Looking for Trouble: One Woman, Six Wars and a Revolution

by Leslie Cockburn (Editor)

News correspondent Leslie Cockburn has dined with the Cali Cartel, marched with the Khmer Rouge, hunted down the Black Turban in Afghanistan, pursued the Russian mafia to the Arctic Circle, shared pomegranate sauce with the Ayatollahs, and stopped a small Kurdish war, but she has never told these stories in a book-until now.

Cockburn was one of the first women to break into the tight fraternity of combat and third-world reportage when she began work at the London bureau of NBC News in 1976-where successful news gathering required "unorthodox tactics, stamina, and, for best results, a criminal mind." By the time she moved to CBS's "60 Minutes," Cockburn had interviewed Muammar Qaddaffi and Margaret Thatcher, been arrested as spy in Gambia, and effectively eliminated whatever doubts her colleagues might have had about a woman's ability to tackle the news business's most dangerous assignments.

A mother of three who has made a career of breaking down barriers, Leslie Cockburn has exposed the tobacco lobby in Washington and human rights violations in Cambodia, and her impact on foreign and domestic policy has been as powerful as her impact on the rights and prerogatives of working women. In an industry in which, as late as 1973, women had to lobby to wear trousers to work, Leslie Cockburn was determined to combine a strong family life with a strong professional life, sacrificing neither.

With a cast of generals, drug lords, rock stars, and kings, LOOKING FOR TROUBLE is the incredible story of a career that has spanned the history-making news events of the last two decades.

Genres: Memoir, Nonfiction, Journalism

288 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1998

About the author

Leslie Cockburn has a Master’s from the School of Oriental and African Studies, London University. While in London she began working for NBC News. Among her early reports was an interview with Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.

In 1978, Cockburn moved to CBS. Her 1984 report, ‘The Dirty War’, revealed the Contras' horrifying record of routine atrocities against the civilian population.

Following the overthrow of the Duvalier regime in Haiti in 1986, Cockburn’s ‘Haiti’s Nightmare’ (1987) led to an outcry in Congress and the suspension of all US military aid to Haiti.

In 1987, Cockburn began producing and reporting documentaries for PBS Frontline, in collaboration with her husband, Andrew Cockburn. This included ‘From the Killing Fields’ for ABC News.

During the 1991 Gulf War, Cockburn reported from Israel on the Iraqi Scud attacks against Tel Aviv. Her 1991 PBS Frontline documentary, ‘The War We Left Behind’, exposed the disastrous impact of economic sanctions on ordinary Iraqis.

In 1997, Cockburn conceived and co-produced The Peacemaker, starring George Clooney and Nicole Kidman, a thriller about a terrorist attack on New York City with a stolen nuclear weapon.

In 1998, Cockburn served as Ferris Professor of Journalism at Princeton University. After teaching for a semester, she returned to full-time journalism, producing a number of pieces for 60 Minutes, including ‘America’s Worst Nightmare’ (2000), a 60 Minutes report on political instability in a nuclear-armed Pakistan and the growing power of fundamentalist groups linked to the Taliban.

In 2009, Cockburn directed and co-produced her first feature documentary for theatrical release. ‘American Casino’ relates the story of the origins, progress and consequences of the subprime mortgage disaster that led to the greatest financial crisis since the Great Depression. The film premiered at New York's Tribeca Film Festival in April 2009.

‘Baghdad Solitaire’ is her first novel.

Reviews

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

While I was reading this book on the subway, about a gutsy reporter getting interviews with dictators and warlords, a grown man lit up a joint on the subway. Without thinking, I reprimanded him for smoking on the subway! Afterwards, I was like, “why did I just yell at a grown man?” and then I realized, I was reading this book about a fearless woman standing up to people in power, and momentarily forgot to keep my head down and just wait for the next stop.
Warning: Reading this book may fill YOU with unusual amounts of courage!
The encounter with the man on the subway went surprisingly well. He admitted that, while weed is no longer illegal, he should not be smoking in the subway car due to poor ventilation.

[Diana Pauksta · Rating 4 out of 5]

leslie cockburn is my hero. this book is fascinating, educational, and inspiring.

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leslie Cockburn wrote Looking for Trouble, One Woman, Six Wars, and a Revolution over 20 years ago. Her stories, analysis and reports are still pertinent today; they provide the history behind many of the continuing conflicts around the globe. As a news reporter, she searched for the truth and the facts, she spoke to many notorious world leaders, and often found herself in very dangerous situations. Reading her book left me in awe of her strength, her courage and her resilience; in a sense Cockburn is a modern-day resistance fighter. Her book is an important read for anyone studying in Conflict Studies or Modern History.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Her level of crazy bravura, perception, and succinct reporting as she raced to the most dangerous hotspots around the world should impress most readers, however it was so riveting for me because I am the same age as Leslie, so recognize most of the headline stories. One of the most fascinating books I've ever read.

[Casey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Amazed by this woman's adventure and experiences. Very entertaining book, however it was a bit too long and started to lose my attention towards the end.

[Perri · Rating 2 out of 5]

Looking For Trouble, and boy does she find it. Nicaragua, the Middle East, Libya, Haiti, Columbia, and more, all when they were hot spots. She had a baby without help of drugs, went back to work in three day, then three weeks later flew to an island in the Pacific declared off limits to humans for 24,000 years because of atomic testing. Oh, and also went scuba diving to observe possible radiation effect on sharks. It was depressing/infuriating to read about the corruption of governments including our own, the devastation to human life through human arrogance, bad policy, war... I know journalism is a way to bring injustice to light and ignite social change, and I'm glad there are people like Cockburn to do it, but I can't relate to her at all, nor do I think I like her. It was interesting to get a small glimpse into her world.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

this book is a good survey of civil wars and strife around the world in the 70s, 80s, and 90s-- and leslie cockburn was there for all of it as a producer and reporter. the woman is fearless (she conquers somalia while six months pregnant) and obviously exceedingly skilled to cover columbian drug lords and iranian fatwas as well as several trips to afghanistan. still, i wished the style was a bit less staccato at times and she focused her narrative on the conflict she covered.

[Jen · Rating 2 out of 5]

A gripping story, sharing the excitement of a time when foreign correspondents were parachuted in for hard-hitting exposés, and we tuned in to our TVs instead of skimming news websites. My attention wained after the half-way mark as I began to feel a repetitive trend in each chapter (an obvious necessity when that reflects the facts of the story).

[Betty · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed portions of it but it was outdated. The book was published in 1998 so is more for giving background information.

[Annalisa]

Sorry. Couldn't finish this one.