Short Synopsis
Currently the NBC News bureau chief in Israel, Martin Fletcher has written both an eyewitness account of some of the most tumultuous moments in modern history and an intimate personal story of a young man's ambitious, daring, and sometimes hilarious quest for adventure.

Full Synopsis
Martin Fletcher doesn't claim to be a hero. Yet he didn't flinch, either. During three decades covering wars, revolutions, and natural disasters, Fletcher worked his way from news agency cameraman to top network correspondent, facing down his own fears while facing up to mass killers, warlords, and murderers. With humor and elegance, Fletcher describes his growth from clueless adventurer to grizzled veteran of the world's battlefields. His working philosophy of "Get in, get close, get out, get a drink," put him repeatedly in harm's way, but he never lost sight of why he did it. In a world obsessed with celebrities, leaders, and wealth, Fletcher took a different route: he focused on those left behind, those paying the price. He answers the question: Why should we care?

These extraordinary, real-life adventure stories each examine different dilemmas facing a foreign correspondent. Can you eat the food of a warlord who stole it from the starving? Do you listen politely to a terrorist threatening to blow up your children? Do you ask the tough questions of a Khmer Rouge killer, knowing he is your only ticket out of the Cambodian jungle? And, above all, how do you stay sane when you're faced with so much pain?

"A stunning and memorable account of the risks, rewards, complexities, and enduring lessons of reporting from some of the most dangerous places in the world.... This book makes me proud to call [Fletcher] friend and colleague." ---Tom Brokaw

"A historical overview, an example of a successful journalist's career, and a journalistic tour de force." ---Library Journal

"An eye-opening, deeply felt memoir that brings us behind the cameras in the world's deadliest hot spots." ---Kirkus Starred Review

"A page-turner and a marvelous read. Martin, the ever-dashing war correspondent, cheated death so many times that he should have been hardened. Instead you meet a soulful man." ---Connie Chung

Kirkus Review

AudioFile Earphones Award Winner