It's What I Do: A Photographer's Life of Love and War

Easily one of the best nonfiction books I've ever read!Lynsey's story immediately intrigued me, and I had a very hard time putting this book down. That doesn't happen a lot for me when it comes to the nonfiction genre, so I was very impressed with how well written this was and how interesting her life has been.Being a war photographer has absolutely no appeal to me personally. And Addario's book made me want to have that job even less! But reading about it was a whole different story. I have nothing but a crazy amount of sincere respect for people who do this every day, because it sure takes a hell of a lot of guts and dedication.I'd never heard of Addario before picking up this book from the library, but her story was able to completely captivate me regardless of how interested in her I was before starting It's What I Do. I always love it when nonfiction books are able to successfully bring me to love them when I know little to nothing about the topic or the person beforehand.I do have a little bit of an interest in photography, so that was one of the reasons it initially caught my eye. And, wow, are the photographs in this book gorgeous. I love how they were included all throughout the book and how many were in there. I actually would've been fine with more, because I'm now a huge fan of her work, but that's not to say that there wasn't enough. I also really enjoyed being able to see how much Addario improved from the very first pictures she took to the incredible ones that were taken more recently.She spends a little bit of time talking about the difference between being a "breaking news" photographer and one who documents events more slowly for features and things like that. It's easy to see how that translates in her work...from the rushed, blurry, real photographs of war to the more beautiful and artistic documentation of events that are equally but differently able to inspire people to care about international issues.But although this book is, on the surface, about her job, at its heart Addario's story is much more about her life experiences rather than the technical aspects of simply photography. There is so much honesty here, and I really felt like I was able to immerse myself in her story and how hard it was to be constantly traveling and never having enough time for romantic relationships or family. Luckily, Addario's story has a happy ending. It was encouraging to be told that it apparently is possible to do this type of job and also have somewhat of a "normal life" as well. It has clearly never been easy for her, but I think that it sends a really important message for women that you do not always have to sacrifice your family for your career or vice versa.There are very many feminist messages like that throughout this book, as Addario manages to keep up with men and soldiers even as the going got tough. And we're talking tough. Wow. I was amazed by Addario's constant strength. I never would've been able to do what she's done...although it was very inspiring to think that it might be possible for other women who aren't me.I think that this would be a really great book to read as a high school senior. Although there are many themes throughout this book, one of the biggest ones is how, though hard work and determination, Addario was able to, with virtually no experience or money, ultimately become one of the best and most well-known war photographers in the world. She traveled the world throughout her 20s and 30s, had many whirlwind love affairs, gained maturity and knowledge...all with basically just a camera and a few power bars to keep her going.It's What I Do is a fantastic and empowering book that I very much enjoyed reading. I highly recommend it to anyone and everyone!

This memoir is amazing. The author was fearless when needed and brave all the time. Excellent.

As a former military pilot, I've flown photojournos and network television crews into remote areas where they survived hostile fire. Lynsey Addario's story suggests she would have been aboard one of my missions. Her memoir resonates authenticity through and through. She writes with an impassioned honesty that instills credibility to the stories she shares.I wonder if Lynsey realises the sort of adrenaline rush that empowered a lot of her work. She endures harsh battlefield conditions without the sort of basic training all military personnel have to complete. That she can frame a shot, meet editorial demands and recycle to the front line is the sort of routine seen in dramatic mini-series on television screens. But this is no cinematic presentation. This is the story of a combat photojournalist.I currently watch aspiring photographers come through the university programme I teach. It's fair to say that I haven't trained a single student in the past 15 years to wear a flak vest while carrying their DSLR so I doubt any of my students will ever carry Lynsey's camera gear. However, I expect several of my students will discover Lynsey's Life of Love on our library's bookshelf because her written memories are some of the most poignant I have read this century.I'm happy the publisher complemented Lynsey's photography with full colour treatment inside the hard cover book. I wish she had been permitted to run her best shots alongside her storylines but understand how tedious the rights process can be for writers and photographers.More than anything else, I appreciate hearing the perspective of Lynsey Addario resonate from this lovely work. She offers a gripping account of what it takes to remain at the top of your game in the realm of professional journalism. And in her case, it meant staying on the front line of conflicts scattered around the globe.

A great memoir that’s true to its title. There’s not a lot of reflection or philosophizing or romanticizing. It’s a fast-moving, ground-level account of how a conflict photographer, through all kinds of bad situations, keeps on shooting. I’m sure some things are exaggerated, and other things left out. But that really just makes it more focused.I’m a photographer too—although not a conflict photographer—so for me it was hugely inspirational. But I think it can be inspiring for many different types of people and jobs. Some may think she’s crazy or irresponsible for putting herself in such danger, and even criticize a life like that. But the theme of the book really is, as the title says, it’s what she does. And because of that, she keeps on doing it through the thick and thin. And isn't that how people achieve success in any endeavor?

First can I say just… wow.I actually bought this book a few weeks ago, so it was already in my hands when I started seeing Lynsey pop up on CNN & MSNBC to talk about her photos reporting from Ukraine on the heartbreaking civilian toll of war.I dare say her memoir is — incredibly — as powerful and moving as her award winning photography.From learning to see and capture light, to traveling to some of the most dangerous conflict zones on earth, from her harrowing stories of being targeted by enemy fire to being kidnapped and held prisoner… to falling in love and the different set of risks that come with becoming a mother, this book had me hooked from the first page to the last.If you’ve been watching her daily photos on the cover of the NYTIMES from Ukraine — some images becoming instantly iconic of the toll this brutal war is taking on innocent civilians — and you’d like to know more about the brilliant human behind the lens, I *highly* recommend this read.

Photos included, great read.I don’t read books and I really loved it

One of the top books I have read recently but unfortunately the quality is not so good. Not long ago I bought and it is already falling a part because of its glue problem. It’s exactly in two parts from the middle where the photos are placed. It could have been much better if they did a little bending which would enable paging easy without causing damage to the who structure.Anyway it’s is a master work in terms of how it is written and the history itself

I am a photographer, not a war photographer, not a great photographer but reading a story written by someone who is passionate about her craft, who shares the excitement of taking story telling images that can and do change people’s perceptions is so inspirational. I experienced a rollercoaster coaster of emotions reading this book, exhilarating, anger, frustration, joy and in short love. A wonderful read thank you for working this story of your journey Lynsey Addario

A Mi pareja le encanto

A really inspiring and an interesting story of the work and life of Mrs Addario.