Description

The deeply moving memoir of an award-winning war correspondent turned activist – and her rousing defence of human rights in times of resurgent authoritarianism.

As a broadcast journalist for Sky News and Al Jazeera, Sherine Tadros was trained to tell only the facts, as dispassionately as possible. But how can you remain neutral when reporting from war zones, or witnessing brutal state repression?

For twenty-six years, Tadros grew up in the quiet surroundings of her family’s London home, and yet injustice was something her Egyptian immigrant parents could never shelter her from. From her first journalistic assignment trapped inside a war zone in the Gaza Strip, to covering the Arab uprisings that changed the course of history, Tadros searched for ways to make a difference in people’s lives. But it wasn’t until her fiance left her on their wedding day, and her life fell apart, that she found the courage to pursue her true purpose. It was the beginning of a journey leading to her current work for Amnesty International at the United Nations, where she lobbies governments to ensure that human rights are protected around the world.

With the compassion and verve of a clear-sighted campaigner and a natural storyteller, Tadros shares her remarkable journey from witnessing injustice to fighting it head-on in the corridors of power.

Publisher Review

'Sherine Tadros has written a gripping and powerful memoir of her journey through journalism, hope, and despair to activism. It's a candid guidebook that will empower anyone who wants to make the world a better place.' -- Kim Ghattas, author of Black Wave 'Taking Sides isn't just a memoir but a call to action. It's a testimony to how fighting inequality and injustice takes continuous engagement by those who choose to step up.' -- Leymah Gbowee, activist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate 'I read this exquisite and courageous book in one sitting: I could not put it down.' -- Arwa Damon, humanitarian and former senior international correspondent for CNN 'As a journalist and powerful storyteller, Sherine Tadros immerses us in some of the Middle East's most compelling recent periods - Hezbollah's struggle for power in Lebanon, Israel's bombardment of Gaza, the Tahrir Square pro-democracy protests in Egypt. Yet after living through these dramatic moments, she recognises that recording them is not enough. She decides to abandon the neutrality of journalism to become a human rights advocate, so she can contribute her remarkable communication skills to those seeking justice. A captivating story told with humility, passion, and flair.' -- Kenneth Roth, former executive director of Human Rights Watch 'Full of compassion, heart, and intellect. This is an important book about what it takes to be a conflict reporter, a woman, and the holder of a tender heart. As well as providing a window into the world of global journalism and international organisations, Sherine Tadros is a truth-teller working on the frontlines of storytelling, human rights, and advocacy.' -- Janine di Giovanni, executive director of The Reckoning Project and author of The Vanishing 'Superbly written, with great thoughtfulness and yet such tempo. Sherine Tadros's telling of her story as a television journalist in war and a human rights activist at the UN deserves to be read widely. Her honesty and her clarity of thought will make this a classic among journalists, and those mulling the thorny dilemmas she probes with enormous skill.' -- Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein, CEO of the International Peace Institute and former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights 'Sherine Tadros is a profile in courage. Her story is for anyone who has found themselves looking for a way to make an impact while surmounting personal struggles and heartbreak. In her journalism and now in her activism, she has always succeeded in telling people's stories and changing the course of history. She has highlighted injustice and worked to redress it. Taking Sides is a guidebook on how to make the world a better place and the sacrifices you have to make along the way.' -- Lulu Garcia-Navarro, journalist and host of New York Times Podcast First Person 'While delivering an engaging memoir - told with self-deprecating humour and much self-awareness - Tadros also provides sober and important insights into the modern "Middle East". She makes accessible to any reader the region's overlooked humanity and triumphs, as well as its all-too-frequent heartbreaks, from those suffered collectively to intensely personal ones - bravely, Tadros also includes her own. You cannot but cheer her on in her new vocation, even as she leaves journalism - a field she so excelled in and which misses her already.' -- Alia Malek, journalist and author of The Home That Was Our Country '[A] mixture of memoir, confession and, unsurprisingly, astute political observation.' -- Steven Carroll * The Sydney Morning Herald * 'A riveting coming-of-age chronicle which catches your breath, warms your heart, and leaves you full of admiration.' -- Lyse Doucet 'A natural storyteller, Tadros's story of her time as a reporter and an activist is readily readable, insightful and deeply moving. A powerful memoir.' -- Jeff Popple * Canberra Weekly Magazine *