Rating: 
Summary: Sanity in an insane world
Review: This book is outstanding for its clarity and common sense. It is obvious that Chomsky loves his country. It's very patriotic to speak out and tell the truth about what the government does in your name and with your money. Americans have a glorious history of dissent, especially in times of war. I highly recommend this book and intend to loan mine out until it becomes worn and tattered.
Rating: 
Summary: on Chomsky's "9-11"
Review: Much of the material on "9-11" from the talks Chomsky gave shortly after and made it into this book can easily be found on the internet for free. The material in the book is decent and I understand that 7 Stories Press wanted to get out a book on this most important event in a hurry... But for those really interested in reading Chomsky's core political critique and philosophy I'd recommend turning to the new "Understanding Power" or "Profit Over People" which are more representative examples of his work.
Rating: 
Summary: read this only if you're familiar with Chomsky's works
Review: While reading this, I got the feeling that the publisher decided to rush it into production right after 9-11. The book is a series of transcripts taken with Chomsky about the events of 9-11. The questions themselves are generally disconnected, and Chomsky often answers by referring to some of the other books he wrote (which was of no help to me, since I hadn't read any of them). There is nothing in the way of a comprehensive analysis of the events. No good argument about why it happened or what we can do.
Having said that, the book does present a few interesting ideas. Chomsky refutes the popular idea that the attacks were due to globalization, and offers supporting evidence in a few places. So if you're interested in that, you can get the book. And for the rest of us, if we haven't read anything of Comsky prior to this, we needn't bother.
Rating:
Summary: Very Important but also Biased and Limited
Review: Noam Chomsky's "9-11" has many limitations but is also a very important read. The attacks on September 11th were probably too important to generalize about from either a left wing point of view (big bad America is getting the punishment it deserves) or a right wing one (those evil freaks are just jealous of our money, fast food, and Disney Land). With this in mind, I highly recommend reading "9-11" but be aware of its limitations. After all, this is a slim volume of email correspondence that took place between the author and foreign journalists before a lot of substantial information about September 11th (such as the identity of the terrorists) had become public knowledge. The most compelling part of "9-11" is how effectively it dispels the notion that the terrorists are blindly lashing out at globalization. Chomsky points out that Osama Bin Laden is hardly aware of globalization and has more concrete goals that include ridding Saudi Arabia of American troops and creating a "truly Islamic" government in that country. Chomsky also points out what is now probably common knowledge, namely that Bin Laden and his followers were trained and supported by the CIA to fight the Soviet troops in Afghanistan. America's "new" war on terror, according to Chomsky is hardly new at all. Since the end of World War II American political lexicon has frequently labeled America's adversaries as terrorists whether they resisted American backed dictatorships (South Vietnam, Central America), or rebelled against American control (Panama, Grenada, Iraq). Finally, Chomsky reminds us that the beneficiaries of terrorism are the most violent and corrupt people on either side of the equation whether it is Bin Laden and his followers or radical conservatives and the Defense Industry. Chomsky certainly has an agenda and one should keep this in mind when reading his book. His language tends to be terse, impatient and at times even arrogant which probably does not do much to strengthen his case. Never-the-less, we are all obliged to research and understand what was behind the attacks of September 11th, and more than ever we should be objective about the information we encounter. Before you doubt the veracity of this book, check the information against other sources such as Mamoun Fandi's "Saudi Arabia and the Politics of Descent". Contrast Chomsky's point of view with Karen Amstrong's insights about Islamic fundamentalism ("The Battle for God") or Samuel Huntington's argument that the world is fragmenting along age old civilization boundaries ("The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order". Don't just take the American president and the press at their word. Research for yourself and come to your own conclusions.
Rating:
Summary: A Call for Understanding
Review: This thin volume (which I came to as a first-time Chomsky reader)has its limitations: it is a compilation of interviews, many in e-mail format, and many with non-American journalists. Because the interview questions all focus on the same subjects, there is a surprising amount of repetition (some of which the editors claim to have elided) for such a short book. Nonetheless, Prof. Chomsky needs to be heard. He is one of the few to question the reasons for the attacks, whereas most commentators wallow in the Hollywood tear-jerker approach of the recent CBS documentary. While Prof. Chomsky often overstates his case, and seems to be relishing his provocateur role, he effectively attacks the inability of the U.S. to maintain what Mr. Clinton called (in a different context) a firm "moral compass" in its foreign policy. Some of us remember Mr. Carter's attempt to institute a human rights-based foreign policy, while at the same time (according to Prof. Chomsky) his national security adviser was goading Russia into an invasion of Afghanistan that caused tremendous suffering. The fate of Afghanistan is truly horrible and ironic. After inducing the Russian invasion, arming and training the "freedom fighters," who then turned to bin Laden ("blow-back"), our solution was ... to bomb Afghanistan. While artists and intellectuals in Kabul may celebrate the departure of the Taliban, how much suffering was unleased by the U.S. attack? In remote Abdulgan, to name just one area, there was unimaginable misery, as the American bombers flew overhead, oblivious to what was occurring (See Michael Finkel's excellent NY Times Magazine piece from January of this year on the subject of starvation and suffering during the American bombing.) Sadly, those who suffered in Afghanistan during our attacks, whether or not previously allied with the Taliban, will likely join the ranks of the worldwide dispossessed who find it easy to blame the U.S. for their plight. And from their ranks may come the next Mohammed Atta. If this should happen (God forbid), and if Prof. Chomsky's ideas are not considered, our response will be to wring our hands, break out the patriotic bunting, and continue to wonder why in heaven "they" hate us so much.
Rating:
Summary: 9-11? A Little of a Letdown...
Review: I've long been a fan of the political analysis of one Noam Chomsky, as well as his interview based books such as "What Uncle Sam Really Wants", and "Secrets, Lies and Democracy" so I was quite looking forward to sitting down, and having a read of this, his latest interview based book. I was a little shocked however that it seemed to be little more than a cash-in on Chomsky's status as an intellectual than anything else. Though the interviews were good -- many done by foreign journalists -- they really seemed to lack in the analysis department, and offered little critical commentary on the current "War On Terrorism". I would have much preferred to have waited until many more facts were known relating to the 9/11 situation, and it's aftermath in a much better thoughout book than to have read this...what's even worse is that the majority of the interviews were done prior to the October 7th airstrikes! I would recommend this to those wishing to get a better idea of Chomsky's ideas, but I wouldn't recommend this to his fans who really would expect a lot more in the way of analysis.
Rating: 
Summary: I was not overly impresed.
Review: The book is premature, inasmuch as the action against those who perpetrated the September 11, 2001 atrocities is still ongoing. It is far too soon to sort out causation and effect. This fact would properly daunt an objective historian. No matter how much one may disagree or agree with the author's frequently novel viewpoints, and those he elicits, the fact remains that the episode is too fresh to allow a reasoned analysis. One may fairly conclude, and will conclude from an objective reading of this opus, that Chomsky, as was the case with many of his other works, has jumped the gun in an effort to promote his own subjective opinions to the prejudice of more reasoned efforts at a later time. This may suffice as effective propaganda to some, but it is no way to record history. Given the fact that the struggle is ongoing, it is a mere, nakedly political attempt to influence the course of events rather than report upon or analyze them. I do not recommend the book for that reason. I believe that its purchase is a waste of better-used resources.
Rating:
Summary: Provacative, but accurate?
Review: Call him what you will, but Chomsky is provacative.
He pulls back the covers of a dirty world to look into the causes of the 9-11 tragedy. Readers familiar with him will see the "Kissinger as Devil" slant of Chomsky's writing. If you're from the far left, this book will clarify your thoughts and provide ammunition for your convictions. If you're from the far right, know thine enemy. And if you're in the middle - learn with an open mind. Ups on the book:
1 - If it's your first read of Chomsky, you'll scratch your head asking, "Are we really that bad?"
2 - He's willing to challenge the status quo.
3 - We need multiple viewpoints on the world. Knocks on the book:
1 - Chomsky has a habit of masking controversial topics by calling ideas, "Common knowledge"
2 - The consistency of his ultra-left slant takes the edge off the originality of some of his insights.
3 - The timing and cover of the book could be construed as opportunism. I'll forgive the apparent opportunism and slant, because Chomsky does make me think. I'll keep reading him.
Rating:
Summary: 9/11: The War On Errorism!
Review: Chomsky has long been known to compile books of various interviews relating to a specific subject, and '9-11' is another fine adition to that ever-growing list. What '9-11' gives us is Chomsky discussing the actions of 9/11, their meaning, and consequences to the whole of American social, economic, and political ideals. Throughout the interviews (most done with foreign journalists) we are given a complete piecing together of the puzzle called foreign policy, and America's well-known history of supporting terrorism, and committing acts just as vile -- if not more so -- than those committed on 9/11. Read this book without the blind sense of patriotism I'm sure many have you have fallen into.
Rating:
Summary: A Light in the darkness of american media
Review: This book and its author try to provide people with right information. Non-negotiable facts are the base of this book ideas. Thanks Mr. Chomsky.
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