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Holy War, Inc.: Inside the Secret World of Osama bin Laden
On September 11, 2001, the world changed forever as more than three thousand men, women, and children lost their lives in the deadliest terrorist attack on American soil. The attack was masterminded by Osama bin Laden and his Jihad group -- an organization that CNN's terrorism analyst Peter Bergen calls Holy War, Inc. One of the few Western journalists to have interviewed bin Laden face-to-face, Bergen has produced the definitive book on the global Jihadist network,
How bin Laden lives, travels, and communicates with his "cells."
How his role in the crushing defeat of the Soviet Union in Afghanistan made him a hero to Muslims all over the world.
How the bombings of the American embassies in Africa and the USS Cole in Yemen were planned and executed.
What we can expect from Islamic extremists in the future.
Above all, Peter Bergen helps us to see bin Laden's organization in a radically new as a corporation that has exploited modern technology and weaponry in the service of global terrorism and the destruction of the West.
Both author and publisher will donate a portion of the proceeds from this book to the International Committee of the Red Cross.
How bin Laden lives, travels, and communicates with his "cells."
How his role in the crushing defeat of the Soviet Union in Afghanistan made him a hero to Muslims all over the world.
How the bombings of the American embassies in Africa and the USS Cole in Yemen were planned and executed.
What we can expect from Islamic extremists in the future.
Above all, Peter Bergen helps us to see bin Laden's organization in a radically new as a corporation that has exploited modern technology and weaponry in the service of global terrorism and the destruction of the West.
Both author and publisher will donate a portion of the proceeds from this book to the International Committee of the Red Cross.
320 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2001
32 people are currently reading
819 people want to read
About the author
Peter L. Bergen
16 books166 followersPeter Bergen (born 1962) is an American born, England-raised print and television journalist, author, and CNN's national security analyst. Bergen produced the first television interview with Osama Bin Laden in 1997. The interview, which aired on CNN, marked the first time that bin Laden declared war against the United States to a Western audience. Bergen has written several books including: Holy War, Inc., The Osama bin Laden I Know, and The Longest War: The Enduring Conflict Between America and al-Qaeda (Jan. 2011).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
May 22, 2012
An incredible look at the history of Osama bin Laden and his fellow "Jihad." Peter Bergen looks at the events orchestrated/influenced by bin Laden primarily from a chronological point of view, and then secondarily from a historical point of view (in terms of impact on the world). Coming from a skilled journalist, Bergen speaks in an unbiased tone, allowing the reader to soak in the narratives from the start of Bin Laden's life to several years down the road, as Al-Qaeda became increasingly influential on a global scale leading up to and surpassing 9-11.
It's interesting to look at these events in light of the eventual capture and destruction of Bin Laden in his compound, as well as the slow demise of Al-Qaeda. I look forward to reading Bergen's most recent book, "Manhunt," which covers the most recent events. One thing's for sure, Bergen is accurate in both his research and his predictions, and if he doesn't know, he tells you.
It's interesting to look at these events in light of the eventual capture and destruction of Bin Laden in his compound, as well as the slow demise of Al-Qaeda. I look forward to reading Bergen's most recent book, "Manhunt," which covers the most recent events. One thing's for sure, Bergen is accurate in both his research and his predictions, and if he doesn't know, he tells you.
March 18, 2010
'Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.'
This book certainly dispels some of the myths surrounding Osama Bin Laden propogated by the media. He was never trained or directly funded by the CIA and was never a CIA agent. Nonetheless the CIA played a crucial part in funding Osama indirectly through the Pakistani ISI and this is the beginning of a number of momentous 'cock-ups' which continue all the way from 1980 to the twin tower bombing. It is arguably the most expensive mistake the U.S has ever made by simply handing the ISI about $3 billion and complete control of how the funds should be distributed in the 1980s.
Needless to say, the Afghan war against the communists ended up creating a transnational force of islamist militants who have spread terrorism and guerilla movements around the world.
Time after time the U.S stumbles onto the tracks of these terrorists and simply ignores the enormity of the posed threat. There is a real lack of imagination and a huge amount of self deception that seems to go on with the CIA.
What this book clearly represents is the privitization of terrorism and how a radical ideology can suddenly turn into a deadly epidemic.
This book certainly dispels some of the myths surrounding Osama Bin Laden propogated by the media. He was never trained or directly funded by the CIA and was never a CIA agent. Nonetheless the CIA played a crucial part in funding Osama indirectly through the Pakistani ISI and this is the beginning of a number of momentous 'cock-ups' which continue all the way from 1980 to the twin tower bombing. It is arguably the most expensive mistake the U.S has ever made by simply handing the ISI about $3 billion and complete control of how the funds should be distributed in the 1980s.
Needless to say, the Afghan war against the communists ended up creating a transnational force of islamist militants who have spread terrorism and guerilla movements around the world.
Time after time the U.S stumbles onto the tracks of these terrorists and simply ignores the enormity of the posed threat. There is a real lack of imagination and a huge amount of self deception that seems to go on with the CIA.
What this book clearly represents is the privitization of terrorism and how a radical ideology can suddenly turn into a deadly epidemic.
January 16, 2009
What does Osama want? Not us, for sure. And no surprise, neither do the Saudi's. A non-hysterical approach to radical Islam. It reminded me of The World is Flat.
January 18, 2022
I would have given this three stars, but the afterword which was the concluding chapter seeking to bring the book together was awful, containing a lot of inaccuracies and predictions which turned out to be completely wrong.
Part of the problem was the time span of the book rushing it out a year after 9/11 meant that it was crammed together and a lot has happened since. This is not the author's fault in the main and I know that Bergen has produced numerous books since 9/11 on the subject which I will give a try and may be of better quality.
The book was interesting when it described Bin Laden's background and family history and how he came to lead Al Qaeda.
The book is also strong on describing the globalised nature of Al Qaeda and how Al Qaeda has benefited from acting in a globalised world.
Some of the best work in this book is when it looks at Afghanistan and Taliban. Yemen was also written well on.
The overall quality of the writing is quite good, although often the author seems to jump to conclusions without backing it up or only includes it in footnotes.
The array of footnotes show that the book was researched well, though I don't think the research was always best interpreted, presented and explained in the book.
Too often in the book it flits between being a travelogue or a serious piece of research on Islamist extremist terrorism. There is a way this could have been done if it was connected well, but it wasn't in my view and made the book feel disjointed.
A lot of interesting things were touched upon, but not expanded upon enough. This meant you got good headlines and that's important, but not enough detail.
Too often the book in certain chapters also veered too far off the subject of Bin Laden without connecting back to him.
Throughout the book Islamism is not defined well.
The chapters were of varying quality. Some I thought were good, others OK and then poor.
What really let the book down and caused me to give the book a two was the conclusion. As had happened in the beginning chapter the antisemitic nature of Al Qaeda and Islamist terrorism is played down whilst he simultaneously highlights the antisemitic statements of Bin Laden. He makes predictions about the U.S. Saudi Alliance and Al Qaeda which even at the time looked shaky and turned out to be wildly inaccurately. He rightly highlights Saudi Arabia's role in spreading Islamist terrorism but ignores Iran, just as when in the opening chapter he talks about Al Qaeda being the first global terrorists he ignores the terrorist attack on a Jewish community centre in the 90s. Iranian and Saudi leaders as Kim Ghattas highlights both spread have both spread terrorism and to only concentrate on Saudi Arabia does not tell the whole story. He also says with no basis in fact that Muslim Kosovans are Muslims in name only.
I will try other books by Bergen but this book was a let down, which went from average to below average in my mind due to a terrible concluding chapter.
Part of the problem was the time span of the book rushing it out a year after 9/11 meant that it was crammed together and a lot has happened since. This is not the author's fault in the main and I know that Bergen has produced numerous books since 9/11 on the subject which I will give a try and may be of better quality.
The book was interesting when it described Bin Laden's background and family history and how he came to lead Al Qaeda.
The book is also strong on describing the globalised nature of Al Qaeda and how Al Qaeda has benefited from acting in a globalised world.
Some of the best work in this book is when it looks at Afghanistan and Taliban. Yemen was also written well on.
The overall quality of the writing is quite good, although often the author seems to jump to conclusions without backing it up or only includes it in footnotes.
The array of footnotes show that the book was researched well, though I don't think the research was always best interpreted, presented and explained in the book.
Too often in the book it flits between being a travelogue or a serious piece of research on Islamist extremist terrorism. There is a way this could have been done if it was connected well, but it wasn't in my view and made the book feel disjointed.
A lot of interesting things were touched upon, but not expanded upon enough. This meant you got good headlines and that's important, but not enough detail.
Too often the book in certain chapters also veered too far off the subject of Bin Laden without connecting back to him.
Throughout the book Islamism is not defined well.
The chapters were of varying quality. Some I thought were good, others OK and then poor.
What really let the book down and caused me to give the book a two was the conclusion. As had happened in the beginning chapter the antisemitic nature of Al Qaeda and Islamist terrorism is played down whilst he simultaneously highlights the antisemitic statements of Bin Laden. He makes predictions about the U.S. Saudi Alliance and Al Qaeda which even at the time looked shaky and turned out to be wildly inaccurately. He rightly highlights Saudi Arabia's role in spreading Islamist terrorism but ignores Iran, just as when in the opening chapter he talks about Al Qaeda being the first global terrorists he ignores the terrorist attack on a Jewish community centre in the 90s. Iranian and Saudi leaders as Kim Ghattas highlights both spread have both spread terrorism and to only concentrate on Saudi Arabia does not tell the whole story. He also says with no basis in fact that Muslim Kosovans are Muslims in name only.
I will try other books by Bergen but this book was a let down, which went from average to below average in my mind due to a terrible concluding chapter.
January 16, 2012
Researched during the late 1990’s and published months after 9/11, this journalist explores the scope, tactics and motivations of Bin Laden and Al Qaeda. I do not have sufficient background on this topic to evaluate the research of conclusions. But I found the book to be very readable, interesting, and informative.
December 26, 2016
I can sum this book up in one word ... Chilling.
July 12, 2019
Readable journalistic overview
If you don't know the difference between al-Qaeda and the Taliban (and before September 11 '01, I sure did not) or if you're a little fuzzy about where Yemen is in relation to Afghanistan, this an excellent book. Peter Bergen is CNN's terrorism analyst and an experienced reporter. He uses a wide range of sources including his own experience to describe the al-Qaeda terrorist organization. There's even a map of the Middle East that you can refer to as you read.
But those with some expertise in the world of the mindless jihad masters and the issuance of pretentious fatwas will find this rather limited, I would imagine. We don't really get "Inside the Secret World of Osama bin Laden," but rather are provided with a narrative distilled from numerous news accounts augmented with Bergen's interviews and travel experiences. Essentially, we stayed outside the organization (but so did the CIA). Furthermore, Bergen's "Holy War, Inc." characterization of al-Qaeda as a kind of multinational corporation is exactly the sort of catchy, but superficial and misleading designation that irritates the cognoscenti. Al-Qaeda does not turn a profit, nor does it look to turn a profit. It exists on funds raised from charities, from donations from Muslim fat cat businessmen, from bin Laden's inheritance and from funds siphoned from various commercial enterprises, both legal and illegal, and from what it can beg, borrow and steal. It would perhaps be more accurate to designate al-Qaeda as a Mephistophelian service organization. Perhaps "The Black Crescent" would be an appropriate agnomen.
Nonetheless, to Bergen's credit this is not the usual sort of "rush to judgment" volume churned out by book publishers to take advantage of a major news event. Bergen had the book finished in August and apparently was working on the proofs when the planes crashed into the World Trade Center buildings on September 11. At that point of course the book was reshaped and spun to tie in with that event so that Bergen's interview with bin Laden (aired on CNN May 10, 1997) forms part of a Prologue entitled, "How to Find the World's Most Wanted Man."
The strength of the book is in its readability and in the sense that Bergen gives us of what it is like to be an international journalist today (and for those out in the field, it is dangerous to be sure). Characteristically, Bergen describes his trek to and into Afghanistan including the wearing of blindfolds during the last leg to bin Laden's hideout. This personal experience view continues throughout the book and is one of the book's strengths--although of course Bergen does want to make sure we understand that he is more than a "put on the make up and read the cue cards" sort of journalist.
What Bergen notices, and what he reports to us, tell us as much about Bergen as about the world of the terrorist. He reports on the food and what the taxi drivers say. He notices the terrain, the weapons, the dress of the men he meets, and he gives us a good feel for the conditions he and other journalists encounter. What is missing, at least from my point of view, is a cohesive overall understanding or perspective. Perhaps the events are so new, and the trees of the forest so mesmerizingly vivid that it is impossible as yet to discern the larger picture.
But Bergen does attempt a larger understanding. He compares al-Qaeda to the infamous Assassins, founded as an Ismailian sect in what was then Persia in 1090. Supposedly under the influence of hashish, the Assassins brought death and destruction on Christian Crusaders for upwards of two hundred years. (It remains to be seen how long al-Qaeda lasts.) I found it revealing to learn that the head of the Assassins was referred to as "the old man of the mountain" (according to Webster's Second International), just the sort of personage that bin Laden would idolize and try to emulate.
Bergen also attempts a little political philosophy by critiquing Harvard professor Samuel Huntington's "Clash of Civilizations" thesis in the Afterward, but not very successfully, I might say, since the tribal and fundamentalist world view of the Taliban and al-Qaeda supporters really is in a monumental collision with Western modernity.
Bottom line: this is a good book, a little superficial and a little thin, but then, so's the news.
--Dennis Littrell, author of the mystery novel, “Teddy and Teri”
If you don't know the difference between al-Qaeda and the Taliban (and before September 11 '01, I sure did not) or if you're a little fuzzy about where Yemen is in relation to Afghanistan, this an excellent book. Peter Bergen is CNN's terrorism analyst and an experienced reporter. He uses a wide range of sources including his own experience to describe the al-Qaeda terrorist organization. There's even a map of the Middle East that you can refer to as you read.
But those with some expertise in the world of the mindless jihad masters and the issuance of pretentious fatwas will find this rather limited, I would imagine. We don't really get "Inside the Secret World of Osama bin Laden," but rather are provided with a narrative distilled from numerous news accounts augmented with Bergen's interviews and travel experiences. Essentially, we stayed outside the organization (but so did the CIA). Furthermore, Bergen's "Holy War, Inc." characterization of al-Qaeda as a kind of multinational corporation is exactly the sort of catchy, but superficial and misleading designation that irritates the cognoscenti. Al-Qaeda does not turn a profit, nor does it look to turn a profit. It exists on funds raised from charities, from donations from Muslim fat cat businessmen, from bin Laden's inheritance and from funds siphoned from various commercial enterprises, both legal and illegal, and from what it can beg, borrow and steal. It would perhaps be more accurate to designate al-Qaeda as a Mephistophelian service organization. Perhaps "The Black Crescent" would be an appropriate agnomen.
Nonetheless, to Bergen's credit this is not the usual sort of "rush to judgment" volume churned out by book publishers to take advantage of a major news event. Bergen had the book finished in August and apparently was working on the proofs when the planes crashed into the World Trade Center buildings on September 11. At that point of course the book was reshaped and spun to tie in with that event so that Bergen's interview with bin Laden (aired on CNN May 10, 1997) forms part of a Prologue entitled, "How to Find the World's Most Wanted Man."
The strength of the book is in its readability and in the sense that Bergen gives us of what it is like to be an international journalist today (and for those out in the field, it is dangerous to be sure). Characteristically, Bergen describes his trek to and into Afghanistan including the wearing of blindfolds during the last leg to bin Laden's hideout. This personal experience view continues throughout the book and is one of the book's strengths--although of course Bergen does want to make sure we understand that he is more than a "put on the make up and read the cue cards" sort of journalist.
What Bergen notices, and what he reports to us, tell us as much about Bergen as about the world of the terrorist. He reports on the food and what the taxi drivers say. He notices the terrain, the weapons, the dress of the men he meets, and he gives us a good feel for the conditions he and other journalists encounter. What is missing, at least from my point of view, is a cohesive overall understanding or perspective. Perhaps the events are so new, and the trees of the forest so mesmerizingly vivid that it is impossible as yet to discern the larger picture.
But Bergen does attempt a larger understanding. He compares al-Qaeda to the infamous Assassins, founded as an Ismailian sect in what was then Persia in 1090. Supposedly under the influence of hashish, the Assassins brought death and destruction on Christian Crusaders for upwards of two hundred years. (It remains to be seen how long al-Qaeda lasts.) I found it revealing to learn that the head of the Assassins was referred to as "the old man of the mountain" (according to Webster's Second International), just the sort of personage that bin Laden would idolize and try to emulate.
Bergen also attempts a little political philosophy by critiquing Harvard professor Samuel Huntington's "Clash of Civilizations" thesis in the Afterward, but not very successfully, I might say, since the tribal and fundamentalist world view of the Taliban and al-Qaeda supporters really is in a monumental collision with Western modernity.
Bottom line: this is a good book, a little superficial and a little thin, but then, so's the news.
--Dennis Littrell, author of the mystery novel, “Teddy and Teri”
July 4, 2023
911 was the seminal event that touched off what I call the Age of Fear (the first of a three part trilogy that I plan on writing). "Holy War Inc." is the kind of book you write that seems a labor of love whilst writing but turn out to be shaped by the winds of destiny when complete. Of course I am referring to the fact that Peter Bergen spent much of the 90's doing research into Islamist extremism and completed and published his book just prior to the nightmare of Sept 11 2001.
In any case Bergen tries to make sense of the disparate networks that made up the Al-Qaeda franchise...and yes "franchise" is a word I use quite deliberately because Bergen's narrative is centered on the fact that AQ made use of the very tools that powered the dot-com revolution in the mid to late 90's to spread its poisonous creed. E-mail, fax, websites, satellite phones, online monographs, ...technology that seems primitive now was considered the very cutting edge at that time and AQ was at the tip of the spear in using those technologies to both be hidden in plain site AND evade law enforcement which still had the mindset of primitive men in caves rather than the "holy war inc." sophisticated operation that was the grim modus operandi of men of terror at the time.
The material on Bin Laden himself did not satisfy. To be fair this was still very early in our appreciation of how much the cult of personality of OBL influenced the jihadist movement overall and some of the material on him seemed patched on after the fact (Bergen would go on to write several more books on OBL in the decade to come)
But considering the context of the time it was published and released (after 911 but before even the first invasion of Afghanistan) readers hungered for whatever credible information they could find about those who perpetrated the madness of 911. Thankfully Bergen's book and the sum total of his efforts during the proceeding decade offered some credible perspective as the Age of Fear began to spread its shadow over the ensuing decade.
In any case Bergen tries to make sense of the disparate networks that made up the Al-Qaeda franchise...and yes "franchise" is a word I use quite deliberately because Bergen's narrative is centered on the fact that AQ made use of the very tools that powered the dot-com revolution in the mid to late 90's to spread its poisonous creed. E-mail, fax, websites, satellite phones, online monographs, ...technology that seems primitive now was considered the very cutting edge at that time and AQ was at the tip of the spear in using those technologies to both be hidden in plain site AND evade law enforcement which still had the mindset of primitive men in caves rather than the "holy war inc." sophisticated operation that was the grim modus operandi of men of terror at the time.
The material on Bin Laden himself did not satisfy. To be fair this was still very early in our appreciation of how much the cult of personality of OBL influenced the jihadist movement overall and some of the material on him seemed patched on after the fact (Bergen would go on to write several more books on OBL in the decade to come)
But considering the context of the time it was published and released (after 911 but before even the first invasion of Afghanistan) readers hungered for whatever credible information they could find about those who perpetrated the madness of 911. Thankfully Bergen's book and the sum total of his efforts during the proceeding decade offered some credible perspective as the Age of Fear began to spread its shadow over the ensuing decade.
October 15, 2018
This book gave me so many details on who bin Laden was and what he did specifically and how he communicated with his allies. How he crushed the soviet union in Afghanistan, that made him a hero to the Muslim community. Couldn’t believe Peter Bergen got a close up with Osama to write up this book “Holy War Inc” this book was really persuasive, I would've took notes because this book would help in a history class. Many details on how Bergen was on the hunt for Osama asking his side of the war I should say, what he did why he did it, and when the group “al-Qaeda”(made many camps all over the world to train for terrorism to be made) was created, that was a major detail for me personally. Gave much information of that. Most of the “war”(2001) was before this book was published so it gave Bergen lots of good time to make this book quite perfect. I’d recommend this to anyone who would want to learn about the terrorist group “al-Qaeda” or war in general 1980s-2001, also Osama’s side of the war.
October 24, 2025
this is a short and to be honest dated book that I have had in my library for a while. I picked it up because I am pursuing as much information about Iran, Afghanistan, and jihadis, etc., as I can right now.
It's a great book. And again it is dated. It would have been a great book to read in 2003 but by now it is old news. We know a lot of this already.
A few interesting things that stood out is how the mindset at that time was different and changed so much. Conspiracy theory has now taken over a bit and there's not as much of a trust level in what our government has told us about these people. We know now that John Brennan helped arrange for many men like this... including some of the 9-11 hijackers... to get Visas into the country via the Saudi consulate in Jeddah.
There is just a lot of weird stuff that we know now. This is a good book to read as a primer as you dig deeper but it is dated.
It's a great book. And again it is dated. It would have been a great book to read in 2003 but by now it is old news. We know a lot of this already.
A few interesting things that stood out is how the mindset at that time was different and changed so much. Conspiracy theory has now taken over a bit and there's not as much of a trust level in what our government has told us about these people. We know now that John Brennan helped arrange for many men like this... including some of the 9-11 hijackers... to get Visas into the country via the Saudi consulate in Jeddah.
There is just a lot of weird stuff that we know now. This is a good book to read as a primer as you dig deeper but it is dated.
July 9, 2024
It felt like reading through the archives where a person should easily thread along.
The book walks through the life of the most wanted man at that time which was earlier filled with much misinformation and false reporting.
The interesting part is that this archival book answers the most crucial questions that still the intelligence community ponders still today : What made the community so Anti-West? & What is the financial route map for the present day islamic terror ? which caught my attention.
Certain constructive criticism when I like to introduce it is that the author tries to dilute the involvement of the USA in raising hardline extremes and one of the points that caught my eye was, 'American officials did not venture into Afghanistan' : I hope the author might not have seen Texas Rep. Charles Wilson posing with Mujahideen circa 1980s. Denouncing CIA offical Milt Bearden account of claiming CIA base in Afghanistan seems far fetched.
This book might have been a treasure trove of information just after 9/11 and still is.
The book walks through the life of the most wanted man at that time which was earlier filled with much misinformation and false reporting.
The interesting part is that this archival book answers the most crucial questions that still the intelligence community ponders still today : What made the community so Anti-West? & What is the financial route map for the present day islamic terror ? which caught my attention.
Certain constructive criticism when I like to introduce it is that the author tries to dilute the involvement of the USA in raising hardline extremes and one of the points that caught my eye was, 'American officials did not venture into Afghanistan' : I hope the author might not have seen Texas Rep. Charles Wilson posing with Mujahideen circa 1980s. Denouncing CIA offical Milt Bearden account of claiming CIA base in Afghanistan seems far fetched.
This book might have been a treasure trove of information just after 9/11 and still is.
November 16, 2020
Holy Cow...What A Holy Mess We're In
Written by Mandi Chestler on May 19th, 2007
Book Rating: 4/5
Excellent and important reading. For those who dismiss bin Laden as just a crazy guy hiding in a cave, this audio book is a must "listen". Terrorism is big business for the militant Islamist movement. The idea of Osama as CEO of a successful jihad corporation with ties to lots of related terrorist franchise operations around the world is chilling. Bin Laden's organization is a well-oiled--pardon the pun--killing machine. Destroying Americans is business as usual with these guys.
June 11, 2022
This is an excellent book for those interested in the history and inner workings of one of history’s most hated men (and the shockingly complex global organization he created).
Also of note: this book was published in 2002, and there’s an absurd and oddly optimistic moment in the ending about the future of US involvement in Afghanistan and Iraq that is especially bitter and ironic when put up against the test of time. It’s certainly a sign that this book is dated. But I do recommend reading it if you’re interested in some of the darker aspects of contemporary Middle Eastern history.
Also of note: this book was published in 2002, and there’s an absurd and oddly optimistic moment in the ending about the future of US involvement in Afghanistan and Iraq that is especially bitter and ironic when put up against the test of time. It’s certainly a sign that this book is dated. But I do recommend reading it if you’re interested in some of the darker aspects of contemporary Middle Eastern history.
December 5, 2020
This was the first book I've read with a detailed and well-researched history of Osama bin Laden and al-Queda.
Peter Bergen, the author, was one of the CNN crew that videotaped and disseminated the historic bin Laden interview (conducted in Afghanistan) on CNN, broadcast to over 100 countries.
I learned a lot that I didn't know previously.
Peter Bergen, the author, was one of the CNN crew that videotaped and disseminated the historic bin Laden interview (conducted in Afghanistan) on CNN, broadcast to over 100 countries.
I learned a lot that I didn't know previously.
April 7, 2021
One of the better books about laden , author goes in details about his previous life of a successful businessman and how it all changed slowly thanks in part to yours truly, God .
Author is honest and not very overly aopologetic about all the wedding crashing thats being done by U.S air force which is a good change .
Author is honest and not very overly aopologetic about all the wedding crashing thats being done by U.S air force which is a good change .
January 13, 2018
Good background and insightful at the time of its writing; wish I had read it around publication rather than 16 years later as it provides a brief history and backround of Osama Bin Laden.
Read
August 19, 2019Peter picks it up from "The Osama bin Laden, I know" and explores bin Laden's reasons for purported Jihad. Beautifully done.
May 19, 2024
Fascinating to read this book so many years later. So many of the themes still apply
Read
December 16, 2024Stupid
May 30, 2012
This book was already in the works, when due to the events of the 11th of September 2001, former CNN terrorism analyst Bergen had it rushed to press without much editing time. Accordingly the book is a bit jumbled. Nonetheless the book offers a decent description of bin Laden's upbringing and background (including insights into bin Laden's hostility which stems from his fundamentalist opposition to an American military presence in Saudi Arabia, the US bias toward Israel, and the un-Islamic behavior of Egypt and Saudi Arabia); a summary of the organization of the al-Qaeda terrorist network as it has developed in the Middle East, Europe, and America; insights into the al-Qaeda-Taliban connection (these suffer a bit as they were written before the Taliban were removed and the Kharzi government was installed); and a refresher course on terrorist events through 11th of September 2001 that most did not pay attention to when they happened and those who did have forgotten since. The book is especially valuable if read after reading Kaplan’s book on Afghanistan and Margolis’ book on Central Asia.
March 26, 2020
I was a young child during 9/11 but I remember it well. Despite this, I will admit that I knew surprisingly little about Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda. I picked up Holy War, Inc. in a local bookstore and I found it very intriguing. Bergen clearly did exhaustive research on the topic and his alleged first-hand dealings with bin Laden gave him some level of credibility, at least in theory. Furthermore, the book addressed many questions that I had. However, the book does drag in places as Bergen crams in a great deal of information, some of which did not seem terribly relevant. Bergen also came across as something of an apologist for at least one of bin Laden’s associates which could be seen as being in poor taste. Additionally, I could have done without his sneering put-downs of Christianity which should not have survived the editing process. Overall, I recommend this one on the basis of its thoroughness and how informative it is.
January 2, 2015
A good primer on modern jihadism, just one I wish I had read before all the others! Unfortunately, at this point it all seems like review; nevertheless, Mr. Bergen had the advantage of recognizing a growing and dangerous problem far before the rest of the world and aptly points out all of the missed opportunities of addressing it before 9/11. Many people mark 9/11 as al Qaeda's entry to the world stage and fail to see the two decades (at least!) of deadly activity preceding.
A good starting point for anyone unfamiliar with al Qaeda or modern terrorism, but may feel too basic for avid history readers.
A good starting point for anyone unfamiliar with al Qaeda or modern terrorism, but may feel too basic for avid history readers.
May 13, 2012
A little less relevant now considering he no longer has a beating heart, if he did when he was alive anyway. This was a great account by a reporter that shares his experience being able to meet him and gives a very well informed background on his history, including the intricate details of how things were run (with his given information). I would recommend for anyone who wants to know about Osama bin Laden but also for anyone interested in understanding terrorist networks and broadly, aspects of radical Islam in the Middle East.
September 3, 2008
I first read this book as part of a Cold War course in college. At the time, 9/11 was all to much apart of my recent history, and the meaning of this book took on, perhaps, a much different meaning had I read this book before those events. It approaches Holy War as a type of business, and compares it to a bizzaro consumer culture / capitalism. At least, that is the feeling I took away after reading. I would read this again, to see what I take away from its content nearly 6 years later.
April 13, 2009
Good. But other books cover the same info (The Osbama Bin Laden I Know, Unholy Wars, and Ghost Wars) in a little more detail.
The book does make interesting points about the Egyptian Islamist movement's (Qatab and Zawahiri) influence on Bin Laden and Bin Laden's influence on nationalist movements (Chechnya and Algeria started as nationalist movements, but with influence of AQ members became more of a jidhast strugglet.).
The book does make interesting points about the Egyptian Islamist movement's (Qatab and Zawahiri) influence on Bin Laden and Bin Laden's influence on nationalist movements (Chechnya and Algeria started as nationalist movements, but with influence of AQ members became more of a jidhast strugglet.).
August 7, 2010
An interesting and informative analysis about Bin Laden and Al Qaeda. However, the 2002 edition I read is a bit dated. Bergen's other book, "The Osama Bin Laden I Know" is a better, more detailed read. However, Holy War Inc. has some interesting commentary on Al Qaeda itself, and is an interesting analysis of Al Qaeda as a global organization working within the context of modern globalization.
August 18, 2011
This book was all about the author's travel through the Middle East to try to get an interview with UBL himself. It is alright, but honestly doesn't give much insight into the man himself or what is really going on in the region. I think the decade since this book came out has provided a lot of time for more thorough scholarship to be developed. You could do a lot worse than this for something to pass the time, but you aren't going to find yourself enlightened at the end.
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April 29, 2016An excellent book that opened my eyes to the world of Islamic fundamentalists. As a research book, it provided some excellent insights not only into those jihadists ready to cowardly prep others to sacrifice themselves, but also of "These Englishers who do not believe in God," but believe in money and privilege, and who are just as responsible for the senseless blood and carnage of the early 21st century.
December 5, 2007
Written by the only westerner to have a face to face interview with O.B.L. Anyone who thinks that President Bush is more dangerous to America then this guy should read this book. Bin Laden as CEO of a very powerful corperation. Holy War Incorperated is the corperation we should be terrified of.
March 4, 2008
Slightly dated due to everything that has happened since 9/11 and some hasty editing (it went to editors just before 9/11 and was rushed to publication) it is a book begging for a 2nd edition or at least a sequel. Nevertheless, it is a hugely informative book with a writing style I really enjoyed.
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