Journalism

For many years war made Sierra Leone and Liberia too dangerous for outsiders to travel through. Facing down demons from his time in Africa as a journalist, Tim Butcher heads deep into this combat zone, encountering the devastation wrought by lawless militia, child soldiers, brutal violence, blood diamonds and masked figures who guard the spiritual secrets of remote jungle communities. On an epic journey that demands courage, doggedness and sheer luck, Butcher treks for 350 blistering miles through rainforest and malarial swamps to gain an extraordinary ground-level view of an overlooked region on the cusp of a remarkable recovery.

The first Westerner to meet Mao Tse-tung and the Chinese Communist leaders in 1936, Edgar Snow came away with the first authorized account of Mao’s life, as well as a history of the famous Long March and the men and women who were responsible for the Chinese revolution. Out of that experience came Red Star Over China, a classic work that remains one of the most important books ever written about the birth of the Communist movement in China. This edition includes extensive notes on military and political developments in China, further interviews with Mao Tse-tung, a chronology covering 125 years of Chinese revolution, and nearly a hundred detailed biographies of the men and women who were instrumental in making China what it is today.

Robert Fisk’s bestselling eyewitness account of the events that have shaped the Middle East is alive with vivid reporting and incisive historical analysis.The history of the Middle East is an epic story of tragedy, betrayal and world-shaking events. It is a story that Robert Fisk has been reporting for over thirty years. His masterful narrative spans the most volatile regions of the Middle East, chronicling with both rage and compassion the death by deceit of tens of thousands of Muslims, Christians and Jews.Robert Fisk’s remarkable history is also the tale of a journalist at war – learning of the 9/11 attacks while aboard a passenger jet, reporting from a bombed-out Baghdad, interviewing Osama bin Laden – and of the courage and frustration of a life spent writing the first draft of history.

"The Way of the World" is for you if you're seeking a deep dive into global politics and human spirit. Suskind doesn't just theorize; he takes us into the trenches where ideologies clash and hope strives to survive. It's a timely read amid today's fraught international landscape, offering insights that are as relevant as they are profound.

On 6 June 2004, Frank Gardner and cameraman Simon Cumbers were in a suburb of Riyadh, filming a report on Al-Qaeda when they were confronted by Islamist gunmen. Simon was killed outright. Frank was brought down by shots in the shoulder and leg. As he lay bleeding in the street, a figure stood over him and pumped four more bullets into him at point blank range… Against all the odds, Frank Gardner survived and this is his remarkable account of the agonizing journey he has taken - from being shot and left for dead to where he is today, partly paralysed but alive. It is a journey that really began 25 years earlier when a chance meeting with explorer Wilfred Thesiger inspired what would become a lifelong passion for the Arab world. This would take him throughout the Middle East and eventually lead to his becoming a BBC journalist. And, in the wake of the events of 9/11, this passion sent him on the journey that came to dominate - and nearly end - his his coverage of Al-Qaeda. Honest, moving and inspiring, his story - now updated for this paperback edition - reveals a deep understanding of the Islamic world and offers a compelling analysis of the on-going ‘War on Terror†and what it means in these uncertain times.

This book offers a unique perspective on daily life under the Milosevic regime and in post-Milosevic Serbia. It focuses on the individual stories of Serbs from various walks of life, giving readers a glimpse into the complex hopes, dreams, and viewpoints of a nation in transition. If you're interested in understanding the human impact of political turmoil, this book is for you.

Recommended for history buffs interested in animal stories. The book explores the story of four generations of imperial steed, and how they survived the fall of the Habsburg Empire, two world wars, and the insane breeding experiments conducted under Hitler, Stalin, and Ceausescu. The book also delves into the question of the quest for racial purity and explores the unsuccessful attempts to perfect the human strain ending in tragedy.

"The Assassins' Gate" provides an insightful and thought-provoking analysis of America's role in the Iraq War. George Packer's firsthand account of his experiences in Iraq offers a unique perspective on the conflict and its impact on both American and Iraqi lives. This book is recommended for anyone interested in understanding the complexities of this controversial war and its aftermath.

This book is a captivating exploration of the intricate and often conflicting world of American politics and foreign policy in the post-Cold War era. Halberstam delves into the egos, power struggles, and decisions of key figures such as Clinton, Bush, Kissinger, and more. With gripping storytelling and keen insights, he reveals how domestic politics and personal experiences have shaped America's role as a world power. If you're interested in unraveling the complexities of modern political America, this book is an essential read.

This book would be a good read for anyone interested in learning more about genocide, political science, or postcolonial African history. Gourevitch's firsthand accounts and intimate portraits of Rwandans provide a moving and thought-provoking exploration of the human spirit in the face of extreme adversity. Overall, this book is an unforgettable testament to humanity's resilience and the urgent need for sane and habitable political orders.

Boom! provides valuable insights into how the '60s changed American institutions from politics to social values. It is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the impact of the cultural upheaval that defined this pivotal era in our nation's history.

Recommended for those interested in the Iraq War and its impact on a nation trying to build democracy. Provides a critical commentary on the Coalition Provisional Authority's misguided policies, told through the author's experiences as a reporter in Baghdad. The book sheds light on the dangers of entering wars without realistic goals or understanding of the country in question.

This book would be a good read for those who want to challenge the mainstream narratives and seek to understand the hidden motives and agendas behind the war in Yugoslavia. Michael Parenti's firsthand observations and extensive research provide readers with a fresh perspective, debunking the widely accepted notions of genocide, ethnic cleansing, and democracy. By diving deep into unpublished material, this book uncovers the truth behind the war, making it a must-read for those who seek to see beyond the surface-level storytelling.

This book is a must-read for those interested in gaining a deeper understanding of international politics and the how they shape our modern world. Fisk's writing is gripping, insightful, and never shies away from controversial topics. His personal connection to the subjects he covers makes for a unique and engaging reading experience.

"Live From The Battlefield" could be a good read for those who crave for thrilling stories from the frontlines. Peter Arnett does not shy away from detailing the risk he undertook in order to get the scoop; his bluntness in narrating the events he witnessed adds much-needed authenticity to his account. His passion for journalism shines through, and his reporting effort paints an intimate picture of the battlefield.

This book is a gripping memoir that takes readers on a whirlwind journey through some of the world's most dangerous crises. Anderson Cooper's personal experiences as a journalist provide a unique perspective, making this book an intense and captivating read. From covering political battles to natural disasters, Cooper's emotional storytelling will leave readers on the edge of their seats, gaining a rare insight into the chaos and conflict that shapes our world. Get ready for an adrenaline-fueled adventure unlike any other.

Can we trust France? Apparently not. After more than 200 years of shared history and interests, the U.S.-France marriage looks as if it's ending in an acrimonious divorce. Here is the shocking insider account.In the wake of French behavior at the United Nations, where Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin systematically undermined the efforts of Secretary of State Colin Powell to convince the Security Council to authorize force against Iraq, Americans have at best come to suspect our ally of double dealing, and at worst come to view them as the enemy. Almost daily over the past year, new stories have emerged of how the government of French President Jacques Chirac has sought to undermine the U.S. war on terror, publicly sniping at America and inciting other countries to do the same. What's wrong with France? What's behind their recent perfidy? According to bestselling author Kenneth R. Timmerman, the American public doesn't know half the story. After they read The French Betrayal of America , American anger at France will turn to outrage.Timmerman, who worked as a journalist in France for eighteen years and knows the players on both sides, lifts the veil of Jacques Chirac's scandalous love affair with Saddam Hussein, beginning in 1975, when he took him on a tour of top-secret French nuclear facilities. The French attitude toward the dictator, which seemed to baffle American politicians, was in fact entirely predictable. Put bluntly, it was all about money, oil, and guns. Chirac needed Saddam's oil and Saddam's money, and Saddam needed French weapons and French nuclear technology.Despite this, the relationship between France and America was not only amicable but at times very mutually beneficial. That was until the most recent war on Iraq, where France turned the tables, engaging in dirty diplomacy and helping to sway other European countries to their side. French war coverage was not merely It was viciously inaccurate, skewed, and openly anti-American. Timmerman also presents incredible new evidence of France's duplicity, including the fact that the French stood to gain $100 billion from secret oil contracts they had concluded with Saddam Hussein.The French Betrayal of America raises questions of whether the nuclear cooperation agreements still in force with the French today should be canceled in light of France's behavior. Our security interests no longer converge, and our economic systems increasingly appear to be at loggerheads. The war in Iraq harshly exposed French treachery and their desire to do business with the worst of international tyrants, putting their economy, their international standing, and their relationship with a 200-year-old friend in severe jeopardy.Shocking new revelations in The French Betrayal of AmericaThe French president lied to Bush and to the public about the war in Iraq.President Jacques Chirac had personally told President George W. Bush well ahead of time that France would be at America's side.France urged Saddam to commit genocide.Saddam launched his genocidal campaign against the Marsh Arabs in southern Iraq to make their region "safe" for French oil engineers.France helped build Saddam's long-range missiles and nukes.Based on exclusive access to new documents, provided by Iraq to the United Nations -- that French defense companies were key partners in helping Saddam Hussein perfect the long-range missiles that killed U.S. soldiers in Saudi Arabia in 1991 and rained terror onto Israel.Chirac has blocked cooperation on a high-profile terrorism case.France's top counter-terrorism judge was ordered to stop cooperating with the United States in the prosecution of Zacarias Moussaoui despite mounds of documents that would have helped the United States to convict Moussaoui of conspiracy to commit mass murder.France illegally sold U.S. military secrets to Saddam Hussein.A prominent French defense company shipped U.S.-designed laser designator pods to Iraq in the 1980s that compromised the most high-tech weapons in the U.S. arsenal.President Mitterrand, a Socialist, became Ronald Reagan's best ally in Europe.The French Betrayal of America reveals the extent of French strategic and intelligence cooperation with the United States at the peak of the Cold War, in areas that will surprise readers on both sides of the Atlantic. The French ran a key agent inside the KGB, whose "cosmic" reach -- right up to the general secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union -- hastened the collapse of the Soviet Union.President Chirac almost went to jail for corruption.Chirac was on the verge of getting indicted on corruption charges in 1999 until he cooked up an immunity deal with the head of the French Supreme Court, former Socialist foreign minister Roland Dumas. While the French corruption scandals are well known in France, they have rarely been reported in the United States and will alternately shock and amuse American readers.The Bush administration is now offering France the secrets of our national missile defense.The French Betrayal of America reveals the hitherto top secret missile defense cooperation between the United States and France that has taken off at precisely the same time the Chirac government was undermining the United States on Iraq. Meanwhile, United States and French nuclear weapons designers continue to meet to exchange secrets of maintaining our respective nuclear arsenals.