The Looming Tower

Al-Qaeda and the Road to 9/11

By: Lawrence Wright

Narrated by: Lawrence Wright

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • PULITZER PRIZE WINNER • A “heart-stopping account of the events leading up to 9/11” (The New York Times Book Review), this definitive history explains in gripping 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.

One of the New York Times’s 100 Best Books of the 21st Century • A Kirkus Reviews Best Nonfiction Book of the Century • A Los Angeles Times Best Nonfiction Book of the Last 30 Years

WITH AN AUTHOR'S NOTE ON THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY

In gripping narrative that spans five decades, 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 a sweeping, unprecedented history of the long road to September 11.

Excellent book a must read.

Factual well written story of the time leading up to the 911 attacks and the breakdown of communication between two branches of our government who put their egos and childish rivalries ahead of the job they were sworn to do therefore missing several opportunities that could and would have changed everything.

Excellent

Learned a lot. Could not help but be angered by the bureaucratic nightmare that prevented the prospect of avoiding what happened on 9/11.

Deeply researched and engrossing

I was sceptical at the beginning. I did not know the author. I bought it because this work was cited in a podcast about the subject. I was very impressed with how he dealt with this difficult, emotional, and wide ranging subject. This book allowed me to put all the facts I have learned here and there into perspective. It also greatly expanded my knowledge of the subject. The author weaves in tons of personal details. These details heightened my interest. I have ordered other books that expand on places, characters and events mentioned.

Excellent historical context for 9-11

Excellent historical context for the events leading up to 9-11, and the major players and there whereabouts

A brilliant look back to start of War on terrorism

I enjoyed the book. Detailed and insightful and with important lessons for policy makers and others.