This is a great book, the main character is not. The lessons can be found on so many levels from the "Super 12" who guard him and almost forget why they came to guard him to the casual observer who if not careful will have to be reminded that Sadamm, like Ted Bundy was evil and charming. Read this book

In the summer of 2006, twelve United States soldiers (also known as the "Super Twelve) were tasked with guarding former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein as he sat on trial for crimes against humanity. Saddam ruled over Iraq for 35 years and is responsible for the torture and murder of thousands of Iraqis—but that’s not the version of the man the U.S. guards met. They watched over a larger-than-life figure brought down to earth, a man stripped of his power and possessions. To them, Saddam was a man who enjoyed smoking cigars, tending to the weeds in the prison yard, writing poetry, and chatting about cars and family. By the time Saddam was executed, some of the soldiers who guarded him had come to enjoy their time with the old man. He gave them a respect that they didn't get from their own superiors and possessed many qualities they admired. The Prisoner in His Palace, published little over a decade after Saddam's execution, is an engaging glimpse into the surreal assignment of guarding an infamous dictator and the emotional complexity of leading someone you’ve bonded with to their death.

I've been stuck in a reading rut for the past couple of months and this is the first book that broke through the “nothing interests me” barrier! It's about 210 pages of content and I read it within 24 hours, so it's a great choice if you're looking for a fascinating and concise non-fiction book to read. The style is journalistic. Within the pages is a profile of a complex figure who one CIA official called “the most traumatized leader I have ever studied.” This book is not an exhaustive account of Saddam's life, but it covers some events from Saddam's traumatic childhood, his violent rise to power, his reign over Iraq, and his downfall after the United States invasion in 2003. The anecdotes show a man of contradictions. He was proud of his progressive policies, but simultaneously capable of committing barbaric acts against his people. During his trial, maintaining his legacy as an iron-fisted ruler seemed to be more important to him than helping his defense save his life. His personality changed dramatically once he wasn't in front of the camera, from aggressive theatrics in front of the judge to a polite demeanor when handed over to the guards.

We are also introduced to some of the men who were charged with guarding Saddam. We learn about the complex dynamics between these diverse personalities living in cramped quarters while working a high-stress job, but the parts about troop life weren't as in-depth as the parts about their actual assignment. The experience of guarding Saddam was a turning point for many of them. Many of these soldiers rushed to join the military after the 9/11 attacks, but began to question their role in the conflict and what they gave up to be a part of it. For some of them, returning home after the war brought on different types of hardship. They had missed out on valuable time with family that could never be recovered. Those who wanted to talk to about their unique mission found no one wanting to listen; few people want to hear the emotional complexities of bonding with a murderous dictator and leading him to his execution. (I've experienced similar uncomfortable reactions when I mention this book to people.) Coming to like someone who has hurt so many people may seem odd at first thought, but it's a very human response. For example: visceral public reaction when a beloved celebrity or community member is accused of a heinous crime, or even Oliver Stone’s opinions after spending time with Vladimir Putin. Perhaps there's some element of it being easier to process what we've directly experienced, rather than events we know about secondhand.

There were many aspects of Saddam's personality and incarceration that surprised me. He adjusted easily from a grandiose life to a jail cell. He had nuanced opinions about U.S. leadership, the U.S. Army, and the future of Iraq. He was allowed much more freedom of movement than I would've expected. Some of the guards were eager of his approval—they did their best to grant his requests and make his incarceration comfortable. Saddam returned the favors in kind, even offering to pay for one soldier's college tuition if he ever got access to his money again. Was his kindness to the U.S. guards manipulation or was there an element of finally being able to relax and "be one of the guys"? We can never know for certain. Before you can get too comfortable with the “crotchety old man” version of Saddam, the author transports us to the past and a portrait of a brutal dictator emerges. One of the most disconcerting aspects of this book is how someone who is capable of being a thoughtful person can be capable of terrifying barbarism. I was shocked when a couple of the U.S. soldiers insisted that Saddam would never hurt them, which may speak to how easy it is for men like Saddam draw people into their circle despite all the risks involved. These insights are counterbalanced by tales of how earning Saddam's affections was no inoculation from his cruel whims. The switch could flip terrifyingly quick, even for family members.  

As Saddam was led to his death, he told the U.S. soldiers that they were “'more family to him' than any Iraqis had been." None of the soldiers ever doubted Saddam's guilt, but even the men who didn't develop a relationship with Saddam were shaken by the events surrounding his execution. One of the members of the "Super Twelve" noted that "it almost would have been easier if Saddam had acted more like the murderous tyrant they’d expected to find." The Prisoner in His Palace is an uncomfortable book to read because it made me feel twinges of empathy that I didn't want/expect to feel and it showed the human side of someone who caused an inordinate amount of pain and suffering. Despite my discomfort, I also found it reassuring that for many people there are elements of our humanity that are difficult to override. I wish it was longer and more in-depth, but it's a fascinating tale and I'm still talking about it weeks later!

For another read about the nature of humanity, you might be interested in Human Acts by Han Kang. One of the men featured in the book wrote his own book about his experiences: Caring for Victor: A U.S. Army Nurse and Saddam Hussein by Robert Ellis.
A few interesting articles I read while reading this book:
'I was shocked': Iraqis remember day Saddam Hussein was hanged
The World; How Many People Has Hussein Killed?
Ten Years After the Fall of Saddam, How Do Iraqis Look Back on the War?
I Grew Up In Iraq During Saddam's Worst Days — Here's What Life Was Like
Judge Remembers Saddam as Intelligent, Charismatic and Remorseless

This book is the untold story of what took place after Saddam Hussein was captured and his death. This book brings to light of a tale different from the Saddam Hussein we thought we knew. This is also the story of the twelve guards who were assigned to guard him and the relationships they formed with Saddam Hussein.
Overall I rated this book four stars out of five. This was a well written story, and a story that needed to be told. While I do not approve of the horrible things that Saddam Hussein did, this story brought more humanity to Saddam Hussein as a person. While it is difficult to process the horrible things Saddam Hussein did and the person that he was characterized to be in this story explains why this book needed to be written. The only criticism I have for this book was the organization of this book. I felt at times it was disorganized and did not flow together well with the overall book. Otherwise this book is highly recommended for everyone to read.
I would like to thank Netgalley, Will Bardenwerper, and Scribner Books for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is the best non-fiction book I've read in at least a year, and looking a my t.b.r. list it will probably be the best I'll read this year. I remember when Saddam Hussein started coming to my attention back in the early 1980's. He was extremely charismatic, and scary as anything I'd ever seen. Reading this book was odd because I didn't expect to find poignant moments, but I did. I enjoyed the stories, the humor, and depths that I wouldn't have thought possible. Most of all, I really didn't like reading about Saddam's last day, or what was done to his dead body afterward. I can see how if you guard someone day in, and day out, then became friendly acquaintances and in a few cases close to that person, how leading them to their death, and bodily desecration could mess a person up. I felt for these guards, Doc, and the interpreter. I even shed a few tears towards the end. As for my feelings about this idiot war that Bush and friends started? Well, a book review isn't the place. I'd recommend this book and author. It shows what a monster Saddam was, but also an almost human side too. Thanks to Scribner and Netgalley for allowing me to read this e-book. Much appreciated.

4.5 STARS This book tells the story of twelve young American soldiers in Iraq who are suddenly assigned to guard Saddam Hussein during his trial, and then in months leading up to his execution. Spending so much time in close proximity with him, they eventually would listen as he talked to pass the time. Sometimes just asking simple questions about them, or reading a poem he'd written. The soldiers always kept their duty in mind, to keep their prisoner alive and reasonably happy. Then as time went on, some developed a genuine respect for him and began to like the old man as a person. They kept in mind the things they'd been told or knew that he had done, but just going by the respectful way he was with them, they treated him the same way. He seemed genuinely interested in them as people, always remembering to ask about their families and children, how they were doing, what kinds of things they liked. They developed relationships with him, some quite close that they hadn't at all expected to. It made for a surprising and moving story. Thank you to NetGalley, Scribner, and author Will Bardenwerper for providing me with an ARC in return for my honest review.

Subtitled, “Saddam Hussein, his American guards and what history leaves unsaid,” this is a sobering portrait of how twelve American’s got the, somewhat unenviable, task of guarding the former dictator. Dubbed the ‘Super Twelve,’ they were banned from keeping a journal, or even writing about their mission with family and friends back home – although they were interviewed for the Army’s oral history programme and some were interviewed by the author. This is a well paced and interesting read, but the author does admit that much of the dialogue used is, obviously, as those involved remember it . As the author says, this is nonfiction, but with ‘storytelling liberties.’

The book begins with Saddam Hussein’s execution on the 30th December, 2006, in Baghdad. The story then backtracks, to tell us the back story of some of the American guards involved, as well as filling in some facts from Saddam Hussein’s childhood and life. Although we get some of his background, arrest and behaviour in captivity, though, this is not a biography. It is clear that Saddam Hussein never expressed any remorse, or regret, for his actions. He did, however, have a need to socialise and was a man of contradictions. He was a man who turned a blind eye to the extreme violence of his eldest son, Uday, yet asked about the children of the men guarding him. He was a man responsible for terrible crimes, yet tended the weeds in the yard and saved crumbs for the birds. He was usually polite and capable of comforting his guards, enjoyed a cigar and was, therefore, not what those guarding him expected. Really, though, this should not be such a surprise. Even those on trial for crimes against humanity, are humans themselves…

Overall, this is a very interesting account of the tensions in this closeted existence and of the American’s attempts to treat Saddam Hussein with respect and make sure he was physically well enough to go to trial. It is also more about these twelve men’s humanity than Saddam Hussein as, almost against their will, they discover it is not easy to play a role in the death of a person you have come to know. As Saddam Hussein was executed, violence erupted – spreading across the country. It was, for these men, a shocking event and this is obvious. However, had they not felt something, it would suggest that their own humanity had been compromised, so they should not have been surprised that they felt something; even though they knew of their prisoners past. An interesting read about the end of a dictator’s life. I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.

I have to start by saying this book irritated me. Mostly because it try's to make Saddam Hussein into some kind of caring family man and almost vindicates some of his atrocious acts.
Its the story of 12 guards who had the unfortunate job of watching and guarding Saddam leading up to his trial for war crimes after being captured.
The book did not evolve the guards personality enough or Saddam and all I kept thinking was this man is a manipulative moron - while the book would tell you how charismatic he was towards the guards etc and seemed to skip out a lot of his actual crimes and story. 200 pages just wasn't enough and so made it vague throughout.

I was given this book from NetGalley in exchange for a honest review. This was one of the best nooks I read. Finished in two days, Get it!!!

After reading Phil Klay's editorial in the NYT yesterday (https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/10/op...), I moved this to the top of the book stack. Using Army oral history and follow-up interviews with the participants, Bardenwerper has reconstructed the time a dozen young American MPs (with guest appearances by assorted CIA and FBI interrogators) spent guarding Saddam Hussein in one of his former palaces in the months leading up to his execution. In the shadow of Abu Ghraib, this confinement was under close scrutiny, but just as had happened with the Nuremberg prisoners, it was impossible not to have personal contact with a man whose behavior swung between cartoonish autocrat and charming, avuncular roommate. Bardenwerper manages a story that is part banality of evil, part fundamental American decency and all surreal.

This book is painstakingly candid about the inner emotional conflict that we, as humans, all face at one point or another. I feel like this book is extremely well written and caused me to really think about the nature of souls. Well done.