The Dawn Prayer or How to Survive in..., Matthew Schrier
The Dawn Prayer or How to Survive in..., Matthew Schrier
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The Dawn Prayer (or How to Survive in a Secret Syrian Terrorist Prison)

Author: Matthew Schrier

Narrator: Michael David Axtell

Unabridged: 9 hr 47 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 04/03/2018


Synopsis

A photographer captured in Syria and imprisoned for seven months recounts his story and how he became the first American ever to escape al-Qaeda. "What is your name?" asked General Mohammad. "Matthew," I said. I had stopped saying Matt a while ago because it means 'dead' in Arabic. On New Year's Eve in 2012, Matthew Schrier was headed home from Syria, where he'd been photographing the intense combat of the country's civil war. Just forty-five minutes from the safety of the Turkish border, he was taken prisoner by the al-Nusra Front, an organization the world would come to know as the Syrian branch of al-Qaeda. Over the next seven months he would endure torture and near starvation in six brutal terrorist prisons. He would face a daily struggle just to survive. And, eventually, he would escape. In this gripping, raw, and surprisingly funny memoir, Schrier details the horrifying and frequently surreal experience of being a slight, wisecracking Jewish guy held captive by the world's most violent Islamic extremists. Managing to keep his heritage a secret, Schrier used humor to develop relationships with his captors—and to keep himself sane during the long months of captivity. The Dawn Prayer (or How to Survive in a Secret Syrian Terrorist Prison) is a tale of patriotism and unimaginable bleakness shot through with light, of despair and friendship, sacrifice and betrayal, in a setting of bombed-out buildings and shifting alliances. It's the story of the first Westerner to escape al-Qaeda—not a battle-hardened soldier, but an ordinary New Yorker who figured out how to set his escape plan in motion from a scene in Jurassic Park. From the prisoners' fiercely competitive hacky sack games and volleyball tournaments (played using a ball made of shredded orange peels and a shoelace) to his own truly nail-biting breakout, Matthew Schrier's story is unforgettable—and one you won't want to miss.

About Matthew Schrier

Matthew Schrier is from Deer Park, New York, and a graduate of Hofstra University, where he studied film production and English. His unprecedented escape from Al Qaeda in 2013 has been covered by 60 Minutes, New York Times, and CNN. Since his return home, Matthew has devoted himself to working with the US Military, using his experience in Syria to educate American troops about survival after capture by extremists. The Dawn Prayer is his first book.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Liz on May 07, 2021

I read this book because I read Theo Padnos' book, Blindfold, and I wanted to hear Matt's side of the story. The two men were imprisoned together for months, and Matt left Theo behind when he escaped. Matt Schrier is a very engaging writer with a lot of personality and swagger, and that definitely m......more

Goodreads review by Jade on March 22, 2018

The Dawn Prayer (Or How to Survive in a Secret Syrian Terrorist Prison) by Matthew Schrier is the story of Schrier’s seven months spent in captivity in a Syrian terrorist prison. He was kidnapped and held captive by the Syrian Al-Qaeda, Jabhat al-Nusra, in 2012 and managed to escape and make it back......more

Goodreads review by MM Suarez on January 28, 2022

I think I'm probably being a bit generous with my rating only because I give the author credit for having enough brain cells left to write a memoir after being stuck in a Syrian prison for seven months. One thing I learned for sure is that he despised Theo Padnos, the other American also captured an......more

Goodreads review by Joe on July 30, 2024

Could not put it down, what a ride. Gives great insight to just how brutal being a POW would be.......more

Goodreads review by Shilo on December 21, 2023

Schrier’s story of survival in a Syrian terrorist prison is indeed captivating and showcases his remarkable courage and resilience. His escape from such a dire situation is nothing short of incredible. However, the book is marred by Schrier’s attitude towards his cellmate Theo. His disdain for Theo i......more


Quotes

“One of the most terrifying and suspenseful books I’ve ever read. This is an absolutely extraordinary story.” Sebastian Junger, New York Times bestselling author and journalist

“A tightly told story of brutal survival, unexpected friendships, and ultimate escape…Engrossing.” Billy Hayes, author of Midnight Express

“A thrilling documentary that reads like a novel…Take a deep breath before you begin reading; there is no breathing room in the pages of this one!” A. B. Grantham, Commandant, Department of Alabama, Marine Corps League

“If I ever had a chance to pick a guide to walk through hell, that would be, no doubt, Matt Schrier…Clear, powerful, and enlightening.” Juan Ríos, Spanish Mission to the United Nations

“A searing narrative of personal courage and the determination to survive.” Philip S. Balboni, CEO and executive editor of DailyChatter and founder of GlobalPost