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  • Occupational Hazards

  • My Time Governing in Iraq
  • By: Rory Stewart
  • Narrated by: Rory Stewart
  • Length: 12 hrs and 44 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (318 ratings)

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Occupational Hazards

By: Rory Stewart
Narrated by: Rory Stewart
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Summary

At the age of 30, Rory Stewart was appointed coalition deputy governor of two provinces in the Marsh region of southern Iraq. He kept a journal of his experiences struggling to control assassinations and tribal conflict, rebuild the region's infrastructure, and establish a new Iraqi government before the hand over of power in June 2004. His time in the Marsh region culminated in a terrifying siege during which he and his team were under sustained attack by insurgents. Haunted by his previous work and travels in Asia, Rory brings a unique sensitivity and perspective to the daily interactions between Iraqis and the coalition and to the perils - and even comedy - of foreign occupation.
©2007 Rory Stewart
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Critic reviews

"A travel book like no other." ( Independent on Sunday)

What listeners say about Occupational Hazards

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Enlightened minds sink in marshland

Great listen, with the author's narration bringing additional colour to his anecdotes. The story presents a tragic example of what happens when grand theories don't correspond with local realities

Was also highly amused by the tales of the Italian military behaving as one might expect.

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Compelling insight on the occupation of Iraq

Rory Stewart is a subtle’ insightful deep writer who conveys if ony as easily as passion in his descriptions of places and people. It’s a wonderful listen.

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Fantastic insight and humane perspective on iraq

Well written (and well read) account of the chaos in iraq post occupation and a cautionary tale of the west’s overconfidence of its ability to establish western-style states in cultures it does not understand, and cannot change by force alone

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Why occupations do not work

The book gives an excellent picture about how difficult it was to rule Iraq as an occupying power - an impossible and misguided task as it emerged. Understanding the history and culture is the basis for working in a foreign country - I’m glad to get my own approach to diplomacy confirmed. Attaching an interview made with the author a few years later was also a good idea.

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Great insight into the highly damaging war

Amazing to hear how Rory viewed and dealt with the various situations during his time in Iraq, and at such a relatively young age. Thoroughly enjoyed.

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Fascinating insights into the frustrations of good intentions.

Again an informative and interesting story of brave attempts to improve a near impossible situation with too many factions. By a good writer, can’t wait to read his next book.

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compelling

fascinating insight into a world few of us will or could ever experience. conveyed a real sense of presence.

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A fascinating read

What a fantastically informative, interesting, and yet somewhat inevitable read. Guides you through the intricacies and idiocies of a futile invasion backed by people with great heart whom ended up targets for all the ills of a nation.

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Compelling, educational, sad and yet uplifting.

An incredible insight into such a complex state of affairs that despite potentially noble intentions is of our own making.

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How to Build a Failed State

This is an absolutely riveting account of the vast difficulties and complexities faced by officials trying to govern wartorn, post-2003 Iraq. My take away from the book is that the invasion of Iraq was a catastrophe. Despite huge sums of blood, treasure and ingenuity poured into the project, state building under such conditions was doomed to failure.

The book itself is beautifully written and Stewart is an extremely learned individual. Each chapter begins with a short, well chosen quotation from classic texts such as Machiavelli's The Prince, which demonstrate that the problems faced by the coalition were, in some ways, timeless. The chapters are short, driven by observations made at the time and recorded by Stewart in his diaries. The other driving factor is conversation. Much of the book includes his dialogue with others, be they Iraqi political leaders, warlords, clerics or coalition officials. This often involves details about water purification projects, school building or even how to fund replacing a shattered window. Yet, despite this humdrum recounting of complex administration and negotiation, the book is never dull nor its content difficult to follow.

Stewart himself reads his own book, oscillating between a near scholarly tone of description and critical distance to dramatising the action with aplomb. It is worth listening to the book partly because of Stewart's use of accents and timing. He also makes the book funny, relating genial conversations held with Iraqi leaders one day who, just days before, had been trying to kill him, "it was nothing personal".

I very much recommend this book.

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3 people found this helpful