Children of Jihad: A Young American's Travels Among the Youth of the Middle East [Hardcover]

Jared Cohen (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 25, 2007

Defying foreign government orders and interviewing terrorists face to face, a young American tours hostile lands to learn about Middle Eastern youth—and uncovers a subculture that defies every stereotype.

Classrooms were never sufficient for Jared Cohen; he wanted to learn about global affairs by witnessing them firsthand. During his undergraduate years Cohen travelled extensively to Africa—often to wartorn countries, putting himself at risk to see the world firsthand. While studying on a Rhodes Scholarship at Oxford, he took a crash course in Arabic, read voraciously on the history and culture of the Middle East, and in 2004 he embarked on the first of a series of incredible journeys to the Middle East. In an effort to try to understand the spread of radical Islamist violence, he focused his research on Muslim youth. The result is Children of Jihad, a portrait of paradox that probes much deeper than any journalist or pundit ever could.

Written with candor and featuring dozens of eye-opening photographs, Cohen’s account begins in Lebanon, where he interviews Hezbollah members at, of all places, a McDonald’s. In Iran, he defies government threats and sneaks into underground parties, where bootleg liquor, Western music, and the Internet are all easy to access. His risky itinerary also takes him to a Palestinian refugee camp in southern Lebanon, borderlands in Syria, the insurgency hotbed of Mosul, and other frontline locales. At each turn, he observes a culture at an uncanny crossroads: Bedouin shepherds with satellite dishes to provide Western TV shows, young women wearing garish makeup despite religious mandates, teenagers sending secret text messages and arranging illicit trysts. Gripping and daring, Children of Jihad shows us the future through the eyes of those who are shaping it.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Rather than globetrotting for pleasure like many post-collegiate backpackers, Cohen charms his way through Middle Eastern countries typically thought of as unfriendly to the West. This type of travel is not without its problems: he suffers intimidation, unauthorized searches and other threats over the course of his two years spent among the twentysomethings of Lebanon, Syria and Iran. While gamboling across the region, Cohen drops in on Palestinian refugee camps, chats up Hezbollah members at a McDonalds, talks nuclear power with Iranians over illegal moonshine and meets "Iraqis who like us" in Iraqi Kurdistan. It is often repeated that the colorful and gifted youth immortalized in this book are surprisingly similar to their class of American counterparts, valuing education, dreaming of the future, and tooling with emerging technologies to broaden their sense of the world. Cohen's accounts are sharp and his intentions admirable.
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Review

"In this remarkable book Cohen provides a fresh perspective on the Middle East. Seen through the eyes of the youth, and poignantly describing their hopes and despairs, Cohen provides a timely commentary on the troubled relations between America and the Middle East. Looking at the habits and passions that binds the youth across the cultural divide as well as the politics that which divides them this book provides much food for thought for Americans and Middle Easterners alike."
—Vali Nasr, author of The Shia Revival: How Conflicts within Islam will Shape the Future

“An intrepid writer journeys to the Middle East at the dawn of the 21st century to document the lives of young people whose countries are immersed in social and political upheaval.

In this engrossing book, Cohen artfully combines his natural confidence and flare as a writer to produce a revealing look at the youth of Iran, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria and Iraq. He gives a loose overview of the history of each region and then eloquently details his encounters with the young people he meets. The trip begins in Iran with Cohen clutching a piece of paper listing all the important political figures he wants to interview. But a chance meeting with two sisters at the University of Tehran, and an introduction to the city’s nightlife, propel the author away from these lofty goals and toward a documentation of youth culture. Once he hits his stride, the highlights come thick and fast, with tales of illegal alcohol consumption in Iran, encounters with Hezbollah members in fast-food restaurants, a pulse-racing scenario in a Palestinian refugee camp and a daring entrance, and terrifying exit, from Iraq. But the real revelations come from the author’s conversations with the people he meets along the way. Many express pro-American sentiment, and despite some healthy debate, particularly in Cohen’s meetings with university students in Iran and Iraq, he is never subjected to overt hostility, even from Hezbollah. The author also makes some telling observations on how the Internet and cable television have provided a vital, and heretofore unthinkable, link between the Middle East and the rest of the world. To his credit, Cohen rarely hides the fact that he is Jewish and American, and his openness appears to have been highly respected among the people he encountered—it’s also one of the primary reasons why this book makes for such compelling reading.

Riveting from start to finish.”
—Kirkus, starred

"Jared Cohen has written a unique book. Imagine a young American circulating in the back alleys and cafes of Iran, Lebanon, Syria, Palestinian refugee camps, and Iraq meeting other youth on their terms and asking pointed questions about their aspirations, concerns and attitudes toward their rulers and toward the United States. There are breathtaking descriptions of flirting with danger and fascinating dialogues that provide deep insights into the politics and sociology of four key countries in the Middle East.

It is a fascinating read, which I recommend to anyone who wants to develop a better understanding of the Middle East and the Arab world."
—Frank Carlucci, Former Secretary of Defense

"This young gutsy writer knows that the East-West struggle is being fought over the cafe tables of the Near and Middle East.  Do the youth of the Islamic world dream of an engineering degree from Michigan State or a martyr’s death?  This young American has had the moxie to sit and listen for hours at those tables.  In the words of the poet, Jared Cohen has taken the road "less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.
--Chris Matthews, Host of MSNBC's "Hardball" and NBC's "The Chris Matthews Show

"An enlightening and entertaining story that is part travelogue and part cultural analysis.  Gaining insights through simple conversation, Cohen paints a compelling picture of the politically awakened youth of the Middle East."
—Zbigniew Brzezinski, Former National Security Advisor

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Gotham; First edition (October 25, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1592403247
• ISBN-13: 978-1592403240
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #477,744 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Jared Cohen (born November 24, 1981 in Weston, Connecticut) is a non-fiction author. In September 2006, he was named as the youngest member to the Secretary of State's Policy Planning Staff, where he focuses on counter-terrorism, counter-radicalization, and some Middle East/North Africa issues. Prior to his work at the State Department, Cohen received his BA from Stanford University and his M.Phil in International Relations from Oxford University, where he studied as a Rhodes Scholar. Cohen is author of several books. His first, One Hundred Days of Silence: American and the Rwanda Genocide, was published in 2006 by Rowman & Littlefield and chronicles U.S. policy toward Rwanda during the 1994 Genocide. His second book, Children of Jihad: A Young American's Travels Among the Youth of the Middle East, was published by Penguin Books (Gotham) in October 2007 and has also been published as an audio book and translated into Dutch. Cohen's work on Children of Jihad has received the endorsements of names like Tom Brokaw, Frank Carlucci, Zbigniew Brzezinski, Brent Scowcroft, Richard Lugar, and Chris Matthews. Children of Jihad was starred by Kirkus Review and selected as one of the "Best Books of 2007." Additional publications include The Passive Revolution: Is Political Resistance Dead or Alive in Iran (Hoover Digest, 2005) and Iran's Young Opposition (SAIS Review, 2006). Jared frequently appears in the media: he has been featured in The New Yorker and appeared on The Colbert Report, CNN, ABC, Headline News, Current TV, NPR, Fox News, MSNBC, BBC, Comedy Central, Discovery Channel, and a variety of other TV and radio programs both domestic and international. He is frequently asked to speak at domestic and international conferences hosted by think tanks, the public sector, the military, the private sector, and foundations. In April/May 2007, Cohen was a judge at the Tribeca Film Festival.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A sharp, surprising account of youth politics in Iran and the ME, October 28, 2007

By 

J. Kim - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Children of Jihad: A Young American's Travels Among the Youth of the Middle East (Hardcover)

I expected Jared Cohen's "Children of Jihad" to read either like a travel journal (author in foreign land feels foreign, learns Lessons), or a collection of Friedman-style essays/episodic dispatches from the Arab street.

Instead, COJ succeeds on a whole other level--part page-turning adventure, part history/social study, part conversational reporting--truly unlike anything I've read on the subject. Cohen draws heavily on personal interviews and daily interactions from his months abroad to paint a surprisingly vibrant portrait of young people across the Middle East (most strikingly, Iran); one that is more dynamic, perceptive and pro-American than most of us think.

His interviews and anecdotes compellingly remind us that the campaign for "hearts and minds" is a two-way effort. In public diplomacy, it's not enough for us to get our message out to "them"; we must also actively listen to what "they" have to say to us--about their hopes and aspirations; about the US role and how our policies affect their daily lives--if we are ever to acheive the diplomatic goals we seek. In this respect, the book is an excellent source for public diplomacy scholars and practitioners.

Organized by destination (Iran, Lebanon, Syria and Iraq), COJ reads like an exciting and informative ride across Cohen's death wish of a map. Thematically, the book focuses on what Cohen calls the "Youth Party," which serves as a purposefully broad demographic marker (two-thirds of the ME is under 30), as well as a metonym for an ineluctable, generational thirst for change.

Cohen and the majority of his subjects--ranging from students to taxi drivers to members of Hezbollah--were all under 25 at the time of writing. It makes for a fresh and novel approach, and Cohen is a truly gifted storyteller. He strikes a narrative balance between observation and empathy that feels right, and reads well. Brief historical backgrounders are included where needed for readers new to the subject.

Above all, Cohen allows himself (and the reader) to be surprised and touched by the people he meets because his encounters are rooted in mutual respect. Fluent in Arabic and Farsi, and an area scholar, he is candid about his identity as an American Jew, while remaining sensitive to the repressive political contexts in which he and his new friends must operate.

Whoever said, "Youth is wasted on the young" must not have read this book--energetic and bold, it is a highly accessible, ambitious, and clear-eyed account that I would recommend to anyone with an interest in the region. Cohen used his youth and insouciance to his remarkable advantage, and even area experts likely will be surprised by his findings.

28 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars What a shame., November 26, 2008

By 

Pat - See all my reviews

This review is from: Children of Jihad: A Young American's Travels Among the Youth of the Middle East (Hardcover)

Are you looking for useful insight into the minds of Middle Easterners? You won't find it here, but you will find a good amount of ego and misconception. The book has some interesting accounts from the youth in Iran and Kurdistan, but the merits of this book are completely outweighed by an irritating narrative of an American constantly projecting his Orientalist fantasies while trying to confirm pre-formulated views about the Arab-Israeli conflict.

Right away he looses all credibility with his exaggeration. He fondly describes how risky it was to sneak into an African Civil War on a truck of bananas. Is this necessary? Lines like "I was flirting with the idea of crossing from Iran into Basra." But he didn't, so why would he write this? To stroke his ego of how adventurous he is to ignorant people back in America who will never travel over here. The whole part leading up to entering Kurdistan and how he was going into a war zone is fabricated. He obviously knew this wasn't the case beforehand if he was a guest of the KRG, so why the long drawn out blabber about how he might die. People travel freely in Kurdistan and it is hardly dangerous, and he knew this going in. Much of the Middle East is very safe for travel, so why the constant reminders that he might die at any second? He is concerned with painting a picture of himself as a risk taker, regardless of the actual circumstances. This holds true in much of his writing about Arabs. He has a picture he wants to paint regardless of the actual situation.

The section that Cohen writes about Hezbollah is absurd. I am an American student at AUB, and what he says about hundreds of Hezbollah "operatives" "infiltrating" the university is ridiculous. Yes of course there are Hezbollah supporters at the school, since Hezbollah is a huge political party and the de facto government for half of the country! He can't get past the American "terrorist" designation to actually learn about these people. To someone that lives in Lebanon this book is infuriatingly naive. He does not make any effort to understand the people from the South, just has a few conversations and describes the "shivers sent down his spine" as an American Jew.

Now let's try to understand how these people view Israel, not as American Jews, but as the ones who have suffered under Israeli occupation and war. In the end Cohen describes how Hezbollah bursts back onto the scene with a "blast of rocket fire" to attack Israel and he describes the 2006 summer war as one sided attack against poor Israel. Look at the facts. It was started by the capture by Hezbollah of two Israeli soldiers, and the retaliation was the largest aerial bombardment in the history of the Middle East. Bigger even than the Yom Kippur war. The targets were largely civilian, the Israeli strategy being depopulation of civilians in the hope that they would put blame for their problems on Hezbollah. In the last 48 hours of the war, right up to the cease-fire, Israel dropped 4 million cluster bombs in civilian areas all over the south. And they won't release the maps of the cluster attacks for clean-up, because if the international community saw the targets they would absolutely condemn this attack as a war crime. Children and farmers continue to lose limbs and be crippled by these mines while trying to rebuild their villages, and Israel keeps the maps to themselves for political reasons. This example is very typical of Israeli action.

So yes of course they are going to view Israel as the enemy. The conflict is very lopsided, and Cohen does not even attempt to look at the other side, blindly assuming that the Israeli government is always in the right. Why doesn't he travel to Israel for this book? Or to the West Bank or Gaza where humans are treated like animals? Not one mention of the events that forced the Palestinians from their home and into the camp he visits in Lebanon. He brands them as extremists and quickly moves on. Anything he says about the Arab-Israeli conflict was decided before his travels.

This book only serves to confirm ignorant American perceptions of the Middle East, while working towards its main purpose which is ego-building. To anyone who lives here this book is infuriating. This book was written to impress people back home, not to write justly about the people living in the Middle East. How this book got the praise of Vali Nasr is beyond me. Enjoy your job in the State Department Mr. Cohen.

13 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Promising, but a letdown., December 21, 2007

By 

Dave (Massachusetts) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Children of Jihad: A Young American's Travels Among the Youth of the Middle East (Hardcover)

The book starts out with the oft-familiar and now-trite language of having traveled abroad and having been "changed" by it all. Okay, fair enough--I figured I'd indulge him before he gets to the meat.

But his writing suffers from a couple of flaws. First, he writes about too much history. Now, I love history--I was a history major--but Cohen is not a historian and this is not a historical book. I appreciate that some of what he talks about is useful to understanding the situation in which he finds himself--but the history need not go on for pages. It is amateurish. And second, the whole theme and writing seem rather hackneyed. "As an American Jew, I couldn't believe how nice they were...etc., etc., etc." Every chapter is new scenery, new people, but the same exact story over and over again. Disappointing.