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9/11 books

Most Recommended Books

The Looming Tower by Lawrence Wright

The Looming Tower by Lawrence Wright

“Reading this one book gives you an excellent grasp of the human story and the context from which al-Qaeda emerged.”

Audrey Kurth Cronin, Political Scientist

Read more

Everyone old enough to be aware of what was happening remembers where they were on September 11th, 2001. Here, experts discuss the causes and history of 9/11, as well as exploring the books on the consequences of that fateful day.

The key book on the run-up to 9/11 is The Looming Tower by American journalist Lawrence Wright, one of the most recommended books across our whole site. It's a detailed narrative history of the events leading to 9/11, was based on five years of research and hundreds of interviews, but reads like a thriller.

If you're looking for a book about the day of the attacks, how the events unfolded and how they were experienced by ordinary people, The Only Plane in the Sky is the first comprehensive oral history of 9/11. It comes extremely highly recommended as an audiobook, with veteran audiobook reviewer Robin Whitten describing it as "a punch to the stomach listening to it."

Below, you'll find all our interviews and book recommendations relating to 9/11, from the Saudi millionaire's son who was behind it, Osama bin Laden, to the endless wars it spawned, to the works of literature and fiction it has inspired.

    The best books on 9/11, recommended by Yosri Fouda

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    The best books on 9/11 - The Osama bin Laden I know by Peter Bergen

    1

    The Osama bin Laden I know
    by Peter Bergen

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    The best books on 9/11 - The Looming Tower by Lawrence Wright

    2

    The Looming Tower
    by Lawrence Wright

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    The best books on 9/11 - The Least Worst Place by Karen Greenberg

    3

    The Least Worst Place
    by Karen Greenberg

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    The best books on 9/11 - Against All Enemies by Richard Clarke

    4

    Against All Enemies
    by Richard Clarke

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    The best books on 9/11 - Cover Up by Peter Lance

    5

    Cover Up
    by Peter Lance

The best books on 9/11, recommended by Yosri Fouda

Who was Osama bin Laden? How critical was he to the 9/11 attacks on the United States? What happened in the first 100 days at Guantanamo Bay? Who was in charge of the United States when George W Bush went into hiding? What should we make of all the conspiracy theories that have sprung up around the events of that day? Yosri Fouda, the veteran Egyptian investigative reporter, author and TV host talks us through his choice of the best books on 9/11.

    The Best 9/11 Literature, recommended by Amy Waldman

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    The Best 9/11 Literature - Strong is Your Hold by Galway Kinnell

    1

    Strong is Your Hold
    by Galway Kinnell

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    The Best 9/11 Literature - A Widow’s Walk by Marian Fontana

    2

    A Widow’s Walk
    by Marian Fontana

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    The Best 9/11 Literature - Harbor by Lorraine Adams

    3

    Harbor
    by Lorraine Adams

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    The Best 9/11 Literature - The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid

    4

    The Reluctant Fundamentalist
    by Mohsin Hamid

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    The Best 9/11 Literature - Open City by Teju Cole

    5

    Open City
    by Teju Cole

The Best 9/11 Literature, recommended by Amy Waldman

Amy Waldman reported on the aftermath of 9/11 for the New York Times, but when it came to writing a book about it, she wrote a novel. The Submission was hailed as one of the best novels to come out of the tragedy, including by the Financial Times. Here, she chooses some of the best literature inspired by 9/11, including novels, a memoir and a book of poetry.  

    The best books on Islamic Militancy, recommended by Jason Burke

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    The best books on Islamic Militancy - Jihad by Gilles Kepel

    1

    Jihad
    by Gilles Kepel

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    The best books on Islamic Militancy - A Fury for God by Malise Ruthven

    2

    A Fury for God
    by Malise Ruthven

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    The best books on Islamic Militancy - Jihad in Saudi Arabia by Thomas Hegghammer

    3

    Jihad in Saudi Arabia
    by Thomas Hegghammer

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    The best books on Islamic Militancy - The Secret Agent by Joseph Conrad

    4

    The Secret Agent
    by Joseph Conrad

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    The best books on Islamic Militancy - From Fatwa to Jihad by Kenan Malik

    5

    From Fatwa to Jihad
    by Kenan Malik

The best books on Islamic Militancy, recommended by Jason Burke

Jason Burke, journalist and author of an acclaimed book on Al-Qaeda, tells us what he learnt about militants when he was caught in a firefight in Iraq—and suggests five books we should read to understand their motivations.

    The best books on Osama bin Laden, recommended by Peter Bergen

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    The best books on Osama bin Laden - The Bin Ladens by Steve Coll

    1

    The Bin Ladens
    by Steve Coll

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    The best books on Osama bin Laden - Growing up bin Laden by Najwa bin Laden, Omar bin Laden and Jean Sasson

    2

    Growing up bin Laden
    by Najwa bin Laden, Omar bin Laden and Jean Sasson

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    The best books on Osama bin Laden - The Looming Tower by Lawrence Wright

    3

    The Looming Tower
    by Lawrence Wright

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    The best books on Osama bin Laden - Osama bin Laden by Michael Scheuer

    4

    Osama bin Laden
    by Michael Scheuer

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    The best books on Osama bin Laden - Al-Qaeda: The True Story of Radical Islam by Jason Burke

    5

    Al-Qaeda: The True Story of Radical Islam
    by Jason Burke

The best books on Osama bin Laden, recommended by Peter Bergen

Many thought that 9/11 was the start of an Al-Qaeda assault on the West, but it turned out to be Bin Laden’s Pearl Harbor – a victory that led to strategic defeat – says Peter Bergen, one of the few reporters who met the Saudi-born militant.

    The best books on Post-9/11 America, recommended by Peter Beinart

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    The best books on Post-9/11 America - The Fight is for Democracy by Edited by George Packer

    1

    The Fight is for Democracy
    by Edited by George Packer

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    The best books on Post-9/11 America - Dangerous Nation by Robert Kagan

    2

    Dangerous Nation
    by Robert Kagan

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    The best books on Post-9/11 America - The New American Militarism by Andrew J Bacevich

    3

    The New American Militarism
    by Andrew J Bacevich

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    The best books on Post-9/11 America - Rise of the Vulcans by James Mann

    4

    Rise of the Vulcans
    by James Mann

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    The best books on Post-9/11 America - Angler: The Cheney Vice Presidency by Barton Gellman

    5

    Angler: The Cheney Vice Presidency
    by Barton Gellman

The best books on Post-9/11 America, recommended by Peter Beinart

The neoconservative view that the US has a special mission in the world was supercharged by 9/11. There was also a sense that 9/11 could make America better. Sadly it didn’t work out that way, says Peter Beinart

    Andrew Exum recommends the best books for Understanding the War in Afghanistan

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    Andrew Exum recommends the best books for Understanding the War in Afghanistan - Afghanistan: A Cultural and Political History by Thomas Barfield

    1

    Afghanistan: A Cultural and Political History
    by Thomas Barfield

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    Andrew Exum recommends the best books for Understanding the War in Afghanistan - Heroes of the Age by David B Edwards

    2

    Heroes of the Age
    by David B Edwards

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    Andrew Exum recommends the best books for Understanding the War in Afghanistan - Before Taliban by David B Edwards

    3

    Before Taliban
    by David B Edwards

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    Andrew Exum recommends the best books for Understanding the War in Afghanistan - The Logic of Violence in Civil War by Stathis N Kalyvas

    4

    The Logic of Violence in Civil War
    by Stathis N Kalyvas

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    Andrew Exum recommends the best books for Understanding the War in Afghanistan - On War by Carl von Clausewitz

    5

    On War
    by Carl von Clausewitz

Andrew Exum recommends the best books for Understanding the War in Afghanistan

The US has repeatedly misdiagnosed the war in Afghanistan. Former soldier, Andrew Exum, tells us about flawed policy, unhappy outcomes and what could and should have been different.

    The best books on The Iraq War, recommended by Patrick Cockburn

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    The best books on The Iraq War - The Occupation of Iraq by Ali A Allawi

    1

    The Occupation of Iraq
    by Ali A Allawi

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    The best books on The Iraq War - Fiasco by Thomas E Ricks

    2

    Fiasco
    by Thomas E Ricks

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    The best books on The Iraq War - The Old Social Classes and the Revolutionary Movement in Iraq by Hanna Batatu

    3

    The Old Social Classes and the Revolutionary Movement in Iraq
    by Hanna Batatu

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    The best books on The Iraq War - Aftermath by Nir Rosen

    4

    Aftermath
    by Nir Rosen

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    The best books on The Iraq War - After Such Knowledge, What Forgiveness? by Jonathan Randal

    5

    After Such Knowledge, What Forgiveness?
    by Jonathan Randal

The best books on The Iraq War, recommended by Patrick Cockburn

The veteran Middle East correspondent gives us his tips for the best reading about the US-led invasion and occupation, and explains why the West shouldn’t have intervened in Iraq in the first place

    The best books on Al-Qaeda, recommended by Peter Taylor

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    The best books on Al-Qaeda - The Looming Tower by Lawrence Wright

    1

    The Looming Tower
    by Lawrence Wright

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    The best books on Al-Qaeda - The 9/11 Commission Report by National Commission on Terrorist Attacks

    2

    The 9/11 Commission Report
    by National Commission on Terrorist Attacks

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    The best books on Al-Qaeda - The Dark Side by Jane Mayer

    3

    The Dark Side
    by Jane Mayer

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    The best books on Al-Qaeda - Through our Enemies’ Eyes by Michael Scheuer

    4

    Through our Enemies’ Eyes
    by Michael Scheuer

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    The best books on Al-Qaeda - The Longest War by Peter Bergen

    5

    The Longest War
    by Peter Bergen

The best books on Al-Qaeda, recommended by Peter Taylor

The award-winning BBC documentary maker Peter Taylor tells us what he learned in his ten years investigating Al-Qaeda, and suggests what we should read to understand where the group came from, and what it’s still trying to do

    The best books on Terrorism, recommended by Mary Habeck

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    The best books on Terrorism - Inside Terrorism by Bruce Hoffman

    1

    Inside Terrorism
    by Bruce Hoffman

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    The best books on Terrorism - Understanding Terror Networks by Marc Sageman

    2

    Understanding Terror Networks
    by Marc Sageman

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    The best books on Terrorism - The Looming Tower by Lawrence Wright

    3

    The Looming Tower
    by Lawrence Wright

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    The best books on Terrorism - The Accidental Guerrilla: Fighting Small Wars in the Midst of a Big One by David Kilcullen

    4

    The Accidental Guerrilla: Fighting Small Wars in the Midst of a Big One
    by David Kilcullen

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    The best books on Terrorism - The Great Theft by Khaled Abou El Fadl

    5

    The Great Theft
    by Khaled Abou El Fadl

The best books on Terrorism, recommended by Mary Habeck

The Professor of Strategic Studies at Johns Hopkins University picks five books you must read to understand the War on Terror, starting with one that tries to define what terrorism is.

    The best books on Terrorism, recommended by Audrey Kurth Cronin

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    The best books on Terrorism - Every War Must End by Fred Charles Iklé

    1

    Every War Must End
    by Fred Charles Iklé

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    The best books on Terrorism - A Savage War of Peace by Alistair Horne

    2

    A Savage War of Peace
    by Alistair Horne

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    The best books on Terrorism - The Looming Tower by Lawrence Wright

    3

    The Looming Tower
    by Lawrence Wright

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    The best books on Terrorism - The ISIS Apocalypse: The History, Strategy, and Doomsday Vision of the Islamic State by William McCants

    4

    The ISIS Apocalypse: The History, Strategy, and Doomsday Vision of the Islamic State
    by William McCants

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    The best books on Terrorism - Deciphering Sun Tzu: How to Read The Art of War by Derek M. C. Yuen

    5

    Deciphering Sun Tzu: How to Read The Art of War
    by Derek M. C. Yuen

The best books on Terrorism, recommended by Audrey Kurth Cronin

It’s hard to remember when in the midst of one, but terrorism campaigns do always end. Audrey Kurth Cronin, author of How Terrorism Ends, recommends the best books on terrorism.

About

We ask experts to recommend the five best books in their subject and explain their selection in an interview.

This site has an archive of more than one thousand interviews, or five thousand book recommendations. We publish at least two new interviews per week.

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