Ghost WarsGhost Wars
Score Modern
What it's about
Steve Coll tells the secret history of the CIA's involvement in Afghanistan, from the Soviet invasion of 1979 to the day before the September 11 attacks. He follows the agency's covert war against the Soviets, its alliance with Pakistan's intelligence service, the civil war after the Soviets left, the rise of the Taliban, and the long, frustrated effort to stop Osama bin Laden. At its center is Ahmad Shah Massoud, the Afghan commander whom the agency relied on and who was killed two days before 9/11.
Why it's worth reading
It won the Pulitzer Prize for general nonfiction. It's the essential account of how the September 11 attacks happened, based on hundreds of interviews.
You'll love it if you liked
The Looming Tower: Al Qaeda and the Road to 9/11
Directorate S
The Forever WarGood to know
It's dense, with a large cast of officials and acronyms. Coll's Directorate S continues the story after 9/11.
By the numbers
- Readers92 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics67 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller16 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #41 of the 198 history books we rank
- #118 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #234 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
True story
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Quick answers
Is Ghost Wars worth reading?
Yes. It won the Pulitzer Prize for general nonfiction. It ranks #234 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 82.9 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Ghost Wars about?
Steve Coll tells the secret history of the CIA's involvement in Afghanistan, from the Soviet invasion of 1979 to the day before the September 11 attacks. He follows the agency's covert war against the Soviets, its alliance with Pakistan's intelligence service, the civil war after the Soviets left, the rise of the Taliban, and the long, frustrated effort to stop Osama bin Laden. At its center is Ahmad Shah Massoud, the Afghan commander whom the agency relied on and who was killed two days before 9/11.
How long does it take to read Ghost Wars?
About 18 hours (725 pages), or about 5 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What awards has Ghost Wars won?
Pulitzer Prize (General Nonfiction) winner (2005).
What should I read after Ghost Wars?
If you liked it, try The Looming Tower: Al Qaeda and the Road to 9/11 by Lawrence Wright, Directorate S by Steve Coll or The Forever War by Dexter Filkins.