How to Avoid Being Killed in a War Zone

April 4, 2011
Using the example of war correspondents counting precious minutes in very hazardous places, this wide-ranging guide includes tourists hoping to encounter memorable moments in a combustible world, covering local conflicts, hostage situations, and even climate extremes. Garthwaite, a television journalist in the Middle East, tallies sage advice, using her long career and the recollections of some of her cronies. Advising on "knowing where to stay," for instance, she tells how in war-torn Baghdad she chose to stay with a protective family in a Christian suburb rather than in a hotel. She discusses circumstances in which it might be better to stand out as a Westerner rather than trying to blend in. She advises on proper preparation, maintaining local contacts and emergency numbers, making sure of regional customs and laws, and dealing with authorities in high-pressure areas. If learning how to handle gunfire and deal with rioting can be far afield for someone taking a Cooks Tour, there's essential knowledge on first aid, emergency medicine, getting fresh water and food, drugs, and surviving an attack. Anyone traveling in one of the listed hot spots will find crucial information for avoiding harm in this excellent guide.

September 1, 2011

Although a highly practical survival guide, this book also offers a startling glimpse into a journalist's experience within inhospitable regions. While some chapters, such as that detailing emergency medicine, might be applicable to domestic survivalists, much of the contents, like "Avoiding Misunderstandings," deal with foreign conditions. Over the course of 15 chapters, Garthwaite, a young journalist often dispatched to unstable territories, brings together the knowledge of 57 colleagues, whose experiences and advice are often directly quoted. Topics covered include everything from dealing with inconvenient feminine issues to surviving IEDs. Handy for intrepid explorers, journalists, even soldiers; engaging for lay readers.

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