In the book Sacco references Joseph Conrad's "Under Western Eyes", "Heart of Darkness", and Edward Said's "Orientalism" to draw links between the situation he is witnessing and colonialism. Towards the end of the book, when challenged by an Israeli that he hasn't experienced their point of view, he responds that the Israeli point of view is what he has internalized his whole life, and although another trip would be necessary to fully experience Israel, that was not why he was there.