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The Looming Tower: Al-Qaeda and the Road to 9/11
The Looming Tower AlQaeda and the Road to 9/11
Author: Lawrence Wright
A sweeping narrative history of the events leading to 9/11, a groundbreaking look at the people and ideas, the terrorist plans and the Western intelligence failures that culminated in the assault on America. Lawrence Wright’s remarkable book is based on five years of research and hundreds of interviews that he conducted in Egypt, Saudi Ara...  more »
ISBN-13: 9780375414862
ISBN-10: 037541486X
Publication Date: 8/8/2006
Pages: 480
Rating:
  • Currently 4/5 Stars.
 24

4 stars, based on 24 ratings
Publisher: Knopf
Book Type: Hardcover
Other Versions: Paperback, Audio CD
Members Wishing: 1
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review

Top Member Book Reviews

TheLankyYankee avatar reviewed The Looming Tower: Al-Qaeda and the Road to 9/11 on + 81 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 4
I thought I had read and knew everything about Bin Laden and Sept. 11, and didn't think this book would discuss anything new. I was wrong. The focus is on the beginnings of Islamic anger and leads to the development of Bin Laden and al-Queda, including how they were able to form. They could have been destroyed years ago; if not, then September 11 could have been prevented. Frustrating and exasperating.

Never forget.
chickpea avatar reviewed The Looming Tower: Al-Qaeda and the Road to 9/11 on + 20 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
This book was an informative, historical look at the rise of Al Qaeda, beginning with a philosophy starting in the 1920's to a few months after 9/11. I'm not a huge historian, but the book was interesting and very understandable. I have a better understanding of the historical and philosophical backdrop to the events of 9/11, from Al Qaeda's perspective, as well as the political and historical context that surrounded the FBI, CIA and NSA, pre 9/11. Well written, researched & indexed.
reviewed The Looming Tower: Al-Qaeda and the Road to 9/11 on
Helpful Score: 1
My head is swimming with the names of all the organizations and individuals who claim to be our enemies, but I consider this a must read, especially in light of what is happening in the Middle East today. Amazingly, the author manages to make sense of all that has happened and jis still happening.
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celestial-winter avatar reviewed The Looming Tower: Al-Qaeda and the Road to 9/11 on + 31 more book reviews
I had to read this book for a journalism assignment and despite the assignment, it was actually a pretty good read. It was very informing and helped me to understand just why we entered war in the first place.
reviewed The Looming Tower: Al-Qaeda and the Road to 9/11 on + 13 more book reviews
Compelling, disturbing, surprising. It synthesizes a huge amount of information from other publications and documents, and hundreds of interviews by the author to give a clear portrait of Bin Laden and the organization he helped create. I was shocked by the clear presentation of the failure of information sharing between the CIA and FBI, and how a bit more cooperation could have lead the FBI to catch some of the 9/11 terrorists before the event.


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