Have you ever wondered what it would be like to grow up as the child of one of the most wanted terrorist in the world? Or how do you reconcile the actions of your parents as infamous as they may be? Jean Sasson, the celebrated author who brought to us the story of ‘Mayada: Daughter of Iraq‘, presents another engaging story of the life of the family of Osama Bin Laden. The name alone is enough to provoke a range of emotions from curiosity to hostility. It is easily forgotten that Bin Laden had dozens of children, some of whom have remained hidden from the public light. Sasson tells the story here of his first wife Najwa and his fourth son Omar. Through Sasson, they take us deep inside their world to show us what it was like to live with a man who was once declared the most wanted terrorist by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Before reading the book, I was not sure what to expect. Having witnessed as a child and as an adult the two attacks of the World Trade Center in hometown of New York City, I saw the darkest side of the mind of an Islamic radical. However now that I have read this book, I can say that it was unlike anything I could have imagined.
I was born in the west and as a result, my knowledge of the Middle East had always come from the media but hardly ever from people who had actually lived there and were of of the Islamic faith. It easy to fall into the trap of believing that everyone from the Middle East supports terror and wants to see the downfall of the United States. Those who have traveled and are students of the many cultures in this world, will know that such a notion if unfounded. This autobiography by Najwa and Omar is an invaluable asset in understanding the Islamic culture, the personal side of Osama Bin Laden and the effects that his lifestyle had on those closest to him. To truly enjoy the book it is necessary to put aside any pre-conceived beliefs about Islam. And while we may not agree with that way things are done in the Middle East, their traditions have existed for centuries and will not change overnight. Our judgments about those who practice the Islamic faith and those closely related to Bin Laden will be challenged on every front. Their story is eye-opening and informative and largely unknown in the western hemisphere.
What I enjoyed the most about the book is that there is no glamour and they do not glorify their lives. Contrary to the beliefs of many, not all of his family members supported his radical beliefs and actions. In fact, through the book, Omar could easily be the son of any other person, he’s a typical kid yearning for a strong bond with his dad, who was often away or involved in many nefarious deeds. Does he love his father? Absolutely. But he makes it clear that he knows what his father was involved in but never took up the same cause. As for Najwa, she has her own struggles, first with the Islamic system of polygamy and later Bin Laden’s extremism. But throughout each ordeal, mother and son remained strong and have to this day. Their memories have allowed us to examine the complex character that was Osama Bin Laden. i As a husband to several wives with a growing brood of children and relatives to support, his life comes across chaotic and stressful but not filled with the gratuitous violence or tragedy that you might expect. His commitment to his ideology and unwavering support of the blind Sheik caused suffering not only on the victims of his acts of terrorist but on members of his own family. Largely absent from the lives of at least 20 children, he created strained relationships between that were never up to the time of his death. And with his death several years ago, all hope of repairing those relationships has been lost forever. For Najwa and Omar, they still love the husband and father they knew but have came to terms with his life many years ago. And in the middle of everything that transpired, they too became victims in the process. Among the endless number of books regarding terrorism, this one stands out as required reading for anyone interested in Osama Bin Laden. Not only will you learn about his life but you might learn something about yourself as well.
ISBN-10: 0312560168
ISBN-13: 978-0312560164
“The first lesson a revolutionary must learn is that he is a doomed man” -Huey P. Newton.
On May 27, 2011, Gil Scott-Heron died of congestive heart failure at the age of 
On July 17, 1959, a shock wave was felt through the jazz industry and a somber mood filled the corridors of the New York Metropolitan Hospital. Eleanora Fagan, known by her stage name Billie Holiday, died tat the age forty-four from the effects of cirrhosis of the liver and the failure of several additional vital organs. In death the final chapter of her short and tragic life reached its foreseeable conclusion. Holiday had struggled with drug addiction and had found herself embroiled in dysfunctional and abusive personal relationships. On stage, she captivated audiences and left her mark as she became Lady Day. Her life story has been revived on Broadway as Lady Day at Emerson’s Grill starring Audrey McDonald. The play became a New York Times’ 
In 1977, sixteen year old Janis Hunter married soul singer Marvin Gaye becoming his second wife following Gaye’s earlier marriage to Anna Gordy, the younger sister of Motown founder Berry Gordy. Their marriage produced two children before the couple divorced several years later. Now in her later years, Janis tells her story of what her life was like being married to the legendary recording artist. As a starstruck teenage girl, she easily falls head over heels for the soul singer whose seductive charming personality, good looks and fast track lifestyle captured her heart and interest. Following the wedding bells, reality set in and a host of demons that plagued Gaye throughout his life rise to the surface transforming the fairy tale marriage into a relationship destined to implode. Marvin’s life was an enigma in itself and it can be said that he never did find peace on earth. His ability to self-destruct and engage in life threatening behavior became staples of his career and were factors in his death after a violent confrontation with his father on April 1, 1984. Depression, a dysfunctional relationship with his father and narcotics formed a deadly triumvirate from which Gaye was never able to escape. Janis became first hand witnesses to this and as a result of her close proximity to him, she also faced her own demons that threatened to consume her own life. This is the true story of what really did happen when she married the man that was once Motown’s prince.
On May 24, 1963, Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy met with a group composed of authors and civil rights icons at his Central Park South apartment. Among those in attendance were Lorraine Hansberry and her friend and fellow author, James Baldwin (1924-1987). The meeting quickly became volatile as the activists accused the Kennedy administration of dragging its feet on civil rights legislation. Their frustrations at the rampant discrimination in the United States and the inability of the government to take action, boiled over and Kennedy found himself in a hornet’s nest of raw emotion. The meeting left a permanent mark in his memory but in time he would become a vocal advocate for equal rights for all American regardless of race, creed or gender. His resurgence as the candidate of the poor and the downtrodden became the basis for his 1968 president campaign that ended tragically with his assassination in Los Angeles on June 5 ,1968. Baldwin outlived Kennedy by nineteen years and today both are remember for their efforts to transform the American conscious and way of thinking. In recent years, his work has been rediscovered and studied for its messages that were accurate then and are accurate now. Baldwin’s public stance of many topics was blunt and non-confusing. He did not mince his words and his delivery was direct and always mean to stir thought. But for all of his public actions, his private life is a story on its own that shows the author in a completely different light. His friend for many years, David Leeming, wrote this biography of his late friend to show the world who the real James Baldwin was. And what he has composed is a definitive account of the life of the late author.
When Rodman Edward “Rod” Serling, died on June 28, 1975, he left behind a legion of fans who fondly remembered and loved his hit show ‘The Twilight Zone’. The show is an American classic and every year on New Year’s Day, the Sci-Fi channel runs a full marathon. The show aired from 1959 to 1964, and in those fives years, a legacy was created that shows no signs of slowing down. The popularity of the show has resulted in fan sites, Instagram and Facebook pages, that pay homage to what many be the greatest science fiction show in television history. Classic episodes such as Nightmare at 20,000 Feet starring William Shatner of Star Trek fame and Nothing in The Dark with a young Robert Redford are some of the author’s favorites among a vast collection of outstanding creative genius. But who was the smooth talking man who appeared in a suit at the end of the episode with a cigarette in hand? His daughter Anne answers these questions in this intimate portrait of the man she called her dad.
On February 21, 1965, Malcolm X (1925-1965) was assassinated at the Audubon Ballroom in Harlem, New York. The image of him laying mortally wounded while surrounded by his close aides shows the savagery employed by his killers. His death was violent and unmerciful, taking place in front of his wife Betty and their six daughters. From the initial volley of shots, it was clear to most that Malcolm’s wounds were fatal. First aid was administered to no avail. Among those who rushed to his side was a friend and dedicated civil rights activist named Yuri Kochiyama (1921-2014). She is rarely mentioned in stories about the legendary Muslim leader but her life was one of dedication to civil rights for all human beings.
FREETHINKING BIBLIOPHILE 
You must be logged in to post a comment.