The Looming Tower (2006) by Lawrence Wright is a non-fiction book that traces the rise of Al Qaeda, examining its origins, key figures, and the evolution of terrorist attacks leading up to the September 11, 2001 attacks. Wright profiles influential figures like Sayyid Qutb and Osama bin Laden, detailing their radicalization and the political forces that shaped their actions. The book critiques the failures of U.S. intelligence agencies and the government's handling of terrorism during the 1990s, arguing that poor planning and lack of cooperation allowed Al Qaeda to grow. Wright also explores bin Laden's ideological opposition to U.S. military presence in the Islamic world and contends that the War on Terror has played into the hands of extremist groups.
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