Phil Rees is well placed to discuss the idea of modern terrorism: he has covered conflicts across the globe and made a point of talking to those branded by the West as 'dangerous' and 'insane'. Dining with Terrorists collates his experiences - from Afghanistan to Colombia - into a cogent argument against the rising, and largely unchecked hysteria over 'terrorists'. He eloquently argues that it's impossible to define terrorism; that those who seek political gain by using judgemental words to categorise violence do a diservice to us all. And, possibly worst of all, the burgeoning number of 'wars' on metaphors (drugs, terror etc) are having the insiduous effect of transforming it into a word with positive connotations - breaking down our resistance to actual war. Intelligent, enlightening and sobering, Rees's book should be required reading. - Siobhan Murphy