Available Formats
The Boy from Baghdad: My Journey from Waziriyah to Westminster
By (Author) Nadhim Zahawi
HarperCollins Publishers
HarperCollins
1st November 2025
19th June 2025
United Kingdom
General
Non Fiction
Memoirs
Political leaders and leadership
Autobiography: business and industry
Middle Eastern history
324.2092
Paperback
368
Width 129mm, Height 198mm, Spine 23mm
270g
Very few people in parliament can match Nadhims childhood experience, his understanding of international affairs, his skills as a businessman and his passion for politics Rory Stewart
'From Baghdad to number 11 Downing Street: in any other country it would be fiction. You have to read it to believe it Jeffrey Archer
An Observer Book of the Week
Born and raised in Baghdad, Nadhim Zahawi arrived in the UK aged 12, having been forced to flee Iraq with his family, under threat from Saddam Husseins regime.
In this candid and thoughtful memoir, Nadhim vividly recalls his upbringing in the Middle East, his familys adjustment to their new life in Britain and his rise to Second Lord of the Treasury, one of the highest offices in his adoptive homeland.
From his family home being repossessed in his teens to the incredible success of YouGov, and from the highs (and lows) of Jeffrey Archers mayoral campaign to overseeing Britains rollout as Minister for COVID Vaccine Deployment, Nadhim reflects on the setbacks faced and hurdles cleared that have reinforced his belief in the power of hard work and the benefits of an open, inclusive society.
The Boy from Baghdad is the full and fascinating story of Nadhims personal, professional and political journey from Waziriyah to Westminster.
Nadhim Zahawi is the Chancellor of the Exchequer for the United Kingdom. Born in Baghdad, he has been the Member of Parliament for Statford-on-Avon since 2010, representing the Conservative Party. His previous posts include Minister for COVID-19 Vaccine Deployment and Secretary of State for Education. Prior to becoming an MP, he founded the market research company YouGov. He is the co-author of Masters of Nothing: How the Crash Will Happen Again Unless We Understand Human Nature. Nadhim is married to Lana and has three children.