Full name: Left of Boom: How a Young CIA Case Officer Penetrated the Taliban and Al-Qaeda

Author: Douglas Laux Year: 2016 Rank: Rating: Original Rating: Pop Rating: Genres/categories: Non Fiction, Memoirs, History Purchase/reserch links: Amazon Goodreads LibraryThing ISBNs: 9781250116888 9781250081360 1250116880 125008136X

On September 11, 2001, Doug Laux was a freshman in college, on the path to becoming a doctor. But with the fall of the Twin Towers came a turning point in his life. After graduating he joined the Central Intelligence Agency, determined to get himself to Afghanistan and into the center of the action. Through persistence and hard work he was fast-tracked to a clandestine operations position overseas. Dropped into a remote region of Afghanistan, he received his baptism by fire. Frustrated by bureaucratic red tape, a widespread lack of knowledge of the local customs and culture and an attitude of complacency that hindered his ability to combat the local Taliban, Doug confounded his peers by dressing like a native and mastering the local dialect, making contact and building sources within several deadly terrorist networks. His new approach resulted in unprecedented successes, including the uncovering the largest IED network in the world, responsible for killing hundreds of US soldiers. Meanwhile, Doug had to keep up false pretenses with his family, girlfriend and friends--nobody could know what he did for a living--and deal with the emotional turbulence of constantly living a lie. His double life was building to an explosive resolution, with repercussions that would have far reaching consequences. Similar books: A River in Darkness by Masaji Ishikawa Seabiscuit by Laura Hillenbrand Lady in Waiting by Anne Glenconner Upstairs at the White House by J. B. West Escape from Camp 14 by Blaine Harden Highest Duty by Chesley B. Sullenberger Having Our Say by Sarah L. Delany Oscar Wilde by Richard Ellmann Nigger by Dick Gregory Kaffir Boy by Mark Mathabane The Translator by Daoud Hari The Sisters by Mary S. Lovell The Invisible Wall by Harry Bernstein Running on Red Dog Road by Drema Hall Berkheimer The Wolf at Twilight by Kent Nerburn By Chance Alone by Max Eisen Virginia Woolf by Hermione Lee Hons and Rebels by Jessica Mitford The Most They Ever Had by Rick Bragg