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Rise and Kill First
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Excellent
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The Cold War
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As Germany and then Japan surrendered in 1945, there was a tremendous hope that a new and much better world could be created from the moral and physical ruins of the conflict. Instead, the combination of the huge power of the USA and USSR and the near-total collapse of most of their rivals created a unique, grim new environment: the Cold War. For over 40 years the demands of the Cold War shaped the life of almost all of us. There was no part of the world where East and West did not ultimately demand a blind and absolute allegiance.
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The moments that it took Gavrilo Princip to step forward to the stalled car and shoot dead Franz Ferdinand and his wife were perhaps the most fateful of the modern era. An act of terrorism of staggering efficiency, it fulfilled its every aim: it would liberate Bosnia from Habsburg rule, and it created a powerful new Serbia, but it also brought down four great empires, killed millions of men and destroyed a civilization. What made a seemingly prosperous and complacent Europe so vulnerable to the impact of this assassination?
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Constant mispronunciations
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Ghost Wars
- The Secret History of the CIA, Afghanistan, and bin Laden, from the Soviet Invasion to September 10, 2001
- By: Steve Coll
- Narrated by: Malcolm Hillgartner
- Length: 26 hrs and 46 mins
- Unabridged
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The explosive first-hand account of America's secret history in Afghanistan. With the publication of Ghost Wars, Steve Coll became not only a Pulitzer Prize winner, but also the expert on the rise of the Taliban, the emergence of Bin Laden, and the secret efforts by CIA officers and their agents to capture or kill Bin Laden in Afghanistan after 1998.
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BE WARNED DO NOT BUY THE AUDIO VERSON!!!
- By Anonymous User on 21-08-2019
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The Anarchy
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- Unabridged
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The Anarchy tells the remarkable story of how one of the world’s most magnificent empires disintegrated and came to be replaced by a dangerously unregulated private company, based thousands of miles overseas in one small office, five windows wide, and answerable only to its distant shareholders. In his most ambitious and riveting audiobook to date, William Dalrymple tells the story of the East India Company as it has never been told before, unfolding a timely cautionary tale of the first global corporate power.
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Needed better background.
- By Takudza on 15-11-2019
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The Looming Tower
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- By: Lawrence Wright
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- Length: 16 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
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A sweeping narrative history of the events leading to 9/11, a groundbreaking look at the people and ideas, the terrorist plans and the Western intelligence failures that culminated in the assault on America. Lawrence Wright's remarkable book is based on five years of research and hundreds of interviews that he conducted in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Sudan, England, France, Germany, Spain, and the United States.
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Excellently researched. Captivating story.
- By Tim Watkins on 13-01-2019
Publisher's Summary
The Talmud says: 'If someone comes to kill you, rise up and kill him first.' This instinct, to take every measure, even the most aggressive, to defend the Jewish people, is hardwired into Israel's DNA. From the very beginning of its statehood in 1948, protecting the nation from harm has been the responsibility of its intelligence community and armed services, and there is one weapon in their vast arsenal that they have relied upon to thwart the most serious threats: Targeted assassinations have been used countless times, on enemies large and small, sometimes in response to attacks against the Israeli people and sometimes preemptively.
In this pause-resisting, eye-opening audiobook, journalist and military analyst Ronen Bergman - praised by David Remnick as 'arguably [Israel's] best investigative reporter' - offers a riveting inside account of the targeted killing programs: their successes, their failures, and the moral and political price exacted on the men and women who approved and carried out the missions.
Built from interviews with Israeli Prime Ministers as well as high-level figures in Mossad - and the country's military and intelligence services - Rise and Kill First includes never-before-reported, behind-the-curtain accounts of key operations and is based on hundreds of on-the-record interviews and thousands of previously unseen files. From statehood to the present, Bergman traces the gripping events and thorny ethical questions underlying Israel's targeted killing campaign, which has shaped the Israeli nation, the Middle East, and the entire world.
Critic Reviews
"A gripping investigation of Israel's assassination policy." (Sunday Times)
"Compelling." (John le Carré)
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Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Hooly
- 17-09-2019
Surprising
I thought I had a reasonable knowledge of Israel and it’s basic history however Mr Bergman has shown me that I had no idea.
This book provides a surprisingly unbiased history and certainly doesn’t shy away from the negative results delivered.
Despite the 25 hr play time, this book flew past.
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- Gordon
- 25-07-2019
More interesting than any spy fiction
It is inspiring, sad and incredible at the same time that such an organisation of intelligence and deadliness has been developed. The book explains the background to some of the most tumultuous terrorist acts and clinical assassinations. I read much of this before going to sleep... at first it made for a fitful nights rest, after a while the constant acts of terror and targeted killing becomes a matter of fact. It's ultimately a chilling insight to our Darwinian nature and what happens as a result of bring significant technology, organisation and determination. I sorry this still exists in the world but feel wiser for reading about it in this exceptionally well written book.
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- roland dominic
- 16-05-2019
hugely entertaining....captivating.
As a supporter of Israel, learning through this tome, the everlasting struggle to maintain a country whilst surrounded by the enemy, and succeeding.
Fills me with respect.
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- Albert J. Malki
- Australia
- 28-01-2019
An interesting book on Israel's survival
I was interested to hear the success stories of targeted assassinations as well as the failures of Israel's secret services.
After many assassinations were carried out I could see how futile it is to kill an adversary in this manner.
The Palestinian counter attacks are always coming back to hit Israel's population.
It eventually became a vicious circle and it no longer matter who started first the hostilities.
I blame the politicians on both sides that have not tried genuinely enough to find a negotiated solution.
This situation is not sustainable for both Israel and the Palestinians.
I was glad to note that Ronen Bergman concluded his book with substantially the same notes.
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- Anonymous User
- 31-12-2018
Best comprehensive history of Mossad .
Best comprehensive history of Mossad . Sourcing for this book is second to none. Mossad's strategy thought process on Iran.
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- Michael
- 11-12-2018
Brilliant!
Easily one of the best books l've ever read! stunning from start to finish. You won't be disappointed.
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- Anonymous User
- 24-09-2018
Couldnt stop listening
Awesome detail of history and events through time of success and failures. easy to listen to as each mission is a new story. highly recommended.
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- Phillip
- 21-03-2019
Investigative Journalism at its best
One of the best Investigative Journalism books I have ever listened to. Ronen Bergman book is flawless and so well written, I could not put it down :) Narrated by Rob Shapiro who did an outstanding job !!
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
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- Derrick
- 19-01-2019
Fascinating, enlightening and shocking
I started this book a little sceptical as the author concedes the secrecy of the Mossad, but claims to have gained unparalleled unofficial insight through interviews with multiple Mossad agents across the period from 1948 till today. As the book continues with some remarkable stories, I started checking the internet alongside listening to the book. I have to say I found all of the stories that I checked to be corroborated by other sources.
As to the book itself, it is a fascinating and enthralling tale of decades of assassination covering not just Mossad, but the entirety of Israel's intelligence community. The narrative rattles along and I was surprised when I realised this book is 26 hours long.
There are a number of things that struck me. First is the sheer scale of this activity, well told with a good sense of how successive generations of operatives found reason to dispense with what many would see as "the rule of law". Second are the intimate links between the intelligence community with senior government; many Prime Ministers having served within these very same units earlier in their lives.
My over-riding impression, though, was Bergman's careful charting of this much-vaunted force losing any sense of moral compass. In recent times, Bergman describes how even senior retired officers, including one Mossad chief, feel its ruthless approach has become counter-productive. David becomes Goliath. That is not to say that he shies away from describing the appalling terrorist acts of the PLO, Black September and the rest, nor the very real threat from Arab countries and in more recent times, from Iran. But as one listens to the descriptions of discussions within Mossad and with politicians, it is fascinating to see how moral considerations are eroded until hardly recognised at all. Fascinating, enthralling, but appalling and sad.
One reviewer has talked about the author "having an agenda". I was intrigued as to what this might be, but for me, at least, it is less an "agenda" and more of an inevitable conclusion if one accepts the analysis that this book contains.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
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- Boogaloo
- 13-01-2019
Outstanding informative and eye opening.
Outstanding research and factually gripping i was surprised how addictive the book was. well worth a listen.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
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- Mrs S.
- 19-10-2018
A truly honest account
It is so refreshing to read such an honest account by such a prominent person who really knows what the Israel government has done and continues to do without challenge. A must read for all nationalities. This is no ‘story’ . Excellent listen.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
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- Andrew W.
- 21-08-2018
utterly gripping and a great piece of reporting...
probably the best audiobook I've ever experienced - why? - it recounts the complicated and potentially dry and confusing story of Israel's 70 years of enmity with its neighbours via a completely enthralling narrative. you come for the spy stories and learn the history too. a brilliant piece of work...
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
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- Ramona S.
- 14-08-2018
A very good listen
Not only is this book seemingly comprehensive on the topic, it is very well written and Rob Shapiro's performance is excellent. For those seeking to uncover more history on the work of secret services and some finer details on issues in the Middle East, this is an essential audio book. Some of the contents are simply sensational and others utterly jaw-dropping. Including local to international geopolitical perspectives, the contents will engage listeners looking to glean knowledge of the role of Israel since 1947.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
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- tugeladiver
- 18-09-2019
Brilliant
By far the best work compiled on the Israeli intelligence services and the proactive efforts taken to defend the state from internal and external attack. Expertly written and narrated.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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- merlin d magician
- 06-07-2019
very insightful
a bit Long, it became a bit ponderous and tedious towards the end, but non the less a very insightful and fascinating account of Israeli assassinations and the middle East conflict. I learnt the how it started and flamed into the mess that it is today. both sides points of view were made clear and also the fact that without a complete change of mindset and thinking, the middle east conflict will never go away and will just keep on escalating.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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- Deepak
- 22-06-2019
Comprehensive, fascinating and gripping
Fantastic book which is required reading for anyone interested in the modern history of the Middle East.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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- Warren
- 12-11-2018
Gripping and fascinating
A detailed and accurate insight into the Israeli security system from the beginning to now
1 of 1 people found this review helpful