Perilous Path

April 1991, Iraqi Kurdistan: the mountains echoed the sound of exploding bombs. A young Kurd hunched over in the fetal position trying to protect himself from what was coming. The grey clouds suspended in the grim sky, the air smelled like gunpowder. His heart pounded in his chest. The seconds ticked slowly like molasses on dry wood while the firing squad awaited their orders to shoot. You are about to embark on a remarkable journey. Through the author’s eyes, you will perceive war-torn Iraq firsthand, involve fleeing into the mountains as a refugee, and learn about the culture and religion of the Middle East from the inside. You will imagine the taste of food gratefully devoured after days of starvation. You will be impressed by the beauty and power of a landscape both breathtaking and cruel. You will hear the lilt of foreign tongues expressing emotion and beliefs framed in a culture that stresses politeness to an extreme, while excusing practices that sound barbaric to Western ears. You will learn about the hardship, tragedy, strength, miracles, and quest for truth that define the life of a young man thrust unwillingly into situations beyond his control, yet determined and in love with life. You will be both humbled and uplifted. This is a fascinating book, with a power of its own. I trust that you will find it to be the same. It is not like any other that you have read. This is a book that you will want to read more than once, and a story that you will never forget.