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The Looming Tower

Al-Qaeda and the Road to 9/11

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The Looming Tower

Written by: Lawrence Wright
Narrated by: Lawrence Wright
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About this listen

 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

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. 20th Century Americas Freedom & Security Modern Politics & Government United States War & Crisis Espionage Africa Middle East Royalty Iran War Saudi Arabia Middle Ages Refugee Crusade
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This is a brilliantly researched work, providing tremendous insight into the cultural, political, and bureaucratic background that led to 9/11. Unfortunately, I would suggest reading a print version. The author/narrator suffers from a slightly mumbling voice. He stumbles when presented with consecutive consonants and with drawn-out vowel-consonant blends. The word "modernity" is uttered an incalculable number of times in the narration, and always as if with a speech defect. The volume of the author's voice tails off at the end of sentences and tires during each chapter. I found that I had to continually increase the volume as I listened. The production team should have worked more with the author/narrator, and should have employed compression and equalization to make the book carry against the background noise of a vehicle, which is where many people will listen to it.

Why an Author Should Not Narrate Their Own Work

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Incredible book - Lawrence does a wonderful job narrating his own work. There are a few points near the end when he nearly gets choked up; you can really feel how much he poured into this work. Can’t recommend it enough.

Absolutely Astounding!

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The Looming Tower is one of the most gripping books I’ve read in a long time. It’s not only incredibly well-researched but also superbly structured, weaving together complex historical threads with remarkable clarity. Without a doubt, this is the best account I've read on the events leading to 9/11. But beyond that, it offers a profound perspective on the ideological and philosophical roots of fundamentalist Islam.

What sets this book apart is its balance—critics have lauded its ability to humanize key figures while providing an unflinching view of the larger forces at play. Lawrence Wright's narrative style brings history to life, making it as engaging as it is informative. It’s no surprise this Pulitzer Prize-winning book is considered a masterpiece in investigative journalism and historical writing.

Overall, it’s not just a compelling read—it’s an essential one for understanding the origins of one of the most defining moments of our time.

An Unflinching Masterpiece

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it was very slow going and I could not keep myself interested for any length of time.

didn't like it, just could not get into it.

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