**Selected as one of the ‘Biggest Non-Fiction Books of 2019’ by The Times**As one of the earliest Arabs to join the Afghan Jihad, the Algerian Islamist Abdullah Anas counted as brothers-in-arms the future icons of al-Qaeda’s global war, from Abdullah Azzam to Osama bin Laden, and befriended key Afghan resistance leaders such as Ahmad Shah Massoud.Brushing shoulders with everyone from Zarqawi to Haqqani, Anas distanced himself from their movements, disagreeing with their narrow interpretations of political Islam. While he remains committed to Jihad, to this day Anas takes issue with the extremist trajectories of his one-time companions.Co-written with investigative journalist Tam Hussein, To the Mountains is an intimate and penetrating portrait of the networks that formed during the Afghan-Soviet war. In this revealing memoir, Anas shatters some of al-Qaeda's foundational myths, and rethinks what it means to be a Jihadist in the modern world.‘An unusual personal foray into the motives of the jihadis from one of their number. Anas...describes vividly for a western audience the human story...[a] fascinating book.’ — The Times‘A tantalising account.’ — The Financial Times‘Specialists and scholars will enjoy the accounts of arguments among different Afghan factions and the personal details related about key figures from the period...a valiant attempt to create something accessible and readable.’ — The Observer‘This important memoir…is a valuable resource that deserves a broad readership.’ — The New Arab‘A fascinating book with new insights and anecdotes in a history which resonates to this day.’ — Lyse Doucet
