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War Journal: My Five Years in Iraq Hardcover – June 3, 2008

by Richard Engel (Author)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 121 ratings
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A long-serving Nightly News television journalist in Iraq presents a detailed account of the war on the front lines that addresses such topics as the hiding place of Saddam Hussein, the political process of ayatollahs within Shiite seminaries, and life within al-Qaeda safe houses. 175,000 first printing.
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  1. Print length
    400 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Simon & Schuster
  4. Publication date
    June 3, 2008
  5. Dimensions
    6.5 x 1.25 x 9.5 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1416563040
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1416563044
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

*Starred Review* Anyone who has followed television coverage of the Iraq War knows NBC’s Engel. As chronicled in his first book, A Fist in the Hornet’s Nest (2004), he snuck into Baghdad as a freelance journalist to report on “shock and awe.” This is what he’s seen in the five years since, and while some readers will want to turn away from the horror and brutality, Engel bears witness to what has been done to the people of Iraq and what they are doing to each other. Reported in an almost herky-jerky manner, as befitting a journalist who hears gunfire as a lullaby, this memoir offers stunning testimony of man’s inhumanity to man and, perhaps even more forcefully, of the havoc that our most firmly held ideals, whether about democracy or religion, can wreak on human lives. Underlying the mayhem is Engel’s contention, amply proven throughout, that Iraq is the embodiment of the Law of Unintended Consequences. Encouraging democracy in a country that is 60 percent Shiite, the U.S gave Iran everything it wanted, by way of the clerics who, all along, have had their own plan for Iraq. A fascinating chapter chronicles Engel’s meeting with a well-informed George Bush, who is comfortable saying we will need troops in Iraq for 40 years Whether describing IED attacks, kidnappings, or soldiers’ hardships—or pondering how to hold onto one’s humanity in hell—Engel writes with heartbreaking weariness. This is required reading for anyone who wants to know what’s really going on “over there.” --Ilene Cooper

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Simon & Schuster; 1st edition (June 3, 2008)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 400 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1416563040
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1416563044
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.3 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.5 x 1.25 x 9.5 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 121 ratings

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Richard Engel

Richard Engel

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Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
121 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the book excellent, well-written, and documented. They describe the content as compelling, enlightening, and essential reading. Readers appreciate the amazing explanation of the war from start to finish. They also say the author has great insights into what is going on there.

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ReadabilityEnlightened contentUnderstandingJournalist quality
23 customers mention "Readability"23 positive0 negative

Customers find the book excellent, well-written, and readable. They say it's educational, unbiased, and brutally honest. Readers also appreciate the nonpartisan look into the war.

"...in the conflict in Iraq as a war story at all, but Engel's writing was so vivid and his reporting was so exacting that he found he enjoyed the book..." Read more

"...putting the complex history of Shiites and Sunnis into a way that is readable and understandable." Read more

"...Engel's account is balanced and apolitical...." Read more

"Richard Engle is an amazing reporter, he comes across as unbiased and gives you the fact. Makes for great reading and better understanding...." Read more

18 customers mention "Enlightened content"18 positive0 negative

Customers find the content compelling, enlightening, and essential reading. They describe the author as obsessed, crazy, brave, and excellent. Readers also mention the book is enjoyable, perceptive, intelligent, and unbiased.

"...speak with him a bit later on and he said it was just an excellent, intelligent, unbiased and engrossing book...." Read more

"Highly educational and unbiased book about the war in Iraq , history of Iraq, Sunnis and Shiites...." Read more

"...and a society that often appears totally hopeless that I found absolutely fascinating...." Read more

"...in reporting the wars in all these countries are compelling and enlightening...." Read more

9 customers mention "Understanding"9 positive0 negative

Customers find the book amazing and understandable. They appreciate the author's great insights and sympathetic writing style. Readers also say the insider's view is compelling and hard to put down.

"...history of Shiites and Sunnis into a way that is readable and understandable." Read more

"...Engle is an amazing reporter, he comes across as unbiased and gives you the fact. Makes for great reading and better understanding...." Read more

"...The author has great insights into what is going on there and he is a sympathetic character...." Read more

"...This book gives an amazing explanation of what this war was like from start to finish - not just the facts, the battles and the political changes,..." Read more

4 customers mention "Journalist quality"4 positive0 negative

Customers praise the journalist as one of the best around. They say he's a first-class reporter in bad situations.

"Richard Engle is an amazing reporter, he comes across as unbiased and gives you the fact. Makes for great reading and better understanding...." Read more

"...Guy's a national treasure. He is also equal parts obsessed, crazy, brave, and a 100% superlative journalist. Absolutely fantastic...." Read more

"Richard Engle is a first-class reporter in bad situations. His background helps him explain what ishappening and where the action takes place...." Read more

"Richard is amazing" Read more

Top reviews from the United States

Countess Chocula
5.0 out of 5 stars I earned five stars for giving this one as a gift
Reviewed in the United States on February 5, 2009
Verified Purchase
I gave this book as a gift to my father, so this is in some ways a second-hand review, mixing my observations and comparisons of what he usually reads and enjoys along with what he's told me of his experience with this book.

My dad's a retired Army Colonel and reads a ton of biographical, fiction and non-fiction military books, mostly centered on the Vietnam and Korean wars, and he's picky about his authors. I was a little hesitant about picking something for him from something so contemporary, but I just admire Richard Engel's reporting so much, I thought I'd give it a chance.

My dad generally humors me and wouldn't tell me if he disliked something I bought him (as an example, I bought him Colin Powell's biography a few years back and he hated it, but never told me), so I never expected him to say anything, but about a week after Christmas, my mother called to tell me that he had picked up the book and the day before and was hardly putting it down. I finally had a chance to speak with him a bit later on and he said it was just an excellent, intelligent, unbiased and engrossing book. He hadn't expected to be interested in the conflict in Iraq as a war story at all, but Engel's writing was so vivid and his reporting was so exacting that he found he enjoyed the book as much as he enjoyed the other books that he usually read on topics that he was personally familiar with.

So since I got a big huge thumbs up from my very picky military father about the quality and enjoyability of this book, and since I personally also love Richard Engel's reporting and writing and I've had a chance to start the book myself now, I have to give this book a great review from my dad and a great starting off review from me.
4 people found this helpful
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David Canada
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United States on June 19, 2016
Verified Purchase
Highly educational and unbiased book about the war in Iraq , history of Iraq, Sunnis and Shiites. Richard Engel has access to a variety of people during this time: Iraq citizens, U.S/Iraq military members, Shiites, Sunnis, Terrorists, Political leaders from the U.S and Iraq. Engel is an intelligent man who lived and breathed the heartaches of this war. He was on the frontlines of the communities, battle fields and military bases. He lived amongst everyday Iraqi citizen's. I liked how this book gave me a deeper understanding of Iraq, the middle east and better insight into how the war in Iraq has impacted the current state of the world. I think Engel has a gift for putting the complex history of Shiites and Sunnis into a way that is readable and understandable.
One person found this helpful
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Sam The Sham
5.0 out of 5 stars Engel Is Amazing As Are His Books
Reviewed in the United States on March 6, 2019
Verified Purchase
I have read his books. He makes you feel as if you are standing right beside him as he describes the people, places, and sounds of Iraq. I did not know him personally other than to say an occasional hello, but when I was around him he was a professional newsman asking the tough questions. He was/is fluent in Arabic and speaks with the same nuances and slang as do the people. Engel is fearless always going around Iraq & Bagdad and into the most dangerous of places for his stories. I worked for a civilian "3 letter alphabet"government agency" for 6.5 years before I was wounded and had to come out. I can tell you this, the stories Engels tells I can validate. Not because I was there with him all the time, but because we walked in the same sand & sewage in the streets. He's one great newsman and a compassionate human being. I'd run across him in some of the strangest places only to find out he'd been there hours ahead of our team chasing a lead, as were we, although for much different reasons. We'd gleen his information, what he'd allow us to have, and verify it with ours. The man was never wrong. I really wished I made his friendship but my assignment would not allow it and I suspect his movement & time element would not have allowed it either. You have to read his books. He pulls no punches and tells it like it is. The Good, The Bad, & stuff so insane you'd have to have seen it to believe it. Rich, if you read this review, you'll piece together who I am. Best of luck to you, always. Till the next war!
3 people found this helpful
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RL
5.0 out of 5 stars Bound to be a classic
Reviewed in the United States on October 12, 2009
Verified Purchase
Like many of the reviewers on this page, I've read many of the bestsellers on Iraq. From "Fiasco" to "Assassin's Gate," there have been a number of excellent, heroic accounts of the debacle in Iraq. What sets Engel's apart is his ability to analyze the political situation in Iraq with his own personal struggles. His five years in Iraq pushed him to the emotional edge and it resulted in his divorce. It is these personal accounts of what drove him to stay in Iraq and to flirt with death, misery and a society that often appears totally hopeless that I found absolutely fascinating. Richard Engel doesn't come off as a cocky, indestructive, superman; but as a complex and sensitive individual who simply is trying to make sense of a society gone mad. Furthermore, his description of the basis of the ongoing insurgency are clearly articulated and explained. His explanation of the Shia/Sunni rift is as good as I have ever read.

For modern day war journalism that is increasingly dangerous, this account should be considered a classic. It's his skillful combination of presenting the Iraq tragedy in a concise and meaningful manner with his own personal insights that make this account stand out from all the others.

After I finished this book, I kept asking myself the following questions: What drives a guy like Richard Engel? And what's next for an individual like this? Is he self-destructive and somehow addictively drawn to war?? Why are so many of us so fascinated by war??

What I'd give to have a beer with Mr. Engel and ask him these questions! But read the book, you won't regret it. Perhaps you'll get the answers to some of these questions.
4 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Shannon MacDonald
5.0 out of 5 stars 'War Journal' was even better than I expected!
Reviewed in Canada on March 21, 2013
Verified Purchase
Richard Engel makes you feel like you are on the ground with him, experiencing all the horrors of the Iraq war first hand. I would recommend this to anyone who is interested in what life was like during the war.
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