Setting: Iraq
Time Period: Modern Day

Author Stephen Mansfield has lived a once in a lifetime opportunity. Where most people are lucky to travel outside the US and form an attachment to another land in a temporary fashion, Mansfield not only traveled to Northern Iraq often, but formed friendships with the people of that land, the Kurds, before it became unsafe for Western travelers to go to the Middle East. In the pages of this memoir, the author recounts his travels and explains the modern history of these ancient people and why they’re so different from the terrorists we’re more familiar with.

Though the genre of this book isn’t my usual type, I’m so glad I took the time to pick it up. The author had a very engaging style for a non-fiction and I loved how he introduced the reader to the Kurds. There was a chapter on their history as a people that tied them into Biblical times all the way up to modern day that was easy to understand. I love history, and was glad the author didn’t make that part complicated. Another thing I really enjoyed was how the author explained the rivalry between the Muslims and the rise of Saddam Hussein. I was 11 years old when 9/11 happened, so I didn’t pay close attention to all the politics that went on. All I knew was that our country was attacked by bad people. Now that I’m older, I’m more interested in learning about what happened during that time; not just in America, but around the world. Reading how he caused his own to people to suffer made me just as upset as the day I watched the Twin Towers fall on television. On the other hand, this book explains the difference between the Kurds and the radical followers of Saddam Hussein. Just like America had many First Nations tribes who fought and warred with each other years ago, the tribes of Iraq have the same dynamic among its people. Unfortunately, the Kurds being a hospitable, peaceful, loyal people; were taken advantage of by those who believed in violence and were targeted by Hussein.

Conclusion: I definitely feel like this book taught me a valuable piece of modern history. Though it wasn’t a page turner, the heart the author has for the Kurds can be felt through each page and embedded a certain amount of emotion to the read. I don’t know if this is a book that every person should read, but if you’re interested in the struggles of the modern Middle East, then I recommend you check it out.