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500 Days: Secrets and Lies in the Terror Wars [Bargain Price] [Hardcover]

Kurt Eichenwald
4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (142 customer reviews)

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Book Description

September 11, 2012
Kurt Eichenwald—New York Times bestselling author of Conspiracy of Fools and The Informant— recounts the first 500 days after 9/11 in a comprehensive, compelling page-turner as gripping as any thriller.

In 500 Days, master chronicler Kurt Eichenwald lays bare the harrowing decisions, deceptions, and delusions of the eighteen months that changed the world forever, as leaders raced to protect their citizens in the wake of 9/11.

Eichenwald’s gripping, immediate style and trueto- life dialogue puts readers at the heart of these historic events, from the Oval Office to Number 10 Downing Street, from Guantanamo Bay to the depths of CIA headquarters, from the al-Qaeda training camps to the torture chambers of Egypt and Syria. He reveals previously undisclosed information from the terror wars, including never before reported details about warrantless wiretapping, the anthrax attacks and investigations, and conflicts between Washington and London.

With his signature fast-paced narrative style, Eichenwald— whose book, The Informant, was called “one of the best nonfiction books of the decade” by The New York Times Book Review—exposes a world of secrets and lies that has remained hidden for far too long.


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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Amazon Best Books of the Month, September 2012: Initially, Eichenwald (The Informant) planned to write a post-9/11 analysis of the second Bush presidency, until he realized that most of the events that set the stage for wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and the War on Terror--the "decisions, deceptions, and delusions"--happened in the first 18 months after the attacks. This fast-paced narrative of those 553 days takes readers inside CIA headquarters, 10 Downing Street, al-Qaeda training camps, Egyptian torture chambers, and secret prisons. Deeply researched but written like an international spy thriller, Eichenwald's book shows how decisions prompted by fear, hatred, and paranoia created a post-9/11 history "shaped by the experiences of the powerless." --Neal Thompson

Review

“An epic narrative....It may be his best book yet.” (Vanity Fair)

“With the pacing of a suspense novel, award-winning journalist Eichenwald’s richly researched account … [is] a breathtaking inspection of the war on terror that began on 9/11 and reverberates to this day.” (Booklist (starred review))

“Gripping . . . both a page-turning read and an insightful dissection of 9/11’s dark legacy" (Publishers Weekly (starred review))

“A blow-by-blow, episodic reconstruction of the fallout from 9/11 in the highest spheres of terrorist strategy … demonstrating literally how the anti-terrorist hysteria in the United States, and the hatred of America and general global paranoia, forged the ’trauma that haunts the world to this day.’” (Kirkus Reviews)

“Eichenwald is a master at making complicated stories easily understood....[500 Days is] a page-turner because of his journalistic attention to detail. Readers get fly-on-the-wall accounts as Bush administration officials weigh life-and-death decisions.” (Washington Post)

“Thorough reporting and crisp writing . . . Moves at the pace of a movie-ready thriller.” (Dallas Morning News)

“Illuminating and entertaining throughout.” (PARADE magazine)

“An ambitious undertaking and a valuable resource. . . . [Eichenwald] brings home the fundamental rashness and recklessness of the American response to the Sept. 11 attack.” (New York Times Book Review)

“Who really made the decision to go to war in Iraq, and how grounded in fact were the "facts" fed to the American public? The author gives us not a seat at the table but an awfully good listening post to the decisions that changed the world.” (Asbury Park Press and Home News Tribune (NJ))

Product Details

  • Hardcover: 640 pages
  • Publisher: Touchstone (September 11, 2012)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1451669380
  • ASIN: B00D1G86BU
  • Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.2 x 1.8 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (142 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #239,786 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Kurt Eichenwald has written about Wall Street for The New York Times since 1987. He began investigating the Prudential scandal in 1989 and, in 1993, took a leave from his daily Market Place column to investigate Prudential Bache full time. His efforts yielded Serpent on the Rock and a Publisher's Award from the Times.

Customer Reviews

A very informative book that was well written and thouroughly researched. John D. Canoles  |  25 reviewers made a similar statement
Which is both good and bad (but mostly good). Wulfstan  |  14 reviewers made a similar statement
This is a superb story of the events of 9/11 and all the things related. Melvin C. Shaffer  |  8 reviewers made a similar statement
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
128 of 145 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Which is both good and bad (but mostly good). Kurt Eichenwald's (you know him as the former NYT reporter and author of "The Informant") new book here is no snooze fest. The story is riveting, fast paced and a real page-turner. Eichenwald's writing comes alive, and honestly at times you forget you are reading a well-researched scholarly history of that period, and think you are reading Grisham.

We have a cast of thousands here, but of course GWB and Tony Blair get top billing. However, their errors and missteps are spotlighted here as well as their other policy decisions. Odd terms like "Enemy Combatant" are penned so that "extraordinary rendition" can be carried out.

This book has it all- secrets, spies, military tribunals, torture, waterboarding, anthrax, bombings, and of course Gitmo.

Many secrets are revealed, the backstory is fascinating. Did you know that while Blair was telling Bush that the UK would support the invasion of Iran, the UK top legal advisor was telling Blair that the attack was illegal?

Sometimes a bit dark and disturbing, but it's all the truth.
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70 of 84 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars "BREATHTAKING, CHILLING, HAUNTING!" September 11, 2012
Format:Hardcover
As I decided if I could possibly read through this book, without the actual Nightmares of 9/11, maybe this chilling read won't affect me as bad as the Tragic day itself. I was wrong, of course most of us would suffer the horrifying flashbacks of a dark legacy that will forever haunt this country. Putting aside what we all experienced in our personal loss, sadness and fear, I began to read through the pages, which reads like a suspenseful thriller that's composed of extensive research. Bestselling author, Kurt Eichenwald delivers a comprehensive, chilling account of the first 500 days after 9/11. He reveals all the horror of the 18 months that changed America forever in gripping details of terrorist strategy, decisions that were made, and shocking information on investigations and conflict. In addition, he reports on wire tapping, the CIA, training camps and disturbing torture chambers. The author also includes historic events that took place in a world of secrets and lies. This is a compelling, comprehensive page-turner of inspection, deception and terror that will make us think, long after this book is closed. Thrilling, breathtaking, and Heartfelt from the beginning to the end!
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28 of 37 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This is a very unusual book in what it achieves. First, what it is not. If you are interested in this topic and have read some of the prominent earlier books, you may find nothing new of significance (I didn't). And if you are looking for an introduction, there is probably too much that is silently skipped.

What it does very well is to create a strong gut feeling for the many failings of the US response, due to incompetence, arrogance, carelessness, ideology that rejected evidence,... The book is written in the style of a thriller, popping back and forth between story lines. I found it a very fast-paced read that constantly drew me forward. Even if you are familiar with the events, you are still likely to find the book very readable because of its organization and approach. However, the problem with this approach is seen in the description of the response to the anthrax attack: It is abbreviated far past the point of losing its essential character. Plus, it was so peripheral that I can't see how it belongs in this book.

A big limitation of the fast-paced style is that it precludes analysis and insights into why something happened. For example, an extended analysis of the misconceptions about the "Manchester Manual" is consigned to the "Notes and Sources" appendix (pp 545-552). Advice: Read it -- it is a critical part of the story. One of my biggest frustrations with the accounts -- this and others -- is that I haven't seen a remotely satisfying explanation of why the CIA didn't have qualified, experienced interrogators as part of its normal course-of-business. Or why the military did not use experienced interrogators from the Reserves -- predominantly from civilian law enforcement -- despite the Reserves being explicitly structured to preserve and provide that capability.
... Read more ›
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7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By kczar
Format:Hardcover
There are plenty of quotes out there that would fit the cast of lunatics depicted in the book 500 Days. This book is a worthy read, however, I found it to be disjointed, skipping from topic to topic. The cutting in and out on the Anthrax issue was distracting to me. Covering the eighteen months following 9/11 on a world stage, not just within the U.S. is a lot to handle as a reader.

All of the people who were making the decisions were all like minded. Cheney, Rumsfeld, Addington, Yoo - are all egomaniacs. Ashcroft an insecure and insatiable power monger. Rice and Colin Powell, I visualize scared followers; passive abusers. Tony Blair - A caricature of a keystone cop.

As for Bush, he loved to use the word "tyrant" to describe enemies. Look at the definition and I see Bush himself: tyrant" carries connotations of a harsh and cruel ruler who places his or her own interests or the interests of an oligarchy over the best interests of the general population, which the tyrant governs or controls.
To insert another quote: "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. Albert Einstein.

The good guys: Alberto Mora; Robert Doumar; Frank Dunham Jr.; Neal Katyal and many others. Their input, however, mattered little.

The victims: Too many to mention. Every United States citizen and many others around the world.

500 Days is a very sad and disturbing book. I recommend it to those with a strong stomach for relentless abuse- both literally and figuratively.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars I love it
I love it thank you have a nice day! God Bless America! Have a good time yes? ok why not
Published 5 days ago by NoPenName
4.0 out of 5 stars A relatively objective view of the Bush reaction to 9/11/01
The last third of this book details the US decision to invade Iraq, which the Bush administration, contrary to many others, including the UN inspectors, was convinced that that... Read more
Published 6 days ago by Ol'BlueEyes
5.0 out of 5 stars Eichenwald Rules!
Mr. Eichenwald delivers monstrous volumes of fact based information, history, events - in a manner lightly treated with dry humor and a mastery of English that end up informing,... Read more
Published 9 days ago by L. Atkins
5.0 out of 5 stars Political Intrigue in Real Life
Hardly a soul is now alive--who was alive and cognizant during September of 2001, that is--who cannot recall the horrors of the time. Read more
Published 9 days ago by Michael Kleeberg
5.0 out of 5 stars Eye opening!
This book gives very good and detailed insights into to the inner workings into the Bush Administratron's handling of the 9/11 attack. Read more
Published 11 days ago by gwen
3.0 out of 5 stars A Good Read
Nicely written and easy to read. I really enjoyed reading and kept me engage until completion. Made me aware of facts that I either missed at the time, or were never published with... Read more
Published 12 days ago by dserran
4.0 out of 5 stars An excellent read
Agree or disagree with America's response to the tragedy of 9-11, the book provides some insight into the discussions and decisions of the Bush Administration. Read more
Published 14 days ago by John MacKessy
2.0 out of 5 stars Some important info about the Iraqi occupation 2003 is missing
The author does talk about how Saddam was captured in a farm house in late 2003 and all. Some of the book does go into 2006. And he does mention Saddam's WMD denial. Read more
Published 23 days ago by Bob Belanger
4.0 out of 5 stars Important
We believe that is book offers comments and insights that are not available through today's print and TV media, because who owns them.
Published 1 month ago by Ann McCarthy
1.0 out of 5 stars Twisted History
Where to begin... What category would this product fit in : histrionic fiction, stream of unconsciousness, or crass capitalization on a seminal event in World history. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Bgr Bill
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