This is a series of vignettes focusing on guerrilla uprisings and tells of the struggles (against oppression?) of the small guy against states actors of varying degrees of strength and ruthlessness. In my opinion, this book reads too much like a collection of travel essays and I am perhaps missing the point, but I would have liked more background on each of these fascinating conflicts. Moreover, I felt that some of the characters were not developed enough, and the reader remains uncertain as to their initiative and rationale for fighting an insurgency – and this is to the detriment of this book as a travel documentary. To be fair, some vignettes are stronger than others – the Karen and the Polisario come to mind, others, such as El Salvador, were forgettable, unfortunately. At times, it feels like the author is conducting a tour of insurgencies around the world at breakneck speed as others vow to visit all of the Club Meds in a year. ( )

Looks at the insurgencies in Western Sahara, Gaza, El Salvador, Burma and Afghanistan in a comparative manner. The chapters each deal with a particular facet of guerrilla live, although they are little more than collections of relevant stories. Little attempt is made to weave the stories together into a broader vision of insurgencies. ( )