"Peter L. Bergen, author of the bestselling book 'Holy War, Inc.', offers an astounding, unparalleled portrait of Osama bin Laden, comprised of Bergen's own interviews with more than fifty people who have known bin Laden personally, from his brother-in-law to his high school English teacher to former members of al Qaeda. The resulting collage of voices and memories affords an unprecedented glimpse into the life and true nature of the man directly responsible for the largest terror attack in history. How was bin Laden transformed from a shy, polite schoolboy to commander of the world's most formidable terrorist organization? Where was he on 9/11? How did he escape from Tora Bora? Is al Qaeda a top-down organization or a loose ideological alliance? What is it about this man that draws hundreds of thousands of followers and makes men willing to fly airplanes into buildings at his command? This definitive and engaging portrait gives the American public its first true, enduring insight into a man who has declared us his greatest enemy." Publisher's review.

Includes maps of: Osama bin Laden's World.

Dramatis personae -- Osama bin Laden timeline -- Introduction -- Arabia -- The Afghan war -- From donor to holy warrior -- The birth of al Qaeda -- Al Qaeda goes global -- Afghanistan, again -- Al Qaeda attacks -- The charismatic leader -- The 9/11 plot -- The fall of the Taliban and the flight to Tora Bora -- Al Qaeda's quest for weapons of mass destruction -- How al Qaeda took root in Iraq and the story of Abu Musab al Zarqawi -- Bin Laden on the run -- Bin Laden's legacy -- Afterword -- Appendix A. Newly released al Queda documents -- Appendix B. Where are they now? -- Appendix C. Osama bin Laden's immediate family -- Appendix D. The Bin Ladin family business.