Lawrence Wright Books

A gripping narrative that spans five decades, The Looming Tower explains in unprecedented detail the growth of Islamic fundamentalism, the rise of al-Qaeda, and the intelligence failures that culminated in the attacks on the World Trade Center. Lawrence Wright re-creates firsthand the transformation of Osama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri from incompetent and idealistic soldiers in Afghanistan to leaders of the most successful terrorist group in history. He follows FBI counterterrorism chief John O’Neill as he uncovers the emerging danger from al-Qaeda in the 1990s and struggles to track this new threat. Packed with new information and a deep historical perspective, The Looming Tower is the definitive history of the long road to September 11. --back cover

Brilliantly written and highly original, this book tells the full story of Al Qaeda from its origins to 9/11. Drawing on interviews and first-hand sources, it explores the ideologues behind the organization and those who sought to stop them. Sayyid Qutb, a tormented Egyptian, was horrified by the perceived godlessness in America in 1948, and his writings made him a martyr for Islamic extremists. Ayman al-Zawahiri, a devout student, formed an underground jihadist cell by age fifteen. Osama bin Laden, a Saudi multimillionaire turned mujahideen commander, combined his interests with al-Zawahiri's to create a global terror coalition. The narrative also features John O'Neill, the FBI's flamboyant counterterrorism chief, whose warnings of an impending threat went unheeded, ultimately leading to his fate at the Twin Towers. Interweaving events like the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, and the first World Trade Center attack, the book delves into training camps and secret meetings to uncover the complex origins of Al Qaeda's animosity toward the West. The acclaimed work includes a new Afterword addressing events since its publication, including Osama bin Laden's death.

The Terror Years is a collection of ten powerful pieces by Pulitzer Prize- winner Lawrence Wright, first published in The New Yorker, charting the path of terror in the Middle East from the rise of al-Qaeda to ISIS.

'In the twenty-first century, infectious disease seemed like a nuisance, not like a mortal threat'Just as Lawrence Wright's The Looming Tower became the defining account of our century's first devastating event, 9/11, so The Plague Year will become the defining account of the second.The story starts with the initial moments of Covid's appearance in Wuhan and ends with Joseph Biden's inauguration in an America ravaged by well over 400,000 deaths - a mortality already some ten times worse than US combat deaths in the entire Vietnam War.This is an anguished, furious memorial to a year in which all of America's great strengths - its scientific knowledge, its great civic and intellectual institutions, its spirit of voluntarism and community - were brought low, not by a terrifying new illness alone, but by political incompetence and cynicism on a scale for which there has been no precedent.With insight, sympathy, clarity and rage, The Plague Year allows the reader to see the unfolding of this great tragedy, talking with individuals on the front line, bringing together many moving and surprising stories and painting a devastating picture of a country literally and fatally misled.

Explores both the American and Arab sides of the September 11th terrorist attacks in an account of the people, ideas, events, and intelligence failures that led to the tragedies.

The New York Times bestselling investigation into Scientology by Pulitzer Prize-Winner Lawrence Wright now published for the first time in the UK and Australia

The book showcases an impressive range of themes and ideas, weaving together a rich tapestry of narratives that span various perspectives and experiences. It captivates readers with its expansive scope, offering deep insights into the human condition while maintaining a compelling and engaging storytelling style. The author's skillful craftsmanship elevates the work, making it a remarkable contribution to contemporary literature.

A brilliant and thought-provoking examination of how the study of twins informs our understanding of free will, individual identity and human nature. Written with great elegance and with complete control of the sometimes complex issues, this is a remarkable piece of scientific writing, and one of the best and most accessible examples of how Darwinian ideas, evolutionary psychology and modern genetics are illuminating human nature.

A gripping account of the Camp David summit and the first peace treaty in the modern Middle East

Honoring the medical professionals around the country who've risked their lives to fight the virus, the author examines the medical, economic, political, and social ramifications of the COVID-19 pandemic