A Place Outside the Law: Forgotten Voices from Guantanamo

A Place Outside the Law: Forgotten Voices from Guantanamo cover
Good Books rating 4.33
Technical
  • ID: 4437
  • Added: 2025-10-21
  • Updated: 2025-10-21
  • ISBN: 9780807026984
  • Publisher: Beacon Press
  • Published: 2019-11-12
  • Reviews: 3

A Place Outside the Law offers a profound and unsettling look into the lives affected by the Guantánamo Bay detention center. Through 158 interviews conducted across 20 countries, law scholar Peter Jan Honigsberg brings to light the heartbreaking and inspirational stories of detainees, their families, military personnel, and journalists. The book delves into the emotional and psychological toll of the prison on all involved, highlighting the need for a global conversation about the human rights violations that occurred. /n/n The narratives shared in this book are a testament to the power of human resilience and the importance of acknowledging past mistakes to prevent future ones. From the stories of prison guards who later sought reconciliation to the dedication of journalists who spent years documenting the center's activities, A Place Outside the Law serves as a call to embrace humanity as a tool for a safer world.

Reviews
Bookmarks Reviews · 2025-10-21
necessary 4.00

The book is a well-documented and hard-hitting exposé that adds human voices and touching stories to the narrative of Guantanamo Bay. It is a necessary read that sheds light on the often-forgotten stories of the detainees.

The reviewer from Bookmarks praises 'A Place Outside the Law: Forgotten Voices from Guantanamo' as a well-documented and hard-hitting exposé. They highlight the book's ability to bring human voices and touching stories to the forefront, making it a necessary read. The reviewer emphasizes the importance of these stories in understanding the broader context of human rights violations at Guantanamo Bay. They believe that the book serves as a crucial reminder of the ongoing impact of these violations and the need for accountability.


Quick quotes

    A well-documented, hard-hitting, necessary exposé.

    Peter Jan Honigsberg's book adds human voices and touching stories to show the broader implications of the detention center.

    It is a necessary read that sheds light on the often-forgotten stories of the detainees.

Electronic Intifada · Tamara Nassar · 2020-01-15
haunting 4.50

The book provides a haunting portrait of life at Guantanamo Bay and its toll on the detainees. It is a powerful and necessary read that brings to light the human stories behind the detention center.

Tamara Nassar, in her review for Electronic Intifada, describes 'A Place Outside the Law: Forgotten Voices from Guantanamo' as a haunting portrait of life at Guantanamo Bay. She emphasizes the book's ability to bring to light the human stories behind the detention center, highlighting the toll it has taken on the detainees and their families. Nassar believes that the book is a powerful and necessary read, serving as a stark reminder of the human rights violations that occurred and the ongoing impact on those affected.


Quick quotes

    Law scholar and Witness to Guantánamo founder Peter Jan Honigsberg uncovers a haunting portrait of life at the military prison and its toll.

    It is a powerful and necessary read that brings to light the human stories behind the detention center.

    The book serves as a stark reminder of the human rights violations that occurred and the ongoing impact on those affected.

Truthdig · Chris Hedges · 2019-11-22
harrowing 4.50

The book is a powerful and necessary read that brings to light the human stories behind the Guantanamo Bay detention center. It serves as a stark reminder of the human rights violations that occurred and the ongoing impact on those affected.

Chris Hedges, in his review for Truthdig, describes 'A Place Outside the Law: Forgotten Voices from Guantanamo' as a haunting and essential read. He emphasizes the importance of the firsthand testimonies collected by Peter Jan Honigsberg, which provide a deeply personal and harrowing account of life at Guantanamo Bay. Hedges believes that these stories are crucial for understanding the broader implications of the detention center and the lasting effects on the detainees and their families. He also highlights the significance of the upcoming television interviews with former detainees, which will bring these stories to a wider audience.


Quick quotes

    The book is a powerful and necessary read that brings to light the human stories behind the Guantanamo Bay detention center.

    It serves as a stark reminder of the human rights violations that occurred and the ongoing impact on those affected.

    The testimonies collected by Peter Jan Honigsberg provide a deeply personal and harrowing account of life at Guantanamo Bay.