The Prisoner in His Palace: Saddam Hussein, His American Guards, and What History Leaves Unsaid Cover
Podcast Mentions

The Prisoner in His Palace Saddam Hussein, His American Guards, and What History Leaves Unsaid

Will Bardenwerper

In the haunting tradition of

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Pod Save America

Podcast

Pod Save America

It was written by Jason Rezaian, a former Washington Post journalist who was imprisoned in Iran for 544 days, and discussed in the podcast as a great book about his experience.

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Jason wrote a book about his experience.

— Episode: “Donald Trump’s halftime show.”

Episode: “Donald Trump’s halftime show.”

It was written by Jason Rezaian, a former Washington Post journalist who was imprisoned in Iran for 544 days, and discussed in the podcast as a great book about his experience.

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Jason wrote a book about his experience.

Great book. Read The Prisoner.

Real Dictators

Podcast

Real Dictators

The book was discussed for its unique perspective on Saddam Hussein's final days, drawing on interviews with the junior American soldiers who guarded him, and for its observations about his pervasive aura and psychopathic tendencies. The author, Will Bardenwerper, was quoted across three episodes, providing insights that the hosts used to illustrate these aspects of Saddam's personality. The podcast used the title as a source of detail rather than a focal recommendation.

Episode: Saddam Hussein Part 5: The War on Terror

The book looked at the final chapter of Saddam's life through his interactions with a dozen of his American jailers, and it was revealed that the interviews were primarily conducted with very junior rank soldiers who had been involved in detaining Saddam, who had been tasked with spending eight-hour shifts, 24 hours a day in his company, often with 18-year-old kids.

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Will Badenbear for his book, The Prisoner in his Palace, looks at the final chapter of Saddam's life through his interactions with a dozen of his American jailers.

The interviews that I listened to were conducted primarily with very junior rank in soldiers who had been involved in the detention of Saddam. I would have assumed that they were kind of older and more seasoned veterans, maybe special operations troops. But the people who basically were tasked with spending eight hour shifts, 24 hours a day, in his company. In this case, we're in some cases 18 year old kids that had just graduated basic training.

Episode: Saddam Hussein Part 2: Enforcer, Frontman, Mafia G...

The book was mentioned in context of Saddam Hussein's aura and the impression he made on people, with the author of the book being noted as saying that just about everyone who interacted with Saddam would comment on his presence, even in simple attire.

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Will Bardenwerper author of the prisoner in his palace?

Something that you'll hear from just about anyone who interacted with him they will all say that when he came into the room even if he was just wearing a dish dasha and sandals you know he carried himself with a noticeable aura that never went away.

Episode: Saddam Hussein Part 1: Son of the Alleyways

The author suggested that Saddam Hussein displayed several characteristics commonly associated with clinical psychopaths. They believed that Saddam was towards the far end of the spectrum.

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Will Barton Vepa is author of the prisoner in his palace Saddam Hussein is American gods and what history leaves unsaid.

He certainly did exhibit certain attributes that are commonly found in clinical psychopaths, not all of them but I think you know if there's a spectrum he certainly was towards that end of the spectrum.

Note: The book recommendations on this page are discovered automatically from podcast transcripts, and may be incorrect or incomplete.