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And Then All Hell Broke Loose
And Then All Hell Broke Loose: Two Decades in the Middle East | Richard Engel
40 posts | 9 read | 40 to read
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER Gripping reading...an astute, fast-paced overview...[Engel] gives us sharp, unnerving snapshots. Michiko Kakutani, The New York Times Based on two decades of reporting, NBCs chief foreign correspondents riveting story of the Middle East revolutions, the Arab Spring, war, and terrorism seen up-closesometimes dangerously so. When he was just twenty-three, a recent graduate of Stanford University, Richard Engel set off to Cairo with $2,000 and dreams of being a reporter. Shortly thereafter he was working freelance for Arab news sources and got a call that a busload of Italian tourists were massacred at a Cairo museum. This is his first view of the carnage these years would pile on. Over two decades Engel has been under fire, blown out of hotel beds, taken hostage. He has watched Mubarak and Morsi in Egypt arrested and condemned, reported from Jerusalem, been through the Lebanese war, covered the whole shooting match in Iraq, interviewed Libyan rebels who toppled Gaddafi, reported from Syria as Al-Qaeda stepped in, was kidnapped in the Syrian crosscurrents of fighting. He goes into Afghanistan with the Taliban and to Iraq with ISIS. In the page-turning And Then All Hell Broke Loose, he shares his adventure tale. Engel takes chances, though not reckless ones, keeps a level head and a sense of humor, as well as a grasp of history in the making. Reporting as NBCs Chief-Foreign Correspondent, he reveals his unparalleled access to the major figures, the gritty soldiers, and the helpless victims in the Middle East during this watershed time. We can experience the unforgettable suffering and despair of the local populations. Engels vivid description is intimate and personal. Importantly, it is a succinct and authoritative account of the ever-changing currents in that dangerous land.
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BarbaraTheBibliophage
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Pickpick

Even though this was published in 2016, it holds up well. Engel explains the various sects, factions, and other players throughout the Middle East. There are lots of “aha” moments about why things are the way they are. And some solid behind-the-scenes life of a journalist stuff that fascinated me. Still, the battles and fighting is depressing.

Full review http://www.TheBibliophage.com
#thebibliophage2021 #readingasia #iraq #mounttbr

Riveted_Reader_Melissa Yes, he did a great job here. 3y
BarbaraTheBibliophage @Riveted_Reader_Melissa I remember you liked this one! 3y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa @BarbaraTheBibliophage I thought it was a good mix of his experiences and life there and history of the area. I read it along with his other book and there was some overlap, but still good solid info. 3y
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Librarybelle Stacking! 3y
BarbaraTheBibliophage @Riveted_Reader_Melissa Oh I didn‘t realize he had another book. I‘ll have to check it out. 3y
BarbaraTheBibliophage @Librarybelle Yay! It is good but not an easy read! 3y
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Riveted_Reader_Melissa
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CoffeeK8 100% true. This is a coup. 4y
wordslinger42 Absolutely heartbreaking. 4y
AlaMich Yep! 4y
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Seekingtardis And the US normally sends in troops to “help”..... 4y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa @Seekingtardis Yes! Every embassy in DC is going to be reporting this back home like Benghazi, and why any foreign country would look to us as a Democratic ideal again. Putin is laughing and cheering I‘m sure, and foreign terrorists are taking notes. 4y
Caroline2 👏 4y
Suet624 So disturbing. 4y
BookwormAHN So embarrassing 🤦🏼‍♀️ 4y
GingerAntics It is a coup. An insurrection. A hostile take over. 4y
KVanRead Exactly 😡 4y
MittenGirlPeach What a day. So hopeful at the start of it. They‘re continuing the certification right now though! 4y
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DGRachel
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Pickpick

Heartbreaking, relevant, and terrifying, this book gives one journalist‘s experience and perspective on the events occurring in the Middle East over the last 20 or so years. Published in 2016, many of the conflicts Engel discusses are still raging across the region today. He doesn‘t pull punches in laying blame for the rise of ISIS on the US. I think this is a balanced piece, though, and well worth reading for insight on recent/current events.

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DGRachel
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💔

Riveted_Reader_Melissa I read this awhile ago, but it is still so relevant! 6y
DGRachel @Riveted_Reader_Melissa Yes and I fear it will be relevant for many years to come. I‘m both interested and scared to see if his predictions for the region come to pass. 6y
Suet624 Ugh. 6y
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DGRachel
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😔

BookishMarginalia That‘s depressing... 6y
Jennick2004 😞 6y
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DGRachel
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I can already tell this is going to be a tough read.

LauraJ When it gets tough, just envision Mr. Engel sitting with you, telling you the story. I know we‘re not supposed to objectify, but he‘s kinda dreamy. (edited) 6y
DGRachel @LauraJ I will keep that in mind 😆 6y
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keithmalek
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keithmalek
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keithmalek
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keithmalek
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keithmalek
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keithmalek
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I would like to do this to my boss. I'm not a terrorist though. He's just an asshole.

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keithmalek
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As a New Yorker, this is news to me as well.

Suet624 😂😂😂 6y
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keithmalek
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Suet624 Sigh 6y
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keithmalek
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Riveted_Reader_Melissa His books are so interesting! 6y
keithmalek @Riveted_Reader_Melissa This is the first one of his that I'm reading. I like it though. With all the places he's been to and all the horrifying situations he's been in, it's almost impossible to not be interesting. 6y
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keithmalek
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ralexist
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Pickpick

I've always had a fascination with war. What drives us to it, why humanity can't seem to shake it, and mostly what stories go untold as each one gets set down in history. That's why I love reading books like these that offer a different perspective on a longstanding conflict that I'll admit I don't understand as well as I should. This was well written and insightful in a way to me that highlighted areas I need to learn more about.

LauraJ I‘ve always had a fascination with Richard Engel ☺️ 7y
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DGRachel
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#kindness #quotsynov17

I think Richard Engel would agree that #HistorySticksToYourFeet This book is on my Kindle #tbr. I really want to get to this soon. #tuneintonovember

Melissa_J I‘ve got this one on my TBR too. 7y
AmyG I watch him on TV. He is a wonderful journalist. Our joke is, since he travels to many dangerous places, that his mother must be a nervous wreck. ;) 7y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa @AmyG haha! We have the same kind of joke here! Of course Richard is there, it‘s the worst place to be in the world right now. 7y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa I read this one and his other one last year, there‘s some overlap, but definitely worth it. 7y
Cinfhen This is on my TBR too! 7y
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alisonrose
Pickpick

Engel has seen a whole lot of stuff in his career - usually whatever is the worst thing happening at any given time. He has a lot of stories to tell, & in this book is able to do so much more deeply than in the few minutes he's given on a news show. Definitely an informative read. I appreciate that he approaches people & societies with respect & civility. I do think a couple portions were a bit one-sided, though. But overall smart - & scary. 4/5⭐️

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alisonrose

The [Bush] administration often used the analogy of planting "seeds of democracy" in the Middle East, as if they'd sprout into democratic regimes as nature took its course. Democracy doesn't sprout like apple trees. Scattering the seeds isn't enough, no matter how many soldiers do it. ... Democracy is more like a fragile flower that requires constant attention &the right soil. Dictatorships &fascist regimes are hardy weeds that sprout on their own

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alisonrose

[March 2003] The bombing started up again, with explosions all around us, in broad daylight, but no one in the restaurant even flinched. Iraqis seemed numb after a quarter century under Saddam's whip-hand rule. It was heartbreaking to see what a harsh dictatorship can do to the human soul.

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alisonrose
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You know, just a little light, escapist reading. 😳 #nowreading

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Yayforbooks
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i was able to finish this book between flu-induced headaches. it was useful getting a more general timeline of the falling dominoes in the Middle East--and what the US's role was in it--but i would really have loved to read more about his experiences being captured in Syria and what the aftermath was for him psychologically.

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bookishkai
Pickpick

Finished! Not as gripping as his War Journal, but this isn't as much a tale of a war correspondent as it is a look at history and politics in the Middle East. I learned a lot, especially regarding Syria and Iraq. Highly recommend especially for Americans looking to better understand what is happening and why.

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bookishkai

Trying to finish this while The Munchkin naps, but I keep dozing off myself. First day back after vacation is hard on everyone, Munchkins and their nannies alike.

Nebklvr Needed: a vacation to recuperate from the vacation. 8y
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bookishkai
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I do love a good Latin "bona dicta", as my high school Latin teacher called them. Back in the day, this would have gotten me extra credit points, today it just makes me happy to see it used correctly and without explanation.

keithmalek I liked his use of it as well, but I think he used it a little too much. 6y
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bookishkai

Started this over my morning cup of tea and I'm mesmerized; I felt the same reading his War Journal. Engel comes to current events with the views of a true insider, who has lived in and with the communities he reports on. Other than going to brunch with my mother, I know what I'm spending the rest of my day doing.

Hobbinol Sounds like you're in good company 🙂. 8y
alisonrose I really want to read this! He has always struck me as someone who approaches his work with honesty and integrity, and never tries to sensationalize or condescend. 8y
bookishkai @alisonrose I agree. I freely admit that I have a fan girl crush on him because I love people who aren't afraid to use their smarts, but in addition his story is fascinating and he has volumes of insight into the region because he's lived there for 20 years. I trust his reporting more than anyone else in the news these day. 8y
alisonrose @bookishkris Definitely! He's one of the best out there, for sure. 8y
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bookishkai
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The bare tip of my September TBR list. I got lucky and scored a bonus week of vacation starting tomorrow (The Bosses and The Munchkin are turning a trip back east for a family wedding into an extended trip, which is great for them, and I won't complain about extra PTO either) so I'm hoping to read a lot more than I did last week. And if everything works out I might even get to start renovation on my future craft/library/writing space!

Cinfhen Liking your September TBR 8y
GardenJess If I was your girl was soooogood. 8y
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Riveted_Reader_Melissa
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Pickpick

From graduating & moving to Cairo with dreams of being a reporter, through the Iraq invasion, Israel-Palestine conflict, Arab Spring, Libya, & the Syrian Civil War. He tells you the history of the conflicts, what it was like on the ground, & how the events effected & influenced the rest of the world

BookishFeminist This looks fascinating 8y
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Riveted_Reader_Melissa

I'm guessing from my quote posting pattern you can probably tell I had a long wait somewhere today, with no internet connection, but did get lots of reading done! So for me that means: tech problems=book reading win!

jolovestoread It's always great when book reading wins! 8y
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Riveted_Reader_Melissa
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Reading these stories, on top of his previous book about Iraq, I do wonder how the man has lived this long and managed not to be gravely injured.

Laura317 I love books like this. I will look for both of his books. Thanks! 8y
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Riveted_Reader_Melissa
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"....democracy is more like a fragile flower that requires constant attention and the right soil. Dictatorships and fascist regimes are hardy weeds that sprout on their own."

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Riveted_Reader_Melissa
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"Obviously it was happenstance, but it did change my opinion of human nature. I now saw war as a constant, akin to wildfires. They break out unless you work actively to prevent them. It‘s an atavistic thing, buried deep in our DNA."

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Riveted_Reader_Melissa
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Thanks buddy! 👍

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Riveted_Reader_Melissa
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Riveted_Reader_Melissa
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during the Cold War, the United States became the guardian of Middle East stability. Islamic fundamentalists believe the United States has been policing a Middle East full of divisions that were deliberately put there to keep the region weak..."

BestOfFates I can remember reading (can't remember where!) about how there was a lot of conflict among Bin Laden & his cronies b/c he thought they should hate America but everyone else was like, um, they're on our side! (As we'd been in Afghanistan, plus we were seen as ppl who's shoved off colonial influence!) 8y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa @BestOfFates I could see that argument having a lot of sway, especially prior the second Iraq war. 8y
BestOfFates @Riveted_Reader_Melissa Yeah, it's so weird to think such a short time ago we were allies and now we're despised. 8y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa @BestOfFates I'm reading about his experiences in Syria now and he is talking about that exact thing. History can turn in a dime. 8y
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Riveted_Reader_Melissa
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...Washington will as well."
A chilling prediction from a man that's spent a great deal of his life covering conflict and uprisings in the area.

Sue This sounds fascinating 8y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa @Sue It is, so far I've found these war correspondent books very fascinating. They have great little insights, partially because they've lived in the country & with the people they are covering often for years, and because as newsmen they know the political talking points so they seem to see very.. 8y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa ...clearly where the communication slips. They know what stories they've heard and filmed and were not allowed to air, what their friend that they work with everyday (the locals) are telling them, etc 8y
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Riveted_Reader_Melissa
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...a century ago.) The first paragraph of the book, and honestly the first real problem with any peace in the Middle East proposal.

Louise I can't think of a country in the Middle East with "very little history." 8y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa @Louise I think he meant very little history, because some of the countries were drawn after WWII, they didn't exist as such before. It took me awhile to understand what he meant too...the area has long history, but some of the countries have very short ones because they didn't exist before the WW. 8y
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Sankster
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Pickpick

A fairly short, manageable book that gives a great overview of all the main conflicts taking place in the Middle East. In addition to the history lesson, the story about the Author was also interested eating.

Riveted_Reader_Melissa I just picked this one up from the library. I recently read his War Journal: Five Years in Iraq and really liked reading about his personal experiences, so I'm looking forward to reading this one. 9y
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