The Looming Tower: Al Qaeda and the Road to 9/11 (Vintage)
by: Lawrence Wright
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National Book Award Finalist
A Time, Newsweek, Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, and New York Times Book Review Best Book of the Year
A gripping narrative that spans five decades, The Looming Tower explains in unprecedented detail the growth of Islamic fundamentalism, the rise of al-Qaeda, and the intelligence failures that culminated in the attacks on the World Trade Center. Lawrence Wright re-creates firsthand the transformation of Osama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri from incompetent and idealistic soldiers in Afghanistan to leaders of the most successful terrorist group in history. He follows FBI counterterrorism chief John O’Neill as he uncovers the emerging danger from al-Qaeda in the 1990s and struggles to track this new threat. Packed with new information and a deep historical perspective, The Looming Tower is the definitive history of the long road to September 11.
National Book Award Finalist
A Time, Newsweek, Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, and New York Times Book Review Best Book of the Year
A gripping narrative that spans five decades, The Looming Tower explains in unprecedented detail the growth of Islamic fundamentalism, the rise of al-Qaeda, and the intelligence failures that culminated in the attacks on the World Trade Center. Lawrence Wright re-creates firsthand the transformation of Osama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri from incompetent and idealistic soldiers in Afghanistan to leaders of the most successful terrorist group in history. He follows FBI counterterrorism chief John O’Neill as he uncovers the emerging danger from al-Qaeda in the 1990s and struggles to track this new threat. Packed with new information and a deep historical perspective, The Looming Tower is the definitive history of the long road to September 11.
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Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: 
- The Ultimate Insider's Account
Giving a fascinating history of the Islamist movement and an insider's account of the CIA and FBI agents who investigated al-Qaeda, this is a very well-researched book. The assertions and information are based on a wide variety of credible and knowledgeable sources. It is interesting and relevant, well-written and smartly organized, and perhaps most importantly, offers a well-constructed narrative.
While this book doesn't present any new groundbreaking theories or explanations of 9/11, ... Read More
Rating: - Excellent!
This is a highly readable account of the events leading up to the 9/11 tragedy. It details the activities of it's masterminds and the status of the determined men and women in the US who were putting the pieces together.There is an impressive number of interviews with key players and informed bystanders.While this has been a well covered event, still, without Wright's diligence much of what he presents could have been lost to history.
I've recently read Steve Coll's The Bin Ladens: ... Read More
Rating: - Captivating!
Well-researched and based on a carefully constructed timeline, The Looming Tower reveals facts about the rise of al-Qaeda and the 9/11 attacks that most readers will find surprising. For instance, a common misconception is that Osama Bin Laden was wealthy and therefore able to self-fund the training and equipping of al-Qaeda fighters.In Lawrence Wright's account, we learn instead that while certainly wealthy, Bin Laden's strength is as a prolific fundraiser.He is able to tap both wealthy Arab governments ... Read More
Rating: - Excellent Read
This is an excellent read if you want to understand the history and thinking of the radical Muslim.I also recommend the book "Milestones"as a supplement to this.
Rating: - Must Read
Compelling account of the road to 9/11; a must read for anyone who wants to understand the events leading up to that awful day, the mindset of the perpertrators and the lapses in our security that allowed it.If we don't learn from history, we are doomed to repeat it.
- The Ultimate Insider's AccountGiving a fascinating history of the Islamist movement and an insider's account of the CIA and FBI agents who investigated al-Qaeda, this is a very well-researched book. The assertions and information are based on a wide variety of credible and knowledgeable sources. It is interesting and relevant, well-written and smartly organized, and perhaps most importantly, offers a well-constructed narrative.
While this book doesn't present any new groundbreaking theories or explanations of 9/11, ... Read More
- Excellent!This is a highly readable account of the events leading up to the 9/11 tragedy. It details the activities of it's masterminds and the status of the determined men and women in the US who were putting the pieces together.There is an impressive number of interviews with key players and informed bystanders.While this has been a well covered event, still, without Wright's diligence much of what he presents could have been lost to history.
I've recently read Steve Coll's The Bin Ladens: ... Read More
- Captivating!Well-researched and based on a carefully constructed timeline, The Looming Tower reveals facts about the rise of al-Qaeda and the 9/11 attacks that most readers will find surprising. For instance, a common misconception is that Osama Bin Laden was wealthy and therefore able to self-fund the training and equipping of al-Qaeda fighters.In Lawrence Wright's account, we learn instead that while certainly wealthy, Bin Laden's strength is as a prolific fundraiser.He is able to tap both wealthy Arab governments ... Read More
- Excellent ReadThis is an excellent read if you want to understand the history and thinking of the radical Muslim.I also recommend the book "Milestones"as a supplement to this.
- Must ReadCompelling account of the road to 9/11; a must read for anyone who wants to understand the events leading up to that awful day, the mindset of the perpertrators and the lapses in our security that allowed it.If we don't learn from history, we are doomed to repeat it.
