Decade of Fear

by Michelle Shephard

One of Canada's leading journalists takes readers on a rollicking ten-year journey around the globe to tell the terrorism stories not often told. In the complicated world of terrorism and national security, issues are frequently reduced to sound bites or 500-word stories. But for a decade, the Toronto Star's national security correspondent Michelle Shephard has travelled where others have not, witnessing the impact of Western foreign policies that all too often make the world a more dangerous place, rather than a safer one. The intrepid journalist's ten-year journey through terrorism's grey zone began on September 11, 2001, when as a young crime reporter she stood where the World Trade Center once towered, her arms coated with debris that still fell from the sky. Like everyone else, she asked, "Why?" Shephard chased answers from Syria to Somalia, from the mountains of Pakistan and Yemen and into the notorious Guantanamo Bay prison. She had tea with men on the U.S. terrorism watch list, Osama bin Laden's bodyguard, a leader of Somalia's al Shabab, celebrated her 36th birthday in an Irish pub in Cuba's Gitmo, chewed the leafy narcotic qat in Yemen with high-level government officials and tribal leaders, and met a 17-year-old teenager in Mogadishu who broke her heart. She was one of only a handful of journalists to experience the "Arab awakening" from the streets of Sanaa. Shephard ends where she began, at Ground Zero, reporting on the death of al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden. Decade of Fear is a sweeping non-fiction narrative, a journalist's journey, an analysis and indictment of all that went wrong since 9/11. It is also a look ahead at what could now go right.

Genres: Nonfiction, Middle East, Politics

290 pages, Paperback

First published August 22, 2011

Reviews

[D351 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another book I got via first-read giveaway. I really enjoyed this one. Michelle Shephard writes on a lot of the details that get lost in the headlines. I don't really know what to say other than that this book is highly entertaining and highly educational. I like to think I generally follow the news, not avidly but generally, and this book was full of stuff I knew little or nothing of and cleared up the details on a lot of stories/issues that the media seems to have put in to far less nuanced terms. If this information had been put in a more comprehensive/educational format, while somehow managing to keep its entertainment value, I'd have given it a 5/5. That said, I think that this format is a lot better for most people and should grant her a broader readership than those of us who generally prefer a more technical format. Altogether, I'd say 4/5 for entertainment value and 4/5 for educational value. This is about as much as I could imagine getting from one reporter doing an excellent job.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a Book Club pick for February 2012 and I was not looking forward to reading it. I do enjoy non-fiction books, but not necessarily politically themed ones. Michelle Shephard is a gifted writer. She takes us to the heart of the issue of the origins of terrorism and it is interesting what she does not discuss: Iraq or Afghanistan. We go deep into Yemen, Somalia, Toronto and Guantanimo Bay. I had difficulty keeping people straight, but felt that was my cultural background and my own challenge, not a cause of her brilliant writing. Thankfully, Shephard has a wicked sense of humour which is needed when meeting/discussing such a serious matter. Her solutions to terrorism seem so logical, yet so hard to work towards given the current theme of "taking out" the one in charge. Glad this was Judy's pick for us.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

So far I am absolutely loving this book! I hate when I have to put it down...I know it was probably a very difficult book to write..but I think that Michelle Shepard did an awesome job. I hope to be done with it soon...I will definitely put a more lengthy review together when I am finished. It really makes me think about the world situation...If you have a chance, it is a worthwhile read!

[Reece Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good book to read slowly. The chapters on Pakistan and Yemen are very complex and involve many different people, groups, and events. It is easy to get lost - even the author admits that she doesn't fully understand the political atmosphere of Pakistan. However, I have a list of books on my shelf to get to and I didn't give this one the time is deserved (which would have involved rereading a few chapters two or three times to fully understand) and as a result, much of it flew over my head. It is not a good introduction.

I judge a book like this based on how much it makes me want to discuss the issues with other people. In her book on Omar Kadre, I was telling everyone about the things I was reading, but with this book I had very little to talk about and was mostly confused. There are a few chapters that resonated with me, however - the story of Ismail, her trips to Guantanamo Bay, and the Toronto 18 arrest are what I will remember most.

[T.M. Tarantino · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading her books, I found that I am embarrassed to be a human! I can’t believe we do such stupid stuff to each other horrible things to each other as well. This is very embarrassing if you’re human, but is very important if you read it as well!

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent book on the ten years since 9/11 through the eyes of a Canadian national security reporter. Shephard's book is not a heavy read, though it is at times depressing. While never really delving too deep into policies or problems, it is a good overview of what has happened in many parts of the world since 9/11, especially in Somalia and Yemen. Shephard is one of the few reporters who has kept an eye on Somalia over the entire decade and she is very good in reporting on this area.

My problem with the book is that it is literally telling the story through the eyes of a curious reporter rather than an 'expert'. In this sense, as an academic, the book left me wanting a bit more than it gave. However, I do appreciate that it is not aimed at me. It is, however, a great book or primer for a curious, general audience who are by not specialists in the area of international security.

[Jessica Haider · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Decade of Fear" is yet another book that I won from goodreads.

This non-fiction work by Canadian journalist Michelle Shephard travels the globe from NYC to Pakistan to Guantanamo and places in between. The focus if the book is the post-9/11 media coverage of terrorism.

Shepard's writing was engaging and interesting.

[Michelle Shephard · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a read! Haha.. Okay I wrote it so have to say that. Thanks for all the kind reviews. Was very cathartic to write & sadly there may be a sequel coming.

[Bob Mcnicoll · Rating 4 out of 5]

THought provoking.