I Was Told to Come Alone

"An enthralling and sometimes shocking blend of reportage and memoir from the centers of jihadi networks in the Middle East and North Africa . . . Mekhennet has a singular perspective on the modern crisis of terrorist violence, intimate and constantly questioning."—The New Yorker

"Much more than a book of journalism, admirable as hers is: it is a remarkable record of a Muslim woman struggling to understand those who kill in the name of her religion, and to explain their actions to the uncomprehending Western world to which she belongs."—The Economist

"In her new book, I Was Told To Come Alone, [Mekhennet] combines memoir with in-depth stories about her reporting to create a complex portrait of identity, conflict and ideology . . . I Was Told to Come Alone’s strongest message is that there’s a need for universal understanding in the face of overwhelming flashes of hate."—Paste Magazine

“More than just a great narrative, I Was Told to Come Alone is a story for our time: a penetrating look at the roots of Islamist radicalism from a gifted and extraordinarily courageous journalist. Souad Mekhennet dares to confront the issues head-on, often at great personal risk, and she weaves her own experiences into an unforgettable and deeply absorbing tale. If you want to truly understand the nature of the crisis facing the West in the twenty-first century, this is the place to start.”—Joby Warrick, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Black Flags: The Rise of ISIS

“I Was Told to Come Alone reads like a thriller, as Souad Mekhennet takes us on a journey into the heart of the Muslim world. Mekhennet is a Western journalist who is female and Muslim, which gives her access that few reporters can match. Through her eyes we see how terrorism develops and that it produces no winners on either side. Her insights are sobering but deeply wise, and especially urgent today.”—Jessica Stern, coauthor of ISIS: The State of terror and author of Terror in the Name of God

“Souad Mekhennet has written a fascinating memoir that functions on two levels. In the first, she is the daughter of Muslim immigrants to Germany, seeking ways to bridge these two worlds. In the second, she is an intrepid reporter investigating some of the most dangerous and important stories of recent years, and gaining unparalleled access to leading jihadist militants. Both stories are hers, and together they are truly compelling.”—Peter Bergen, author of United States of Jihad: Who Are America’s Homegrown Terrorists and How Do We Stop Them?

"A riveting memoir and a literary bombshell that effectively eviscerates every preconception, misconception, and prejudice readers have about the Arab world, I Was Told To Come Alone, reinforces the singular significance of journalism, especially foreign journalism, at a time when it is facing its greatest challenges."—Booklist (starred review)

“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 (starred review)

"A spellbinding fusion of history, memoir, and reportage in this enthralling account of her personal experience as a journalist and a Muslim on assignment in Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa."—Publishers Weekly (starred review)