The Finish

The Killing of Osama bin Laden

By: Mark Bowden

Narrated by: James Lurie

Length: 8 hrs and 55 mins

Publisher's summary

"There wasn’t a meeting when someone didn’t mention Black Hawk Down."
—A senior Obama Administration official, as quoted in The New York Times, on May 2, 2011

From Mark Bowden, internationally best-selling and acclaimed author of Black Hawk Down and the preeminent chronicler of the actions of our military and special forces writing today, comes an intensely gripping account of the hunt for and elimination of Osama bin Laden. With unprecedented access to key sources and his great gift for storytelling, Bowden takes us inside the rooms where decisions were made and on the ground where the action unfolded. The story focuses on Bin Laden, who maintained a stream of despairing correspondence in hiding in the year before his death, and on President Obama, perceived by many as an anti-war candidate, whose evolving views and enormous responsibilities have turned him into one of the most determined warriors to ever inhabit the White House.

Bowden's book is an unrivaled account of the most high-profile special-forces operation ever to have been undertaken, and a pause-resistant narrative of how the man behind 9/11 was finally brought to justice.

©2012 Mark Bowden (P)2012 Audible, Inc.

Not especially exciting or interesting

"The Finish." is an informative though not especially exciting account of the Bin Laden raid. Bowden is a more mature writer than the author of "No Easy Day," but if you've read or listened to the latter there isn't much more to be learned from the former.

I didn't like the narration by James Lurie. He comes off like he's over-selling the machismo angle of the whole enterprise or sounding like the narrator from that TV show "City Confidential." And his voice is low and gruff and not easily heard over background noises if you're listening while exercising.

Decent Book

This was a very well written account of the many years of grueling work by Agency analysts and military leaders. A great deal of research clearly went into this book, which helped to provide great detail and background throughout. Albeit very good, it had the feel of a book more aimed at glorifying Obama than telling the story. I read it as the apotheosis of Barack Obama with some Usama Bin Laden back story and mission operational details sprinkled in - very good details nonetheless.

great book! A little biased in favor of Obama

Great details of the event before during and after. the author is clearly biased in favor of President Obama, but otherwise a very good detailed account of this historic event.

Great story

A very good performance by the narrator. The authors political views are obvious which if left out would have made the book a 5 star.

Wonderful Account

Great account of the hunt fir Bin Laden. The narration is wonderful and easy to listen to.

Well written, but overly "in the tank" for Obama

What did you like best about The Finish? What did you like least?

Bowden has done his usual good job researching the history and bureaucratic politics surrounding the years of search for OBL. His insights into the intrigue in both Washington and Kabul are outstanding. He, unfortunately, seems to want to make political points in favor of Obama and in opposition to President Bush and Candidate Romney. Irrespective of one's political point of view, this detracts from his writing, and partially renders a dispassionate analysis of the search and finish of OBL into a political polemic. Too bad that Bowden was seduced by the opportunity he had for an Oval Office interview.

Good book

What did you love best about The Finish?

It was detailed while bing intertaining.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Finish?

When they actually shot him.

What does James Lurie bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Emotion.

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

That we really did not know a lot about this from news reports.

Any additional comments?

The only thing I picked up in this book that bothered me a little bit was how Barack Oboma was made to look like he is a great president. He did his job I would have expected any president to have done this.

Great story about JSOC

Good background on one of the most important operations of our century and the men of JSOC that pulled it off.

The story is in the Details!

What did you love best about The Finish?

The story is about everything that lead up to the now-famous raid.

What did you like best about this story?

I like the details of the intelligence hunt. It was very interesting.

Which scene was your favorite?

The parts about the highly technical computer programs!

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

Yes.

Any additional comments?

Bowden does it again!

Impartial story

Loved it
Impartial I recommend it
Shows the inner workings of special forces and intelligence branches
Military has really blossomed