It Happened on the Way to War
A Marine's Path to Peace
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It Happened on the Way to War
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Narrated by:
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Rye Barcott
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By:
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Rye Barcott
In 2000 Rye Barcott spent part of his summer living in the Kibera slum of Nairobi, Kenya. He was a college student heading into the Marines, and he sought to better understand ethnic violence - something he would likely face later in uniform. He learned Swahili, asked questions, and listened to young people talk about how they survived in poverty he had never imagined. Anxious to help but unsure what to do, he stumbled into friendship with a widowed nurse, Tabitha Atieno Festo, and a hardscrabble community organizer, Salim Mohamed. Together, this unlikely trio built a non-governmental organization that would develop a new generation of leaders from within one of Africa's largest slums.
Their organization, Carolina for Kibera (CFK), is now a global pioneer of the movement called Participatory Development, and was honored by Time magazine as a "Hero of Global Health". CFK's greatest lesson may be that with the right kind of support, people in desperate places will take charge of their lives and create breathtaking change.
Engaged in two seemingly contradictory forms of public service at the same time, Barcott continued his leadership in CFK while serving as a human intelligence officer in Iraq, Bosnia, and the Horn of Africa. Struggling with the intense stress of leading Marines in dangerous places, he took the tools he learned building a community in one of the most fractured parts of Kenya and became a more effective counterinsurgent and peacekeeper.
It Happened on the Way to War is a true story of sacrifice and courage and the powerful melding of military and humanitarian service. It's a story of what America's role in the world could be.
Download the accompanying reference guide.©2011 Rye Barcott (P)2011 Audible, Inc.Listeners also enjoyed...
Critic reviews
Would you listen to It Happened on the Way to War again? Why?
I would listen to parts of the book again. It is enjoyable to listen to and frankly motivatingWhat was the most compelling aspect of this narrative?
The heartfelt narration.Have you listened to any of Rye Barcott’s other performances before? How does this one compare?
No, this was the first oneDid you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
Makes emotional at times. Rye's story is such an example.Great story - awesome narrator
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Any additional comments?
The overall story was interesting, but I wouldn't say it was captivating.What I was impressed by was the character of the author.
In the back of my mind I was ready to be skeptical of this young white American who decides to go and help Africans. I know that sounds very cynical and I often am. "He's doing it for his resume!", "He's just wants an adventure", grumbled my thoughts.
But it turns out that the author examines his own motivations, his accomplishments and his demons throughout the story and by the end I was thoroughly impressed, perhaps even awed, by what he managed to accomplish. I don't think he transformed the world or anything, but he has made a real difference in the lives of people in a distant land. He had to be brave in many different ways.
So this cynical man tips his hat and acknowledges a far better man than himself.
Worth a listen for the honesty of the author and the heart-warming relationships that he managed to form with people with very different lives.
One other note - it is narrated by the author and he does a fabulous job!
Not Your Stereotypical Do-Gooder
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As for narration, Mr. Barcott has the voice of a marine and it's obvious that he's reading a story that he's lived and that he has a deep connection with what is going on. My only criticism of his reading is that he puts in a lot of unnecessary pauses, kind of like William Shatner, best known and loved as Captain Kirk. I learned to live with that quirk.
As for the story itself, there were some real gems of insight into the individuals that he worked with and for, as well as what it means to be a soldier who is prepared to kill but has the ultimate goal of peace and a world without violence. Realistically, this is not a gripping page turner as there were also some portions of the audiobook that dragged. Still, not every good thing in life is continually exciting. It's a worthwhile listen.
Thoughtful, insightful and pause full.
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What did you love best about It Happened on the Way to War?
I particularly liked the swahili used in the story, as well as the bouncing around geographically.Have you listened to any of Rye Barcott’s other performances before? How does this one compare?
NoDid you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
Almost, I read the paragraphs about a women with aids who washed Barcott's pants to my students to help them understand his reaction to good will despite being in a miserable situation.Any additional comments?
A great audio book for following along in the class, or listening to on a treadmill.Modern day events through the eyes of a big heart
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Would you consider the audio edition of It Happened on the Way to War to be better than the print version?
I didn't read the print version...What did you like best about this story?
It was authentic, interesting and thought provoking.What about Rye Barcott’s performance did you like?
Was it read by the author? It sounded like it... had a real air of authenticity.Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
No, not in one sitting. There were definite "parts" to the audiobook, so it was broken up into different sittings easily. But I couldn't wait to get back to it!Touching and Intriguing
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Is there anything you would change about this book?
If you want a light read about social change this is exactly what your looking for. Its interesting from a societal perspective. But it is riddled with contradictions and it is definitely not a marines path to peace. If you do want to bust your stereotypes about the marines however this is a good book for you.Not What You Think It Is
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What made the experience of listening to It Happened on the Way to War the most enjoyable?
Very interesting story. Its amazing how someone could lead a NGO and troops while deployed.Great Story
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Struggling for a life of meaning
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