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joestewart's review against another edition
2.0
A solid, though somewhat plodding recount of an interrogator's experiences in Iraq. I found the book somewhat repetitious: "... the sound of broken glass under my boot...", the introductory question sequence, the comments about the failed use of torture, and the calls to expand the interrogator's repertoire to include techniques from police questioning. The writing was functional - Matthew Alexander got the job done.
freudian_slip's review against another edition
3.0
This was a fun, quick read. Matthew did a great job of dropping us into the middle of the day-to-day life of an in-the-field interrogator. When the call comes in "Stryker in ten minutes," you feel like you're along for the ride. Matthew avoids becoming overly political by book-ending what he feels are extremes by both administrations. The traditional cultural-relational approach to interrogation yields better results in Matthew's opinion than the water-boarding of one administration and the inability to even raise a voice at a detainee of the other. I found it most interesting that soldiers were ordered to shave their beards in an effort to appear "more professional" even though the beards actually demonstrated cultural sensitivity and gave the 'gators (as the interrogators are called) added credibility. Matthew doesn't care for either swing of the pendulum and he makes a good case.
Make no mistake... there is nothing deep here. But if you want to read a four-week journal about how one task force took down an Al-Qaeda leader in Northern Iraqi thanks to interrogators, this is a fun romp. Matthew's editor could have helped him more a couple of times. For instance, there is a moment when something "peaks" Matthew's interest rather than "piques." I was saddened to read that Matthew's interest will never again be as high as it was at that moment. Matthew is a decorated soldier, not an English major. His editor should have helped him out there. All in all, though, a fun and interesting read. I'd give it 3.5 stars if I could.
Make no mistake... there is nothing deep here. But if you want to read a four-week journal about how one task force took down an Al-Qaeda leader in Northern Iraqi thanks to interrogators, this is a fun romp. Matthew's editor could have helped him more a couple of times. For instance, there is a moment when something "peaks" Matthew's interest rather than "piques." I was saddened to read that Matthew's interest will never again be as high as it was at that moment. Matthew is a decorated soldier, not an English major. His editor should have helped him out there. All in all, though, a fun and interesting read. I'd give it 3.5 stars if I could.
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