About Book

This book is a unique blend of autobiography and scholarly reflection, chronicling Ivan Molloy’s personal and professional journey through war, terrorism, and political and social conflict, while examining the devastating psychological effects on his family and himself. Molloy recounts his experiences working with Muslim terrorist and revolutionary guerrilla groups in the Philippines, as well as his navigation of media misrepresentation, political ambition, and academic career destruction. The narrative provides an intimate view of the intersection between personal trauma, professional research in terrorism, and the broader socio-political conflicts of the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Its contemporary relevance lies in highlighting the human cost of terrorism, the psychological toll of exposure to violent conflict, and the challenges faced by researchers in volatile contexts. The book can inform both mental health interventions for those impacted by conflict and terrorism, and policy discussions on supporting academics, field researchers, and communities engaged in counterterrorism and post-conflict work.The book’s strengths include its rare combination of first-hand autobiographical detail with scholarly insight, providing both emotional depth and analytical reflection. Molloy offers vivid, real-world illustrations of terrorism’s human impact, PTSD, and the professional risks faced by academics in high-conflict research. Limitations include its subjective, highly personal narrative style, which may reduce methodological rigor, and its focus on one individual’s experience, limiting generalizability. However, its authenticity, detailed recounting of terrorism-related research, and contribution to understanding the human dimension of conflict make it a valuable resource for interdisciplinary studies of terrorism and trauma.A highly engaging and unique contribution that combines personal narrative with scholarly insight, shedding light on both the operational and human dimensions of terrorism and political conflict. It is suitable for repositories focusing on terrorism studies, conflict impact, trauma research, and autobiographical accounts of field experience in conflict zones.