Only Cry for the Living

Memos from Inside the ISIS Battlefield

By: Hollie McKay

Narrated by: Hollie McKay

Length: 16 hrs and 10 mins

Publisher's summary

Only once in a lifetime does a war so brutal erupt. A war that becomes an official genocide, causes millions to run from their homes, compels the slaughtering of thousands in the most horrific of ways, and inspires terrorist attacks to transpire across the world.

That is the chilling legacy of the ISIS onslaught, and Only Cry for the Living takes a profoundly personal, unprecedented dive into one of the most brutal terrorist organizations in the world.

Journalist Hollie S. McKay offers a raw, on-the-ground journey chronicling the rise of ISIS in Iraq - exposing the group’s vast impact and how and why it sought to wage terror on civilians in a desperate attempt to create an antiquated “caliphate”.

©2020 Di Angelo Publications (P)2021 Di Angelo Publications

What is war?

Haunting. Chilling. A first-hand glimpse at the toll of what war, failed war, extremism, broken up families, and death have on the human psyche.

McKay asks a question which persists as the main theme of the book: What is war? And she does not impose her own options or answers, rather she sits with those who are in war, impacted by war, and grieve the loss that war robs from them. On both sides…on all sides.

McKay gets dirty so we can sit safely in our homes and cafes and read about the prices paid by countless others. While on the other side of the world people just like us, who didn’t ask for war, fear their homes and cafes may end up in rubble; that they may become “aliens in their own land.” Must read.

Incredible, moving & heavy

No other account of ISIS’s destruction, is better covered than here. A must read for all.

Definitely recommend

I was listening to Jocko’s podcast when I first heard of Hollie McKay. She spoke of her time in Afghanistan - people close to me were deployed there around the same time, so I was immediately interested. I like the people Jocko brings on, but I particularly liked McKay’s willingness to get into hard situations so that an accurate story can be told. Only Cry for the Living is by no means an easy read, but I am glad the story has been written. I want to think I could exhibit her bravery, I’m not sure that I could. So thank you, McKay, for taking me along.

She also does a great job with the performance of it. I’m training for a marathon right now, so I’m constantly looking for good books/podcasts to listen to. McKay is very easy to listen to!

Great work by Hollie McKay

Hollie McKay has written an insightful and gripping account of those persecuted by isis. Thank you.

A haunting account of the existence of pure evil!

Tears. Rivers and oceans of them, and then deserts.

A haunting account of depravity.

The receding has a pop of breath from where the mic was placed during the recording. It’s distracting at first and quickly overwhelmed by the story.

Important Commentary, Thoughtful, Powerful Storytelling

I’d recommend this book to anyone looking to try and understand different perspectives and seeking to make sense of an important and formative modern conflicts currently shaping the Middle East. The author doesn’t focus on statistics, numbers and a macro narrative, but rather collective individual stories that are key to understanding (and hopefully finding solutions to) what causes our advancing civilizations’ fall back into barbarism, war and inflicting suffering.

heavy read

in depth look at people struggling just to survive in this world against overwhelming odds

When Society falls apart, evil can take over.

I've dealt with death for many years, it isn't pretty. Hollie brings the wholesale death and misery to words that provides a humanistic reality to the evil that can lurk nearby waiting for the opportunity to raise its ugly head.

Evil comes with many faces, friend, neighbor, family, religious leaders, political parties.

Hollie exposes the evil others prefer to hide.

Hollie also puts a face on the meek, good and generous good people who have survived terrible atrocities. Good will survive but it will not be without sacrifice.

Thank you Hollie for putting a face on the good and gentle people and exposing the evil.

Missed the early rise of ISIS

Having served in Iraq and dealing with ISIS first hand myself in 2009 and 2010, she missed key history on their rise of destruction in Iraq. in October 2010 they took over the Iraqi stock exchange and an orthodox Christian Church which they held hostage for many hours October 30th of that year. I was part of the negotiations and attempted rescue but they slaughtered many that year in their furious rise to power as we handed over prisons to the Iraqi government. Overall good so far but she is not correct on when they rose to power.

fabulous journalism - so-so storytelling

reads like one really long human interest piece....or a series of short stories tied awkwardly together. really compelling/ gripping material - she obviously really knows her stuff as a combat journalist... just don't think she's a particularly powerful writer.

As an example - her "what is war" conjunctive technique she tried to use to create pace through the work Palahniuk style was a nice idea.... but she way over used it making it feel contrived and distracting. also, the piece seems to be lacking any central theme other than "isn't war awful?" which while true is hardly helpful in gaining new insight or perspective.

it's unfortunate because the raw material is epic...I just think she's more reporter than author.