MWSA Book Review

182 Days in Iraq

Author:  Phil Kiver

Publisher:  Word Association Publishers

Reviewer: Bill McDonald – President of the MWSA

Real Life Diary from an Army Journalist in Iraq

Phil Kiver is a US Army journalist who spent, as the title of this book would indicate, “182 Days in Iraq.”  He shares his day by day journey with us on his travels around Iraq. He shares his feelings and emotions and fears. The style of the book marks the time that he was there through his daily entries in his diary. We can see and almost feel at times, his experiences in-country as he writes about them almost as they happen; from the mundane to the terrifying.

He, like all of us in that situation, misses his family, friends and home. He allows us to see him is his many moods and situations. The book will give the reader a good view of what life was like (at lest for Phil) in the war zone of Iraq. Some parts of the book are very funny while others are sad or depressing; however, you will find that the author will entertain you page after page.

He talks about some events that we have all seen on the news like the trials of those Americans who abused the POWs. He makes comments on what he sees and adds his personal observations on the life in and around Baghdad and the country itself, as only a trained journalist might. This is a good book to read now, while things are still unfolding there. It may give the reader a slightly better understanding of events and people there. There are also many pages of interesting photos.