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A review by stephjoy15
I Was Told to Come Alone: My Journey Behind the Lines of Jihad by Souad Mekhennet
5.0
I just finished reading this book and am digesting the last few pages which are so profoundly powerful.
Souad Mekhennet is a journalist that has covered the front lines of jihad terrorism, interviewing some of the most radical and dangerous people. In this book she recounts those interactions. It is incredibly captivating and informational. I learned so much about post- 9/11 terrorism, Afghanistan, Iraq, Sadam Hussein and Osama Bin Laden, the Arab Spring, topics which are familiar enough in our day and age but dont often get an in-depth examination. Reading this as a part of a book club also opened conversations about Islamaphobia and what can be done in our societies to include marginalized people groups in a meaningful way to avoid the tragedies that radicalize young men and women. And that does not just apply to Muslim communities.
The thing that was most compelling for me was hearing Souad’s personal story and journey to who she became. She struggles with her identity as a young Muslim teenager of Moroccan descent growing up in Germany. Watching her find strength within herself to stand up against terrorists is inspiring. It also caused me to reflect on what makes a person themselves. Ultimately, a mix of decisions and values that are shaped by our environments and the people around us. Sometimes it is easy to forget that we may have just as easily become our worst enemy if we had been born into different circumstances. While this is no excuse for committing atrocities, it does cause one to empathize and strategize about what could be done to ensure a better environment for others.
This book is full of bits of wisdom, captivating investigative journalism (which may have made me wish I majored in journalism), heart-wrenching stories, interesting facts and points of view, and life lessons which I will surely take with me. I highly recommend!
Souad Mekhennet is a journalist that has covered the front lines of jihad terrorism, interviewing some of the most radical and dangerous people. In this book she recounts those interactions. It is incredibly captivating and informational. I learned so much about post- 9/11 terrorism, Afghanistan, Iraq, Sadam Hussein and Osama Bin Laden, the Arab Spring, topics which are familiar enough in our day and age but dont often get an in-depth examination. Reading this as a part of a book club also opened conversations about Islamaphobia and what can be done in our societies to include marginalized people groups in a meaningful way to avoid the tragedies that radicalize young men and women. And that does not just apply to Muslim communities.
The thing that was most compelling for me was hearing Souad’s personal story and journey to who she became. She struggles with her identity as a young Muslim teenager of Moroccan descent growing up in Germany. Watching her find strength within herself to stand up against terrorists is inspiring. It also caused me to reflect on what makes a person themselves. Ultimately, a mix of decisions and values that are shaped by our environments and the people around us. Sometimes it is easy to forget that we may have just as easily become our worst enemy if we had been born into different circumstances. While this is no excuse for committing atrocities, it does cause one to empathize and strategize about what could be done to ensure a better environment for others.
This book is full of bits of wisdom, captivating investigative journalism (which may have made me wish I majored in journalism), heart-wrenching stories, interesting facts and points of view, and life lessons which I will surely take with me. I highly recommend!