Bruce Lawrence wasn’t looking to write about America’s No. 1 enemy.
But when British publisher Verso Books came looking for an editor to analyze a decade’s worth of Osama bin Laden’s statements, it was an offer the Duke University humanities professor couldn’t refuse.
The recently published “Messages to the World: The Statements of Osama bin Laden” brings together 24 of bin Laden’s writings, interviews and videotaped statements.
It is the first academic compilation of bin Laden’s words and is among a recent spate of books on the al-Qaeda leader – books experts say are long overdue.
“If it makes one iota of difference in how Americans think about the war of terror, and in my wildest dreams it could bring about a more balanced approach to winning hearts and minds of Arabs and Muslims, my efforts would be worthwhile,” Lawrence says.
He said he hopes the book will strip away some of bin Laden’s mystique.
