I Wouldn't Start from Here: The 21st Century and Where It All Went Wrong (Paperback)

~ (Author), Robert Young Pelton (Introduction)
Key Phrases: indomitable lions, Northern Ireland, Saddam Hussein, Sir Iqbal (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

*Starred Review* The opening decade of the twenty-first century may go down in history as one of the deadliest and bloodiest on record. From Belfast to Basra, Kosovo to Cameroon, the globe is littered with conflicts between nations and tribes, superpowers and renegade republics. There are cases where the cause is known and identifiable; others that are more nebulous and confused. Some escalate into full-scale war, while others simmer as enduring hostilities. What ultimately unites them, claims Mueller, is the search for identity. An erstwhile rock critic, Mueller took the leap into battlefield journalism to investigate the ways in which a chaotic and tenacious concept of nationality can infuse a country’s individual citizens with the fervor to kill or die in its defense. Having been wounded and imprisoned in pursuit of this underlying truth through 70 of the world’s most volatile regimes, Mueller examines the daily lives of both a new breed of revolutionary and an old guard whose rhetoric is steeped in centuries-old traditions. Peppered with trenchant observations that reflect a nimble, cut-to-the-chase practicality, Mueller’s interviews with everyone from terrorist warlords to international peacemakers are refreshingly irreverent yet astute. --Carol Haggas

Review

"Mueller is the embodiment of what can happen with a fire in the belly and a desire to write out loud." ----Australian Book Review

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Product Details

• Paperback: 472 pages
• Publisher: Soft Skull Press (January 15, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1593762186
• ISBN-13: 978-1593762186
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #217,922 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great read, May 26, 2009

By	I. Coburn "torndownunit" (Canada) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I am no expert at writing reviews, but I noticed this book had no reviews and thought someone should comment on it because it's a great book. I stumbled onto Mueller's first book "Rock And Hard Places" at a used book store in my town. I couldn't put it down, and I went searching for other books by him. This book basically carries on from where his first left off.

He tells stories of his travels through various conflict zones in the world, mainly during the 90's. He also returns to the areas to follow up after wars, and regime changes. A lot of these conflicts took place when I was in my early to mid-teens, and not really following the events of the time that closely. So I have really enjoyed learning more about the places, the time, and the conflicts.

In summary he is just a fantastic writer and story teller. He can make you laugh out loud, and make you think. I highly recommend the book, and I recommend tracking down his first book as well.