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Camsterdam: How I got caught in the crosshairs of the War on Terror
“Simon Fidler’s new book CAMSTERDAM is a true story thriller. In a world of terrorism, sheer terror and political finger pointing, Simon takes you on a journey of hate, truth, power and ultimate survival. It is a must read, a sure best seller.” - Dr Eric Kaplan - 5 Time #1 Best-selling author
I'm a British citizen and former William Hill sports betting advisor. Camsterdam is my true War on Terror story that is a shocking account of international spy games, dirty tricks, and an eyewitness report from someone who spent over fifteen years in the crosshairs of the War on Terror.
After making a joke in a bar about a UK politician, I suddenly became a target for counter-terror cops and ex-Mossad agents. First, I was detained under Schedule7 counter-terror laws and framed as being involved in a bomb plot, before I was then entrapped in set-ups around the globe, tailed on city streets, and finally, interrogated by a team of agents I have dubbed as ‘clowns’.
This story is fast-paced, has jokes, and includes links to articles and YouTube videos.
BOOK REVIEWS
Aswad Khan - featured in The Intercept (story below)
theintercept.com/2021/11/30/fbi-infor...
I highly recommend everyone read this book ASAP! I'm at a loss for words. I couldn't put the book down and I was simply hooked. I felt all the thrills and had goosebumps while reading this story unfold. Frankly speaking, this is the height of injustice that Simon had to face (full review below)
goodreads.com/review/show/4471354164
Goodreads reviews
goodreads.com/book/show/56544955-cams...
Rumble Book Club
“His life started to take a crazy spin, from missing luggage and drunken flatmates, to phoned-in bomb threats and office politics. You see Fidler take characters and situations from movies like Fight Club and Boiler Room, and he begins to merge them with his own REAL LIFE experiences. It is a wild read, he has lived a pretty crazy life.” - Mike Hernandez, Rumble Book Club
youtube.com/watch?v=wTBVTeotPsU
Layla Aitlhadj, Ph.D. - Director, Prevent Watch UK
Sends chills up your spine when you realise it's based on a true story. A very detailed account of one man's experience that has echoes of what so many more people have encountered. The level of detail in this book keeps you wanting to know that little bit more. A must read for anyone who knows that sometimes the unbelievable is actually the truth and lives have been lost to the war on terror not only due to tragic deaths but due to reputations and careers smeared and destroyed.
UK Amazon reviews
amazon.co.uk/Camsterdam-How-Caught-Cr...
Lorrayne Robertson - Amazon USA reader
OUTSTANDING read - based on FACT - Deep State is worldwide. I found Camsterdam to be an excellent account of Simon's run in with the Deep State. I bought the paperback to write notes - and self-researched several times -- all easy to document as FACT. The downloaded version provided direct links - A HUGE PLUS. Anyone who thinks the Deep State is fiction NEEDS to read this book. If those of us who know they exist - we relate in knowing, we are not alone! GREAT JOB SIMON!
USA Amazon reviews
amazon.com/Camsterdam-How-Caught-Cros...
I'm a British citizen and former William Hill sports betting advisor. Camsterdam is my true War on Terror story that is a shocking account of international spy games, dirty tricks, and an eyewitness report from someone who spent over fifteen years in the crosshairs of the War on Terror.
After making a joke in a bar about a UK politician, I suddenly became a target for counter-terror cops and ex-Mossad agents. First, I was detained under Schedule7 counter-terror laws and framed as being involved in a bomb plot, before I was then entrapped in set-ups around the globe, tailed on city streets, and finally, interrogated by a team of agents I have dubbed as ‘clowns’.
This story is fast-paced, has jokes, and includes links to articles and YouTube videos.
BOOK REVIEWS
Aswad Khan - featured in The Intercept (story below)
theintercept.com/2021/11/30/fbi-infor...
I highly recommend everyone read this book ASAP! I'm at a loss for words. I couldn't put the book down and I was simply hooked. I felt all the thrills and had goosebumps while reading this story unfold. Frankly speaking, this is the height of injustice that Simon had to face (full review below)
goodreads.com/review/show/4471354164
Goodreads reviews
goodreads.com/book/show/56544955-cams...
Rumble Book Club
“His life started to take a crazy spin, from missing luggage and drunken flatmates, to phoned-in bomb threats and office politics. You see Fidler take characters and situations from movies like Fight Club and Boiler Room, and he begins to merge them with his own REAL LIFE experiences. It is a wild read, he has lived a pretty crazy life.” - Mike Hernandez, Rumble Book Club
youtube.com/watch?v=wTBVTeotPsU
Layla Aitlhadj, Ph.D. - Director, Prevent Watch UK
Sends chills up your spine when you realise it's based on a true story. A very detailed account of one man's experience that has echoes of what so many more people have encountered. The level of detail in this book keeps you wanting to know that little bit more. A must read for anyone who knows that sometimes the unbelievable is actually the truth and lives have been lost to the war on terror not only due to tragic deaths but due to reputations and careers smeared and destroyed.
UK Amazon reviews
amazon.co.uk/Camsterdam-How-Caught-Cr...
Lorrayne Robertson - Amazon USA reader
OUTSTANDING read - based on FACT - Deep State is worldwide. I found Camsterdam to be an excellent account of Simon's run in with the Deep State. I bought the paperback to write notes - and self-researched several times -- all easy to document as FACT. The downloaded version provided direct links - A HUGE PLUS. Anyone who thinks the Deep State is fiction NEEDS to read this book. If those of us who know they exist - we relate in knowing, we are not alone! GREAT JOB SIMON!
USA Amazon reviews
amazon.com/Camsterdam-How-Caught-Cros...
235 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 28, 2020
10 people are currently reading
26 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 128 reviews
June 19, 2021
Wrong place wrong time, that about sums it up for Simon Fidler's role as an accused terrorist. With a false sense of security, we are led to believe that the sovereignty of civilized nations are in good hands. In the author's case, they may be called the Terrorist Police.
The question arises: Are these these do-gooders assigned to protect our nation's best interest really up to the task? The author will certainly have something to say about that. And in revealing detail, he does.
For a comparison, consider this. In the 1950's, America went through a period known as McCarthyism. Back then, if any law-abiding citizen said the wrong word or had any association with an accused communist, they were branded for life. The slogan, "Better Dead Than Red" that echoed through our nation's streets was an embarrassment in history that would prefer to be swept under the carpet, forgotten forevermore. The damage and destruction that ensued from that infamous witch hunt dug far deeper than just the individual's life; collateral damage carried over to victim's families, careers and standing within the community.
In chronological order, the author revealed in great detail the false allegations made upon him. As time would tell, once labeled a terrorist, it had become cast in stone. There would be no returning to a normal life as it followed him everywhere he went. In the end, it would require years of painstaking steps to prove his innocence.
Once branded, in the eyes of the beholder, it continues to haunt him to this day. Justice is blind. There's a takeaway lesson here: be careful of what you say and to whom. Sorry to say, no one knows that bitter lesson better than Simon. To experience a modern-day pandemic of hysteria on a more personal level, this book comes recommended.
The question arises: Are these these do-gooders assigned to protect our nation's best interest really up to the task? The author will certainly have something to say about that. And in revealing detail, he does.
For a comparison, consider this. In the 1950's, America went through a period known as McCarthyism. Back then, if any law-abiding citizen said the wrong word or had any association with an accused communist, they were branded for life. The slogan, "Better Dead Than Red" that echoed through our nation's streets was an embarrassment in history that would prefer to be swept under the carpet, forgotten forevermore. The damage and destruction that ensued from that infamous witch hunt dug far deeper than just the individual's life; collateral damage carried over to victim's families, careers and standing within the community.
In chronological order, the author revealed in great detail the false allegations made upon him. As time would tell, once labeled a terrorist, it had become cast in stone. There would be no returning to a normal life as it followed him everywhere he went. In the end, it would require years of painstaking steps to prove his innocence.
Once branded, in the eyes of the beholder, it continues to haunt him to this day. Justice is blind. There's a takeaway lesson here: be careful of what you say and to whom. Sorry to say, no one knows that bitter lesson better than Simon. To experience a modern-day pandemic of hysteria on a more personal level, this book comes recommended.
April 11, 2021
A detailed autobiography/memoir by Simon Fidler, from Sheffield, England about the the darker side/consequences of well-meaning anti-terrorism laws. Without a jury of peers and without a clear path for removal from government watch lists, the author offers a rare, real-life glimpse, and detailed account of events/circumstances leading up to the discovery, and aftermath, of the Author's inclusion on a terrorist watch-list under Section 7 Anti-Terrorism regulation.
The book demonstrates the ease of manipulation of laws without oversight or a jury of peers. Accusations, associations, relatives, and loosely-linked acquaintances or friends, create an initial circumstance of guilt-by-association. When others offer false information for their own gain or motive, and investigation tactics are used to gather evidence, the result is the Author's inclusion on a terrorist watch list.
The watch list: intended as a proactive terrorist prevention tool, but when/if mistakes are made, a person may be wrongly accused unable to have a court of peers decide if the person should be listed or removed, and without time limits.
The book is chilling because as a first person point-of-view, the reader is forced to consider what it would be like to be investigated or targeted without a way to fix the problem of being incorrectly listed. The effects of so many years of torment is apparant and frightening. The Author shares, with the reader, the frustration of injustice.
At every turn the reader may consider the claims listed by the Author as outlandish or false, but the Author attaches e-news/links/detail external to the book to provide evidence.
I highly recommend this book.
The book demonstrates the ease of manipulation of laws without oversight or a jury of peers. Accusations, associations, relatives, and loosely-linked acquaintances or friends, create an initial circumstance of guilt-by-association. When others offer false information for their own gain or motive, and investigation tactics are used to gather evidence, the result is the Author's inclusion on a terrorist watch list.
The watch list: intended as a proactive terrorist prevention tool, but when/if mistakes are made, a person may be wrongly accused unable to have a court of peers decide if the person should be listed or removed, and without time limits.
The book is chilling because as a first person point-of-view, the reader is forced to consider what it would be like to be investigated or targeted without a way to fix the problem of being incorrectly listed. The effects of so many years of torment is apparant and frightening. The Author shares, with the reader, the frustration of injustice.
At every turn the reader may consider the claims listed by the Author as outlandish or false, but the Author attaches e-news/links/detail external to the book to provide evidence.
I highly recommend this book.
May 30, 2021
This book provides an interesting window into the outcome of mass surveillance and the disastrous consequences it can lead to. As an individual who researches at the length of implementing mass surveillance, I can tell you that no possible good can come from wolf calling ordinary citizens for petty crimes. A simple shift in legislation can have tremendous effects on the rights of the individual. Simon brilliantly details his journey from ordinary citizen to unlawfully being labelled as a security threat, which begs the question: how far will surveillance and law go before we slam the door shut on intelligence agencies. I fear that we will not live to see such change in our lifetime, however. I have always maintained a strong stance on the need for transparency and accountability behind these systems, and I am thankful that we have individuals like Simon Fidler who document their experience so thoroughly.
May 5, 2021
This was a very interesting book to read. I am an American so some of the concepts required me to look them up specifically around the UK Legal System and housing, etc. but since I read the Kindle version, there were great links that allowed me to see the YouTube videos, Tweets, and other digital content.
I found it funny that Fidler refers to people by the people they look like. I do that all the time. My wife and I do that and my father did it while we were growing up as well.
In this book, Fidler describes the disturbing decade dealing with the various governments gunning for him and doing everything in their power to discredit and destroy him. A couple of decades ago, I probably would have not believed anything written about governments and their shenanigans however after Snowden, George Papadopoulos, the blatant fraud that went on during our 45th President's time in office and the out route fraud during the 2020 elections, I believe much than I did before.
I enjoyed the book and the links to documents, videos, and documentary suggestions where great and I am looking forward to reading and watching them.
I found it funny that Fidler refers to people by the people they look like. I do that all the time. My wife and I do that and my father did it while we were growing up as well.
In this book, Fidler describes the disturbing decade dealing with the various governments gunning for him and doing everything in their power to discredit and destroy him. A couple of decades ago, I probably would have not believed anything written about governments and their shenanigans however after Snowden, George Papadopoulos, the blatant fraud that went on during our 45th President's time in office and the out route fraud during the 2020 elections, I believe much than I did before.
I enjoyed the book and the links to documents, videos, and documentary suggestions where great and I am looking forward to reading and watching them.
July 7, 2021
An extremely interesting read. It brings you right into the world of Simon Fidler and how a miscommunication can change your life, your world and your self being. With links provided, he explains the dreadful experiences how government agencies target the same civilians they claim to protect without the accountability for their reasons. Simon did a superb and remarkable account of his lifetime experience in a world so quickly to jump to a conclusion. I highly recommend this book as it offers the ugly truth behind government corruption, cover ups and a down to earth man who is trying to live his life.
July 6, 2021
I am fascinated by conspiracies and suspense. This book, written in first person, was chilling as it looked at what happens when we allow mass surveillance in a world where we are the pawns of a chess game played by powerful elite. A young man tells his haunting story of how he was unjustly accused and persecuted. I could not put it down. Great job showing what will happen in this Big Brother culture and political arena. Simon Fidler is an up-and-coming author and am looking forward to more of his works.
July 6, 2021
Brilliantly written this first person narrative how corrupt the system is, in this post 911 world. This poor man from Sheffield, England, was followed, harrased; and watched, by those believed to keep us safe, when themselves, actt create those on the Terror watch list. A must read for everyone.
April 3, 2021
Simon tells a great story, one that I would not want to live. And perhaps, reading what happened to him will draw attention to the far-too-broad net those tasked with protecting us can throw and the unfortunate innocents that can become ensnared.
March 28, 2021
Awesome but terrifying read. Unbelievable this could happen to an innocent man. But is it? With laws like the Patriot act, after the war on terror started, no one was safe if your government put a target on your back. Well written and page turning anticipation, I recommend this book to everyone who wants to read about the truth of government over reach.
March 28, 2021
This book certainly opened my eyes. There were many elements that were surprising, but it involved you in a way that really makes you understand the intricacies of the whole book. It kind of hooks you in so that you want to keep reading. All together an interesting and thought provoking book and well worth the read
June 29, 2021
The writing style was more tell than show so it was harder for me to get into. But it was authentic and interesting with cites. An intricate web of intrigue and conspiracy that had an uncut flavor that was refreshing and somehow just works. Grammar nazi's will hate it.
But the imperfections in the writing added to it's style. Good job.
But the imperfections in the writing added to it's style. Good job.
April 14, 2023
A true story that blows your mind!
I was approached by the author to read his book for an honest review. Although , it’s not my usual type of read - I was intrigued with the theme and noticed the author is also very local too, coming from Sheffield. However, this is the only thing I could relate to as his story is a very shocking read with experiences that no one should have to go through!
Written in first person, Simon Fidler gives an honest and targeted and harassed by intelligence services all based on a joke made! Love the change of Amsterdam to Camsterdam after Cameron title too. This page turner, shares all his incidents with back -up quotes from social media, newspapers and the internet and related film clips too.
Simon was intimidated in many disturbing ways - even through the use of his family and friends as well as strangers!
The story is written in a chatty but interesting style
With lots of research and other evidence that makes the governments spying tactics and strategies scarily real. The laws created to protect citizens against their citizens are being used to steal freedoms daily without our knowledge or ability to defend ourselves.! My mind is blown - what a read!
I was approached by the author to read his book for an honest review. Although , it’s not my usual type of read - I was intrigued with the theme and noticed the author is also very local too, coming from Sheffield. However, this is the only thing I could relate to as his story is a very shocking read with experiences that no one should have to go through!
Written in first person, Simon Fidler gives an honest and targeted and harassed by intelligence services all based on a joke made! Love the change of Amsterdam to Camsterdam after Cameron title too. This page turner, shares all his incidents with back -up quotes from social media, newspapers and the internet and related film clips too.
Simon was intimidated in many disturbing ways - even through the use of his family and friends as well as strangers!
The story is written in a chatty but interesting style
With lots of research and other evidence that makes the governments spying tactics and strategies scarily real. The laws created to protect citizens against their citizens are being used to steal freedoms daily without our knowledge or ability to defend ourselves.! My mind is blown - what a read!
March 18, 2021
Can one joke ruin your life?
Simon recounts the unfolding disaster of his life after one, small, mistimed joke. No altar boy by his own admission, Simon takes us on a journey of surveillance, entrapment, and set-ups as he's hand-balled from one set of dark operatives to another, while every aspect of his life is manipulated and, ever so slowly but deliberately, wrecked.
Its an enthralling and entertaining read that, at the same time, scared the living daylights out of me. At times the writing is a touch hard to follow, there's so much information in there, but that should not deter anyone from reading it.
In the end, this book asks you to answer two questions: can this be real? can this happen to me?
Read it. Find out.
Simon recounts the unfolding disaster of his life after one, small, mistimed joke. No altar boy by his own admission, Simon takes us on a journey of surveillance, entrapment, and set-ups as he's hand-balled from one set of dark operatives to another, while every aspect of his life is manipulated and, ever so slowly but deliberately, wrecked.
Its an enthralling and entertaining read that, at the same time, scared the living daylights out of me. At times the writing is a touch hard to follow, there's so much information in there, but that should not deter anyone from reading it.
In the end, this book asks you to answer two questions: can this be real? can this happen to me?
Read it. Find out.
June 25, 2021
Stranger than fiction! If you want a real look inside gang stalking I would recommend this book! I liked that it was interactive with examples of what had been mentioned in the chapter. Thank you, Simon for sharing your terrifying experience with us.
June 25, 2021
Simon weaves a recollection of childhood memories and a harrowing experience with the Deep State into a riveting story guaranteed to keep the reader on the edge of their seat.
March 7, 2021
This propulsive story is told in the first person, diary style account of a young man’s experiences as the target of British and international intelligence agencies. An offhand (it’s in the title) joke leads to years of harassment and dirty tricks and interrogation.
Until reading Camsterdam, I had never heard of Schedule 7 of the 2000 Terrorism Act but now find the unrestricted powers this act gives is truly terrifying as is the whole story.
Well written with an almost defiant quality. Highly recommend.
Until reading Camsterdam, I had never heard of Schedule 7 of the 2000 Terrorism Act but now find the unrestricted powers this act gives is truly terrifying as is the whole story.
Well written with an almost defiant quality. Highly recommend.
June 9, 2021
They say that life beats the movie. Well, that's certainly the case here. Reading Simon's account of the gruelling years he spent wrongfully targeted as a terrorist is hard to believe, while the novel has a nice flow, which makes it easy to read and keeps you hooked. Certainly an eye-opener on the war on terror and the unknown villains.
May 29, 2021
So when I was sent this book to review, my initial thoughts were will I really enjoy it based on the title alone? While I enjoy horror stories, stories related to warfare and terrorism immediately bring up images of dismembered and bloody corpses and crying orphans to boot, in addition to the loss of livelihood. However I decided to give Mr. Simon's review a chance anyway knowing , as a fellow writer I shouldn't judge a book by it's cover. I am so glad I did. The book is written quite well about his struggles after being mislabeled as a terrorist just because of a random incident.It shows his struggles as he's caught up in a conspiracy and how he tries to hold it altogether in spite of the situation on hand. It's written in a format similar to a diary and the chapters are brief but concise. Every chapter has notes in bold to explain the different meanings with links to articles and videos to explain the different scenarios, Mr.Simon refers to in his book. At the end of the day, the book was an intriguing read and at the same time not intense.
June 3, 2021
I find it hard to believe that so many people were spying on this poor man, a young guy from Sheffield England who happened to work in Gibraltar for a while. He made a few comments about the Cameron government? Anyway he leads us through the various traps they set for him, and all the people they are using to put him away, but he seems to prevail. I will say this though: the people who do this kind of thing are in fact scary, and he's lucky to be here to tell the tale.
June 5, 2021
An ordinary man is targeted for the “crime” of telling a joke about a politician. A detailed, chilling and gripping account, based upon the author’s real-life experiences. With the world more and more in the grip of those increasingly authoritarian forces, it sadly seems all too plausible.
This is a difficult book to put down, once you get caught up in it. It is neither an easy, nor a comfortable read. But I think it might be an important one, so I absolutely recommend it.
This is a difficult book to put down, once you get caught up in it. It is neither an easy, nor a comfortable read. But I think it might be an important one, so I absolutely recommend it.
May 30, 2021
Amazing autobiography that tells you the details from the author's early years to adulthood where the terrorism accusations chaos occurred.
I love that I get the thrills by reading both the details of the events and tricks to the anticipation of what might happen next.
Furthermore the fact that it is a true story gave chills about how an authority can bring such chaos in one's life for an exhausting period.
I really recommend this book a go and definitely reading it again!
I love that I get the thrills by reading both the details of the events and tricks to the anticipation of what might happen next.
Furthermore the fact that it is a true story gave chills about how an authority can bring such chaos in one's life for an exhausting period.
I really recommend this book a go and definitely reading it again!
Read
May 10, 2021This is an interesting, first-hand account by Simon Fidler, from Sheffield, England about the darker side of anti-terrorism laws. It appears that Simon ruffled some feathers and got caught up in the maze of accusation and incarceration as he traveled from country to country. This account is exceptionally insightful coming from the victim of harassment. Did Simon deserve what happened to him? Did he push the limits of what the average citizen should do? Read for yourself. The answers may surprise you.
May 25, 2021
There arent words sufficient enough to say how well this story is written or to speak highly enough of the man this story comes from. Impeccable read.
Honored and humbled to call Simon a friend.🖤
Honored and humbled to call Simon a friend.🖤
May 20, 2021
The author recounts his experiences with anti-terrorism legislation. It is written in an easy-to-read style. His recounting of events could have been strengthened by deepening characterisation, expanding points of conflict, and connecting the dots as to why he believes he's being targeted. The author did provide independent evidence of similar cases.
Read
August 2, 2021I was sent this book by the author, and as it is not my typical read, nor genre, I was curious to find out more about this story. Written in first person narrative, the book will take you through a detailed memoir of the author's life and his experience with the Deep State. An interesting read if you are into spy story type books.
May 4, 2021
This was an interesting and chilling story. The writing style and short sections made it quick to read and easy to jump into. If you like books that lay out each piece of the puzzle for you to see and analyze, you'll enjoy this one.
May 15, 2021
Very well written and interesting in a can not put it down before you know the ending kind of book. I liked it a lot.
July 29, 2021
An intriguing book, based on a true story, centered on the subject of an attempted sabotage of a man’s career by the intelligence services. The author delivers a raw account of what happens when you become the target of important people, and how difficult it can be to overcome everything that followed.
I love reading books based on true stories, and this particular certainly did not disappoint. Knowing that the author actually went through what I read in the book, I was shocked to find out the length intelligence services are willing to go to. From spy games to dirty tricks, this is a real-life experience and it scares me to think that something like this might happen to anyone.
Attempted sabotage, spy game, intelligence services… these are the topics you would see usually explored in a blockbuster movie. Yet, this is a true story, and it shatters the comfortable bubble in which we live every day. I applaud the author for having the courage to share his story, without leaving anything out.
The writing style was just spot on, making the story even more gripping and dramatic. Here you have a normal guy, whose life was turned inside down, who had no real help… and yet he found the power to put his story into the worlds. Throughout the book, you could see prevailing concepts, including corruption and abuse. You could understand what a shock it was to end up interrogated by the Camsterdam Brigade, realizing that even the highest powers are corrupted.
This definitely was an interesting read! Once again, I applaud the author for finding the courage to write his story, and also for the fact that he fought against the permanent harassment. In some ways, the book reminded me of “1984”, but it also drew attention to the fact that we have gotten used to living in a comfortable bubble, rarely thinking about the dark side of life. The author went into great detail, delivering a brilliantly-written story. Well done!
I love reading books based on true stories, and this particular certainly did not disappoint. Knowing that the author actually went through what I read in the book, I was shocked to find out the length intelligence services are willing to go to. From spy games to dirty tricks, this is a real-life experience and it scares me to think that something like this might happen to anyone.
Attempted sabotage, spy game, intelligence services… these are the topics you would see usually explored in a blockbuster movie. Yet, this is a true story, and it shatters the comfortable bubble in which we live every day. I applaud the author for having the courage to share his story, without leaving anything out.
The writing style was just spot on, making the story even more gripping and dramatic. Here you have a normal guy, whose life was turned inside down, who had no real help… and yet he found the power to put his story into the worlds. Throughout the book, you could see prevailing concepts, including corruption and abuse. You could understand what a shock it was to end up interrogated by the Camsterdam Brigade, realizing that even the highest powers are corrupted.
This definitely was an interesting read! Once again, I applaud the author for finding the courage to write his story, and also for the fact that he fought against the permanent harassment. In some ways, the book reminded me of “1984”, but it also drew attention to the fact that we have gotten used to living in a comfortable bubble, rarely thinking about the dark side of life. The author went into great detail, delivering a brilliantly-written story. Well done!
July 30, 2021
This is a tricky read, both in good/challenging ways and also in ways where I think if this book was tightened up a bit would make the overall point and message more effective. A bit of editing and reformatting around the dialogue especially would help make things clearer.
What makes this a bit hard to digest is that I'm having a hard time reconciling the behavior of the narrator with some (not all! but some) of the consequences he experiences. There's a lot here, but as one example, I'm definitely not of the mind that one irresponsible joke should condemn a person forever, but the framing of this book frustrated me many times -- the narrator seems to have an attitude of "I just couldn't resist being edgy! Sorry, not sorry!" without realizing how their behavior and words could impact other people. Again, I don't believe that a mean joke should lead to a death sentence, but it makes it harder to get into the meat of the book, since pretty early on after the backstories and after the brothers hid out in Gibraltar to avoid the legal system in the UK after accusations of assault I found myself thinking, "I'm not sure this is a reliable narrator who always realizes the impact his behavior has, and therefore it just feels like he's surprised that people push back against him when... maybe it should be presented as a bigger deal that he bullied a teacher so harshly she had to take leave from the job."
Still, the real inciting incident -- the joke about marijuana legalization taking down the government -- is correctly presented as harmless, and from there on there's a good research here. Any literature that evaluates huge-scale problems like abuses of Schedule 7 is valuable. It's good that more and more people can question one of the first things this book poses, which is excellent: "Does [detaining someone without evidence of actual terrorist behavior] sound like something that could happen in a country where the rule of law still exists?"
What makes this a bit hard to digest is that I'm having a hard time reconciling the behavior of the narrator with some (not all! but some) of the consequences he experiences. There's a lot here, but as one example, I'm definitely not of the mind that one irresponsible joke should condemn a person forever, but the framing of this book frustrated me many times -- the narrator seems to have an attitude of "I just couldn't resist being edgy! Sorry, not sorry!" without realizing how their behavior and words could impact other people. Again, I don't believe that a mean joke should lead to a death sentence, but it makes it harder to get into the meat of the book, since pretty early on after the backstories and after the brothers hid out in Gibraltar to avoid the legal system in the UK after accusations of assault I found myself thinking, "I'm not sure this is a reliable narrator who always realizes the impact his behavior has, and therefore it just feels like he's surprised that people push back against him when... maybe it should be presented as a bigger deal that he bullied a teacher so harshly she had to take leave from the job."
Still, the real inciting incident -- the joke about marijuana legalization taking down the government -- is correctly presented as harmless, and from there on there's a good research here. Any literature that evaluates huge-scale problems like abuses of Schedule 7 is valuable. It's good that more and more people can question one of the first things this book poses, which is excellent: "Does [detaining someone without evidence of actual terrorist behavior] sound like something that could happen in a country where the rule of law still exists?"
January 13, 2022
I highly recommend everyone to read this book ASAP! I'm at a loss of words. I couldn't put the book down and I was simply hooked. I felt all the thrills and had goosebumps while reading this story unfold. Frankly speaking this is the height of injustice that Simon had to face. A simple joke led to havoc in this innocent man's life. Believe me when I say this because I am speaking from experience that we have ZERO right's when it comes to this type of government harassment. All rules are in their favor. One person versus an entire system? It's impossible to seek help. There needs be accountability in any real democracy. Checks & balances are vital across all government organizations & intelligence agencies so that innocent people can seek justice and redress from these government watchlists and abuses. Corruption and abuse of power of these powerful government organizations can be seen throughout this story. I personally have faced harassment for a simple refusal to become an informant for the FBI. They showed me their harassment tricks and vindictive capabilities for nearly a decade. I decided to go public with my story in The Intercept. It takes courage to go public with your story and to let the world enter into your private life. It was the best decision that I made. I am glad that Simon stood up and shared his harrowing experience with all of us. Speaking up is the best answer to their abuse of power. Simon is a hero in my eyes! Must read in 2022 for everyone!!
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