Backstabbing for Beginners

My Crash Course in International Diplomacy

By: Michael Soussan

Narrated by: Maxwell Hamilton

Soon to be a major motion picture starring Ben Kingsley and Theo James, the gripping true story of a young program coordinator at the United Nations who stumbles upon a conspiracy involving Iraq's oil reserves.

"What made this episode in our collective history possible was not so much the lies we told one another, but the lies we told ourselves."

A recent Brown University graduate, Michael Soussan was elated when he landed a position as a program coordinator for the United Nations' Iraq Program. Little did he know that he would end up a whistleblower in what PBS NewsHour described as the "largest financial scandal in UN history."

Breaking a conspiracy of silence that had prevailed for years, Soussan sparked an unprecedented corruption probe into the Oil-for-Food program that exposed a worldwide system of bribes, kickbacks, and blackmail involving ruthless power-players from around the globe.

At the crossroads of pressing humanitarian concerns, crisis diplomacy, and multibillion-dollar business interests, Soussan's story highlights core flaws of our international system and exposes the frightening, corrupting power of the black elixir that fuels our world's economy.

Don't let the title fool you...

Any additional comments?

This is an intriguing inside tale of the United Nations' Iraqi "Oil for Food" program that is interesting enough but add to that a very well written story and superb narration and you have a great story...perfect for audio.

Mandatory reading for any naïve person

Mandatory reading for any starry-eyed, naïve do-gooder, whether actual or aspiring staff, collaborator, donor or partner to the UN.

Glad others have the power to speak up in a corrupted system across the board.

I am so glad others have spoken up. But is so upsetting that there are so many crooks holding high positions who supposedly need to act on the highest integrity but they are the most corrupted. It’s very upsetting that Pasha and others got away from all these terrible scandals. They are criminals allowing chaos in the middle eastern countries, allowing the destruction of a an ancient civilization. I trust no one!!! And Pasha’s behavior from the very first start screamed he was corrupted. The Russians, Chinese, French and the rest of the nations that benefited should be held liable for the death of millions of people and the destruction of so many nations. The whole so called diplomatic arenas is dirty with blood. No exceptions!

Eye-opener history made entertaining

I read this book a few years back and am enjoying it just as much this time through on audio. The narrator is incredible. The Oil-For-Food program is in the dim past for me, and a great reminder of the greed, bureaucratic bungling and often very funny office politics and personalities behind the scenes. I just read online about the movie, but can't imagine it will be as good as the book, skeptic that I am.