The moving story of a mad-woman (brave beyond all imagining, driven to report to us at her daily risk) traveling in war zones all over the middle east and Africa in the early part of this century. I am speechless.

One frustration with the book is that many of the photographs included are unlabeled as to place and time and circumstance. On the other hand, I have no idea how she was able to report as much as she did in the text of her book. This "complaint" pales in the light of the courage she showed to take the photos. ( )

I loved reading this. Lynsey Addario has gone through some amazing things. Her experiences are for me un imaginable. Her's is not the first photojournalist memoir I have read. Previously I read Shutter Babe, and the differences in these to women's stories though similar ( both being female in a predominantly male job) seem so different. Maybe it was the ages in which they wrote them or the decades in which they took place, I'm not sure. I was taken in, could not bring myself to put down this book and go to bed.
Lynsey cover her career before and during 9-11, her experience in the Middle East before end during is so interesting. Also, the look into the different ways she was treated both there and in the other countries she worked in, most of them Muslim. I found it really interesting to read about her experiences within that culture. Also, her personal journey drew me in. The choices she had to make and the urge to keep going. Loved this book.





This is a captivating portrayal of photojournalist Lynsey Addario's involvement covering the Middle East.
Addario shares with us her experiences, which extend from a near death car accident to kidnapping, being robbed, and both sexual and physical assault. She shares her passion, her need to photograph while being shot at- to risk her life on a daily basis in order to give the world images that could change public opinion and policy. "...[Addario]brings an incredible sense of humanity to all the battlefields of her life." She addresses the difficulties of being a woman in an overwhelmingly male profession.
This memoir is a brilliant portrayal of the personal, professional and logistical aspects of photojournalism. It is full of compassion, courage and "unflinching candor".
I could not get enough of her story; I read this literally sitting on the edge of my chair, finally forcing myself to put the book down and go to bed. ( )

Fascinating account of a celebrated war photographer. I listened on audio, which was excellent. I admit that her propensity to go into the most dangerous situations after barely escaping several times with her life made me pretty anxious at times. But this was also reflective of her skill in conveying these scenes in Afghanistan, Iraq and other places with such clarity. She highlights the challenges of being a woman working in these places, and also her commitment to telling women's stories through her photos. ( )

Whoa. Literally, just whoa. For someone who has lived a fairly sheltered life in Pennsylvania for my entire existence, it blows my mind how people can just pick up at a moment’s notice and not just go on an adventure, but go to a war-ravaged country that is most certainly on the state department’s travel advisory list. But time and time again, that’s what Lynsey does.

When I picked up It’s What I Do, I was on a biography/autobiography kick, having just finished Notorious RBG, and I was looking for some inspiration as I tried/am still trying to figure out what it is I want out of my life. And while I certainly want adventure, I don’t think I’m quite cut out for Lynsey’s level of adventure, but let me step back a bit.

In 2014, my sister moved to Washington D.C. right after her college graduation. When Ben and I went to visit her, we planned a little mini trip, which included a visit to an old favorite, the Library of Congress, and a new spot, the Newseum. While I never considered journalism as a career, I’ve followed Christiane Amanpour since she first was referenced on Gilmore Girls, I am a perpetual student of political science, and I am an obsessive news junkie. So needless to say, the decision to go to the Newseum was a no-brainer. While there, I learned about the numerous and life-threatening risks journalists take to bring the information they have gathered back to us. And when they travel to dangerous places, they are traveling as members of the press, but more importantly, not as soldiers or military personnel, but as civilians.

Lynsey Addario rarely hesitated when making the decision to go overseas to follow a breaking story/event. All I can say is that her story is simply amazing and I have been recommending It’s What I Do left, right and center at the bookstore. I’ve found every excuse and opportunity to display it, to share it, to talk about it – I even forced my mom into a copy and she doesn’t read anything but Baldacci and spy thrillers (though I sold it to her as a real-life spy thriller). If you are in a reading slump, or just need some motivation to get up in the morning, It’s What I Do is the book for you. ( )

This is a moving memoir about a female war photographer who risked everything for her craft. In very extreme situations, Lynsey learns about herself and the world around her - and she doesn't always like what she finds. The book is relatable - especially to women who have worked and been challenged in a male-dominated career or community. The very inspiring story of coming to terms with your own life and the life you share with others. Yes I would recommend this book to others. Favorite Quote: I was insatiable in my quest to document the truth with my photographs and threw myself into the midst of any situation without regard for the consequences believing that if my intentions were pure and I focused on my work, I would be OK. Though I still work with the same dedication, I have grown more cautious with every brush with death, with every friend lost. Somewhere along the way my mortality began to matter. -- Reviewed by bconlin ( )