Manhunt

The Ten-Year Search for Bin Laden - from 9-11 to Abbottabad

By: Peter L. Bergen

Narrated by: Mark Deakins

Length: 8 hrs and 42 mins

Publisher's summary

From the author of the New York Times best-selling Holy War, Inc., this is the definitive account of the decade-long manhunt for the world’s most wanted man, Osama bin Laden.

Al Qaeda expert and CNN national security analyst Peter Bergen paints a multidimensional picture of the hunt for bin Laden over the past decade, including the operation that killed him. Other key elements of the book include:

• A careful account of President Obama’s decision-making process as the raid was planned
• The fascinating story of a group of CIA analysts—largely women—who never gave up assembling the tiniest clues about OBL’s whereabouts
• The untold and action-packed history of the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) and the SEALs
• An analysis of what the death of OBL means for al Qaeda, and for Obama’s legacy.

Just as Too Big to Fail captured, in riveting detail, the anatomy of this decade’s financial disaster, so too is Manhunt one of the key stories of this decade: the authoritative, immersive account of the operation that killed the man who organized the largest mass murder in American history.

©2012 Peter L. Bergen (P)2012 Random House

Critic reviews

"In Manhunt, Peter Bergen has produced a page-turner rich with new information and insight into the search for Bin Laden and his killing. Only Bergen, America's foremost counterterrorism writer, could have produced a book of such energy and authority - a triumph." (Steve Coll, author of Ghost Wars: The Secret History of the CIA, Afghanistan, and bin Laden, from the Soviet Invasion to September 10, 2001)
"Ten years of grit, intelligent hard work, and daring led to Operation Neptune Spear, and Bergen captures it all in a story that is both a riveting page turner and a definitive history. Revealing details of bin Laden's last years in self-imposed prison, the debates of the CIA analysts who tracked him, and the training of the SEALs who killed him, Manhunt is essential reading for anyone who wants to know the real story of how the world's most wanted terrorist was finally brought to justice." (Eric Greitens, author of The Heart and The Fist: The Education of a Humanitarian, the Making of a Navy SEAL)
"With masterly reporting, Peter Bergen takes us where we've never been: behind the high walls of Osama bin Laden's last hideout and behind the scenes of the heroic and painstaking hunt for the Al Qaeda mastermind. Manhunt is a thrilling read." (Anderson Cooper, CNN anchor)

Decent book, horrendously annoying narration

Reasonably well-written and informative BUT almost gave up on the Audible version due to the narration. Why, oh, why did he need to do pathetic imitations of all the foreign characters’ dialogue? Off-putting to say the least.

Excellent update to the Bin Laden historical influ

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Peter Bergen KNOWS the subject and described details in chronological order without sensationalism.

What was the most compelling aspect of this narrative?

The facts of Ben Laden's life and influence are presented clearly and rationally.

Very thorough research. Very interesting.

Would you consider the audio edition of Manhunt to be better than the print version?

Uhhhh. Sure.

What about Mark Deakins’s performance did you like?

He does a pretty good George W. Bush and Obama impression.

What’s the most interesting tidbit you’ve picked up from this book?

That Al Qaeda wasn't very powerful or organized at all. They got lucky with the 9/11 attacks and others like it. Now they are all dead.

Good read

What did you love best about Manhunt?

The book itself was very good but the second half was outstanding.

What was the most compelling aspect of this narrative?

Narrator is clear and easy to follow.

What does Mark Deakins bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

He made the events more real.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The second half of the book was outstanding. The information that led up to finding Ben Laden and the plans and decisions that went on behind the scenes was captivating.

Great book!

Where does Manhunt rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

One of the best I have ever heard

What was one of the most memorable moments of Manhunt?

The whole book, if you want to know everything about how the Us missed oportunities to
kill OSB this is the book. Also how the Us worked and worked to get intel on the terrorist.

Not great, but it is is good

I buy many of my books because of the reviews and this is why I bought Manhunt. The reviews were very good so my expectations were very high. I enjoyed the book but was actually disappointed a little. It was interesting but did not live up to the five star reviews.
I would actually give it a 3.5 to 3.7 as it is better than average but certainly not a 5 star book.

A good look at high level decision making

Where does Manhunt rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This is an important book. Mr. Bergen had extensive access to very senior level people in writing 'Manhunt', including Presidents Clinton, Bush, and especially President Obama.

Many senior cabinet officers and senior military and intelligence leaders are quoted. I believe this book to be about as authentic account of the hunt for OBL as any civilian could write.

On the downside, I had one quibble and one serious problem with 'Manhunt':

Quibble: The author, as one would expect of a NYT reporter, worships at the church of Obama. Everything Obama is portrayed in the most positive possible light. Long boring paragraphs are devoted to praising our President. Given the recent terrorism directed against our diplomats in the middle east, Bergen's glowing tributes to Obama's diplomatic skills seems very outdated.

To be fair to Bergen, while his tone towards President Bush is fairly negative, Bergen does explain why so many senior officials (including Senators Clinton and Kerry) believed that Iraq had WMD's prior to the invasion of that country. This was important information that Bergen puts on the record.

Substantial problem: There is way too much detailed information about classified intelligent sources and methods reveled in this book. I can't blame Mr. Bergen, he's reporting what creditable senior people told him, but I do blame glory seeking politicians for putting their short term political ambitions ahead of the long term good of the country.

'Manhunt' is an excellent companion to 'No Easy Day' by Mark Owen. Mr. Bergen takes you into the high level decision making process that lead up to the raid.

Mr. Owen's book is written from the point of view of the grunt on the ground.

Together one gains an excellent appreciation of the skill required to pull off an operation like 'Neptune Spear'.

Net/net 'Manhunt' should leave any reader impressed with how effective our governmental leadership can be when they really work together on a difficult problem.

Recommended.

Have you listened to any of Mark Deakins’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Mr. Deakins does an excellent job with this narration. The production quality of this audio book is excellent.

I had to give Mr. Deakins only four stars, because (like so many American narrators) he can't really 'do' foreign accents, he sounds silly when he tries.

Informative and interesting

Really enjoyed listening to it. I am finishing my second listen. Because of the material involved, most Americans will find the book interesting and a almost like a bit of closure on the whole 9/11 incident. The author did a great job of getting accurate information, which is important for this historical event. Thanks.

A riveting tale filled with unexpected twists

Any additional comments?

The main reason this book is far better than the slew of published-in-a-day, instant "bestsellers" on the takedown of bin Laden is because of Bergen's trustworthiness as a scholar and a journalist. Well done.

Good, but only a part of the story

What made the experience of listening to Manhunt the most enjoyable?

Some good inside information.

What???s the most interesting tidbit you???ve picked up from this book?

Did not realize that Bin Laden was living a mile or so from a military school at which American troops taught Pakistani troops.

Any additional comments?

I still want to know who turned the electricity off in that portion of Abbottabad. How did that happen? How much did we know about Pakistani treachery?