Book · 2026 · History
From Life Itself
Turkey and Istanbul in the Age of Erdogan
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The second one is by journalist Suzy Hansen. It's called From Life Itself. It's a book about Turkey through just exploring one neighborhood in Istanbul um that she she's reported on over 10 years.
The best things said about it
This is from Life Itself by Suzy Hansen. I think she is just like an all-star international correspondent. She's been based in Turkey for I think over a decade at this point.
Why people recommend it
From Life Itself by Suzy Hansen is a compelling work of nonfiction that explores the complex political and social landscape of Turkey through deeply reported investigations into a single neighborhood in Istanbul over a span of ten years. On The Ezra Klein Show, Matt Duss recommended the book, highlighting the author's extensive on-the-ground reporting and how she tracked the shifting tides of Turkish democracy and politics over a decade. Jumana Khatib also featured the book on The Book Review, praising Hansen as an all-star international correspondent who has been deeply embedded in Turkey for more than ten years. Both podcast hosts underscored the depth of Hansen's reporting and her exceptional ability to distill large geopolitical shifts through intimate, localized storytelling. The shared praise for From Life Itself highlights its importance as a vital resource for understanding contemporary international relations, journalism, and the intricate realities of political change in an urban setting. Listeners looking for rigorous, long-form international reporting will find the book to be an illuminating and thoroughly researched window into a fascinating global region.
Every mention
Joumana Khatib This is from Life Itself by Suzy Hansen. I think she is just like an all-star international correspondent.… 1
“This is from Life Itself by Suzy Hansen. I think she is just like an all-star international correspondent. She's been based in Turkey for I think over a decade at this point.”
Matt Duss The second one is by journalist Suzy Hansen. It's called From Life Itself. It's a book about Turkey through… 1
“The second one is by journalist Suzy Hansen. It's called From Life Itself. It's a book about Turkey through just exploring one neighborhood in Istanbul um that she she's reported on over 10 years”