The Bin Ladens: An Arabian Family in the American Century

The Bin Ladens: An Arabian Family in the American Century is a New York Times best-selling book written by two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning author Steve Coll in 2008. The book illustrates the story of the Bin Laden family's rise to power and privilege, with Coll's journalistic investigation revealing how American influences affected the family and how one member, Osama bin Laden, led a rebellion that changed the United States of America.

Publisher's description
"The Bin Ladens rose from poverty to privilege; they loyally served the Saudi royal family for generations--and then one of their number changed history on September 11, 2001. Journalist Steve Coll tells the story of the rise of the Bin Laden family and of the wildly diverse lifestyles of the generation to which Osama bin Laden belongs, and against whom he rebelled. Starting with the family's escape from famine at the beginning of the twentieth century, through its jet-set era in America after the 1970s oil boom, and finally to the family's attempts to recover from September 11, this book unearths extensive new material about the family and its relationship with the United States, and provides a richly revealing and emblematic narrative of our globally interconnected times."

Recognition

 * CODES Notable Books Council Award Winner
 * Pulitzer Prize Finalist
 * National Book Critics Circle Award Finalist
 * Los Angeles Times Book Prize Finalist.