Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

I was able to enjoy the Chris Hayes Podcast with the author before reading this. I couldn't wait to read it after listening to the author.

This book is almost a must-read for all interested in history and current events. Highly recommend. This book is a page-turner (at least it was for me!). Well-written, challenging, and important. Have already told 2 friends to buy it and will tell others. It is not a joy-ride. it is "work" but more than worth the pain. The author makes a number of well-defended statements. You will be the better for this read.

Spencer Ackerman's Reign of Terror argues that with the end of the Cold War (officially in 1991, though, as Ackerman notes, unofficially ended in the late '80s under Reagan), America entered into the War on Terror period. Essentially, the book begins with the Oklahoma City Bombing and ends with the events of 1/6/21.

I would have been interested to see Ackerman speculate on the coming Security State period. We've already seen the groundwork laid with social media data collection, facial recognition, etc. That said, as a reporter, I can understand why he chose not to go there. There are enough facts to write about it, but in the context of this book, some material may be seen as overly speculative. Ackerman actually acknowledges that there was no way for him to include everything on the subject (not to mention a different subject, albeit one that is closely related).

I was impressed with Ackerman's ability to connect the similarities of the OKC bombing and 9/11. Both involved the demolition of a significant building in a major American city and both were blamed on radical Muslims. That isn't to say that Ackerman implies the events were connected, but he skillfully connects the two events as two separate pieces within the War on Terror chapter.

Early in the book, Ackerman has a quote in which someone discusses the potentially huge setback of bending the Constitution to suit the War on Terror. Indeed, when one watches unmarked vans taking protestors away in the name of "security," the image is scary. This is the latest development. Ackerman goes into the prior history at length, including rather graphic detail of the CIA's tactics in Guantanamo and Afghanistan.

All in all, the bulk of Reign of Terror deals with 9/11 and how the government's dealing with the aftermath lead, inevitably, to the rise of Donald Trump as president. I can't say I agree with Ackerman's view that a journalist must take a side. I don't believe there is such a thing as pure objectivity, but I do believe attempting to be objective is a good goal. Despite the fact that one quickly picks up on Ackerman's political views, I didn't find it bothersome. Ackerman does an excellent job of finding extensive sources (and there is a lengthy citation of sources at the end). I'd like to thank Netgalley and Viking for providing an ARC. I will publish honest five-star reviews on Amazon and Goodreads this week as well.