An honest and multifaceted look at life as a security contractor in Iraq in the early years after the American invasion. It is not only a story of surviving IEDs and firefights while protecting American contractors though those moments are vividly told but also an exploration of the broader, often unexpected experiences that shaped the author's two and a half years in Iraq. The book is divided into a series of concise, self-contained chapters and captures a wide range of events and encounters: high-speed accidents, tense confrontations with Iraqi security forces, the ever-present uncertainty of who can be trusted, and the toll that living in a war zone but outside the protection of the military takes on contractors, clients, and locals alike. The focus is not only on the mission, but also on the everyday challenges and strategies necessary to stay safe in such a dangerous and unpredictable environment. The book introduces the various people the author has encountered in his work, from former Green Berets, British Royal Marines and South African commandos to Gurkhas, a former member of the French Foreign Legion, and even a Buddhist monk. There are stories of heroic, larger-than-life figures and outlaws who came to Iraq because they didn't fit in anywhere else, and ended up not fitting in there either. It also deals with the lives of Iraqi civilians who, in the midst of the chaos, offered insights into kindness and humanity. These stories offer readers a nuanced and personal perspective on a challenging and complex chapter of modern conflict.
