Emily Ruth Ford

Writer and journalist. Currently @Semafor

[William Dalrymple @DalrympleWill]

Just finished this gem by the wonderful @KimGhattas. Kim is one of best informed and most intelligent writers on West Asia, remarkable for her ability to bring clarity to the most complex scenarios. She is also a wonderful storyteller. Her new book, The Best Kind of American, is a brilliant, tightly focused and intricately plotted piece of non-fiction, a Levantine In Cold Blood. It is not just essential reading for anyone who wants to understand the toxic confluence of rival forces at work in the region, it is also that rarity: a hugely enjoyable non-fiction thriller. Hugely recommended.