Bin Laden: Behind the Mask of the Terrorist [Hardcover]

Adam Robinson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 31, 2002

Osama bin Laden pretends to be a selfless freedom fighter seeking to rid the Islamic world of Western dominance+and the de facto leader of the Muslim faithful. This biography tells the story of a different man, one whose troubled childhood and adolescent excesses in sex, money, and alcohol, fractures his assumed moral superiority, and renders him more human than icon. Based on information provided by the bin Laden family, extensive independent research, and an insider+s view developed during his current and longtime residence in the Middle East, the author brings a thorough knowledge of the region+s politics and society to the story, and underscores the contradictions that make up the real Osama bin Laden.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'The killing of Americans and their civilian and military allies is a religious duty for each and every Muslim.' Osama bin Laden; 'There is nothing hidden about Bin Laden's agenda, he openly espouses the language of terror.' Prime Minister Tony Blair; 'an evil man... who doesn't mind destroying women and children.' President George W. Bush --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Adam Robinson is a writer and a journalist who has worked in the Middle East for 10 years. He began researching this biography a year before the attacks of September 11, and spent several months in Beirut investigating the young Osama bin Ladenís activities. Mr. Robinson lives in the Persian Gulf region. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 302 pages
• Publisher: Arcade Publishing; 1 edition (January 31, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1559706406
• ISBN-13: 978-1559706407
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.3 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,547,770 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Too much sensationalism, February 20, 2006

By 

DJ Williams (Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bin Laden: Behind the Mask of the Terrorist (Hardcover)

Although this is the first book devoted to bin Laden's life I have read, I can't believe that there are not better out there bidding for our attention.

Robinson seems to have in his mind that we need to see the master terrorist through his prism, so he overlays useful facts and chronologies of periods of bin Laden's life with his own sensationalism and interpretation, including claims of homoeroticism in the al-Qaeda leader's relationship with two of his male counterparts.

A severe drawback of this book is also a complete lack of sources, either published or named people.

When he does manage to stay away from innuendo and assumption, Robinson's book does have quite a bit to offer. For me, however, these times do not come often enough.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A lively, intriguing coverage, September 6, 2002

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bin Laden: Behind the Mask of the Terrorist (Hardcover)

Osma Bin Laden presented himself as a freedom fighter taking on the giant power of the U.S., and representing the causes of Muslims everywhere; but this new biography of Osma Bin Laden charts his infamous progress from a rich kid into a terrorist determined to bring jihad to the U.S. Members of his family contributed information and rounded out Robinson's independent research, resulting an a biography which examines the making of the man and his network. A lively, intriguing coverage.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Osama - still out there, still dangerous, February 23, 2002

By 

Peter Rooney (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bin Laden: Behind the Mask of the Terrorist (Hardcover)

This is the most detailed and up-to-date biography of the world's leading terrorist. Osama bin Laden comes from a super-rich, well-connected Yemeni/Saudi family; he was traditionally raised and is desert-hardened; he was a playboy for a time (sex, drink, and drugs), but then returned to fundamentalist roots; he possesses great administrative skills and charisma, which he first put to use in fighting the Soviets in Afghanistan.
Why his great hatred of both America and the Saudi royal family? What was the insult that most motivates him? The author penetrates into Osama's psychology, with the benefit of exclusive interviews with many bin Laden family members.
Osama spent 10 years in creating Al-Qaeda, the network of volunteer "freedom fighters"; and another 10 in organizing what has been called "Terror Inc." - a modern, global enterprise. Does Osama's terror have a rational goal after all? What would satisfy Osama? You'd be surprised at the author's conclusion.
Every public library, scholarly library, embassy, international police agency, secret service, political scholar, and informed citizen should take a look at this book. After all, Osama is presumably still out there, armed and dangerous. Bombs do not seem to have brought him to justice, so maybe a more thoughtful approach is called for. I think some clues for finding him may be found in this book.