A Rough Guide To The Dark Side

Reviewed By  Janet Mawdesley       November 26, 2014

 

Author  Daniel Simpson

Distributor:     
ISBN:                 978-1-78099-307-2
Publisher:         Zero Books
Release Date:    

Website:    http://www.zero-books.net 

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Edgy, cynical and enlightening, dependent on your idea of enlightenment, Daniel Simpson uses his undoubted talents as a journalist to take us into a world of disillusionment and survival – his.

As a journalist working for Reute,r then for the New York Times he found his way into the Balkans at a time when Sarajevo was a household catch phrase. In the aftermath of the clean-up from a campaign which can only be classed a genocide, he found himself confronting corruption, refined journalism, the changing expectations of newspapers who were not interested in reporting the truth but more like the “gossip” associated with just about anything and discovered that he had to come to terms with himself.

 

Embarking on a drug fueled one man campaign to achieve something, even though he was not sure what, saw him meet a man, a Serb, full of fantastic ideas. As a team they came up with a new take on Glastonbury: that a music festival in Serbia was just what was need to right all the wrongs and start encouraging a freedom of spirit in the war torn weary.

Unfortunately for Daniel he underestimated the power of the local mafia, whom, right at the last hurdle decided to exert their rights with very scary consequences.

 All the while Daniel was still trying to deliver what the news media wanted from him causing considerable conflict as his disillusionment of Serbia, news, life and people in general mounted.

If nothing else this is a story of a young man facing the reality that all is not always what it seems, learning to change and evolve with the circumstances while eventually recognizing that his many illusions, and/or delusions, were being shattered on a daily basis.

Interesting, informative, and cathartic in so far as Daniel Simpson is concerned, this is an insight into a road more than well-travelled as well as a learning curve which sees him today traveling, promoting his book and still, all the while, challenging News Media and what life is really all about.

If you like an edgy, very different look at the world’s slightly skewed issues this is one story you will find both interesting and informative about all the things you perhaps should not do but definitely teach you a lot about life and living.