Charlie Wilson's War: The Extraordinary Story of How the Wildest Man in Congress and a Rogue CIA Agent Changed the History of Our Times
by George Crile
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Book Summary Information
Author: George CrileEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Published)
Format: Bargain Price
Published: 2004-04-22
ISBN: N/A
Number of pages: 560
Publisher: Grove Press
Book Reviews of Charlie Wilson's War: The Extraordinary Story of How the Wildest Man in Congress and a Rogue CIA Agent Changed the History of Our Times
Book Review: Engaging Read
Summary: 4 Stars
It's no wonder that the book took some 15 years in the making. Crile did extensive research with this book and it shows. I read this book this past weekend, while on vacation and thoroughly enjoyed it. It read like a fictional piece of international intrigue, yet it was based on real events and real people.
Crile wrote a great book that could have been written like an academic tome (dry), instead the characters were human with their hilarious attributes and flaws. I was drawn into it--rooting for Gust or Charlie, even though I knew the outcomes and had seen the movie based on the book.
The book offers a glimpse into the ways that real politics takes place in the USA and how back room deals, friendships, and back stabbing can make or break a career or a bill being passed in Congress.
The fact that Charlie Wilson became interested (perhaps obsessed) with the plight of Afghans was nothing short of just happenstance. And, the cast of characters who he worked with were a colorful group in all senses of the term. This book is written for the lay audience; although I do think an undergraduate audience would appreciate it. It is lengthy, but I tihnk the background provides understanding of the main characters.
What I would have liked-- an additonal chapter in lieu of the short epilogue. Crile needed to make better connections between the freedom fighters of the late 80s and early 90s and how the situation of these young men fed into extremist views.
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