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

By Andrew Mueller

Book Overview

What is a jaded rock journalist doing dodging landmines to talk to mercenaries and terrorists? And what kind of conversation can a man who prefers hunting for perfect three-minute pop songs and tubes of beer have with devotees of fasting and ferocity? Sarajevo. Jerusalem. Kabul. Belfast. Kosovo. Gaza. Basra. New York City. Every place where recent history advertises the stubbornness, intolerance, bloodlust, and cowardice that sully our collective record, there the intrepid Andrew Mueller goes, skidding around the globe from failed state to ravaged war zone to desolate no-man's-land to try to unpick why we humans seem so prone to plucking war from the jaws of peace. En route, he meets various influential panjandrums (Al Gore, Gerry Adams, Bono, Paddy Ashdown), any number of assorted warlords and revolutionaries, and a sprinkling of peacemakers and do-gooders. He also manages to get shot at, locked up, and taken on a tour by one of the world's most infamous terrorist organizations. It's like a Bond film with much, much less sex, and might appear for that and other reasons to be substantially a story of disappointment. Yet it's a surprisingly sunny book given the mire in which he finds himself.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1593762186
• ISBN13: 9781593762186
• Release Date: March 2009
• Publisher: Counterpoint Press
• Length: 478 Pages
• Weight: 1.23 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 6.2" x 8.9"

Customer Reviews

Great read

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.