Full Circle - Escape From Baghdad and the Return

 Author's Summary

Full Circle... Chronicles a prominent Iraqi Jewish family's escape from persecution through the journey of one family member: A 10-years old boy who witnesses public hangings and the 1941 Krystalnacht (Farhood) in Baghdad. After a harrowing escape from Iraq through Iran, this boy begins a life-long search for meaning and his place in the world. His journey takes him to the newly-formed State of Israel, then to Brazil and finally to the United States. He joins the U.S. Army and serves in Korea and returns to a fascinating career in three Fortune-500 companies. Following September 11, 2001, he volunteers to work for the F.B.I. Genre: Youth and adult, anyone interested in the history of the Middle-East, the Jewish people, and Sephardic life under Islam.

MWSA Review

MWSA 2005 Bronze Medal for Non-Fiction, Autobiography

One of a Kind Autobiography! You will never in your life read another book quite like this one, by Jewish author and US Army veteran, Saul Silas Fathi.  His autobiography, “Full Circle – Escape from Baghdad and the Return” takes the reader to places and events that one may only get to know about from small glimpses on The History Channel or in some old National Geographic Magazines.  This guy has lived a life that would make a great movie.

He was born into a well to do Jewish family in Baghdad in 1938, which in that part of the world presented some very real dangers.  The book shares with us his early years and how he was smuggled out of Iraq at 10 years of age and eventually ended up in Israel.  He studied at the Israel Air Force Academy of Aeronautics and then worked his way to South America.  This long out of the way journey eventually takes the author to New York to study where he ends up joining the US Army and was shipped off to Korea to join up with the First Cavalry Division.  The book goes on to chronicle his exploits and personal adventures including becoming a top level executive for several large high-tech companies.

His book deals with having his family being falsely accused of treason against the Iraqi government and of being labeled a Zionist and Communist.  Those labels alone were more than enough to cause them to be concerned for their safety, in addition to just being a Jew in a Muslim country.

This book deals with the hardships and persecution that this Jewish man faced in his lifetime.  In the face of all that the author lived through and what he learned about life, his personal outlook and drive to succeed are a real tribute to his inner strength and character.  Reading this book will inspire you and entertain you as well.  The author has lived a full life and his book allows you to experience it through his memories.

Reviewed by: Bill McDonald (2005)