Inside the Jihad

My Life With Al Qaeda, A Spy's Story

By: Omar Nasiri

Narrated by: Lloyd James

Length: 14 hrs and 25 mins

Publisher's summary

For the first time, here's a first-person account of life inside the Jihad.

This is a detailed portrait of a complex man who fought on both sides. From Europe's burgeoning terrorist underground in the 1990s, to the training camps of Afghanistan, to the radical mosques of London, Omar Nasiri offers a unique and chilling perspective, on both the rise of Al Qaeda and the intelligence services that struggled to contain it.

Inside the Jihad is the story of a double agent operative working for UK and French intelligence by infiltrating Al Qaeda training camps. During his time in the camps, Nasiri met all of the top terrorist leaders, including Osama bin Laden, and engaged in a wide range of illegal activities. Strikingly well-written and gripping, Inside the Jihad is a terrifying, suspenseful read.

©2006 Omar Nasiri (P)2006 Tantor Media, Inc.

Rare inside account

Excellent read. The author does a wonderful job of telling his story. The details of what he went through and the interactions with others gave an exposure to terrorism that is not easy for someone on the outside to see.

Layman smooth

Easy listening presenting factual account. Book and reader make understanding some background of the Taliban, Al Quaida and Afganistan rather clear and concise.

Inside the al-qaeda training camps

I think the author kind of screwed himself.

I recommend American Radical for anyone who was fond of this book.

Definately worth a read

Any additional comments?

A good look at the mindset of radical Islam and the threat it poses both to the west and to the Ummah.

Inside the Jihad

Totally disappointed in the ending. A shame such an interesting listen ended with such abruptness. The total length is 45 minutes short of the 14.5 hours advertised.

Eye opening for an American

This book as opened a new look at the Muslim religion and the people of this religion. It allows me to better understand many of happenings that have taken place for many years and the war we now find ourselves in. A War that may never end as long as both sides have the goals we have set before us. We will never get the other to blink long enough to stop these maddening battles we wage against each other . We will just continue to drag the innocent into this death we wage on each other. Thank you for such a enlightening book and look into your story and the story of this war, this Jihad.

Insightful, even if a bit Neurotic

The book is an easy read--more exciting than many novels I have read. Omar recalls his spying adventures vividly and offers tremendous insights into his feelings and his assessment of the psychology of those around him. You do have to wade through his neuroticism, paranoia, and blind hypocrisy, but in the end the gain is more valuable than being perturbed by the author's personal shortcomings.

Radical extremist come in many forms

This book was both disturbing and very interesting. The author was clearly dealt a bad hand however it appeared to me that he spent the entire book speaking from both sides of his mouth. He loves the freedoms and way of life in the West but hates the policies and tough things we have to do to keep those freedoms. He wants us to stay out the Muslim world and yet he scorns us for sitting back in instances like Algeria. He thinks anyone who interprets his religion differently than he does is wrong yet he smokes, drinks and feels killing Russians, Jews, etc is ok. In my opinion this book shows that radical extremist come in many forms, however they do share some things; they all hate anyone who shows any deviation from their particular way of thinking and they all feel killing is there duty, who they kill is the only variation. When I read the reviews it seems that others may not have found this book as controversial and eye opening as I do. This is not fiction, but rather an insight into the mind of people who feel it is their duty to kill anyone who believes in freedom

Perhaps the Author wore designer clothing

The author describes his local arms dealer as dressed in ‘obviously well worn clothing’.
Yet Mr Nasai doesn’t describe his personal wardrobe, except to mention ‘jeans’.
Nothing else. Did he wear a skullcap? How did he dress?

Anticlimactic

Much of the story is dramatized/exaggerated but engaging nonetheless. The ending is just pathetic and dissapointing.