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Jared Cohen

Children of Jihad: A Young American's Travels Among the Youth of the Middle East Paperback – August 26, 2008

by Jared Cohen (Author)

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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.

In 2004, Jared Cohen embarked on the first of a series of incredible journeys to the Middle East in an effort to understand the spread of radical Islamist violence among Muslim youth. The result is Children of Jihad, a portrait of paradox that probes much deeper than any journalist or pundit ever could.

Chosen as one of Kirkus Review's Best Books of 2007, 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 front-line locales. At each turn, he observes a culture at an uncanny crossroads. Gripping and daring, Children of Jihad shows us the future through the eyes of those who are shaping it.

Print length

304 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Avery
Publication date

August 26, 2008
Dimensions

5.4 x 0.8 x 7.93 inches
ISBN-10

1592403999
ISBN-13

978-1592403998
See all details

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Editorial Reviews

Review

“A riveting read from start to finish.”
—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

"Children of Jihad is a very smart, insightful account of a young Jewish- American (and rhodes scholar) trying to understand his generation across the line in the middle east.”
— Tom Brokaw, NBC Universal

"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 martyrs 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

"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 Arab world."
— Frank Carlucci, Former Secretary of Defense

"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

"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

"Astonishing."
—Washington Times

"Children of Jihad succeeds at breaking down some inaccurate generalizations and replacing them with more accurate generalizations, and it does a good job of humanizing Middle Eastern youth by telling their individual stories"
—Haaretz

"An important book to read."
— Joe Scarborough, host of MSNBC Morning Joe

"I admire Jared Cohen's courage, vigor and insight. He has been a wonderful source of information and understanding about Iran, particularly youth attitudes and ideals. His advice is helpful in fostering better relations, better public diplomacy and progress toward greater democratic freedoms and openness in Iran."
—Senator Richard Lugar, Ranking Member on Senate Foreign Relations Committee

“Cohen’s chronicle is fine fieldwork for students of the Middle East”
—Booklist
— Media

About the Author

After witnessing the awful aftermath of decades of sectarian aggression and radical Islamist violence, Jared Cohen decided that he must go to the Middle East to better understand the phenomenon. After extensively studying Arabic and the history of the Middle East, he journeyed into the region and reached out to the youth in the area, putting himself in danger in order to understand their culture and views on government, Israel, and America. Children of Jihad is Cohen’s account of his travels and interviews with the people he met.

In September 2006, he was named the youngest member to the Secretary of State's Policy Planning Staff, where he focused on counter-terrorism, counter-radicalization, and Middle East/North Africa issues. Prior to his work at the State Department, Cohen received his BA from Stanford University and continued his education at the University of Oxford, where he studied as a Rhodes Scholar. Currently, he is the director of Google Ideas and is an Adjunct Senior Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations. He also serves as a member of the National Counterterrorism Center’s Director’s Advisory Board.

Jared Cohen is also the author of One Hundred Days of Silence and most recently co-authored The New Digital Age, with Eric Schmidt, the executive chairman of Google.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Avery; Reprint edition (August 26, 2008)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 304 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1592403999
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1592403998
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 9.2 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.4 x 0.8 x 7.93 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #2,118,999 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #1,260 in Islamic Social Studies
- #1,489 in Children's Studies Social Science (Books)
- #5,968 in Travel Writing Reference

Customer Reviews:
43 ratings

About the author

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Jared Cohen

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Jared Cohen is the founder and CEO of Jigsaw at Alphabet Inc. He also serves as an Adjunct Senior Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations. Prior to Alphabet, he was Google’s first Director of Ideas and chief advisor to Google's executive chairman Eric Schmidt. From 2006 to 2010 he served as a member of the Secretary of State's Policy Planning Staff and as a close advisor to both Condoleezza Rice and Hillary Clinton.

Cohen is the New York Times bestselling author of four books, including Children of Jihad, One Hundred Days of Silence: America and the Rwanda Genocide, and The New Digital Age: Transforming Nations, Business, and our Lives, which he co-authored with Eric Schmidt. His new book, The Accidental Presidents, examines the eight instances in American history when a president has died in office. His writing has appeared in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Foreign Affairs, LA Times, Washington Post, TIME Magazine, and Foreign Policy.

He has been named to the "TIME 100" list, Foreign Policy's “Top 100 Global Thinkers,” and Vanity Fair's "Next Establishment." Cohen serves on several advisory boards, including Allianz, Stanford University’s Freeman-Spogli Institute, Rivet Ventures, FluidMarket, ASAPP, and NCTC. he is a member of GenNext and a Young Global Leader at the World Economic Forum.

Cohen received his B.A. from Stanford University and his M.Phil in International Relations from the University of Oxford, where he studied as a Rhodes Scholar. He speaks fluent Swahili.

Customer reviews

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3 star		13%
2 star		4%
1 star		5%

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Top reviews from the United States

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Gloria Soliz

Amazing perspective on youth of middle east

Reviewed in the United States on July 14, 2016

Verified Purchase

I learned so much about the middle east reading this book ...I was so glad the author gave some background on each region that he travelled to. Even though his travels were dangerous in certain areas, I am so glad to read of his journey. Incredibly inspiring and hopeful. I think any American that is pessimistic about the middle east and it's conflicts and violence should read this book. There is hope in the young people there! They are the ones that can bring peace, it seems like. What it all boils down to is that we are all human, with feelings and dignity and aspirations for life.

3 people found this helpful

Helpful

MoMo

Nothing really new if you know anything about the region

Reviewed in the United States on September 19, 2009

Verified Purchase

If you believe that Muslims and Arabs hate democracy and freedom and that is the reason they want to kill us, then pick up this book. It should enlighten you.

If you believe the reason for the east-west discord is much more nuanced and complicated, then Cohen doesn't provide anything insightful. It's not a new discovery to learn that most people want jobs, dignity and live in peace. That most children in the middle east grow up with a healthy diet of Oprah, Hanna Montana and McDonalds.

Again, if you've ever travelled to or studied in the region in anyway, this book (with the exception of party scenes in Beirut) is dull.

8 people found this helpful

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JK

A sharp, surprising account of youth politics in Iran and the ME

Reviewed in the United States on October 28, 2007

Verified Purchase

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.

27 people found this helpful

Helpful

Kunal Tandon

Incredible look inside the Middle East

Reviewed in the United States on March 6, 2014

Verified Purchase

Jared's ability to connect with people from such diverse backgrounds is incredible. His courage to go into dangerous places, connect with strangers, and risk his own safety is astonishing- every American should be required to read this book to garner a perspective of the Middle East that is not portrayed by our mainstream media.

One person found this helpful

Helpful

E. Kurfman

Excellent book to help see how others see the world.

Reviewed in the United States on February 19, 2019

Verified Purchase

Young Jewish man travels the Middle East talking to young Muslims. Excellent.

One person found this helpful

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Dave

Promising, but a letdown.

Reviewed in the United States on December 21, 2007

Verified Purchase

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.

21 people found this helpful

Helpful

Jack Duhamel

good 1

Reviewed in the United States on March 18, 2011

Verified Purchase

Great book, well writen. J. Cohen will be going in for the global takeover soon enough, actually he already is. We're in good hands. This book sheds light on a mysterious region. Helpful, given the current state of the middle east, north africa.

Reviewed in the United States on June 15, 2008

Verified Purchase

Mr. Cohen was obviously young and naive when he wrote the book. It offers only a view of youth from a first time and young visitor, based on random encounters. It is not for the reader who wants new insight into the Middle East. And it most certainly is not a look at the youth who will be willing to wage jihad, or who are being effected by the jihadist movement.

11 people found this helpful

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