READING: Coll, The Bin Ladins

Steve Coll
The Bin Ladins: An Arabian Family in the American Century
2008

With a title like that you would expect the family's cave dwelling, Yank-baiting uber-terrorist to be the star of the show, but Osama is largely eclipsed by his lesser known but equally larger than life elders and siblings.
By far the most enthralling book I've read this year. The level of research is frightening and Coll's style is informal and entertaining, although one would expect nothing less from the former Washington Post and New Yorker staffer.
Each new character is introduced like friends at a party, and some of the Bin Laden's did love to party.
If anyone could be said to stand out from patriarch Mohammed bin Laden's 50 children it would be his eldest son and heir to the Bin Laden empire Salem. Salem is portrayed as charming, funny and worldly. He was the life and soul of the party, with a limited but frequently belted-out repertoir of Western party tunes.
Osama was Mohammed's seventh son and the only child by his tenth wife. His destructive world-view is largely presented through the prism of his fast-deteriorating relationship with the Bin Laden family, which had already been severed before 9/11.
The Bin Ladens themselves remain perpetually in thrall of, and desperate to stay close to, Saudi Arabia's ruling Saudi kings.
Also revealed is the family's complex relationship with aeroplanes (Mohammed and Salem both died in one, Osama killed thousands with two), and there is a bizarre cameo appearance by everyone's favourite Scot Sean Connery.