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lnetzel's review against another edition
5.0
Detailed and well documented account of bin Laden's rise to power and his forming of al-Qaeda. Very disturbing how disconnected the American protective services are due to bureaucratic "walls" and extremely poor communication. There are few in the CIA and FBI that should not be ashamed of their efforts to deal bin Laden before he was able to strike inside the US. The vast majority (mostly upper management) let petty jealousy and paranoia along with bureaucracy miss many opportunities to disrupt this terrorist plot.
Wright states many of the missed opportunities as fact and in a mostly nonjudgmental tone. However, he clearly indicts the CIA and FBI with failing to stop the 9/11 attacks in light of the intelligence that was available more than 18 months in advance of the attacks.
Wright states many of the missed opportunities as fact and in a mostly nonjudgmental tone. However, he clearly indicts the CIA and FBI with failing to stop the 9/11 attacks in light of the intelligence that was available more than 18 months in advance of the attacks.
greendog95's review against another edition
informative
tense
slow-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Suicide, Antisemitism, Trafficking, Religious bigotry, Murder, and War
Moderate: Rape and Sexual violence
Minor: Animal cruelty, Child abuse, and Infidelity
emilyily2's review against another edition
dark
informative
tense
slow-paced
5.0
This book is written with such careful detail and provides deep historical context. While it plainly lays out the facts, it mostly stays away from being critical or opinionated. The tension is carefully built. Though it is a challenging read, it is so worth it
kingkrazy's review against another edition
4.0
I only heard about this book and author from the Joe Roggan podcast. I enjoyed him in the show and really enjoyed this book.
I had seen the reviews about the author reading as opposed to hiring a “professional reader” and would say I kind of agree with that assertion. Although I didn’t find it as off putting as other reviewers had experienced.
This book really gives a detailed look at Bin Ladens life and upbringing. Not that I care for the man, but you can almost see his dislike for America and our way of life and how, in his mind it doesn’t align with his or other religious beliefs.
I am always intrigued on the way life turns out and how things could end up differently had one or many things gone another direction. There are many events in Bin Ladens younger life that almost saw his demise that could have drastically changed history. The author expresses his opinion that Bin Laben might have been the only one that could have orchestrated the 9/11 attack and had he died when he was younger it may have never happened. I would have to say that based on what I read I lean that direction also.
This book also inferiorates me with regards to our intelligence community as it seems the warning signs were all there for the 9/11 attacks but communication and policy was a huge factor in stopping it.
Good book and well worth the read
I had seen the reviews about the author reading as opposed to hiring a “professional reader” and would say I kind of agree with that assertion. Although I didn’t find it as off putting as other reviewers had experienced.
This book really gives a detailed look at Bin Ladens life and upbringing. Not that I care for the man, but you can almost see his dislike for America and our way of life and how, in his mind it doesn’t align with his or other religious beliefs.
I am always intrigued on the way life turns out and how things could end up differently had one or many things gone another direction. There are many events in Bin Ladens younger life that almost saw his demise that could have drastically changed history. The author expresses his opinion that Bin Laben might have been the only one that could have orchestrated the 9/11 attack and had he died when he was younger it may have never happened. I would have to say that based on what I read I lean that direction also.
This book also inferiorates me with regards to our intelligence community as it seems the warning signs were all there for the 9/11 attacks but communication and policy was a huge factor in stopping it.
Good book and well worth the read
keegan_rellim_taylor's review against another edition
3.0
This I did like because it was thought-provoking and educational. I had to return it to the library upon moving before I could finish it. However, I'd like to finish it. I think what struck me most about this is what it means to be evil. Right now I have too little sons who are always declaring their status as "good guys" or "bad guys" and fighting evil. But this kind of book reminds you how cloudy this gets. I was most struck by the fact that Osama bin Laden was devout (truly devout) and seems to have had good intentions and didn't see what he was doing as evil. But evil is still evil even if you don't recognize it. And perhaps that makes it more evil. It's easier to fight a bad guy who's declared himself the bad guy. But I wonder how many "bad guys" are really like that.
gregz_newdorkreviewofbooks's review against another edition
5.0
Should be required reading for every American.