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Anatomy of Terror: From the Death of bin Laden to the Rise of the Islamic State Hardcover – May 2, 2017

by Ali Soufan (Author)
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 403 ratings
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A compelling, definitive account of how and why bin Laden’s ideology keeps rising from the dead.

In early 2011, the heart of the Muslim world roiled in protest, consumed with the upheaval of the Arab Spring. The governments of Tunisia and Egypt had already fallen; those of Libya and Yemen would soon follow. Watching the chaos from his hideout in Pakistan, Osama bin Laden saw a historic opportunity: “the next stage,” he declared, “will be the reinstating of the rule of the caliphate.”

Within weeks, bin Laden was dead, shot in the dark by a U.S. Navy SEAL. Commentators around the world began to prophesy al-Qaeda’s imminent demise. But six years later, the reality is the reverse. The group’s affiliates have swollen, and the Islamic State―al-Qaeda’s most brutal spinoff to date―proclaims itself the reborn caliphate bin Laden foretold in his final weeks.

In Anatomy of Terror, former FBI special agent and New York Times best-selling author Ali Soufan dissects bin Laden’s brand of jihadi terrorism and its major offshoots, revealing how these organizations were formed, how they operate, their strengths, and―crucially―their weaknesses. This riveting account examines the new Islamic radicalism through the eyes of its flag-bearers, including a Jordanian former drug dealer whose cruelties shocked even his fellow militants, an Air Force colonel who once served Saddam Hussein, and a provincial bookworm who declared himself caliph of all Muslims. We meet Ayman al-Zawahiri, titular head of al-Qaeda; Saif al-Adel, an Egyptian ex-soldier who faked his own death to become the group’s security chief; and bin Laden’s own beloved son Hamza, a prime candidate to lead the organization his late father founded.

To eliminate the scourge of terrorism, we must first know who the enemy actually is, and what his motivations are. Anatomy of Terror lays bare the psychology and inner workings of al-Qaeda, the Islamic State, and their spawn, and shows how the spread of terror can be stopped.

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Previous page
  1. Print length
    384 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    W. W. Norton & Company
  4. Publication date
    May 2, 2017
  5. Dimensions
    6.5 x 1.3 x 9.6 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0393241173
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0393241174
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Ali Soufan is our most important chronicler of the rise and spread of Islamist terror movements. A former FBI agent who identified the hijackers of 9/11, and whose interrogation of al-Qaeda members―without torture―led to innumerable breakthroughs, Soufan is a unique resource and a moral beacon. In a time when our intelligence community as well as our country seem to have lost their bearings, his clear voice guides us through the fog of war and partisanship. Anyone who wants to understand the world we live in now should read this book."
― Lawrence Wright, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Looming Tower and The Terror Years

"Revealing and timely…. Soufan writes with immense knowledge and authority…. Anatomy of Terror not only tells a gripping story but is filled with insights that put today’s terror attacks by the Islamic State and Al Qaeda in perspective with the history and complicated geopolitics of the region."
― Michiko Kakutani, New York Times

"Into this moment of counterterrorism policy despair, Ali Soufan, one of America’s original terror warriors, has returned to help us take stock…. Soufan retells the Qaeda story from the beginning, enriching that now oft-told tale with newer materials."
― Charlie Savage, New York Times Book Review

"Anatomy of Terror tells the stories of the leaders of al-Qaeda and IS… [F]or America, the main enemies are still the organized groups abroad."
― The Economist

"Anyone interested in terrorism needs this book:… it provides a blend of history and social and political inspection that lends authority and insights."
― Midwest Book Review

"A concise, accessible, enormously readable account of the trajectory of al-Qaeda… In a dizzying scenario of violence, Soufan provides clarity and balance."
― Kirkus (starred review)

"A true insider’s perspective… This is an important and unsettling effort to describe and understand a threat that will continue indefinitely."
― Booklist

"Highly informative and compelling… An important book for everyone who wants to understand the influence of bin Laden and al-Qaeda on today’s terrorist groups."
― Nader Entessar, Library Journal

"A deep look at the inner workings, ideology, internal politics, and strategies of modern Islamic terrorism.… Soufan reveals himself to be a true expert."
― Publishers Weekly

About the Author

Ali Soufan, a former FBI special agent and the lead investigator on some of the world’s?most complex international terrorism cases, gained an?international reputation as a top counterterrorism operative. He is the chairman and CEO of The Soufan Group, founder of The Soufan Center, and has been featured in books, films, television series, newspaper articles, and documentaries across the globe.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ W. W. Norton & Company; First Edition (May 2, 2017)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 384 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0393241173
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0393241174
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.56 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.5 x 1.3 x 9.6 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 403 ratings

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Ali Soufan

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Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
403 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Rick Gehrke
5.0 out of 5 stars Required Reading for Today's Leaders
Reviewed in the United States on May 22, 2017
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I read Ali Soufan's book Anatomy of Terror on recommendation from a trusted friend and former military colleague who works with him. I was a USAF airborne cryptologic linguist (Arabic) throughout the 80's and have some familiarity with the region and subject matter, although more than a little dated.

For those of you who have the time and inclination to get a more useful understanding of what's been happening, this book provides insight that you won't get from reading the news on the web, or from the endless glut of political rhetoric. The scope of this book goes far beyond the subtitle, so be prepared.

I found this book educational, and an enjoyable read. It not only provides insight into recent and current events, but also delves into the historical, cultural, and psychological roots of this seemingly intractable problem and the personalities involved, presenting the information in an engaging style. The book describes extremist groups big and small, with their origins, philosophies, methods, goals, interactions, notable attacks, and points of failure. One of the major takeaways I got from this reading is how the appalling depths of illiteracy and lack of education play straight into the hands of violent extremists. I hope that our leaders in the west will study this book, and take that perspective into account when crafting solutions.

I got the Kindle edition, which with a web connection allows easy lookup of unfamiliar terms. Concisely and eloquently written, Anatomy of Terror was a worthy investment of my reading time. I'm hoping to see an Arabic edition released. Highly recommended reading for anyone interested in history, military operations, counter-terrorism and, dare I say it, peace on earth.

It's been said many times that the fight against terrorism isn't about religion, but a battle between good and evil. If that's true, then I suggest that evil can be defined as militant ignorance, and that this book and others like it are part of the cure.
55 people found this helpful
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C. Overgaard
4.0 out of 5 stars Great for people involved with antiterrorism but a little heavy for me,.
Reviewed in the United States on June 18, 2017
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This book is best read by people who have some involvement in our military and intelligence operations. Not being such a person, I was overwhelmed by the incredible detail the author presents about numerous participants in the terrorism movement. For many if not most of them he is able to describe their upbringing and development in considerable detail. I wonder how he was able to obtain this information.
I had difficulty with the timeline because it seemed that the author would move back and forth between events before and after 9/11.

I would like to have seen more detail about how the various terrorist groups have been financed. Osama bin Laden seemed to have had millions to spread around among the various groups he supported. Did those funds all come from his family or were they enhanced by nations such as Saudi Arabia. Soufan does mention that some funding came from Arab nations but does not go into detail. He does describe how ISIS has assembled people who have expertise in various business and financial matters.

Soufan is not very encouraging about how the United States and other western nations can control terrorist groups. He notes that al-Qaeda has long "peddled the view that the West is engaged in a 'war against Islam' with the active connivance" of many Arab leaders. He concludes that almost nothing is being done to counter the impression that the West is deliberating suppressing the Muslims' religion and that we have "fueled the narrative" by among other things invading Iraq.

As long as millions of Muslims have "a life of mediocrity, isolation, and tedium," they are vulnerable to extremists propaganda" and the defeat of any one group such as ISIS will not be the end of terrorism.
7 people found this helpful
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EmmaGH
5.0 out of 5 stars Terrific insight and a very good read
Reviewed in the United States on May 16, 2017
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This is a well-written book by an author with long-standing interest in the Middle East, as well as expert knowledge from a career including anti-terrorism work for the FBI. His unusual depth of knowledge should provide new information not only for someone informed by news reports (as I am) but also to those who come to it much better educated on the topic. It is not "who bombed what when." With information about how Bin Laden and others lived and evolved, the struggles between factions, etc., he intersperses relevant historical information (20th century, 7th century) that provides a basis for understanding, and does this without being pedantic.

My only quibble with the book is the sub-title, "from the death of Bin Laden to the rise of the Islamic state." which implies a narrower scope than the book provides.

In the introduction, Soufan writes:
"The key to a more constructive use of our imaginations is empathy - not in the colloquial sense of sharing another person's perspective, but in the clinical sense of being able to see the world through another person's eyes. Sadly, after fifteen years of the war on terrorism, we still do not really know our enemy in this deeper sense. In this book, by delving into the personalities of men who mean us harm, I aim not to create sympathy for them - far from it - but to help point the way to a deeper understanding of their worldview, their motivations, and how best to combat the destructive ideology they represent."

In my opinion, Soufan succeeds and meets that goal.
28 people found this helpful
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Charlene
5.0 out of 5 stars Another Terrific One by Soufan
Reviewed in the United States on September 24, 2023
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Ali Soufan is about the only living person that knows about terrorism--especially Islamic terrorism. This book is not new but I loaned a copy to a friend and never got it back and I just had to have another copy for my library. Soufan is a great storyteller and goes in such depth without boring you.
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Dave
5.0 out of 5 stars Ali Soufan Knows the Reality
Reviewed in the United States on June 25, 2017
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We so often read commentary from counterterrorism "experts," who, as often as not, know only what they've read. Such is not the case with Ali Soufan. Mr. Soufan has "walked the walk" and knows of what he speaks. He has taken his extensive knowledge of the enemy and reduced it in writing a memorable and thorough review of jihadism in the current day. An excellent book.
3 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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anas nadi
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent work 👍
Reviewed in Germany on March 3, 2022
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Excellent book 👍
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alkbt
5.0 out of 5 stars Livre arrivé rapidement et conforme à la description !
Reviewed in France on June 10, 2021
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Livre arrivé rapidement et conforme à la description !
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Richard
5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely fascinating!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 9, 2019
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This book has to be one of the best I’ve read on the subject of Jihad and Islamic extremism. Throughout, the author delves into key points in time with such accuracy I was left questioning my own understanding of this incredibly complex situation.

As the book suggest it’s unlikely we will see an end to the death and utter violence we now see in the Middle East any time soon, hope as we might, but for sure if the end is to come people need to realign their thinking.

Exceptional book and I can’t recommend it enough.
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C. Bell
5.0 out of 5 stars A very informative book!
Reviewed in Canada on June 16, 2017
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This book is an excellent read! Ali Soufan writes clearly and intelligently about the complex situation in which we now live. I feel I learned a great deal from reading this book and as a result have gained a better understanding of the current situation globally. Highly recommended!
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Elspeth
4.0 out of 5 stars Very informative
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 3, 2020
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Easy to read
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