A book written by an Iraqi about Iraq and Iraqis to make them comprehensible. It explains the diversity and the lingering antiquity that shape the country in simple terms and through facts and anecdotes. It looks at the occupation, the chaos and lawlessness that followed and their effect on the lives of people and individuals. It also provides a look into the "Triangle of Death" -- one of the most volatile regions in the country -- from the inside, showing some of the intricacies of tribal relations. But, above all, this book is about people. It aims to illustrate how ordinary people dealt with the traumatic situation, why civil war was so hard to ignite and why there is still hope. It may help the reader understand the failure to understand that led to failure.