Rating: 
Summary: Important Piece of Work on Terrorism
Review: On the 2nd anniversary of the 9/11 disaster, I was watching NOW on PBS. I was struck by the remark of a widow who commented on the irony of how her husband died at the hands of terrorists, the very news she skipped over [pre 9/11] when reading the NY Times. How ironic that John O'Neill, who spent his adult life seeking that knowledge, would find the same fate. For this book's readability and essential overview of recent terrorist history, I recommend that everyone in America who can read, get this book out of their libraries. Clearly Murray Weiss seeks a wide audience by sticking to an easy reportorial style of writing that won't put people off, which combines the dry stuff of international politics and investigation with a never sensationalist view of O'Neill's personal life. We get the essence of the man, the world he inhabits and the details of his life's work at the FBI, all in one easy read. Good job. Where I might quibble or question is when Weiss clearly can't resist giving jabs to the Clinton administration and Hillary specifically, and in the section on the investigation of the Cole disaster. Weiss can't seem to help hiding his [and perhaps O'Neill's] feelings in those sections. While I don't necessarily disagree with him on Clinton's reaction to terrorist threats, these sections are in contrast to what otherwise seems to be a balanced view of the terrorist danger to our country, one which for this reader, opened up my eyes to want to make further inquiries and read more. And for that, this book gets 5 stars--and would get 10 if that were an available option. Thanks to Murrary Weiss for doing his share, not only as a reporter, but as the author of this book, to try to engage the American public in the real stuff that impacts our lives.
Rating:
Summary: The Spy Who Loved Me
Review: Several women could repeat that phrase about the dashing, whirling dervish, John O'Neill. The Man Who Warned America is a triumphant tribute to John O'Neill. Murray Weiss takes you on the inside track of John O'Neill's life and his first love, the FBI. The book is especially poignant as it tells the story so few knew. Most people didn't know the name Bin Laden until 9/11. John O'Neill lived to stop Bin Laden's terrorist network for over a decade. John O'Neill is a national hero and everyone should know his name and his story. Murray Weiss does justice to O'Neill's life and work!
Rating:
Summary: Powerful and thought-provoking! A "must read".
Review: The Man Who Warned America by Murray Weiss is a riveting, powerful book. Well-documented, tightly written and smartly paced, we come along for the ride of John O'Neill's life - celebrating his achievements, suffering his trials, and marveling as he juggles a self-complicated private life that is chaotic at best. Thanks to Weiss, we get to know an American patriot who "saw" the coming conflict and anticipated attacks against the United States. Resolved and tireless - even in the face of bureaucratic arrogance, pettiness and foolishness - O'Neill led by example and succeeded in building alliances, inspiring his colleagues, and working with them to protect us long before most Americans were even aware of the threat. In the end, we mourn a friend most of us only ever met through Weiss' 400 pages. I find myself missing John O'Neill's presence in our world.Weiss' book is a "must read". In addition to O'Neill, the book cites many men and women who continue to remain vigilant on our behalf as we go about our daily lives oblivious to the majority of threats facing us. They constantly put their lives - and careers - on the line in defense of us. Thanks to Weiss, more people will know of their strength of character. I'd love to read a follow-up book from Weiss about the legacy of John O'Neill.....I'd sleep better knowing that the lessons O'Neil taught so many people were taken to heart and applied in our defense.
Rating:
Summary: Powerful and thought-provoking! A "must read".
Review: The Man Who Warned America by Murray Weiss is a riveting, powerful book. Well-documented, tightly written and smartly paced, we come along for the ride of John O'Neill's life - celebrating his achievements, suffering his trials, and marveling as he juggles a self-complicated private life that is chaotic at best. Thanks to Weiss, we get to know an American patriot who "saw" the coming conflict and anticipated attacks against the United States. Resolved and tireless - even in the face of bureaucratic arrogance, pettiness and foolishness - O'Neill led by example and succeeded in building alliances, inspiring his colleagues, and working with them to protect us long before most Americans were even aware of the threat. In the end, we mourn a friend most of us only ever met through Weiss' 400 pages. I find myself missing John O'Neill's presence in our world. Weiss' book is a "must read". In addition to O'Neill, the book cites many men and women who continue to remain vigilant on our behalf as we go about our daily lives oblivious to the majority of threats facing us. They constantly put their lives - and careers - on the line in defense of us. Thanks to Weiss, more people will know of their strength of character. I'd love to read a follow-up book from Weiss about the legacy of John O'Neill.....I'd sleep better knowing that the lessons O'Neil taught so many people were taken to heart and applied in our defense.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent bio and 9/11 narrative
Review: THE MAN WHO WARNED AMERICA is probably the most heartbreaking, riveting book about 9/11 yet. And even though I knew exactly what was going to happen the morning of September 11, Weiss somehow made the last chapter incredibly suspenseful, revelatory and thoughful at the same time. If only Hollywood thrillers were this good.
Rating: 
Summary: Interesting but mildly partisan
Review: The unfortunate slant to information presented leaves me wondering about the verisimilitude of all facts contained in this book. The author rightfully bashes Clinton for his lapses in the undeclared war on terrorism. However, he doesn't discuss how Clinton had less public support to undergo the full-blown war that Bush enjoyed after the attacks. He also doesn't mention that Bush sent millions in tax-payer dollars to bin Laden only months prior to the attacks and that he did nothing more than Clinton did - even made the FBI back off further. What little mention he makes of Bush is in a partisan, favorable fashion. Such bios is already plentiful enough in media today. You would be better off reading the book O'Neil helped on: "Forbidden Truth: U.S.-Taliban Secret Oil Diplomacy, Saudi Arabia and the Failed Search for bin Laden."
Rating: 
Summary: BOOK ERROR-HOOVER DIED IN 1972!
Review: There's a photo in the book of a FBI Graduation Class Photo which says it's John O'Neil's 1976 Graduation Class Photo, and it also says that in 1976, J. Edgar Hoover was the director of the FBI, and in the photograph you can see Hoover standing in the front row. HOOVER DIED in 1972, he can't be director of anything, let alone the FBI in 1976. The guy identified in the photograph as John O'Neil is hard to see, he's in the back row, and is really just a blur. So my guess is, that this isn't John O'Neil FBI Class Photo. You'd think the editors of the book or Mr. Weiss would know when J. Edgar Hoover had died. I'm only 25, and I knew that photo was wrong, the moment I read the caption.
I didn't buy this book, because I couldn't trust it.
Rating:
Summary: Best Book of the Year!!!!
Review: This astonishing story about John O'Neill is incredible, on one hand so compelling it reads like an international political spy novel while providing a precise roadmap about why 9/11 occurred. And the irony is beyond words. Murray Weiss has not only included information about Al-Quada and 9/11 but also went into Mr. O'Neill's childhood and growing up. Mr. Weiss has done a wonderful job writing this book and I'm looking forward to his next outstanding Best Seller!!
Rating:
Summary: Excellent!
Review: This irony filled book details the life of John O'Neill, the FBI's counter-terrorism chief until August 2001. The irony comes in when one considers that O'Neill spent most of his career pursuing Osama bin Laden, and then died at the World Trade Center on 9/11, just weeks after assuming a job as head of security for that complex. The book clearly illustrates the vast danger that beauacracy poses to our country. O'Neill was forced into retirement from the FBI due to his flamboyant lifestyle and lack of desire to toe the company line. This is a shame, because O'Neill was one of the few people in the US government who recognized how dangerous bin Laden had become and had the ability and desire to stop him before it was too late. A highly recommended read!
Rating:
Summary: Excellent!
Review: This irony filled book details the life of John O'Neill, the FBI's counter-terrorism chief until August 2001. The irony comes in when one considers that O'Neill spent most of his career pursuing Osama bin Laden, and then died at the World Trade Center on 9/11, just weeks after assuming a job as head of security for that complex. The book clearly illustrates the vast danger that beauacracy poses to our country. O'Neill was forced into retirement from the FBI due to his flamboyant lifestyle and lack of desire to toe the company line. This is a shame, because O'Neill was one of the few people in the US government who recognized how dangerous bin Laden had become and had the ability and desire to stop him before it was too late. A highly recommended read!
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