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The Assassins' Gate

America in Iraq
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( 3,201 ratings, 224 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Assassins' Gate by George Packer is a detailed exploration of the events and decisions leading up to the Iraq War and its aftermath. Packer delves into the political, military, and personal stories, examining the motivations and consequences of the U.S. intervention in Iraq. The book offers a nuanced perspective on the complexities and challenges faced during this pivotal moment in history.
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book may appeal to you if you are interested in understanding the complexities and consequences of the Iraq War from a historical and political perspective. The author combines insightful analysis with personal narratives, providing a comprehensive view of the motivations and impacts of American intervention in Iraq. If you appreciate nuanced storytelling that explores the intersections of politics and human experience, this work could be a gripping read.

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Astonishing in its scale and ambition, this is the most balanced and accomplished book about the Iraq war so far.

The Assassins' Gate: America in Iraq by George Packer: astonishing in its scale and ambition, this is the most balanced and accomplished book about the Iraq war so far.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

The Assassins' Gate is the main entrance to the Green Zone, the fortified enclave of Saddam's former palaces that now houses the US military and political leadership in Baghdad. George Packer's remarkable book is an account of how America found itself in occupation of Iraq, using the country as a laboratory for the dissemination of democracy in the Middle East. The book is also an anatomy of chaos and failure, of how a utopian experiment went disastrously wrong.

Packer's intimate narrative is based throughout on the experiences of people caught up in violence and confusion. He describes, for example, the effects of the war on the family of an American soldier killed in Iraq, and on a young Iraqi woman who had hoped for secular liberation and found only religious oppression. Packer is also frank about his own evolving views, and paints a dark picture of Iraq's future in the aftermath of the 2005 elections. This is a literary work of contemporary history that is adequate to its terrible subject, the most controversial foreign policy adventure since Vietnam.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

The Assassins' Gate by George Packer is highly praised for its insightful exploration of the events leading up to the Iraq War and its aftermath. The book is appreciated for the author's thorough research and unique ability to connect with Iraq's people and history. Packer's ambivalence towards the war allows him to provide a compelling and well-rounded narrative, reflecting both the complexities and the deep impact of the invasion.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780571230440

Publisher: Faber & Faber

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 18 January 2007

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Faber & Faber

Edition: Main

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 30.0mm

Width: 127.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 390g

Pages: 512

About the Author

George Packer has been a Peace Corps volunteer in Togo, West Africa, a carpenter in Boston, and a writing instructor at Harvard. He is the author of The Village of Waiting, a memoir about his Peace Corps years, and the novel The Half Man. He now lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

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