Two Hours That Shook the World: September 11, 2001: Causes and Consequences

by Fred Halliday

Book Overview

Fred Halliday examines the causes and rise of Islamic fundamentalism and how terror became an instrument of political and military conflict. Sobering and encouraging, Two Hours That Shook the World provides a reasoned approach to what the future may hold.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0863563821
• ISBN13: 9780863563829
• Release Date: January 2002
• Publisher: Saqi Books
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 0.72 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.3" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Great Read for Intelligent Reader

I was very impressed with this book and the information it presented. Halliday really takes a well-balanced approach, something we usually do not see. I said that it was for the intelligent reader because the words definitely do not jump off the page, and reading it takes more time than the typical 200-something page book. (It took me twice the amount of time as "Ambling through History.") It does not talk that much specifically about September 11, like I expected, but it gives interesting context. I was especially interested in the points he made about fundamentalism and modern Kuwait. I would rate the sections where he takes a look at separate countries a "5." But there are times when it is just so "academic" in tone that even a reader who is up on current events has trouble understanding. For example, he goes into this description of globalism that is very general and pedantic. All in all, I would recommend this book for someone who is thoughtful enough to read and digest the information. The one major criticism I had is that the title makes it seem as if it deals specifically with bin Laden and Al-Qaida, and it didn't discuss them specifically in too much depth.