Ben Timberlake is a security consultant and medic in high-risk areas, specialising in Iraq and Syria. In a previous life his undercover missions concerned nuclear terrorism, the Far Right, and the trafficking of people, wildlife, looted antiquities and organs. He has written for the Financial Times, The Guardian and The Economist, and made Channel 4 and Discovery films on topics from Japanese mummies to prehistoric rock art.
'A damn scary book so of course I loved it. Ben Timberlake makes a neurobiological experiment in a laboratory that I'd advise everyone to stay out of-the self. High Risk is, in a way, the story of a wicked Mr Hyde inventing a serum to transform himself into a reputable Dr Jekyll. Let's hope the serum keeps working.' -- P.J. O'Rourke, author of Give War a Chance and Holidays in Hell 'A riotous joyride to Hell and back... a life story that sits somewhere between a pilgrimage and a dare. Timberlake's writing hits unexpected, lyrical notes and makes original, illuminating connections. Ferociously smart, startlingly honest and very, very funny.' -- Kate Weinberg, novelist and author of 'The Truants' 'An intimate, deep and poignant account of the adrenaline-driven yet toxic nexus of war, sex and drugs, Timberlake's memoir is as disturbing as it is addictively absorbing. A powerful book.' -- Lukasz Kamienski, author of Shooting Up: A History of Drugs in Warfare