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jlbates's review against another edition
4.0
Really good overview of about 2000-2014 and how we got to where we are now. Seemed to hit the right balance of details, fairness, and quick enough to maintain interest.
old_nikon_fm's review against another edition
5.0
A comprehensive and well written explanation of the ISIS phenomenon.
flightoftheearls's review
5.0
Phenomenal book. Great read for anyone trying to learn more about ISIS. Chillingly good.
srijan_06's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
tense
fast-paced
4.5
hopecaldwell's review against another edition
3.0
This falls in the category of book I would likely have never picked except for the book club pick. It prompted a really interesting discussion-enough to make me come home & finish it after we met. Although a Pulitzer Prize winner, I found the story telling to be far into the weeds, and I missed an overview of this complicated issue. However, the research is impressive and I certainly have a little better understanding of the region, the issues and some of the mistakes that were made.
johndiconsiglio's review against another edition
4.0
Chilling nonfiction narrative on the evolution of ISIS. Follows Jordanian thug Zarqawi’s rise from street hoodlum to terrorist superstar—thanks in part to American missteps. The details are so vivid & compelling that it seems this Pulitzer Prize-winning Washington Post reporter was everywhere—from desolate Afghan caves & hellhole Jordanian prisons to battle-scarred Fallujah streets & secret White House briefing rooms. Not the first stellar post-9/11 journalism (it’s reminiscent of Wright’s Looming Tower, without being derivative), but earns its spot on that impressive shelf.
fairyribs's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
4.0
tittypete's review against another edition
5.0
Remember when the USA wisely took out the regime of Saddam Hussain in Iraq because he was building weapons of mass destruction? Well, through no fault of our own, the door was left open for a bunch of super level-headed Islam-enthusiasts so come in and start murdering everybody. They were headed by a charismatic boy rapist and decapitator name Al-Zarqawi and boy did he get his people riled up. They cut heads off Americans, set fire to Jordanians and in general set the outward look, tone and feel for “the world’s fastest-growing religion” since any other vibe for Islam is essentially silent and unseen except for the few yuckmouthed beardos that ‘claim’ this kind of stuff isn’t what the religion stands for. The hitch is, the pious ass-raper guy has his own yuckmouth beardos who say otherwise. All I know is whenever you hear someone yell in Arabic that “God is Great,” you’re probably fucked and going to die.
Anyway, Zarqawi forms a team and does a bunch of vile stuff. Eventually he’s even so vile that some of the Islams are pissed off and the good ol’ USA sends a bomb up his ass. But his fellow sodomites are still stoked on his message of cruelty and bloodlust and it just so happens that the Arab spring hits Syria and that USA this time just sort of waffles about what side they’re on so there’s a power vacuum and the pederast’s followers start their own country with their own yuckmouth fat virgin beardo in charge and basically everyone hates them except for rich assholes that give them money because they themselves are secret Islamo-pederasts.
This book is another bummer. Once again, my reaction is a firm: “fuck that part of the world and everyone in it.” Also Fuck the Bush administration for wiping its ass with our country’s reputation. Read this made me want to go full Pat Tillman.
Anyway, Zarqawi forms a team and does a bunch of vile stuff. Eventually he’s even so vile that some of the Islams are pissed off and the good ol’ USA sends a bomb up his ass. But his fellow sodomites are still stoked on his message of cruelty and bloodlust and it just so happens that the Arab spring hits Syria and that USA this time just sort of waffles about what side they’re on so there’s a power vacuum and the pederast’s followers start their own country with their own yuckmouth fat virgin beardo in charge and basically everyone hates them except for rich assholes that give them money because they themselves are secret Islamo-pederasts.
This book is another bummer. Once again, my reaction is a firm: “fuck that part of the world and everyone in it.” Also Fuck the Bush administration for wiping its ass with our country’s reputation. Read this made me want to go full Pat Tillman.