Manhunt

The Ten-Year Search for Bin Laden - from 9-11 to Abbottabad

By: Peter L. Bergen

Narrated by: Mark Deakins

Length: 8 hrs and 42 mins

Publisher's summary

From the author of the New York Times best-selling Holy War, Inc., this is the definitive account of the decade-long manhunt for the world’s most wanted man, Osama bin Laden.

Al Qaeda expert and CNN national security analyst Peter Bergen paints a multidimensional picture of the hunt for bin Laden over the past decade, including the operation that killed him. Other key elements of the book include:

• A careful account of President Obama’s decision-making process as the raid was planned
• The fascinating story of a group of CIA analysts—largely women—who never gave up assembling the tiniest clues about OBL’s whereabouts
• The untold and action-packed history of the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) and the SEALs
• An analysis of what the death of OBL means for al Qaeda, and for Obama’s legacy.

Just as Too Big to Fail captured, in riveting detail, the anatomy of this decade’s financial disaster, so too is Manhunt one of the key stories of this decade: the authoritative, immersive account of the operation that killed the man who organized the largest mass murder in American history.

©2012 Peter L. Bergen (P)2012 Random House

Critic reviews

"In Manhunt, Peter Bergen has produced a page-turner rich with new information and insight into the search for Bin Laden and his killing. Only Bergen, America's foremost counterterrorism writer, could have produced a book of such energy and authority - a triumph." (Steve Coll, author of Ghost Wars: The Secret History of the CIA, Afghanistan, and bin Laden, from the Soviet Invasion to September 10, 2001)
"Ten years of grit, intelligent hard work, and daring led to Operation Neptune Spear, and Bergen captures it all in a story that is both a riveting page turner and a definitive history. Revealing details of bin Laden's last years in self-imposed prison, the debates of the CIA analysts who tracked him, and the training of the SEALs who killed him, Manhunt is essential reading for anyone who wants to know the real story of how the world's most wanted terrorist was finally brought to justice." (Eric Greitens, author of The Heart and The Fist: The Education of a Humanitarian, the Making of a Navy SEAL)
"With masterly reporting, Peter Bergen takes us where we've never been: behind the high walls of Osama bin Laden's last hideout and behind the scenes of the heroic and painstaking hunt for the Al Qaeda mastermind. Manhunt is a thrilling read." (Anderson Cooper, CNN anchor)

Objective and engaging

What did you love best about Manhunt?

This book read like a novel, but with the added benefit of being real. It was objective with plenty of detail, but not boring or too detailed. It presented the terrorist position so that it was understandable, giving insight into how the terrorists arrive at their actions, what it means to them. And it was interesting to hear contrasting points of view from within the enemy position. And of course, the details of the raid were interesting.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Manhunt?

The most memorable part was the detailed description of the raid.

Have you listened to any of Mark Deakins’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have not heard this reader before.

What’s the most interesting tidbit you’ve picked up from this book?

The most interesting tidbit was that there were at least two strong opposing recommendations, from Gates and Biden. And the President himself thought the raid was worth it even if there was only a 50/50 chance he was there, because even that chance was better than anything since Tora Bora.

Any additional comments?

I recommend it as an objective account of a fascinating event.

Exceptional

Fascinating subject, well researched, well written. Must ”read” for those who are interested in an exceptionally difficult effort to find Osama bin Laden post 9/11.

Finding A Needle In A Haystack

Excellent! Provided many little-known details on the 10-year manhunt for Osama Bin Laden. I recommend the book if you are interested in knowing about how the US Government and Military was able to find the proverbial "needle-in-a-haystack".

Great detailed inside detail of events

The book goes into detail on the minor items that get left out of the operator type books. Good read if you enjoy getting into the weeds and hearing all angles of the story.

Not great, but it is is good

I buy many of my books because of the reviews and this is why I bought Manhunt. The reviews were very good so my expectations were very high. I enjoyed the book but was actually disappointed a little. It was interesting but did not live up to the five star reviews.
I would actually give it a 3.5 to 3.7 as it is better than average but certainly not a 5 star book.

A good look at high level decision making

Where does Manhunt rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This is an important book. Mr. Bergen had extensive access to very senior level people in writing 'Manhunt', including Presidents Clinton, Bush, and especially President Obama.

Many senior cabinet officers and senior military and intelligence leaders are quoted. I believe this book to be about as authentic account of the hunt for OBL as any civilian could write.

On the downside, I had one quibble and one serious problem with 'Manhunt':

Quibble: The author, as one would expect of a NYT reporter, worships at the church of Obama. Everything Obama is portrayed in the most positive possible light. Long boring paragraphs are devoted to praising our President. Given the recent terrorism directed against our diplomats in the middle east, Bergen's glowing tributes to Obama's diplomatic skills seems very outdated.

To be fair to Bergen, while his tone towards President Bush is fairly negative, Bergen does explain why so many senior officials (including Senators Clinton and Kerry) believed that Iraq had WMD's prior to the invasion of that country. This was important information that Bergen puts on the record.

Substantial problem: There is way too much detailed information about classified intelligent sources and methods reveled in this book. I can't blame Mr. Bergen, he's reporting what creditable senior people told him, but I do blame glory seeking politicians for putting their short term political ambitions ahead of the long term good of the country.

'Manhunt' is an excellent companion to 'No Easy Day' by Mark Owen. Mr. Bergen takes you into the high level decision making process that lead up to the raid.

Mr. Owen's book is written from the point of view of the grunt on the ground.

Together one gains an excellent appreciation of the skill required to pull off an operation like 'Neptune Spear'.

Net/net 'Manhunt' should leave any reader impressed with how effective our governmental leadership can be when they really work together on a difficult problem.

Recommended.

Have you listened to any of Mark Deakins’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Mr. Deakins does an excellent job with this narration. The production quality of this audio book is excellent.

I had to give Mr. Deakins only four stars, because (like so many American narrators) he can't really 'do' foreign accents, he sounds silly when he tries.

Informative and interesting

Really enjoyed listening to it. I am finishing my second listen. Because of the material involved, most Americans will find the book interesting and a almost like a bit of closure on the whole 9/11 incident. The author did a great job of getting accurate information, which is important for this historical event. Thanks.

A riveting tale filled with unexpected twists

Any additional comments?

The main reason this book is far better than the slew of published-in-a-day, instant "bestsellers" on the takedown of bin Laden is because of Bergen's trustworthiness as a scholar and a journalist. Well done.

Good, but only a part of the story

What made the experience of listening to Manhunt the most enjoyable?

Some good inside information.

What???s the most interesting tidbit you???ve picked up from this book?

Did not realize that Bin Laden was living a mile or so from a military school at which American troops taught Pakistani troops.

Any additional comments?

I still want to know who turned the electricity off in that portion of Abbottabad. How did that happen? How much did we know about Pakistani treachery?

Came out fast, waiting for something better.

Where does Manhunt rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

it doesn't, but that does not mean its bad, just not great.

What was the most compelling aspect of this narrative?

a history that we all know. During the story I keep thinking where I was, what I was doing during this time.

Have you listened to any of Mark Deakins’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

?

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

no