The Bin Ladens (Abridged): An Arabian Family in the American Century Audiobook

" exceptionally informational book on the Bin Ladens and Saudi Arabia. Osama was the black sheep of the family long before he masterminded 9/11. Good read if you want to understand the family and Osama. "

" too much like a text book for me. not my idea of a summer read... "

" While it can be tedious at time, overall this book is worth the effort. It is difficult because there are so many of them! And the women are barely mentioned, which I suppose is in keeping with the Islamic beliefs. O well. It did give me a better understanding of their wealth, and it sufficiently explained the estrangement between Osama and the family. It would have been a great help to have included a family tree and a timeline. "

" This was an amazingly intriguing book. "

" How the Yemeni Mohamed Bin Laden became builder to the Al-Sauds, and what his (54!) offspring did after that. Osama was the son of a low status Syrian who was biefly married to Mohamed. Some of his siblings are very westernized. "

" I really didn't expect to like this book much, as I didn't know much about Saudi culture. However, the book was very interesting and well written as a biography. I learned so much about the events behind the bin Ladens' upbringing. "

" Fascinating. I don't usually buy hardcover books but I couldn't resist after hearing the author interviewed by Terry Gross. I have not regretted my decision. "

" A bit long, but very informative. "

" A very interesting read. Doesn't spend as much time on Osama as you might expect, but an engaging family history. "

" Well researched tome describing the advent of Osama!! "

" A well written account of a complicated family that has straddled many worlds. "

" Ok. Enlightning but not fascinating. "

" This was a very good book but I felt like I was reading it for 10 years. Probably could have been a little condensed. "

" Really absorbing and alarming. I learned a lot of things about Saudi Arabia, like the fact that slavery was only outlawed in 1962!!! "

" I learned so many new, revealing, and interesting facts about 9/11 as well as a lot about Saudi Arabia and Islam. I found the read a fascinating multi-generational history of the Bin Ladin family and it's relationship to the Saudi Royal Family. "

" A sweeping bio of the massive Bin Laden family, of which there are many interesting characters. I was hoping for some more in-depth stuff on Osama, however. "

" A good look into the history of the family of one of America's most determined enemies. "

" I learned so many new, revealing, and interesting facts about 9/11 as well as a lot about Saudi Arabia and Islam. I found the read a fascinating multi-generational history of the Bin Ladin family and it's relationship to the Saudi Royal Family. "

" Really absorbing and alarming. I learned a lot of things about Saudi Arabia, like the fact that slavery was only outlawed in 1962!!! "

" How the Yemeni Mohamed Bin Laden became builder to the Al-Sauds, and what his (54!) offspring did after that. Osama was the son of a low status Syrian who was biefly married to Mohamed. Some of his siblings are very westernized. "

" Very interesting book. It give great insight into the Bin Laden family and Saudi Society in general. Fascinating look on Osama Bin Laden and his existiance on the fringes of this large and successful family. "

" A very interesting history of this family. Coll did an excellent job in researching their family tree. A bit dry in parts, but the detail is amazing. "