the world. Mekhennet is a conflict journalist who interviews heads of jihadist organizations. She writes about this, gives readers an idea of how and why terrorists are doing what they are doing, and encorporates personal life story into it all. I think Western readers can learn a lot from reading this book. I hope many will give it a change and approach the book with the desire to learn.
This book was so good! I had expected something memoir-like and was pleasantly surprised to find the book covers the topic of terrorism and the rise of extremists in the Middle East and the world. Mekhennet is a conflict journalist who interviews heads of jihadist organizations. She writes about this, gives readers an idea of how and why terrorists are doing what they are doing, and encorporates personal life story into it all. I think Western readers can learn a lot from reading this book. I hope many will give it a change and approach the book with the desire to learn.
xread_write_repeatx's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Racism, Torture, Violence, Islamophobia, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child death, Death, Racial slurs, and Murder
melendy's review against another edition
5.0
This book is important to read. Souad sheds light on jihadists and their motivations. In the age of “fake news” she gives an incredibly sensitive, unbiased approach to how she conducts herself as a journalist. In her effort to remain unbiased, she does encounter similar pain to the families she covers realizing the “wall” she had build up to allow pain in.
This book was beautifully written and unlike any memoir I’ve ever read before. You need to read this!
This book was beautifully written and unlike any memoir I’ve ever read before. You need to read this!
lisa_nog's review against another edition
5.0
An excellent book that functions both as an autobiography of the author and her accounting of some of more harrowing assignments she’s had covering extremism post 9-11.
Even more than that, Mekhennet contextualizes the motivations behind the sects/movements of the extremists and jihadists she interviews. She’s got the right bona fides for this because she has both Sunni and Shia parents, something she touches on repeatedly.
I’d recommend this if you’re interested in the politics of the Middle East or journalism in general.
Even more than that, Mekhennet contextualizes the motivations behind the sects/movements of the extremists and jihadists she interviews. She’s got the right bona fides for this because she has both Sunni and Shia parents, something she touches on repeatedly.
I’d recommend this if you’re interested in the politics of the Middle East or journalism in general.
readingsusan's review against another edition
5.0
This book is a must read. Very difficult subject matter but I learned a lot. Souad is a journalist who has been able to get up close and personal to interview a variety of jihadists. It's chilling to read how a lot of these men feel. But I also liked how Souad tried to explore the reasoning behind the radicalization without excusing what they have done. This book really made me think. I highly recommend it.