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Babylon by Bus
The true story of two young American men who came to Baghdad without a plan, were recruited into an occupation that knew the feeling, and witnessed enough corruption, confusion, and brutality to fill the pages of a very good book.
Unabridged CDs - 9 CDs, 11 hours
Unabridged CDs - 9 CDs, 11 hours
Audio CD, 1 pages
Published
August 3rd 2006
by Penguin Group (USA)
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Stephanie
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review of another edition
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review of another edition
Recommends it for:
people who don't care about writing quality
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
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Amazing! Absolutely amazing. I was hooked in by the rediculous title, and then held captive as these guys tell a story about Iraq that you are not gonna hear anywhere else. They kinda stumbled into Iraq and started volunteering for Non-Government-Organization aid centers and rather haphazardly attempt to help out and do some good in the middle of Baghdad - both in the Red and Green Zone. What we get is a point of view that is not told on the news, and is also not told by any other visitors, c...more
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This book would've been great if the two men who wrote it didn't spend the entire book defending their irresponsible actions. Admitting that they were completely unqualified for the jobs they recieved in Iraq, LeMoine and Neumann never recognize that their immature and reckless behavior may have contributed to the failure of the US in rebuilding Iraqi civil society. While the book starts interestingly enough, the end is a cringe-inducing narrative that jumps from fist fights with the locals to d...more
Two self described hippy slacker drop-outs defy common sense and head to Iraq in 2003. They load up on Pot, Mushrooms, Valium, Xanax and whatever else they can score from the pharmacy and proceed to try to run a charitable organization delivering clothing to the residents of Faluja, Samara, Kirkuk, etc.
The story is a rambling, disjointed tale that introduces some characters only to never mention them again and others who are not mentioned for 150 pages only to be brought in with a fa...more
The story is a rambling, disjointed tale that introduces some characters only to never mention them again and others who are not mentioned for 150 pages only to be brought in with a fa...more
I actually heard this as a book on CD, but I think it still counts. This is definitely what I would call a "dude-bro" book, in that the authors come from a macho, woman-objectifying, partying point-of-view. Readers, be prepared for descriptions of lewdness from the all-American male perspective. That said, this book was fun to hear as its authors describe grandiose true tales of adventure in the Middle East. First, the two protagonists take off for Israel/ Palestine, then make thei...more
Wow, I had heard about these guys. They used to sell T-shirts outside Fenway and Yankee stadium, then said screw it, let's go to Irag to work. In 2004! Tells what it is like working on the ground there with all the players, all the contractors, Iraqis, US military, the usual do-gooders, etc. Fascinating, fun, sad, and probably very real. "Military occupation is like living with our parents, except you don't klnow them, they don't like you, they speak a different language than you do, and th...more
The authors, a couple of pill-junkie global wanderers, freely point out how stupid and reckless it was to wander into Iraq, but they were able to get into the Green Zone in Baghdad, become volunteers, and make themselves useful by distributing aid to the Iraqis.
Unarmed, without escort, and un-armored, they went with Iraqi friends in flip-flops, jeans and t-shirts into the Sadr City slums to give out boxes of aid in areas where US troops would not dare set foot.
Whil...more
Danny
rated it
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review of another edition
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review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Anyone interested in current events
Recommended to Danny by:
Gifted from my sister.
This book only gets 4 stars because i have never reviewed a book before, and while i thought this book was excellent, i guess i don't want to set the bar too high on the first attempt.
That said, this truly was a well written, genuine account of the U.S. occupation of Iraq told rather plainly and eloquently by two young men who put themselves in the thick of it. As any tale of war it is of course gritty and often heartbreaking, but still manages thoughtful insight and healthy doses of hu
OR, the true story of two friends who gave up their valuable franchise selling YANKEES SUCK T-shirts at Fenway to find meaning and adventure in Iraq, where they became employed by the occupation in jobs for which they lacked qualification and witnessed much that amazed and disturbed them.
The subtitle really does say it all. These two guys, Ray and Jeff, were entrepreneurs of that special breed - they had a mix of natural business sense, imagination and brass cojones that allowed them...more
The subtitle really does say it all. These two guys, Ray and Jeff, were entrepreneurs of that special breed - they had a mix of natural business sense, imagination and brass cojones that allowed them...more
The subtitle says a lot. What it doesn't say is that despite the fact that the book is somewhat inchoate, you just might read it all in one night. I did. And in the morning, when my boyfriend, who used to live with one of the authors, asked me if I liked it, I replied, "Not really". But there's some good stuff here....Some surprisingly astute observations about the mess in Iraq, a few portraits of truly dedicated, smart, and large-hearted women who are serving in and alongside the arme...more
I can't give this book 5 stars because it isn't exactly a literary work of art. I had heard an interview with the authors on NPR, and was really intrigued and excited to read the book. However, it took me ~60 pages in to think I might end up caring about the story as it was told, since it started out as an account of Jeff & Ray making a string of irresponsible decisions while under the influence of a long list of illicite substances. I gave it some time though, and came to feel that that Jeff & ...more
This was my second book for week "two" and was totally crazy. These two guys decide to go to Iraq and manage to get "jobs" (they aren't paid for most of their work) helping to distribute donated goods to the people in Baghdad. This is a very sad look at some the things that were wrong in the US's attempt to set up a government in Iraq, as seen by two drug and alcohol loving 20somethings in a way that doesn't seem possible.
This book was enjoyable, but I did grow tired of reading about the boys constant drug use and alcoholism. It's a true story about two young men who on a whim travel to wartime Bagdad and do pretty outstanding humanitarian work between drinking and drug binges. Provides a good, inside look at the "rebuilding" efforts of the US in Iraq; however, their only sources for information were newspapers and magazines.
I've had a hard time deciding what to say about this book, because I reacted to it in so many different ways.
I fault it for excessive use of acronyms and flagrant use of foul language. Also, it should have had an index.
Still, it offers a fascinating, disturbing, sometimes entertaining, sometimes sad glimps of Iraq during the early days of the U.S. occupatiion -- even if it is told through the eyes of two 20-somethings who apparently were seldom sober and never free of the influence o...more
I fault it for excessive use of acronyms and flagrant use of foul language. Also, it should have had an index.
Still, it offers a fascinating, disturbing, sometimes entertaining, sometimes sad glimps of Iraq during the early days of the U.S. occupatiion -- even if it is told through the eyes of two 20-somethings who apparently were seldom sober and never free of the influence o...more
I picked this out on a lark and discovered a great insider story on what was going on in Iraq in the days of the Coalition Provisional Authority's power trip, told by a couple of misdirected but earnest guys who have no underlying agenda -- they just wanted to tell the story with unveiled honesty. And if you're a news junkie who enjoys geeking out on snippets of back stories re: big events in Iraq as experienced by non-military Americans and lifestyles of war correspondents (like poker parties ...more
You know something is wrong with the military when two druggies accomplish more goodwill with the Iraqi people than the rest of the US government. They have very positive things to say about the people on the ground in Iraq, but not much positive about the leadership.
These guys charm, lie, cajole and manipulate their way into being the most effective NGO in Iraq at the time.
These guys charm, lie, cajole and manipulate their way into being the most effective NGO in Iraq at the time.
Two college drop outs get disgusted and bored and decide to go to the middle east and see Iraq up close. They start volunteering, then get paid for delivering humanitarian aid in 2003 Baghdad. They do an awful lot of partying, make lots of friends both Iraqi and American, and watch the fall of Iraq under Bremer's watch. It's amazing and sad as can be. Terrific book!
READ THIS BOOK. It's the true story of two twenty-somethings from Boston who one day decide to pick up and go to Baghdad. Despite having absolutely no relevant experience, they are hired by the Coalition Provisional Authority to build capacity of local NGOs. They offer a shocking view of the inadequacy and backwards priorities of the US government soon after the invasion.
The guys are crazy! Two young guys with very little experience hit the road and go backpacking in Iraq-during the war!! They wind up getting jobs with the Coalition Forces in Baghdad - a pretty important job at that. Their experiences are interesting and fun to read. Also gives you a good insight into how the coalition and war was/is run - very eye opening!
I very much enjoyed this book. I liked that while the narrators clearly had opinions about what they witnessed, and didn't shy away from voicing those, they did not write a political book. The narrators are passionate, intelligent and just detached and aloof enough to make this a travel memoir of the highest order.
Two friends decide to travel to the Middle East in 2003, scam their way into jobs managing an NGO and experience what life is like for post-invasion Iraq. While parts of it are juvenile and ridiculous, the book is a startling first-person account of the mismanagement of the American occupation in Iraq.
Two partying college drop outs go to Iraq in 2004 because they can and they are bored, and they start working helping NGOs, truly start caring and make a difference.
Wow, it was so interesting. It was educational concerning procedures and the history of events at the time. And they had great insights into Iraqi culture and the failure of the CPA. As someone whose been in the West Bank, I really enjoyed the beginning chapters of their time and thoughts from there.
Negative points-t...more
Wow, it was so interesting. It was educational concerning procedures and the history of events at the time. And they had great insights into Iraqi culture and the failure of the CPA. As someone whose been in the West Bank, I really enjoyed the beginning chapters of their time and thoughts from there.
Negative points-t...more
I found this book through This American Life. Two guys manage to get themselves to Iraq and try to do some good without any support what so ever. Some of their friends end up killed, and they nearly lose their minds as they try to make a difference in an increasingly chaotic war zone.
I really enjoyed this book - there is something to be said for two guys who're willing to go to a war zone to help out and have some adventure along the way. They provide a non-standard perspective on the beginning of the Iraq War and do a lot of name-dropping along the way. Fun to read, while providing lots of food for thought.
A horrifying look at what was happening in Iraq in the early days of the US occupation. Reading about these two kids turned loose in Iraq is both sweet and frightening and their insights into some of the people and events are alternately puzzling, heartwarming, alarming, and bizzare.
Amusing book showing the disaster that is the Iraq War from the perspective of two young dudes who thought, "why not", and went to Iraq. Even they were surprised at the disorganization and chaos they stepped into. Funny, quick read.
Definitely not the most eloquent book I've ever read, but the two main characters are pretty colorful, and it was fascinating to get a bird's eye view from two regular guys about their time in Iraq as the situation devolved into civil war and past the point of no return.
Really loved the perspective of two guys, kind of like me, throwing themselves into the middle of this war situation we've created for ourselves. Loved the references to the globe's over done backpacker scenes.
Super readable, and kind of eye opening, how seat-of-the-pants this 'aid' program was. I'm not a super political guy, but this book was enlightening.
I tried. I really did. And I wanted to like it. But I couldn't get into it, and other people were on hold for it, so I let it go. I read about 60% of it.
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