Product Description

This third volume of autobiography from John Simpson concentrates on the mechanics of newsgathering and reporting, drawing on John's vast experience. With incident and anecdote, Simpson gives readers an insight into the way a journalist follows a story, even when the odds are stacked against them, and they are at risk of great personal danger, as for instance, when, disguised as a woman, he crossed the border into Afghanistan following the terrorist attack on the World Trade Centre.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1375315 in Books
• Published on: 2002-09-06
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 491 pages

From the Back Cover
PRAISE FOR JOHN SIMPSON

'What amazing tales he has to tell and with what enthralling vividness' Daily Mail

'The range of his travels is staggering...Never less than entertaining, sometimes moving and often funny' Sunday Telegraph

'Great stories, sometimes harrowing, sometimes hilarious' Daily Telegraph

About the Author
John Simpson is the BBC's World Affairs Editor. He has twice been the Royal Television Society's Journalist of the Year. He has also won three BAFTAs, including the Richard Dimbleby award in 1991 and the News and Current Affairs award in 2000 for his coverage, with the BBC News team, of the Kosovo conflict. He has written several books, including his two previous volumes of autobiography, Strange Places, Questionable People and A Mad World, My Masters.

Customer Reviews

Another great read from John Simpson
John Simpsons third autobiography takes the reader to the devastating warzone of Afghanistan. This book is the tale of Simpson's and therefore the BBC's entrance into war torn Kabul. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the way that John Simpson alternated chapters on his journey to Afghanistan with chapters on the presentation of the media world today. I admire the hard job that he has as a foreign correspondent and the team that surrounds him. John simpson is careful to praise those around him and highlights very clearly his job is more than a one man show. I appreciate the way he has shown the reader all the "tricks of the trade" and why things are they way they are in media. John Simpson also draws on his other two books developing the idea of the adventures he has had from the second volume to the development of the media and his position within in it from his first volume. These books are real adventures that contain a very thorough look at the media and the attitudes of todays society towards it, although Simpson works for the BBC he takes a very neutral view towards it and gives praise when it is due-in my opinion the BBC deserves a fair amount!. I would recommend any of his books for anyone who wants to understand the media world, enjoys adventures and thoroughly good writing.

John Simpson - another gem!
This is the fifth book I have read of John Simpson's. All his books - and this is no exception - are articulate and extremely interesting insights into his working life as a journalist. This particular book deals with his famous 'walk into Kabul', John Simpson teases us by telling us the story in small segments during the book, whilst also discussing his very personal opinions on journalism, the BBC as well as many anecdotes. One thing I enjoy about his books is the way he talks about his own arrogance, pig-headedness, determination to get to the true story with such unusual honesty. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to be better informed about the wicked ways of the world. Amazingly, Mr Simpson keeps you entertained whilst educating you. He has such tremendous experiences as a journalist it would have been a waste not to put pen to paper.

Informative, enlightening, surprising.
"News From No Man's Land" attempts to unravel the hidden world behind the stories and the cameras of the BBC's world news reporting activities.

The book appears to alternate between tales of Simpson's exploits in Afghanistan and other places, and in-depth looks at TV news journalism by turns. Simpson's clear and, at times, humourous writing style makes this read quite entertaining. One of the startling things he reveals is just how much preparation, and money, is involved in foreign reporting.

The book amounts to nice exposé of TV journalism, coupled with some insightful looks at the workings of Central Asian countries, notably Afghanistan and Pakistan. I also liked Simpson's descriptions of the crazy, corrupt and seemingly arbitrary process of gaining visas for such countries.