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Growing up bin Laden: Osama's Wife and Son Take Us Inside Their Secret World Audiobook
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(4.00) - 887 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
"I was not always the wife of Osama bin Laden. Once I was an innocent child dreaming little girl dreams."
Thus begins this powerful story by Najwa bin Laden, who married her cousin Osama bin Laden at the age of fifteen to become his first wife and the mother to eleven of his children, and her son, Omar bin Laden, the fourth-born son of Osama bin Laden. Together, mother and son tell an extraordinarily powerful story of a man hated by so many yet both loved and feared by his family, with spine-tingling details about the life and times of the man they knew as a husband and father, including:
—Osama's disapproval of modern conveniences, including electricity and medicine
—His plan to toughen up his sons by taking them into the desert without food or water
—Transporting his wives and children to the rough terrain of Sudan, where he claimed to be preparing them for attacks from western powers, commanding them to dig holes and to sleep in those holes, allowing nothing more than sand and twigs for cover
—Omar's horror at the rape and murder of a boy his own age by members of a jihadist group living among them in the Sudan
—What happened in the bin Laden home in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on the morning of September 11, 2001, and Omar's surprise phone call with his mother, who escaped from Afghanistan only two days before the shattering events that killed so many innocent people
Since September 11, 2001, journalists have struggled to uncover carefully guarded information about Osama's private life. Until now, Osama bin Laden's family members have not cooperated with any writers or journalists. Now, with unprecedented access and insight, Jean Sasson, author of the bestselling Princess: A True Story Behind the Veil in Saudi Arabia, takes us inside the secret world of Osama bin Laden.
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"Really found this book interesting and educational. The family of this terrible man never asked for him to take the path he took, and they suffered along the way as he did more and more that was radical and extreme and showed that he cared more about his perceived "revenge" on the West than he did the safety and happiness of his own wives and innocent children. The book was an interesting insight into a different culture and into a particular family and the culture of radical Islam. I definitely recommend this."
— Cathy (4 out of 5 stars)
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“Oddly fascinating…An inside-the-tent view of a person so blinded by his cause that he strips himself of all humanity.”
— Washington Post -
“Omar and his mother…provide interesting anecdotes and personal vignettes that allow us a glimpse into bin Laden’s terrorist mindset.”
— Library Journal -
Oddly fascinating.... An inside-the-tent view of a person so blinded by his cause that he strips himself of all humanity.
— The Washington Post
Growing up bin Laden Listener Reviews
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" VERY interesting! I liked it alot, but then read some stuff on the internet that makes the things Omar Bin Laden wrote undependable. He may be telling the truth in alot of the stories, but he seems to be somewhat of a questionable character. I'm not sure how you couldn't be, being raised by Obama. But, it was still very interesting and informative to read and I would highly recommend it. "
— Mikki, 2/10/2014 -
" It was a first hand peek into what the family of Osama Bin Laden had to endure during their years with him. This information was something that was unavailable to the public till now. A very well drafted book...engaging and fascinating. "
— Surbhi, 2/3/2014 -
" A fascinating inside view from a son of Bin Laden..I especially enjoyed the section on how the Taliban insulted Osama bin Laden.Osama was very strange in many ways e.g. He completely avoided using electricity or modern electric appliances as he thought it was a western invention.He used to reprimand his sons on laughing and actually used to tell them how many teeth they used to show when they laughed and not do it again.I was also suprised to know he could speak perfect English and Pushto. "
— اویس, 2/3/2014 -
" One of the greatest books I've ever read. It's REALLY worth to read. I found out so much about bin Laden's life and I'm totally shocked. "
— Angst, 1/21/2014 -
" I highly recommend this book. It's an inside view of life in the Osama bin Laden family, told from the personal viewpoint of his first wife and fourth son... both of whom left Osama for good shortly before 9/11. "
— Phyllis, 1/19/2014 -
" I didn't care for it. I unfortunately cannot read it without great cynicism. The mother and son's voice sounds remarkably the same. Read in the light of current events, it comes off as untrue in many ways. "
— Colette, 1/2/2014 -
" Gives some perspective on someone who has affected all our lives for the last 10 years. 3 stars only because while not poorly written, it wasn't necessarily well written either. also, unsurprisingly, after reading you still don't understand how a person could carry out 9/11. "
— Becca, 12/29/2013 -
" I could not put this book down. Written by a son and wife of Osama bin Laden, this book gives the reader a first-hand look at Osama's life pre-9/11. Well-written and equally captivating, Growing Up bin Laden is a must-read. "
— Virginia, 12/2/2013 -
" A bit sluggish at start but overall well narrated. "
— Akshay, 10/31/2013 -
" Interesting read learnt a lot from reading it "
— eReader1UK, 8/26/2013 -
" Very disturbing look into the bin Laden world. Would have given 5 stars if I knew it was all true. Also a good intro to why the US is embroiled in all the current conflict overseas. "
— Smorney, 1/23/2013 -
" Pleasantly surprised by this book. A great read!! "
— Jenna, 10/31/2012 -
" this was one of my favourite books ever. I really enjoyed this. "
— Marize, 6/28/2012 -
" I've just realized I've never really read a biography. Always a fictional account of someone's life, so I'm interested in humanizing a monster. "
— Queenreese, 4/14/2012 -
" This is the book that turned me into a non-fiction fan "
— Ruth, 2/24/2012 -
" An inside look to the life of the Bin Laden family growing up. "
— Dipti, 6/22/2011 -
" A great insight into the lives of Osama bin Laden's wives and children through the eyes of his son and wife! Great read. Shows how the mind can change from a "normal" type of person to a psycho killer. "
— Jessica, 5/12/2011 -
" I didn't care for it. I unfortunately cannot read it without great cynicism. The mother and son's voice sounds remarkably the same. Read in the light of current events, it comes off as untrue in many ways. "
— Colette, 5/5/2011 -
" Very interesting to hear the inside story! "
— Sue-Ellen, 3/12/2011 -
" Downright scary. The son was very forthcoming with all his thoughts both pro and against his father".......Am so glad I am not a women in their world!!!<br/> "
— Notty, 1/23/2011
About the Authors
Najwa bin Laden, who married her cousin Osama bin Laden at the age of fifteen, is his first wife and the mother to seven of his sons and four of his daughters. She currently lives with three of her eleven children in the Middle East.
Lorna Raver, named one of AudioFile magazine’s Best Voices of the Year, has received numerous Audie Award nominations and many AudioFile Earphones Awards. She has appeared on stage in New York, Los Angeles, and regional theaters around the country. Among her many television credits are NYPD Blue, Judging Amy, Boston Legal, ER, and Star Trek. She starred in director Sam Raimi’s film Drag Me to Hell.
Jean Sasson is the author of the New York Times bestseller Princess: A True Story of Life behind the Veil in Saudi Arabia. She lived in the Middle East for twelve years and has traveled extensively in the area and studied the culture for thirty years. She currently lives in the southern United States.
About Sherry Adams
Sherry Adams is a voice talent with several commercial clients to her credit. Trained in acting at the University of Michigan, she brings an insightful presence to her audio narration.