The Spymaster of Baghdad Reading Guide & Discussion Questions

Book Club Discussion Questions

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For supplemental discussion material see our Beyond the Book article, The Women of ISIS and our BookBrowse Review of The Spymaster of Baghdad.

Please be aware that this discussion guide will contain spoilers!

1. Harith's father was exceedingly strict with him, believing it was for his own good and future success. What did you think of Harith's upbringing, considering the family's socioeconomic situation, cultural factors, and the political context of the time?
2. In the military and intelligence operations detailed in The Spymaster of Baghdad, the Iraqi units had advantages over their American counterparts. What were some of these advantages? To what extent do you believe cultural understanding could and should play a role in the success of military and intelligence operations?
3. Under Saddam Hussein, the Sunni minority in Iraq held most of the power, but this changed after Saddam was deposed and the Shia majority gained power. How does this change affect the al-Sudanis and the al-Kubaisis? What did you notice or learn about the dynamics of oppression both before and after the fall of Saddam?

Unless otherwise stated, this discussion guide is reprinted with the permission of Dey Street Books. Any page references refer to a USA edition of the book, usually the trade paperback version, and may vary in other editions.