I Was Told to Come Alone

My Journey Behind the Lines of Jihad

By: Souad Mekhennet

Narrated by: Kirsten Potter

Length: 11 hrs and 53 mins

Publisher's summary

For her whole life, Souad Mekhennet, a reporter for the Washington Post who was born and educated in Germany, has had to balance the two sides of her upbringing - Muslim and Western. She has also sought to provide a mediating voice between these cultures, which too often misunderstand each other.

In this compelling and evocative memoir, we accompany Mekhennet as she journeys behind the lines of jihad, starting in the German neighborhoods where the 9/11 plotters were radicalized and the Iraqi neighborhoods where Sunnis and Shia turned against one another, and culminating on the Turkish/Syrian border region where ISIS is a daily presence. In her travels across the Middle East and North Africa, she documents her chilling run-ins with various intelligence services and shows why the Arab Spring never lived up to its promise. She then returns to Europe, first in London, where she uncovers the identity of the notorious ISIS executioner "Jihadi John", and then in France, Belgium, and her native Germany, where terror has come to the heart of Western civilization.

Souad Mekhennet is an ideal guide to introduce us to the human beings behind the ominous headlines as she shares her transformative journey with us. Hers is a story you will not soon forget.

©2017 Souad Mekhennet (P)2017 Tantor

Critic reviews

"The thrilling narrative brings up critical, persuasive insights while trying to answer the questions of where terrorism comes from and why it's so difficult to eradicate." ( Library Journal)

Please read!

Moving, beautiful, and informative. I am ever grateful to the author for her work in journalism and for this book. She's now a hero of mine.

Great Book, Terrible Narration

I cannot believe this narrator could not pronounce a single German word, including "die" - "the," in a book that is written by a German author and that takes place not only in the Arab world but also in Germany and Austria. What were you thinking!!

Souad Mekhennet is a truth seeker.

This book was riveting, eye opening and life changing. I’m a college history professor and I’m amazed at her methods of truth finding and her personal integrity. Her research methods align with academia, perfectly. One of the best books I’ve ever read.

Almost perfect

Souad Mekhennet’s story is powerful, and her storytelling is masterful. Kristen Potter does a marvelous job narrating, but so much of this story is about identity and language, I missed Mekhennet’s accented English and rhythms.

A Must Read for Every American

Ms. Mekhennet goes deep into the Middle East to discover the truth about Isis and other terrorist cells. With courage, fortitude and a heartfelt desire to understand, she enters the most dangerous territories to go directly to the source. I find her to be a brilliant human of great depth and courage, a wonderful storyteller of a truly complex story. A must-read/must-listen for everyone, especially Americans. Challenge your beliefs. Read this story. Took me to the next level of understanding. Recommended.

Finally a true picture

Would you consider the audio edition of I Was Told to Come Alone to be better than the print version?

This is a refreshing, unbiased story of the rise of global terrorism .. and one that is rarely told anymore. It is amazing how journalism has become so biased and so focused on only telling one side of a story. To finally hear a more holistic view is captivating and enlightening. The story takes you into recent world events to give you an in-depth, behind the scenes look into the players and their motivations.

What was the most compelling aspect of this narrative?

Souad's integrity to the journalism profession is inspiring. She takes you back to what true journalism is.. not a point of view but an unbiased telling of information so the reader can understand the situation for themselves.

Which character – as performed by Kirsten Potter – was your favorite?

The performance by Kirsten Potter was excellent. The pace of the book was great and will keep your attention right till the end.

Fantastic book

So hard to get a good honest harsh look into both sides of great Islamic people trying to deal with the other side of brutal radical Islam but Souad does it so insightfully and honestly. Fantastic read

A view from a different perspective.

Souad does a great job of helping us see the whole issue of Jihad and the trouble in the middle east from a muslim immigrant perspective. Things always have multiple sides and are more complex than what we see in cable news. It is a great read!

Amazing, life changing, book

This is an amazing book that gives you a new perspective on Middle Eastern conflicts and terrorism. She went behind the lines and interviewed countless men, women, and children who are affected by these conflicts and twisting of religion/ideology. This book gives you a more complete understanding of how the world has gotten to its current state, and if that doesn't convince you, its also a very well written book that is impossible to put down. Thank you Souad for your great work!

Personal Bravery

I chose this book because I wanted to know a female Muslim's view of how people become so radicalized and violent in the name of Islam. What do other Muslims think about the violence and how do they stand up against it? The author is a brilliant, brave woman with an understanding heart.