Charlie Wilson's War

The Extraordinary Story of the Largest Covert Operation in History

By: George Crile

Narrated by: Christopher Lane

Length: 20 hrs and 24 mins

Publisher's summary

Charlie Wilson’s War is the untold story of the last battle of the Cold War and how it fueled the rise of militant Islam. Charlie Wilson, a maverick congressman from east Texas, conspired with a rogue CIA operative to launch the biggest, meanest, and most successful covert operation in the Agency’s history.

In the early 1980s, after a Houston socialite turned Wilson’s attention to the ragged Afghan freedom fighters who continued to fight the Soviet invaders despite overwhelming odds, the congressman became passionate about their cause and procured hundreds of millions of dollars to support the mujahideen. The arms were secretly procured and distributed with the help of an out-of-favor CIA operative, Gust Avrokotos, whose working-class Greek-American background made him an anomaly among the Ivy League world of American spies. Avrakotos handpicked a staff of CIA outcasts to run his operation and, with their help, continually stretched the Agency’s rules to the breaking point.

Moving from the back rooms of the Capitol, to secret chambers at Langley, to arms-dealers conventions, to the Khyber Pass, Charlie Wilson’s War is a detailed and brilliantly reported account of the inside workings of the CIA.

©2003 George Crile (P)2004 Blackstone Audiobooks

Critic reviews

• 2004 Audie Award Winner, Unabridged Nonfiction

"Crile, a 60 Minutes producer, offers an absorbing, thoroughly detailed look at the largest and most successful CIA operation in U.S. history: the arming of the Mujahideen in Afghanistan." (Booklist)
"An engaging, well-written, newsworthy study of practical politics and its sometimes unlikely players." (Kirkus Reviews)

“Narrator Christopher Lane affects an even tone and pace, allowing the events of the story to carry the listener to the extraordinary highs and sickening lows of the flawed but heroic Wilson. Thankfully, Lane takes it easy on the accents and shines brightest when allowing a tinge of cynicism in his delivery." ( AudioFile)

“Put the Tom Clancy clones back on the shelf; this covert-ops chronicle is practically impossible to put down.” ( Publishers Weekly)

Incredibly engrossing yarn

This is one of the best books I have ever experienced. It is expertly narrated and is just a darn good story, with bigger than life but very human characters, international intrigue with emphasis on the middle east, and a lesson in US foreign policy and the law of unintended consequences. If you are a fan of non-fiction, especially when it involves international relations and politics, you will not be disappointed by this book. I've been a subscriber for a couple of years and this is the first book I've ever seen which has an average review of five stars, with which I whole heartedly agree.

Best Non-Fiction Book - Extremely Compelling!!!

Charlie Wilson's War (unabridged)is a "must listen" for anyone interested in Middle Eastern current events. At first, I thought that a non-fiction documentary, 20-hour account, of the Afgan struggle against the Soviet Union, had the potential to be a real bore. Man, was I wrong! This is one of those audio books that makes you run extra earings for the wife so you can listen to more and more and more! I would highly recommend this great book by George Crile to any student of history, Middle-Eastern Islamic affairs, and geo-political spy story aficionados.

Should be required history.

This story covers the behind the scenes activities that brought the Soviet Union to its knees. That is the same story that through unintended consequences is largely responsible for the jihad that is presently bedeviling the west...

One of my Favorite Books

Just a great story. One everyone should read at least once. It shows how one person could and did change the course of history. It also serves are as warning to understand the enemy we now have at our door.

Amazing Story

This story is incredibly well told and if it is even only 80% true, it is amazingly scary that one man could have so much control over how a country spends Billions of dollars on war. I lived through this time and remember the "freedom fighters" but had absolutely NO idea that all of this was going on. Well worth a listen.

Impressive Accomplishment

This is a truly remarkable story being told. I would love to see the physical copy of the book, because I would love to see the documentation of sources, but it tells a remarkable tale.

My one quibble with the book is that I wish it had shown greater clarity on the "unintended consequences" and done a better job along the way of showing how totally blind the CIA, Charlie Wilson, and everyone else was in ignoring complete truths about the Afghanis. Had we not armed them - our lives would be much simpler today.

Great Book

I have learned a lot about how politics works by reading this book. It was very well written. Too bad Crile doesn't have any other books on here.

Lots of Detail, Great Reading

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Extremely detailed- really difficult to listen to in one sitting. I felt it was not great for late at night or relaxing times because there's too much detail. Amazing story, once can scarcely believe it's all true!

Charlie won the war

Great Book! Nice to hear some well written true grit, real history.

Outstanding book...

What can I add? The book was interesting, enjoyable and informative. Also well read.
I had wondered how the Soviets were driven out of Afganistan and knew the Stinger missles were part of the reason. No idea of the complexity of US involvement much less Charlie Wilson's essential contribution.
I recommend this both from an informational as well as enjoyment perspective. Like others, I found myself looking for reasons to not stop listening at the end of a day's commute.