Letters from Guantánamo

Mohamedou Ould Slahi wrote these letters during his 14-year imprisonment at Guantánamo Bay detention center. The writings were initially heavily redacted by U.S. government censors before their release and publication. The letters document daily life in detention and Slahi's interactions with guards, interrogators, and fellow inmates. Through correspondence with his American attorney Nancy Hollander, Slahi shares his experiences while maintaining his innocence of terrorism charges. Written in English, his third language, Slahi's letters reveal both his self-taught literary abilities and his determination to communicate with the outside world. The text moves between personal reflections, factual accounts, and occasional humor despite the circumstances. The collection stands as a rare first-hand account of life inside Guantánamo Bay, raising questions about justice, human rights, and the preservation of dignity in extreme circumstances. These letters also demonstrate the power of writing as an act of resistance and survival.

Readers found this first-hand account of Guantánamo detention compelling and emotionally affecting. Many noted that the author's humanity comes through despite his brutal experiences, with one reader observing "his ability to maintain his sense of humor in the darkest circumstances." Specific praise focused on: - The clear, direct writing style - Details about daily life in detention - The author's preservation of hope and forgiveness - Inclusion of redacted sections that show government censorship Common criticisms: - Confusing timeline/narrative structure - Questions about reliability of some memories - Some repetitive passages Ratings: Goodreads: 4.26/5 (5,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.7/5 (2,100+ ratings) Book Marks: Positive Multiple readers cited difficulty reading the torture descriptions but felt the book provides crucial documentation of post-9/11 detention practices. One Amazon reviewer wrote: "This should be required reading for every American citizen."

Guantánamo Diary by Mohamedou Ould Slahi A detainee's first-hand account chronicles his fourteen years of imprisonment, interrogation and torture in Guantánamo Bay.

Ghost Plane: The True Story of the CIA Rendition and Torture Program by Stephen Grey This investigation uncovers the CIA's secret network of "black sites" and prisoner transport operations after 9/11.

The Forever Prisoner by Cathy Scott-Clark, Adrian Levy The book reveals Abu Zubaydah's experience as the first detainee in the CIA's enhanced interrogation program.

Inside the Wire by Erik Saar A former military intelligence linguist exposes the daily operations and interrogation practices at Guantánamo Bay detention center.

Enemy Combatant: My Imprisonment at Guantánamo, Bagram, and Kandahar by Moazzam Begg A British citizen recounts his three-year detention without charge in multiple U.S. military prisons.

✦ Mohamedou Ould Slahi wrote the manuscript by hand while imprisoned in Guantánamo Bay, where he was held for 14 years without charge and subjected to torture before being released in 2016. ✦ The original manuscript was heavily redacted by U.S. government censors, with black bars obscuring numerous passages. The published version maintains these redactions, offering readers a visual representation of government censorship. ✦ Despite having learned English primarily during his imprisonment, Slahi wrote the manuscript in English rather than his native Arabic, making the work even more remarkable. ✦ The book became an international bestseller and was later adapted into the film "The Mauritanian" (2021), starring Tahar Rahim and Jodie Foster. ✦ Larry Siems, the book's editor, spent three years working with Slahi's handwritten manuscript, piecing together the narrative while preserving its authenticity and documenting the legal battle to get it published.