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Backstabbing for Beginners: My Crash Course in International Diplomacy
Soon to be a major motion picture starring Ben Kingsley and Theo James, the gripping true story of a young program coordinator at the United Nations who stumbles upon a conspiracy involving Iraq's oil reserves. "What made this episode in our collective history possible was not so much the lies we told one another, but the lies we told ourselves".
A recent Brown University graduate, Michael Soussan was elated when he landed a position as a program coordinator for the United Nations' Iraq Program. Little did he know that he would end up a whistleblower in what PBS NewsHour described as the "largest financial scandal in UN history". Breaking a conspiracy of silence that had prevailed for years, Soussan sparked an unprecedented corruption probe into the Oil-for-Food program that exposed a worldwide system of bribes, kickbacks, and blackmail involving ruthless power-players from around the globe. At the crossroads of pressing humanitarian concerns, crisis diplomacy, and multibillion-dollar business interests, Soussan's story highlights core flaws of our international system and exposes the frightening, corrupting power of the black elixir that fuels our world's economy.
A recent Brown University graduate, Michael Soussan was elated when he landed a position as a program coordinator for the United Nations' Iraq Program. Little did he know that he would end up a whistleblower in what PBS NewsHour described as the "largest financial scandal in UN history". Breaking a conspiracy of silence that had prevailed for years, Soussan sparked an unprecedented corruption probe into the Oil-for-Food program that exposed a worldwide system of bribes, kickbacks, and blackmail involving ruthless power-players from around the globe. At the crossroads of pressing humanitarian concerns, crisis diplomacy, and multibillion-dollar business interests, Soussan's story highlights core flaws of our international system and exposes the frightening, corrupting power of the black elixir that fuels our world's economy.
352 pages, Paperback
Published June 1, 2010
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
June 27, 2024
A potentially eye opening or opinion confirming I sider’s tale of work at the United Nations.
Title is catchy but doesn’t really fit the story.
Often dull with too much mundane detail, but generally entertaining real life look at a place many of us think of in terms too ideal for our own good.
Narrator was poorly chosen other than type A personality voice and u did not like his attempts at most accents, especially well known speakers. I guess they decided it had to be all or nothing and didn’t want to give up the boss’ voice, which was rather good.
Title is catchy but doesn’t really fit the story.
Often dull with too much mundane detail, but generally entertaining real life look at a place many of us think of in terms too ideal for our own good.
Narrator was poorly chosen other than type A personality voice and u did not like his attempts at most accents, especially well known speakers. I guess they decided it had to be all or nothing and didn’t want to give up the boss’ voice, which was rather good.
July 16, 2025
Great Read!
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews