The Other Side of War: Women's Stories of Survival and Hope [Hardcover]

Zainab Salbi (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 19, 2006

Zainab Salbi's media profile soared with her first book, Between Two Worlds, a memoir of growing up in Saddam Hussein's inner circle. She has been a guest on "Oprah," has been interviewed by Katie Couric, Al Franken, and George Stephanopoulos, and has been profiled in the New York Times, The Washington Post, and People magazine. Her organization, Women for Women International, plays a vital role in helping to heal war-torn nations including Afghanistan, Bosnia, Rwanda, Congo, Sudan, and Colombia.

With stunning images by award-winning photographers Susan Meiselas, Lekha Singh, and Sylvia Plachy, Salbi presents a riveting collection of letters and first-person narratives by amazing women who survived war's devastation and now must find the strength to rebuild families and communities. Throbbing with pain and loss yet glowing with courage and hope, The Other Side of War explores six regions where Women for Women International has helped survivors of the world's most tumultuous countries learn new skills, open small businesses and forge bonds with sponsors.

Overviews by the author explain how each nation's history led to violent conflict; then, with searing eloquence, the women tell their stories—of horror, cruelty, and suffering but also of profound inspiration as they work toward renewal and toward the day their fierce determination is rewarded with productivity, prosperity, and lasting joy.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Zainab Salbi, whose father was Saddam Hussein's pilot, spent her teen years as a palace insider in Iraq, until 1990, when her family sent her to the United States to escape the regime's brutal tyranny. She founded Women for Women International in Washington, D.C., and has published a memoir.

Women for Women International, a non-profit organization with more than 127,000 supporters, has raised millions of dollars to help over 70,000 women in warring nations learn to support themselves and reinvigorate their economies by providing the tools and resources needed to move from crisis and poverty to stability and self-sufficiency.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: National Geographic; First edition. edition (September 19, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0792262115
• ISBN-13: 978-0792262114
• Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 1.1 x 7.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #424,505 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautifully inspiring, October 9, 2006

By 

L. Rico (Vacaville, California United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Other Side of War: Women's Stories of Survival and Hope (Hardcover)

Zainab Salbi's new book is a beautifully inspiring example of photo journalism and the heart-rending story about the other side of war. It will make a wonderful gift for the holidays. The women in the pictures reach out from the pages and touch your heart, while Salbi's words touch your soul. The message truly inspires me to not only be more thankful for all that life has given me, but also more understanding to what life has given others and seek out more ways to help these women survivors of war. The organization, Women for Women International is an amazing organization, doing amazing work; this new book is equally amazing!

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Other Side of War- Captivating, Encouraging and REAL, October 11, 2006

By 

Dawn M. Lemonds "Dawn Marie Lemonds" (Tustin, California USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Other Side of War: Women's Stories of Survival and Hope (Hardcover)

Once again Zainab Salbi and Laurie Becklund have brought a riveting picture of the reality of war from the perspective of those who are left to hold the pieces together- the women. My organization, Soroptimist International, has been working in partnership with Women for Women International on a project called Project Independence Women Survivors of War for 3 1/2 years and I have had the privilege to go "to the field" on three occasions and meet women in the program. It is not an accident that this amazing organization, through the leadership of Zainab- was just awarded the Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Award last month. They are the first women's organization to ever recieve it- and the impact of the $1.5 million dollar gift will continue to transform lives of women who are currently socially isolated and desperate and in one year- they will be well on towards their journey of becoming self sufficient and active citizens. These stories are genuine, courageous and TRUE "snapshots" of the unspeakable costs of war- particularly on women. This is a must read! Dawn Marie Lemonds, Soroptimist International

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wow!, January 9, 2007

By 

Cathy N (Florida) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Other Side of War: Women's Stories of Survival and Hope (Hardcover)

What an honest and unusual life story! My daughter and I were not able to put this book down. The naive courage of the author comes through. She is not one to think "Someone should do something about that" but "I've got to do something about that", and begins an international charitable foundation from the basement, literally from the ground up. Most of us stand around wringing our hands in the face of cruel injustices; this is an example of what can be done by one determined person.