Guerrillas: Journeys in the Insurgent World [Paperback]

Jon Lee Anderson (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0641684444 | ISBN-13: 978-0641684449 | Publication Date: September 28, 2004

Prior to gaining international renown for his definitive biography of Che Guevara and first-hand reporting on the war in Iraq for the New Yorker, Jon Lee Anderson wrote Guerrillas, a pioneering account of five diverse insurgent movements around the world-the mujahedin of Afghanistan, the FMLN of El Salvador, the Karen of Burma, the Polisario of Western Sahara, and a group of young Palestinians fighting against Israel in the Gaza Strip. Making the most of unprecedented, direct access to his subjects, Anderson combines powerful, firsthand storytelling with balanced, penetrating analysis of each situation. A work of phenomenal range, analytical acuity, and human empathy, Guerrillas amply demonstrates why Jon Lee Anderson is one of our most important chroniclers of societies in crisis.

Editorial Reviews

Review

A resourceful, even intrepid, piece of reportage... A book of unusual immediacy, one that has the unmistakable ring of authenticity. (Jonathan Yardley, The Washington Post Book World)

A very good piece of battle reporting... especially vivid. (Washington Monthly)

About the Author

Jon Lee Anderson is the author of Che Guevara: A Revolutionary Life, The Lion's Grave: Dispatches from Afghanistan, and, with his brother Scott Anderson, War Zones and Inside the League. Anderson is a regular contributor to the New Yorker.

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Penguin (Non-Classics) (September 28, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0641684444
• ISBN-13: 978-0641684449
• ASIN: 0142004979
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #698,451 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Manual for Understanding Insurgencies, November 13, 2004

By 

Steve Osborne "Steve Osborne" (Pittsboro, NC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Guerrillas: Journeys in the Insurgent World (Paperback)

After reading Anderson's book, I felt that my knowledge about insurgency was about the equivalent of just a few pieces that were part of a big puzzle that Anderson puts together when describing the various factors motivating people to raise arms, and the common points between the various causes served by guerrilla armies in the world. Anderson lived with them; and shares his observations in his book as nothing more than a story teller and, at the end of each chapter, gives a brief analysis.

Get the book!

5.0 out of 5 stars Guerrillas, February 25, 2011

By 

Spider Monkey (UK) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Guerrillas: Journeys in the Insurgent World (Paperback)

`Guerrillas' is an excellent book from Jon Lee Anderson that explores the politics and stories behind five guerrilla movements around the world.

This follows guerrillas in Afghanistan, El Salvador, Palestine, Burma and the Polisario in Western Sahara and the book is broken up into 7 chapters which focus on different aspects of guerrilla life. `Myths of Creation' looks at how the various movements started and the politics behind their ideals. It looks at how the groups keep grounded to their initial viewpoints and teach this to following generations of guerrillas. `A Parallel Reality' looks at how the groups form their own governments and how they live their idealised lives in tandem with the lives they have to face in reality. `Earning a Living' explores how the movements fund themselves and how the fighters provide for their families. `Making War' looks at how the methodology of waging war differs from group to group. `Systems of Justice' shows us how the groups plan, carry out and administer justice within their controlled areas and for members of their army. `A New Family' looks at how family life suffers if you are in a revolutionary guerrilla movement and how the fighters manage (or not) to balance family and fighting life. It also looks at how fellow comrades become your extended family. Finally, `Speaking to the Gods' looks at religion and spirituality within the guerrilla groups and how some use it as justification for their cause. This book finishes up with an afterword that brings things up to date (of publishing) and shows how some of the causes have succeeded, failed or carried on since the book was originally written.

This was immensely easy to read and completely absorbing. I loved how it moved from one guerrilla movement to another and then back again within each chapter (rather than telling each guerrilla groups story in one chapter and then moving on to the next) so it almost felt like a novel, with an over-arcing narrative that unfolded as you read the book. I would have like some photos or maps to clarify some points raised, but this is a minor niggle and didn't detract from the enjoyment of the book one iota.

All in all this was a fascinating and enjoyable read. Some of the politics and events have moved on since this was written, but for an interesting snap shot in time this is unbeatable.

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5.0 out of 5 stars Exploring the Why., February 2, 2011

By 

Greywolf - See all my reviews

This review is from: Guerrillas: Journeys in the Insurgent World (Paperback)

Great field study exploring why insurgencies exist and why insurgents fight. A must read for those trying to understand the insurgent mind.