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Growing Up bin Laden: Osama's Wife and Son Take Us Inside Their Secret World
The New York Times calls GROWING UP BIN "The most complete account available of the terrorist's immediate family." (May 15, 2011) A true story that few ever believed would come to light, GROWING UP BIN LADEN uncovers startling revelations and hidden secrets carefully guarded by the most wanted terrorist of our lifetime, Osama bin Laden. "I was not always the wife of Osama bin Laden. Once I was an innocent child dreaming little girl dreams..."Thus begins this powerful story as Najwa bin Laden, who married her cousin Osama bin Laden at the age of 15 to become his first wife and the mother to eleven of his children, and her son, Omar bin Laden, the fourth-born son of Osama bin Laden. Together, mother and son tell an extraordinarily powerful story of a man hated by so many, yet both loved and feared by his family, with spine-tingling details about the life and times of the man they knew as a husband and father, - Osama's disapproval of modern conveniences, including electricity and medicine- His plan to toughen up his sons by taking them into the desert without food or water- Transporting his wives and children to the rough terrain of Sudan, where he claimed to be preparing them for attacks from western powers, commanding them to dig holes, and to sleep in those holes, allowing nothing more than sand and twigs for cover- Omar's horror at the rape and murder of a boy his own age, by members of a jihadist group living among them in the Sudan. - What happened in the bin Laden home in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on the morning of September 11, 2001, and Omar's surprise phone call with his mother, who escaped from Afghanistan only two days before the shattering events that killed so many innocent peopleSince September 11, 2001, journalists have struggled to uncover carefully guarded information about Osama's private life. Until now, Osama Bin Laden's family members have not cooperated with any writers or journalists. Now, with unprecedented access and insight, Jean Sasson, author of the bestselling A True Story Behind the Veil in Saudi Arabia, takes us inside the secret world of Osama bin Laden.
351 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 7, 2010
238 people are currently reading
4137 people want to read
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December 14, 2011
Another exceptional book that I've added to my short list of "favorites".
Due to the sensitive nature of the topic of this book I don't think this factual story could have been told any more perfect. I have so much admiration for Najwa and Omar, especially Omar! After reading Omar's story I wish I could wrap my arms around him and give him a hug. I'd tell him how proud I am of the courage it took to tell his story and I would tell him that the world does NOT hate him or his family, just the actions of his father and his followers.
As with every book Jean Sasson has written I hated for the book to end. I am very glad that the edition of this book had a follow up at the end answering many questions regarding Najwa's and Omar's family members.
As a footnote: I was very fortunate that I read this book while living in the "Middle East". My husband and I are currently living in Bahrain and I have been very fortunate to meet some very warm and friendly people. Not all Muslims are terrorists.
Also, and this is only MY opionion. I do feel that many Muslims feel that Westerner's do not respect their religion. I have to disagree with this sentiment. It's not that we don't respect their religion it's that many of us know nothing or very little of Islamic beliefs. Therefore, if we ever appear "offensive" it's due to not being familiar with the customs and cultures of a religion that most of us never came in contact with living in the United States.
Due to the sensitive nature of the topic of this book I don't think this factual story could have been told any more perfect. I have so much admiration for Najwa and Omar, especially Omar! After reading Omar's story I wish I could wrap my arms around him and give him a hug. I'd tell him how proud I am of the courage it took to tell his story and I would tell him that the world does NOT hate him or his family, just the actions of his father and his followers.
As with every book Jean Sasson has written I hated for the book to end. I am very glad that the edition of this book had a follow up at the end answering many questions regarding Najwa's and Omar's family members.
As a footnote: I was very fortunate that I read this book while living in the "Middle East". My husband and I are currently living in Bahrain and I have been very fortunate to meet some very warm and friendly people. Not all Muslims are terrorists.
Also, and this is only MY opionion. I do feel that many Muslims feel that Westerner's do not respect their religion. I have to disagree with this sentiment. It's not that we don't respect their religion it's that many of us know nothing or very little of Islamic beliefs. Therefore, if we ever appear "offensive" it's due to not being familiar with the customs and cultures of a religion that most of us never came in contact with living in the United States.
May 3, 2013
كتاب جميل جدا يظهر جوانب خفية من شخصية أسامة بن لادن وعلاقته مع زوجاته وأولاده ولن تخرج من الكتاب دون أن تتأسى على حياة هؤلاء الأبناء وكيف حرموا من الحياة الطبيعية ومن التعليم ومن الحرية تذكرت أبناء الجنرال أوفقير في المغرب وكيف أخذوا بجريرة والدهم وهؤلاء الأبناء حالهم لا يختلف كثيرا فقد عاشوا في ظل حياة العسكر والمعسكرات الجهادية حرموا من طفولتهم ومن الإلتحاق بالمدارس لا أدري كيف رجل ما في هذا الوجود ممكن أن يعرض أبناءه لما تعرض له أبناء أسامة .. ناهيك عن الزوجات المستعبدات الزوجات اللاتي لا يستطعن أن يدلين برأي أو يناقشن .. الحقيقة الوضع كان مأساوي جدا وأظن أن السيدة التي سعت للطلاق من أسامة أنقذت نفسها وأولادها في اللحظة الأخيرة
أما السيدة نجوى فعذرها لأن تعيش هذه الحياة أنها تزوجت وهي صغيرة السن شكلها أسامة حسب ما يريد فلم تعد تملك من أمرها شيئا
الكتاب يؤرخ للتاريخ الجهادي الذي قام به أسامة ضد الروس وقصة خروجه من السعودية وطرده من السودان وكيف تراكم الكره للغرب وكيف ترك أثره على حياة الأسرة .. كما يكشف عن طبيعة العلاقة بين الإسلامبولي المحكوم بالإعدام في
قضية السادات وأسامة بن لادن ودور الظواهري وغيرهم في تنظيم القاعدة
كما إنه فجر مفاجأة بالنسبة لي في علاقة بن لادن مع الملا عمر زعيم طالبان
الكتاب تناول قضية إنسانية جدا وهي قضية ابناء أسامة وما خلفته أفكاره من دمار على كيان الأسرة وبظني أن عمر بن لادن أراد
أن يصحح نظرة العالم لإسرة أسامة ويعلن عن أفكاره المختلفة عن أفكار أبيه
كتاب مثير يستحق إطلاع الجميع
August 5, 2011
I didn't think that I would like this book, but I did. It wasn't what I thought it would be. I learned a lot about women and how they feel without freedom living in the Middle East. I also found out more about Osama Bin Laden. **stop here for spoilers*** I learned that he was a devout follower of Islam. He did many of the things he did because of his religion. He changed part way through his life and became bitter and that is when he spoke out against the rulers of Sadi Arabia and he lost his citizenship. He had helped Afghanistan during the war fight against Russia, and so that country welcomed him. His first wife, who helped with the book only because her 4th son Omar asked her to, followed her husband to the ends of the earth. She even lived in poor shacks in the mountains with no heat or running water. When they were first married they had lots of money and still because of his faith he choose to live simply. She never got to furnish a home. He used the money to fund his jihad and they grew poorer. She didn't have resentment. She still loves him. She accepted her life and duty to be a mother and raise children, all 11 of them. The son offers more of a perspective of a kid whose father isn't home much. He longs for his father's attention and doesn't get it. The whole book was interesting and gave me a better knowledge of someone who most people just hate. I believe that we should understand others and learn what makes them who they are.
January 14, 2010
Written by Osama bin Laden's first wife and one of his sons with the help of Jean Sasson, this is an interesting peak into Osama bin Laden's family/personal life. I found it to be an easy read, but, to be honest, I'm a little bit wary of how reliable the narratives are. I've read a couple of Sasson's other books and they always seem very sensationalized. Sasson's making money by almost exploiting women's personal stories. Another criticism is that Sasson doesn't offer much cultural context. Occasionally she interjects some background into the story, but doesn't comment on cultural things go on. For instance, there are countless times in the book where the narrators will say, "Muslim women do this..." Someone who isn't familiar with Islam or the many different cultures and ethnicities within the Middle East might assume that ALL Muslim women act this way or that ALL Muslim men do certain things. This is just not true and it's almost irresponsible of Sasson to lead readers into believing otherwise. I'm giving this 2 stars b/c I believe their stories are important, but I just wish they had relied on someone else to represent them, their words, and their stories.
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May 6, 2013الرجل الذي دوخ العالم بين الوهم والحقيقة o_O
للتحميل
http://www.4shared.com/get/XNTZd_Z7/_...
للتحميل
http://www.4shared.com/get/XNTZd_Z7/_...
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June 8, 2013حاولت أن أكتشف مهارتي في القص، وحكاية أحداث هذه الرواية، لأخي الأصغر- الوحيد الذي يشاركني لذة القراءة ومتعتها، لكني فشلت، هذا الأخ الصغير مُغرم ومولع بخماسية منيف الرائعة مدن الملح، كان لا يتوانى أن يقص أحداثها ويستغرق الوقت وهو يستعرض شخصياتها وتفاصيلها لزملاءه في رحلاتهم او المدرسة، أما أنا ففشلت في قص هذه الحكاية الواضحة، دائما عندما أتكلم عن كتاب قرأته أو أحكي قصصا منه يظل ما ذكرت راسخا في الذهن أمدا طويلا.
في البداية ترددت كثيرا في قراءة هذا الكتاب، جين ساسون بعدما أنهيت كتابيها الحرام، و سمو الأميرات، أصبحتُ لا أستسيغ كتاباتها، هذا أولا وثانيا ان هذا العمل طويل يقارب ٥٠٠ صفحة، ومع أنني آليت وعاهدت نفسي أن لا أترُك كتابا إلا وأنهيه، فخشية عدم الإنجاز كانت حاضرة أيضا، ومع ذلك فتشجعت وانجذبت للرواية وأحداثها، تمنيت أن عمر سطّر يراعه هذا الكتاب، وتمنيت لو كتب أبناء أسامة ذكرياتهم، أسوةٌ بما فعله أبناء أوفقير عندما خرجوا من سجن ال٢٠ عاما، في هذه النذكرات الحديث كان لابن أسامة عمر وأمه السورية الأصل نجوى غانم، لم يكن لجين ساسون سوى تعليقات مفردة قليلة جدا حول أنشطة أسامة.
أذهلني وفاءُ زوجته، طيلة المئات من الصفحات لم تذكره بسوء، رغم السنواتِ الطويلة التي قضتها معه، تزوجته وهي ابنت ١٥ ربيعا، وظلت تنتقلُ معه، وما أكثر تنقلاته، من جدة إلى المدينة إلى جدة إلى السودان إلى أفغانستان وصولا إلى تورا بورا، مع هذه التنقلات كان هناك تنقل تدريجي في أسلوب المعيشة الذي ارتضاه له ولأسرته، الملاحِظ والمتتبع يرى الخط المتدرج التنازلي فترة بعد أخرى، لم تكن نجوى زوجته الوحيدة كانت هناك خديجة - التي ارتضت الطلاق وهم بالسودان، خيرية وسهام، وهناك فتاة يمنية تزوج بها بداية الألفية الجديدة، أنجب منهن عشرات الأولاد.
أفجعني وآلمني النهاية الغير معروفة لبقية أفراد أسرته، بإستثناء خديجة وأولادها، ونجوى وأبنائها الصغار الذين نجت بهم قبل احداث الحرب إلى سوريه. عبارةُ : وان بقي على قيد الحياة فعمره الآن كذا وكذا تحوي من الإشارات الأليمة ما يكفي. الكتاب مُلحق بصور أغلبها لعمر وفي رأيي تمنيت زيادة في عدد الصور يتناسب مع حجم الكتاب وسعته.
في البداية ترددت كثيرا في قراءة هذا الكتاب، جين ساسون بعدما أنهيت كتابيها الحرام، و سمو الأميرات، أصبحتُ لا أستسيغ كتاباتها، هذا أولا وثانيا ان هذا العمل طويل يقارب ٥٠٠ صفحة، ومع أنني آليت وعاهدت نفسي أن لا أترُك كتابا إلا وأنهيه، فخشية عدم الإنجاز كانت حاضرة أيضا، ومع ذلك فتشجعت وانجذبت للرواية وأحداثها، تمنيت أن عمر سطّر يراعه هذا الكتاب، وتمنيت لو كتب أبناء أسامة ذكرياتهم، أسوةٌ بما فعله أبناء أوفقير عندما خرجوا من سجن ال٢٠ عاما، في هذه النذكرات الحديث كان لابن أسامة عمر وأمه السورية الأصل نجوى غانم، لم يكن لجين ساسون سوى تعليقات مفردة قليلة جدا حول أنشطة أسامة.
أذهلني وفاءُ زوجته، طيلة المئات من الصفحات لم تذكره بسوء، رغم السنواتِ الطويلة التي قضتها معه، تزوجته وهي ابنت ١٥ ربيعا، وظلت تنتقلُ معه، وما أكثر تنقلاته، من جدة إلى المدينة إلى جدة إلى السودان إلى أفغانستان وصولا إلى تورا بورا، مع هذه التنقلات كان هناك تنقل تدريجي في أسلوب المعيشة الذي ارتضاه له ولأسرته، الملاحِظ والمتتبع يرى الخط المتدرج التنازلي فترة بعد أخرى، لم تكن نجوى زوجته الوحيدة كانت هناك خديجة - التي ارتضت الطلاق وهم بالسودان، خيرية وسهام، وهناك فتاة يمنية تزوج بها بداية الألفية الجديدة، أنجب منهن عشرات الأولاد.
أفجعني وآلمني النهاية الغير معروفة لبقية أفراد أسرته، بإستثناء خديجة وأولادها، ونجوى وأبنائها الصغار الذين نجت بهم قبل احداث الحرب إلى سوريه. عبارةُ : وان بقي على قيد الحياة فعمره الآن كذا وكذا تحوي من الإشارات الأليمة ما يكفي. الكتاب مُلحق بصور أغلبها لعمر وفي رأيي تمنيت زيادة في عدد الصور يتناسب مع حجم الكتاب وسعته.
June 2, 2011
Although I have read several books about women living under the oppression of the taliban I must admit I was still very confused believing the mujahideen, taliban, and al-qaeda to be different factions of the same group. After reading Growing Up bin Laden I now realize how ignorant I was about each of these different groups.
The mujahideen were the Afghani warriors who fought the Russians when they tried to take over Afghanistan. This battle was Osama's first taste of the ways of war.
The taliban is a very fanatical muslim group with the objective to force all muslims into a very repressive form of Islam.
The al-qaeda is a lot like the taliban in it's fanaticism, but this group founded by Osama has the objective to force the entire world to convert to Islam through Jihad which is muslim holy war.
I'm really glad I'm no longer confused! One of the things I love about Jean Sasson is the way she writes about Middle Eastern polotics. She shares the information in the story she's telling making it easy to understand instead of writing a big chapter on the polotics of another culture which someone would have a hard time following unless they were already familiar with that cultures polotics.
One thing that bothered me in this book however was that sometimes it felt as though I were reading from the bible. With terms such as "and so it came to pass", and "so it came to be" being used throughout the book. This probably wasn't the intended effect, but this is how it left me feeling.
This was a very eye opening look into the personal life of Osama Bin Laden. This man was a mad man for sure. I felt so sorry for his wives, and children as they had no choice but to follow this man into his created chaos. The more Osama did to bring about his jihad dreams the more destitute his family became.
This book often left me feeling angry, but a lot of books about muslim women do that to me. It really bothered me that Osama felt seventeen was the right age for a man to be married, but that eleven or twelve (once a girl hits puberty) was a valid age for girls to be married.
One interesting point that Jean Sasson brought to light is that Osama's name has always been misspelled, his name is actually spelled Ossama Binladen. She wrote his name the way it has always been written in publications to make it easier for us who are not used to seeing it written correctly. She explains all of this toward the end of the book.
Another thing I like about this book is that at the end Jean Sasson gives an update on each of Osama's children, and wives. I only wish we could have another more accurate update now that this mad man has been sent to meet his maker!
The mujahideen were the Afghani warriors who fought the Russians when they tried to take over Afghanistan. This battle was Osama's first taste of the ways of war.
The taliban is a very fanatical muslim group with the objective to force all muslims into a very repressive form of Islam.
The al-qaeda is a lot like the taliban in it's fanaticism, but this group founded by Osama has the objective to force the entire world to convert to Islam through Jihad which is muslim holy war.
I'm really glad I'm no longer confused! One of the things I love about Jean Sasson is the way she writes about Middle Eastern polotics. She shares the information in the story she's telling making it easy to understand instead of writing a big chapter on the polotics of another culture which someone would have a hard time following unless they were already familiar with that cultures polotics.
One thing that bothered me in this book however was that sometimes it felt as though I were reading from the bible. With terms such as "and so it came to pass", and "so it came to be" being used throughout the book. This probably wasn't the intended effect, but this is how it left me feeling.
This was a very eye opening look into the personal life of Osama Bin Laden. This man was a mad man for sure. I felt so sorry for his wives, and children as they had no choice but to follow this man into his created chaos. The more Osama did to bring about his jihad dreams the more destitute his family became.
This book often left me feeling angry, but a lot of books about muslim women do that to me. It really bothered me that Osama felt seventeen was the right age for a man to be married, but that eleven or twelve (once a girl hits puberty) was a valid age for girls to be married.
One interesting point that Jean Sasson brought to light is that Osama's name has always been misspelled, his name is actually spelled Ossama Binladen. She wrote his name the way it has always been written in publications to make it easier for us who are not used to seeing it written correctly. She explains all of this toward the end of the book.
Another thing I like about this book is that at the end Jean Sasson gives an update on each of Osama's children, and wives. I only wish we could have another more accurate update now that this mad man has been sent to meet his maker!
October 3, 2010
To write this fascinating book, Jean Sasson extensively interviewed both Osama Bin Laden’s first wife and one of the eleven children she bore during their marriage. Osama’s strong will, power, and stoic idealism are brought forward through their direct observations. As Osama was close lipped with all members of his family, there are few details as to how Osama planned and executed the September 11 attacks and with whom he associated in his terroristic acts.
His son does speculate on why his father acted as he did. One of his theories is that Osama took a turn for the fanatical when the Saudi royal family spurned Osama’s offer to help defend Saudi Arabia from Iraq, and instead welcomed US forces. At the time of Osama’s offer, he was considered a heroic war genius for having ousted the Russians from Afghanistan with his Mujahideen soldiers. To Osama, Saudi Arabia had too much “secular pollution” and their embrace of the US was confirmation that strict Islamism was not being taken seriously.
Osama moved his family to Somalia, where his stoic idealism seemed to be morphing into harshness bordering on insanity, at least in his way of dealing with his family. By this time he had several wives. The wife and son interviewed for this book remember miserable marches overnight in the desert, on Osama’s order. Sometimes all food and water was denied, and no extra clothes or blankets allowed for the freezing night. Instead, Osama insisted all dig shallow grave like holes in the ground and cover themselves with dirt for warmth. And these excursions seemed mild compared to the accounts of family life later on the bleak Afghanistan mountain of Tora Bora. Every “luxury” was absent (by this time Osama considered even running water and heat in the home a luxury).
I was struck by how throughout the book women and children seemed to have no power or voice compared to Osama’s. They routinely filed onto planes or into cars on Osama’s orders afraid to ask where they were bound, or in general to ask any question. Osama’s wife’s philosophy seemed to be to unquestioningly accept whatever hardship or difficult circumstance Osama’s wishes engendered.
The book left me feeling Osama has many legitimate grievances and genuinely wishes to make the world “a better place.” However, his better place would be tightly controlled, patriarchal, and totally Islamic. I give this book 5 stars for readability, interest and its relevance to our world today.
His son does speculate on why his father acted as he did. One of his theories is that Osama took a turn for the fanatical when the Saudi royal family spurned Osama’s offer to help defend Saudi Arabia from Iraq, and instead welcomed US forces. At the time of Osama’s offer, he was considered a heroic war genius for having ousted the Russians from Afghanistan with his Mujahideen soldiers. To Osama, Saudi Arabia had too much “secular pollution” and their embrace of the US was confirmation that strict Islamism was not being taken seriously.
Osama moved his family to Somalia, where his stoic idealism seemed to be morphing into harshness bordering on insanity, at least in his way of dealing with his family. By this time he had several wives. The wife and son interviewed for this book remember miserable marches overnight in the desert, on Osama’s order. Sometimes all food and water was denied, and no extra clothes or blankets allowed for the freezing night. Instead, Osama insisted all dig shallow grave like holes in the ground and cover themselves with dirt for warmth. And these excursions seemed mild compared to the accounts of family life later on the bleak Afghanistan mountain of Tora Bora. Every “luxury” was absent (by this time Osama considered even running water and heat in the home a luxury).
I was struck by how throughout the book women and children seemed to have no power or voice compared to Osama’s. They routinely filed onto planes or into cars on Osama’s orders afraid to ask where they were bound, or in general to ask any question. Osama’s wife’s philosophy seemed to be to unquestioningly accept whatever hardship or difficult circumstance Osama’s wishes engendered.
The book left me feeling Osama has many legitimate grievances and genuinely wishes to make the world “a better place.” However, his better place would be tightly controlled, patriarchal, and totally Islamic. I give this book 5 stars for readability, interest and its relevance to our world today.
June 13, 2013
أنهيت الكتاب بعد معاناه من طوله .. الكتاب كأسلوب سرد رائع غير مكرر ف شئ
الكتاب مقسم الي ثلاث أقسام .. قسم ف السعوديه والسودان وافغانستان
يتحدث ف الفصول ابنه الرابع عمر وزوجته نجوي غانم ..
الكتاب يسرد طريقه واسلوب عائله بن لادن ف المعيشه ويظهر جوانب واسرار من شخصية أسامة بن لادن وعلاقته مع زوجاته وأولاده ..
ومؤرخ لاعمال بن لادن ف السعوديه واستثماراته وشكل حياته الي بدت مناسبه لاي شخص ولكنه كان يرفض استخدام التكنولوجيا الحديثه وكان قليل الجلوس مع اولاده ومن ثم اهتم بقضيه الجهاد ضد الروس لمده كبيره ويؤرخ الكتاب قصه خروجه من السعودية والمشكلات الي حدثت مع العائله المالكه ومن ثم سفره الي السودان وتعرضه هناك لمحاوله اغتيال وبعد فتره تم طرده من السودان ورحل الي افغانستان ..
حرص أسامة على إخفاء معلوماته وأفكاره عن عائلته منعنا من التعرف على بعض التفاصيل و التحليلات المهمة لإستكمال الصورة
و لهذا يبقى اسامة بن لادن رغم زخم المعلومات التي عرضها الكتاب عبارةعن رجل غامض ولم يسهل اكتشافه افكاره ومعتقداته و يخفي كثيرا من الأسرار عن دوافعه و تنظيمه
كنت اتمني ان اسمع ايضا سرد لاحد ابناءه الاخرين .. لاني استنتجت انه كان يوجد ابناء موافقين بن لادن فيما يفعله الا عمر الذي كان مخالف ومعارض لوالده تماما رغم انه احبه
من خلال قراءتك للكتاب سوف تري أفكار مختلفة داخل تنظيم القاعدة وأخطر هذه الأفكار هي التي يتبناها الظواهري
كما يكشف الكتاب عن طبيعة العلاقة بين خالد الإسلامبولي المحكوم بالإعدام في
قضية السادات وأسامة بن لادن ودور الظواهري وغيرهم في تنظيم القاعدة
كما إنه فجر مفاجأة بالنسبة لي في علاقة بن لادن مع الملا عمر زعيم طالبان
كانت العلاقه بينهم لم تكن علاقه صداقه مثلما كانت مع الملا نور
انصح الجميع بقرأته
رحم الله الشيخ المجاهد أسامه بن لادن وغفر الله له ..
اسامه بن لادن الذي حير العالم
الكتاب مقسم الي ثلاث أقسام .. قسم ف السعوديه والسودان وافغانستان
يتحدث ف الفصول ابنه الرابع عمر وزوجته نجوي غانم ..
الكتاب يسرد طريقه واسلوب عائله بن لادن ف المعيشه ويظهر جوانب واسرار من شخصية أسامة بن لادن وعلاقته مع زوجاته وأولاده ..
ومؤرخ لاعمال بن لادن ف السعوديه واستثماراته وشكل حياته الي بدت مناسبه لاي شخص ولكنه كان يرفض استخدام التكنولوجيا الحديثه وكان قليل الجلوس مع اولاده ومن ثم اهتم بقضيه الجهاد ضد الروس لمده كبيره ويؤرخ الكتاب قصه خروجه من السعودية والمشكلات الي حدثت مع العائله المالكه ومن ثم سفره الي السودان وتعرضه هناك لمحاوله اغتيال وبعد فتره تم طرده من السودان ورحل الي افغانستان ..
حرص أسامة على إخفاء معلوماته وأفكاره عن عائلته منعنا من التعرف على بعض التفاصيل و التحليلات المهمة لإستكمال الصورة
و لهذا يبقى اسامة بن لادن رغم زخم المعلومات التي عرضها الكتاب عبارةعن رجل غامض ولم يسهل اكتشافه افكاره ومعتقداته و يخفي كثيرا من الأسرار عن دوافعه و تنظيمه
كنت اتمني ان اسمع ايضا سرد لاحد ابناءه الاخرين .. لاني استنتجت انه كان يوجد ابناء موافقين بن لادن فيما يفعله الا عمر الذي كان مخالف ومعارض لوالده تماما رغم انه احبه
من خلال قراءتك للكتاب سوف تري أفكار مختلفة داخل تنظيم القاعدة وأخطر هذه الأفكار هي التي يتبناها الظواهري
كما يكشف الكتاب عن طبيعة العلاقة بين خالد الإسلامبولي المحكوم بالإعدام في
قضية السادات وأسامة بن لادن ودور الظواهري وغيرهم في تنظيم القاعدة
كما إنه فجر مفاجأة بالنسبة لي في علاقة بن لادن مع الملا عمر زعيم طالبان
كانت العلاقه بينهم لم تكن علاقه صداقه مثلما كانت مع الملا نور
انصح الجميع بقرأته
رحم الله الشيخ المجاهد أسامه بن لادن وغفر الله له ..
اسامه بن لادن الذي حير العالم
March 29, 2010
Told in alternating chapters by Osama bin Laden’s first wife, Najwa, and his 4th son, Omar, this well written book gives the reader an unprecedented inside view of life in the family of Osama bin Laden.
Because bin Laden required his wives to live in complete isolation from the world, Najwa’s story revolves around her early marriage to bin Laden and home life with her children. The most powerful account is given by Omar, who was slated to become bin Laden’s second in command. Through their eyes we see bin Laden gradually change from a quiet young husband with a bright future, to a vindictive zealot who uses Islam to promote his distorted hatred of the West. As their lives spiral further and further from reality, Omar escapes his father’s compound, and shortly before 9/11, Najwa is allowed to leave as well.
This book is hard to put down, and leaves the reader wondering what plans this crazed terrorist is currently concocting, and what dire consequences may lie ahead. Author Jean Sasson’s comments at the end are especially interesting. A must read book!
Because bin Laden required his wives to live in complete isolation from the world, Najwa’s story revolves around her early marriage to bin Laden and home life with her children. The most powerful account is given by Omar, who was slated to become bin Laden’s second in command. Through their eyes we see bin Laden gradually change from a quiet young husband with a bright future, to a vindictive zealot who uses Islam to promote his distorted hatred of the West. As their lives spiral further and further from reality, Omar escapes his father’s compound, and shortly before 9/11, Najwa is allowed to leave as well.
This book is hard to put down, and leaves the reader wondering what plans this crazed terrorist is currently concocting, and what dire consequences may lie ahead. Author Jean Sasson’s comments at the end are especially interesting. A must read book!
October 8, 2011
like always, Jean Sasson always writes on interesting topics and stories. the best of all the stories are real.
i enjoyed reading the book. it is unbelievable how osama left all his wealth for trouble. that's crazy. why would a man with his mentality get married or even have a family if he was so dedicated. i feel bad for his kids and i feel bad for his first wife najwa as mentioned in the book that she doesn't know what happened to 2 of her daughters and some of her sons. the kids suffered because of their father.
there was a description of some countries like afganistan and sudan. it is unbelievable how would a person go to afghanistan and live in a mountain with small kids in unhuman envirment. death is better than living such life it is like punashing his kids and wifes for things they have never done. i guess life was unfair to those.
i believe the luckiest and the smartest wife was khadija who asked for divorce and left osama with all her 3 kids. i think they would live a way better life than any life offered by osama.
overall the book was very informative and enjoyable.
i enjoyed reading the book. it is unbelievable how osama left all his wealth for trouble. that's crazy. why would a man with his mentality get married or even have a family if he was so dedicated. i feel bad for his kids and i feel bad for his first wife najwa as mentioned in the book that she doesn't know what happened to 2 of her daughters and some of her sons. the kids suffered because of their father.
there was a description of some countries like afganistan and sudan. it is unbelievable how would a person go to afghanistan and live in a mountain with small kids in unhuman envirment. death is better than living such life it is like punashing his kids and wifes for things they have never done. i guess life was unfair to those.
i believe the luckiest and the smartest wife was khadija who asked for divorce and left osama with all her 3 kids. i think they would live a way better life than any life offered by osama.
overall the book was very informative and enjoyable.
November 27, 2011
A fascinating inside view from a son of Bin Laden..I especially enjoyed the section on how the Taliban insulted Osama bin Laden.Osama was very strange in many ways e.g. He completely avoided using electricity or modern electric appliances as he thought it was a western invention.He used to reprimand his sons on laughing and actually used to tell them how many teeth they used to show when they laughed and not do it again.I was also suprised to know he could speak perfect English and Pushto.
July 19, 2013
This book literally changed my life. I began reading this book thinking of Omar Bin Laden as the enemy but quickly into it, I felt a compassion I never imagined. Omar and I began to communicate and after moving to the Middle East, I went to tea with him. He is now one of the best friends I have ever had. I learned never to judge someone by their name or where they are from or what faith they have. I am a better person today for having met him and it all began with this book.
February 8, 2024
يحكي هذا الكتاب عن حياة أسامة بن لادن
من خلال زوجته وابنه
تعرفنا على مشاعر وأفكار عائلته
في الحقيقة أغضبتني زوجته كيف تتقبل كل ما مرت به وتغير حياتها وحياة أبنائها
وتقبلها زواجاته المتكررة
عمر ومشاعره كابن لأسامة بن لادن وما حدث له من طفولته لشبابه
كتاب جيد به الكثير من المعلومات
انصح به
من خلال زوجته وابنه
تعرفنا على مشاعر وأفكار عائلته
في الحقيقة أغضبتني زوجته كيف تتقبل كل ما مرت به وتغير حياتها وحياة أبنائها
وتقبلها زواجاته المتكررة
عمر ومشاعره كابن لأسامة بن لادن وما حدث له من طفولته لشبابه
كتاب جيد به الكثير من المعلومات
انصح به
April 9, 2017
The subtitle of this book reads "Osama's Wife and Son Take Us Inside Their Secret World" and this is exactly what this book does. Najwa was just 15 when she married Osama bin Laden who was 17 at the time. This book was written in 2009 and published as a 1057KB eBook in 2010.
Growing Up bin Laden was written as it was told to Jean Sasson by Najwa bin Laden, who is Osama's cousin and 1st wife, plus Omar bin Laden, their 4th born son. Each chapter is written in the first person with a seperate chapter for mother and son. There are seperate chapters written by Jean to explain Osama's political activities. This is an amazing story spread over 37 years and describes the busy family man and examines his role as a husband and father. It is a nicely told story of a very large family. It is an enjoyable read as the reader travels through Syria, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Pakistan and Afghanistan. This great adventure brings a good understanding of Osama who was a very private man.
Growing Up bin Laden is very good at explaining Muslim culture which helps the reader understand the dynamics of family life in Muslim countries. Najwa and Omar give the reader a wonderful insight into their family life with all it's joys and frustrations. This is a very honest family tale and because it is written in the first person, the reader really gets engaged with the story. The strongest part for me told by Najwa was when she moved to the Tora Bora Mountains in Afghanistan...
I sat there, peering through the burqa’s latticed opening into the star-filled skies of Afghanistan. I was no longer a part of the hustle and bustle of earthly life. In fact, I knew that somewhere beyond the mountains of Tora Bora a busy world was passing me by. Such thoughts made me feel entirely alone in the world, a burqa-clad woman forgotten to all. Few people in the world even knew that Najwa Ghanem bin Laden existed. Yet no one could deny that I had lived, for I was a woman who had given life to nine children, with a tenth child soon to be.
...The strongest parts for me told by Omar were also when he moved to the Tora Bora Mountains in Afghanistan...
I really could not believe that our lives had come to this. My father was a member of one of the wealthiest families of Saudi Arabia. My cousins were relaxing in fine homes and attending the best schools. Here I was, the son of a wealthy bin Laden, living in a lawless land, wheezing for air in a small Toyota truck, surrounded by Afghan warriors carrying powerful weapons, on my way to help my father claim a mountain hut for our family home.
...There is also that lovely mother and son dynamic when Omar recalls...
Peaceful hours passed as we sat quietly or, when in the mood for talking, discussed our lives, and how strange it was that we had started out in a palace in Jeddah and ended in a rock hut on a mountain in Afghanistan.
...Growing Up bin Laden starts with Najwa's marriage in 1974 and ends in September 2001 with the 9/11 attacks on the Twin Towers. By 2001 Najwa had given birth to a total of 11 children. Osama had other wives and children too but with the illegal invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, many bombs were dropped and many civilians were killed. The bin Laden family is very large indeed and the great sadness was that family members from 2001 did not know what happened to other family members, where they lived or if they survived the bombing. This book concludes with some final comments from Jean plus 3 appendix's and an index.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading Growing Up bin Laden. It was a great adventure story that answered a lot of questions. I loved the way the story was told from 2 seperate points of view that followed the same time line. I can't find any fault with this book so I will be voting it the maximum of 5 stars on Good Reads .
Najwa's, Omar's and Jean's chapters let the reader form their own opinion of Osama bin Laden, Islam and the West. The reader then understands why things developed the way they did and all the mistakes of history. At the end of this book you draw your own conclusions, I certainly have and must say thank you to Najwa, Omar and Jean for publishing this amazing story.
Growing Up bin Laden was written as it was told to Jean Sasson by Najwa bin Laden, who is Osama's cousin and 1st wife, plus Omar bin Laden, their 4th born son. Each chapter is written in the first person with a seperate chapter for mother and son. There are seperate chapters written by Jean to explain Osama's political activities. This is an amazing story spread over 37 years and describes the busy family man and examines his role as a husband and father. It is a nicely told story of a very large family. It is an enjoyable read as the reader travels through Syria, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Pakistan and Afghanistan. This great adventure brings a good understanding of Osama who was a very private man.
Growing Up bin Laden is very good at explaining Muslim culture which helps the reader understand the dynamics of family life in Muslim countries. Najwa and Omar give the reader a wonderful insight into their family life with all it's joys and frustrations. This is a very honest family tale and because it is written in the first person, the reader really gets engaged with the story. The strongest part for me told by Najwa was when she moved to the Tora Bora Mountains in Afghanistan...
I sat there, peering through the burqa’s latticed opening into the star-filled skies of Afghanistan. I was no longer a part of the hustle and bustle of earthly life. In fact, I knew that somewhere beyond the mountains of Tora Bora a busy world was passing me by. Such thoughts made me feel entirely alone in the world, a burqa-clad woman forgotten to all. Few people in the world even knew that Najwa Ghanem bin Laden existed. Yet no one could deny that I had lived, for I was a woman who had given life to nine children, with a tenth child soon to be.
...The strongest parts for me told by Omar were also when he moved to the Tora Bora Mountains in Afghanistan...
I really could not believe that our lives had come to this. My father was a member of one of the wealthiest families of Saudi Arabia. My cousins were relaxing in fine homes and attending the best schools. Here I was, the son of a wealthy bin Laden, living in a lawless land, wheezing for air in a small Toyota truck, surrounded by Afghan warriors carrying powerful weapons, on my way to help my father claim a mountain hut for our family home.
...There is also that lovely mother and son dynamic when Omar recalls...
Peaceful hours passed as we sat quietly or, when in the mood for talking, discussed our lives, and how strange it was that we had started out in a palace in Jeddah and ended in a rock hut on a mountain in Afghanistan.
...Growing Up bin Laden starts with Najwa's marriage in 1974 and ends in September 2001 with the 9/11 attacks on the Twin Towers. By 2001 Najwa had given birth to a total of 11 children. Osama had other wives and children too but with the illegal invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, many bombs were dropped and many civilians were killed. The bin Laden family is very large indeed and the great sadness was that family members from 2001 did not know what happened to other family members, where they lived or if they survived the bombing. This book concludes with some final comments from Jean plus 3 appendix's and an index.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading Growing Up bin Laden. It was a great adventure story that answered a lot of questions. I loved the way the story was told from 2 seperate points of view that followed the same time line. I can't find any fault with this book so I will be voting it the maximum of 5 stars on Good Reads .
Najwa's, Omar's and Jean's chapters let the reader form their own opinion of Osama bin Laden, Islam and the West. The reader then understands why things developed the way they did and all the mistakes of history. At the end of this book you draw your own conclusions, I certainly have and must say thank you to Najwa, Omar and Jean for publishing this amazing story.
May 8, 2010
The memoirs of Najwa bin Laden, Osama bin Laden's first wife, and Omar bin Laden, Osama's fourth son, make for a fascinating read, especially to someone who is not very familiar with ways of life in the Middle East.
At first, I was put off by Najwa's account of her early life. Her glasses didn't just seem rose-colored; they seemed as if they must have had their own built-in mister of fairy dust. Almost everything in her life up until the point that she had to move to Afghanistan, seemed to be from a glorious dream. I kept having to hold back snorts. She rhapsodized over the marvelous man that was Osama. According to Najwa, he seemed able to do no wrong, whether as a husband or a father. This, despite the fact that she was afraid to disagree with him in any way and that he abused his children and deprived them of many normal childhood things, such as toys and medical care. Neither was she allowed to use many modern conveniences, due to Osama's distaste for them. Listening to her account, I couldn't decide whether she was dishonest or delusional.
By the time the book concluded, having listened to Omar and Najwa's stories, I had come to the conclusion that Najwa actually believed the words she expressed. She had been confined to her home for so long, kept from the outside world, dependent on her husband, and tied to him through their children, that I would imagine she had a huge emotional investment in believing the best of her husband. Perhaps the only thing such a powerless woman could do is turn a blind eye to the suffering of her children. I'm sure that her faith in her religion and religious leaders didn't hurt her view of the glory that was Osama, either. I almost cheered when, on the urging of her sons, she finally requested that Osama spend more time with his children; it seemed a huge step for her to criticize her husband in the slightest of ways.
Her son Omar's story was not a description of traipsing through paradise. He resented the normal childhood activities and things that were kept from him and his siblings. He was wounded deeply by his father's harsh treatment and frequent canings. He was horrified that his father would move his mother and her young children to a mountain in Afghanistan, where they lived in squalid stone houses and suffered the area's brutal storms. When he grew older and had come to know his father better, he did not agree with his father's life of violence, and he struggled to build a different life, a life of peace.
Omar and Najwa's stories together provide a much more revealing account of Osama bin Laden's life and the life of his family than either would have alone. I think it is well worth reading.
At first, I was put off by Najwa's account of her early life. Her glasses didn't just seem rose-colored; they seemed as if they must have had their own built-in mister of fairy dust. Almost everything in her life up until the point that she had to move to Afghanistan, seemed to be from a glorious dream. I kept having to hold back snorts. She rhapsodized over the marvelous man that was Osama. According to Najwa, he seemed able to do no wrong, whether as a husband or a father. This, despite the fact that she was afraid to disagree with him in any way and that he abused his children and deprived them of many normal childhood things, such as toys and medical care. Neither was she allowed to use many modern conveniences, due to Osama's distaste for them. Listening to her account, I couldn't decide whether she was dishonest or delusional.
By the time the book concluded, having listened to Omar and Najwa's stories, I had come to the conclusion that Najwa actually believed the words she expressed. She had been confined to her home for so long, kept from the outside world, dependent on her husband, and tied to him through their children, that I would imagine she had a huge emotional investment in believing the best of her husband. Perhaps the only thing such a powerless woman could do is turn a blind eye to the suffering of her children. I'm sure that her faith in her religion and religious leaders didn't hurt her view of the glory that was Osama, either. I almost cheered when, on the urging of her sons, she finally requested that Osama spend more time with his children; it seemed a huge step for her to criticize her husband in the slightest of ways.
Her son Omar's story was not a description of traipsing through paradise. He resented the normal childhood activities and things that were kept from him and his siblings. He was wounded deeply by his father's harsh treatment and frequent canings. He was horrified that his father would move his mother and her young children to a mountain in Afghanistan, where they lived in squalid stone houses and suffered the area's brutal storms. When he grew older and had come to know his father better, he did not agree with his father's life of violence, and he struggled to build a different life, a life of peace.
Omar and Najwa's stories together provide a much more revealing account of Osama bin Laden's life and the life of his family than either would have alone. I think it is well worth reading.
August 20, 2022
.
كتاب يكشف الكثير من الأشياء الغامضة حول حياة بن لادن الخاصة وكيف قضى على طفولة أبنائه وتعليمهم ودفع بأسرته من حياة السلام إلى حياة مليئة بالقسوة والتقشف، كيف حرمهم من أساليب المعيشة الحديثة والطعام والعلاج الحديث تحت مسمى الزهد وفي مقابل ذلك قام بشراء أحدث السيارات لنفسه !!
الجزء الأكثر غرابة بالنسبة لي هو خضوع زوجته المطلق واستمرارها في البقاء معه دون شكوى رغم كل تلك المعاناة
من أكثر الجمل تعبيرًا عن بن لادن هي تلك المقولة على لسان ابنه عمر
" فوالدي يكره أعداءه أكثر مما يحب أبناءه "
كتاب يكشف الكثير من الأشياء الغامضة حول حياة بن لادن الخاصة وكيف قضى على طفولة أبنائه وتعليمهم ودفع بأسرته من حياة السلام إلى حياة مليئة بالقسوة والتقشف، كيف حرمهم من أساليب المعيشة الحديثة والطعام والعلاج الحديث تحت مسمى الزهد وفي مقابل ذلك قام بشراء أحدث السيارات لنفسه !!
الجزء الأكثر غرابة بالنسبة لي هو خضوع زوجته المطلق واستمرارها في البقاء معه دون شكوى رغم كل تلك المعاناة
من أكثر الجمل تعبيرًا عن بن لادن هي تلك المقولة على لسان ابنه عمر
" فوالدي يكره أعداءه أكثر مما يحب أبناءه "
June 5, 2017
The pictures and the early life stories paint such an ordinary picture of one of the most notorious men of 21st century.
March 6, 2013
Spoilers
After reading Growing Up bin Laden I found myself hating Ossama bin Laden more while feeling proud of his fourth son, Omar. As told by Omar, Muslims are brainwashed to believe Westerners, especially Americans, hate Muslims and are out to destroy them all. Omar was able to turn away from his father's Jihad based on his humanism and internal instincts that told him violence is not the answer. Omar did not have the luxury of the internet, television, books, or any other way to hear viewpoints opposite of his father's.
Najwa, Ossama's first cousin and first wife, was a perfect wife in the world of Muslims. She never doubted, questioned, or ignored her husband's words. She never lied to him, though there was some information withheld (unless directly asked) for the sake of her children. In their world, that is impressive. It takes a strong personality to be the perfect wife and mother in one's culture, but as an American I have a hard time releasing the viewpoint that a life was wasted by a weak woman unable to think for herself.
As a child Najwa was in love with Ossama, and after they were married she found him to be tender despite his sternness. She felt flattered at being described as a pearl needing protecting, but the reader can easily see he never had her best interest at heart. The ONLY admirable quality in Ossama was that he never physically abused the women in his life, but sadly he was extremely abusive to the sons he told were no more important to him than any other fighter serving him.
Ossama was an obsessed fanatic who had great survival skills, drive, ambition. He reminds me of Hitler by having possessed amazing qualities that were all used for the worst.
Sasson is a great writer, and I am glad she was able to get over her own prejudices instilled in each of us after 9/11 so that she could help produce insight that may have otherwise never been offered to the world. These insights may help others dismiss prejudices that the entire Muslim world does not deserve. Through Sasson by Oman and Najwa, we can remember a who culture is not the enemy, and bin Laden's family do not deserve our hatred. That hatred should be reserved for Ossama and his fighters whole brought down unnecessary violence and death.
Though the ancient world was never mentioned by Ossama, I believe at some point in his life he must have studied the Spartans, because many of his beliefs echo the Spartan ways, including small potions of bland food, and training those in his life to forego food, water, and shelter as a means to toughen them up.
http://www.history.com/news/history-l...
After reading Growing Up bin Laden I found myself hating Ossama bin Laden more while feeling proud of his fourth son, Omar. As told by Omar, Muslims are brainwashed to believe Westerners, especially Americans, hate Muslims and are out to destroy them all. Omar was able to turn away from his father's Jihad based on his humanism and internal instincts that told him violence is not the answer. Omar did not have the luxury of the internet, television, books, or any other way to hear viewpoints opposite of his father's.
Najwa, Ossama's first cousin and first wife, was a perfect wife in the world of Muslims. She never doubted, questioned, or ignored her husband's words. She never lied to him, though there was some information withheld (unless directly asked) for the sake of her children. In their world, that is impressive. It takes a strong personality to be the perfect wife and mother in one's culture, but as an American I have a hard time releasing the viewpoint that a life was wasted by a weak woman unable to think for herself.
As a child Najwa was in love with Ossama, and after they were married she found him to be tender despite his sternness. She felt flattered at being described as a pearl needing protecting, but the reader can easily see he never had her best interest at heart. The ONLY admirable quality in Ossama was that he never physically abused the women in his life, but sadly he was extremely abusive to the sons he told were no more important to him than any other fighter serving him.
Ossama was an obsessed fanatic who had great survival skills, drive, ambition. He reminds me of Hitler by having possessed amazing qualities that were all used for the worst.
Sasson is a great writer, and I am glad she was able to get over her own prejudices instilled in each of us after 9/11 so that she could help produce insight that may have otherwise never been offered to the world. These insights may help others dismiss prejudices that the entire Muslim world does not deserve. Through Sasson by Oman and Najwa, we can remember a who culture is not the enemy, and bin Laden's family do not deserve our hatred. That hatred should be reserved for Ossama and his fighters whole brought down unnecessary violence and death.
Though the ancient world was never mentioned by Ossama, I believe at some point in his life he must have studied the Spartans, because many of his beliefs echo the Spartan ways, including small potions of bland food, and training those in his life to forego food, water, and shelter as a means to toughen them up.
http://www.history.com/news/history-l...
November 3, 2013
لطالما كان أسامة بن لادن شخصاً مثيراً للجدل بالنسبة لي ولازلت أذكر الى الآن
أحداث 11 سبتمبر وأنا طفلة لا أفهم ماذا يجري في العالم الفسيح العجيب من حولي ..
وقعت عيناي بالصدفة على كتاب (إنه بن لادن) ورشحه لي أخي فبدأت بالتهام الكتاب .
يتكون الكتاب من ثاتثة أقسام القسم الاول الحياة في السعودية والثاني الحياة في السودان وأخيراً في أفغانستان .
كان مظهر أسامة يوحي لي دائما أنه أفغاني الجنيسة ولكن الحقيقة أنه من عائلة بن لادن الكبيرة في السعودية والتي تندرج أصولها من اليمن . كان لوالد أسامة علاقة جيدة مع الملك عبدالعزيز حيث أنشأ العديد من شبكات الطرق وقام بالتطوير مما قربه من الملك عبدالعزيز كثيراً .
تزوج أسامة وهو في السابعة عشر من عمره من ابنة خاله نجوى التي تصغره بعام واحد وهو مازال طالباً في المرحلة الثانوية ,درس الاقتصاد ولم ينل شهادة جامعية فيه لتخليه عن الدراسة في آخر فصل دراسي لكنه تلقى تعليماً جيداً من الصغر تميز أسامة بالذكاء والاصرار فكان يفوق الآلة الحاسبة في مهارته على إجراء العمليات الحسابية. اشتعلت الحرب في أفغانستان مع الروس وكان ذلك الحدث نقطة تحول في حياة أسامة وعائلته .. بدأ أسامة بارسال وتجميع المعونات للمتضررين في أفغانستان جراء الحرب وسرعان ما انضم للجهاد ضد الروس وكان بطلاً افتخر به الكثيرين .. كان لدى أسامة تصرفات غريبة فكان يمنع استخدام الثلاجات وأجهزة التبريد في منزله رغم حرارة الجو وكان أحياناً يمنع الضحك بصوت عالي فقط الابتسامة . عاش أبناؤه وزوجاته في ما أشبه بالسجن فلم يكن هناك خروج من المنزل فيما عدا الزيارات للمزرعة واسطبلات الخيول ( كان أسامة مولعاً بالخيول والسيارات )والذهاب اليومي للمدرسة .
كانت المرحلة الاخيرة والأكثر صعوبة بعد أن طردته الحكومة السودانية من أراضيها بسبب الضغط الواقع عليها هي الذهاب الى أفغانستان والعيش بين الجبال والانضمام والتفرغ كلياً للجهاد وانشاء معكسرات للتدريب .. بالرغم من الحياة الصعبة الصعبة في كهف في أحد جبال تورا بورا وتعرض أبنائه للموت أكثر من مرة إلا أن أسامة كان مصمماً على هدفه وهذه احدى ميزات اسامة المميزة والغريبة أحياناً الاصرار على الشيء حتى فعله ..
عاش أبناء أسامة وزوجاته حياة صعبة بين الجبال وتعلموا كيفية استخدام السلاح وركوب الخيل والعديد من المهام الصعبة ..
غادرت نجوى مع أبنائها الصغار الى سوريا قبل أحداث سبتمبر وانتقل عمر الى السعودية رافضاً الحياة مع والده ..
يروي الكتاب الكثير من التفاصيل الغربية والممتعة عن حياة أسامة كمراهق وزوج وأب وزعيم للقاعدة ..
السؤال الذي يراودني هل ماكان يفعله أسامة في قتل الابرياء لتحقيق هدفه كان صائباً ؟؟ وهل هو السبب وراء تفجير برج وزارة الدفاع في سبتمبر أم أنها خطة من أميريكا ؟؟ مازال أسامة مثيراً للجدل في داخلي حتى بعد قراءتي للكتاب فما هو الا بعضٌ من الحقيقة الغائبة التي لا نعلم أكثرها ...
اقرؤوا الكتاب فلربماينتهي شغفكم :) فهناك المزيد والمزيد
اذا كانت اي كتب تنصحوني بها أكون شاكرة ..
October 28, 2012
Having read and loved most of Jean Sasson’s books, I’m always happy when I discover she’s written a new book. This book was more interesting to me because it was written on Osama Bin Laden, the elusive ‘self-proclaimed’ jihadi. Although I have intense hate for him, there is a part of me that wants to know why and how does a man become the Osama. How does a guy have so much control over so many people that they were willing to die for him? Also, What kind of family life did he have? All this and the author’s name led me to read this book.
The book starts with Osama’s life in Jeddah, then Sudan and finally to Afghanistan. Because the book is from his family’s point of view it doesn’t have details of his jihadi life but enough to note the major crossroads of his life and how it shaped and encouraged him towards a violent future.
The first thing that struck me about this book is the honesty with which it’s written. It must have taken immense strength from the wife and son to narrate this. They don’t pretend to hate Osama for the sake of the world. They loved and tried to please him in spite of what he was. His sons and wives spent their lives travelling with him to various countries and living in increasingly deteriorating conditions. Osama was a rich and successful builder to begin with. His family lived in luxury until Osama became overly “religious”. This book is not written for the sake of writing one. I have read memoirs of people where all they write is common knowledge. But this book reveals a different side to Osama, it shows him as a devoted family man. Time Magazine describes it best
‘The thrill of being a fly on the wall of the bin Laden family’.
The book was written before Osama dies so that part is still a mystery but fortunately I have a later edition of the book which gives a brief idea of the reaction of his family to his death.
The book starts with Osama’s life in Jeddah, then Sudan and finally to Afghanistan. Because the book is from his family’s point of view it doesn’t have details of his jihadi life but enough to note the major crossroads of his life and how it shaped and encouraged him towards a violent future.
The first thing that struck me about this book is the honesty with which it’s written. It must have taken immense strength from the wife and son to narrate this. They don’t pretend to hate Osama for the sake of the world. They loved and tried to please him in spite of what he was. His sons and wives spent their lives travelling with him to various countries and living in increasingly deteriorating conditions. Osama was a rich and successful builder to begin with. His family lived in luxury until Osama became overly “religious”. This book is not written for the sake of writing one. I have read memoirs of people where all they write is common knowledge. But this book reveals a different side to Osama, it shows him as a devoted family man. Time Magazine describes it best
‘The thrill of being a fly on the wall of the bin Laden family’.
The book was written before Osama dies so that part is still a mystery but fortunately I have a later edition of the book which gives a brief idea of the reaction of his family to his death.
Read
August 4, 2011Through the looking glass, an insider's account of BinLaden and his personal story/family. Granted coming from his wife and fourth son, it is more about his family/personal life versus his planning/motivation/organization of Al-Qaeda but there are already plenty of those books out there.
The author/translator, Jean Sassoon (of Princess fame) explains in the final comments, "I discovered that no books written about BinLaden or his family had the cooperation of a single BinLaden family member. Carmen BinLaden's book, "Inside the Kingdom" was a wonderful read, but more of a personal account of life in Saudi Arabia and her ongoing divorce dispute with Osama's half-brother. Steve Coll's book, "The Bin Ladens" was meticulously researched and well written but had no cooperation from the family and they granted no extensive or substantive interviews.
As Osama's first wife and her fourth-born son, who also was the one chosen to go to Afghanistan from Sudan with Osama, this is an interesting account of how Osama became more and more obsessive with America, technology, modern conveniences, etc and risked his family more and more in response to his own obsessions and radical beliefs, similar to "The Mosquito Coast" by Paul Theroux. Recommended!
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The author/translator, Jean Sassoon (of Princess fame) explains in the final comments, "I discovered that no books written about BinLaden or his family had the cooperation of a single BinLaden family member. Carmen BinLaden's book, "Inside the Kingdom" was a wonderful read, but more of a personal account of life in Saudi Arabia and her ongoing divorce dispute with Osama's half-brother. Steve Coll's book, "The Bin Ladens" was meticulously researched and well written but had no cooperation from the family and they granted no extensive or substantive interviews.
As Osama's first wife and her fourth-born son, who also was the one chosen to go to Afghanistan from Sudan with Osama, this is an interesting account of how Osama became more and more obsessive with America, technology, modern conveniences, etc and risked his family more and more in response to his own obsessions and radical beliefs, similar to "The Mosquito Coast" by Paul Theroux. Recommended!
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April 27, 2012
I wasn't sure starting this book as to how I would feel reading it, much as Jean Sasson said she felt about writing it. Yet, now that I am finished, I am sad. I am sad for Najwa and Omar, sad for the rest of Osama's wives and children. I cannot imagine being raised in that environment. As a western woman, I find myself with mixed feelings for Najwa (admiration and anger). I can never fully understand the life and belief behind the decisions they made. I so admire Omar for what he has done. I admire Najwa for finally leaving and cannot imagine the pain she has suffered over the fate of her children. I admire them both for writing this, for giving us some knowledge of what might have been in Osama's head. I have to say that I find myself with the view that he was mentally unstable. I find even the descriptions of his behavior in his youth disturbing.
Jean Sasson has again written a book that is easy to read and engaging. I found myself (as you can tell) emotionally involved in the story.
Jean Sasson has again written a book that is easy to read and engaging. I found myself (as you can tell) emotionally involved in the story.
November 23, 2009
AMAZING! This book educates readers on who the BinLaden family was/is through Osamma's first wife and her first son. It tells the story from their perspective. Her's as a traditional Saudi wife who loved her husband though due to warnings did manage to leave him and return to syria with a coiuple of her youngest children just before the Trade Center bombings. His, as the first son who was born different; grew up trying to achieve peace at a personal and family level; and who ultimately made the decision to walk away from his father and even talked his mother into moving due to potential dangers. Also proided a great education into the role of Islamic women, Saudi women, and women in Packistan
December 30, 2009
I thought that Omar and Najwa's perspectives were fascinating. It was especially interesting to read about the times in which Osama bin Laden barely escaped being assassinated, like in Khartoum and after the embassy bombings. The personal details were amazing. I was finishing the book around the time that news about the bin Laden family came out. Iman escaped to the Saudi Embassy in Iran. I will definitely be keeping up with this story. Other good books about Osama bin Laden or terrorism in general are The Cell, Holy War Inc., The Osama bin Laden I Knew, and Ghost Wars.
January 4, 2010
I was surprised at how this book sucked me in. I think it really added an interesting layer that the story is told from two perspectives - both bin Laden's first wife and his fourth son. As opposed to bin Laden himself, both of them came across as sympathetic and human. I felt like by reading this book I gained a greater understanding of Muslim culture in general and definitely of bin Ladin's history. It's quite depressing to contemplate the role of women in a culture like this one, but overall I would definitely recommend this as well-written and fascinating.
March 18, 2010
An extremely interesting book that gives you a look inside the life of Osama bin Liden through the eyes of his first wife and forth son. I was really drawn into this book and intrigued to see how life was for Osama's family before 9/11 and to hear their thoughts on Osama and his activities. As with all biography's not all questions are answered but you do get to see a very different view point into the life of a very secretive man and how his actions affected those around him.
December 21, 2009
i was amazed at the background of Ossama Binladin ( the correct way of spelling his name), his 4 wives and the transformation form a young man to the terrorist he has become. well written from both the perspectives of his first wife, as well as his 4th son of his first wife.
also gave me a better geographical understanding of that region of the world, and the customs of Islamic nations and people.
also gave me a better geographical understanding of that region of the world, and the customs of Islamic nations and people.
July 19, 2014
Absolutely astounding insight into the early life of Osama bin Laden and at least a glimpse of how this man built his empire of violence. According to the author, this is the first book written on bin Laden with any contribution by bin Laden family members, much less from his immediate family.
A very easy, intriguing read. It is fair and reasonable, providing multiple sides of Osama bin Laden's character, as a husband, father, and terrorist.
A very easy, intriguing read. It is fair and reasonable, providing multiple sides of Osama bin Laden's character, as a husband, father, and terrorist.
February 25, 2015
Wow this book was good. Jean Sasson states at the end that she aims to educate minds of the young to create understanding about ethnic and religious differences, and that's what this book did for me. It especially helps a person understand the basic history of Al Qaeda and their motivations. Osama is given no excuses. He kept his children at an arms length to his own demise, which is why this book being told by his critical son is totally believable.
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