For any mature surgeon(One whose training occured in the 50s or 60s) as well as any surgeon interested in the history of the turn of the century giants.would find it difficult to put down this book. The Criles,Barney and Jane were the perfect example of marital symbiosis,and their adventures are as exciting to read about as it might have been to have accompanied them.Great anecdotes of college at Yale.Medical school at Harvard and his professional career. Inspiring to say the very least. Privelidged to have known Barney as a Fellow during residency at The Clinic.

Crile gives us an unbelievable account at how one man hijacked US foreign policy and lured the CIA into a meaningful support role for Afghanistan in the 80's. Charlie Wilson is a fascinating character who builds international alliances through drinking buddies to pursuade Egypt, China and even Israel into supporting the mujahadeen against the Soviets. The book even touches on how such involvement influenced the rise of the Taliban and how US support gave rise to the very radicals who were involved in the attacks of 9/11. This is important history that gets very little attention in the US national consciousness. Furthermore, it's a gripping read.

"Charlie Wilson's War" is the unbelievable yet true story of the covert CIA operation to support the Afghan rebels who so courageously resisted Soviet occupation in the 1980's. It is also the story of two extraordinary men, Congressman Charles Wilson and CIA operative Gust Avrokotos, whose guile, determination, and utter disregard for the rules made this quixotic undertaking a reality.
This book is about impossible personalities prevailing against impossible odds to defeat an impossible foe. It is also impossible to put down. The prose is quick and engaging. George Crile and his crack team drop you immediately into the action, creating a close bond with the book's main protagonists. However, Wilson and Avrokotos are not allowed to completely overshadow the action. Crile brings his expert eye to this historic tale, forged after almost two decades of service as an executive producer at "Sixty Minutes". The result is an easy to follow, orderly read- despite the utter chaos of the region's history, politics, and religious, ethnic, and territorial turmoil.
What makes this book all the more fascinating is the direct connections Crile ties to our present day difficulties with Afghanistan and the larger Islamic world, not to mention the final days of the Soviet empire. For the first time since 9/11, one source ties together the complicated web of covert operations, David and Goliath type odds, and the final missed opportunities into a coherent story. A story that is an object lesson into our current relationships in the Middle East. "Charlie Wilson's War" is proof once again that truth is far stranger than fiction, for throughout this story you will be struck time and time again by the sheer magnitude of the undertaking, the force of the personalities, and the effect they have on the entire world.
This book caries my highest recommendation. Whether you like fiction or non fiction, history, spy novels, or fantasy, this saga has something for every reader. Go buy this book, and buy it for a friend!!!!

I could not put this book down -- just a great read. In the dangerous times that we now live in, it is amazing to read a book that finally explains the rise of militant Islam but is more entertaining than any spy novel.

Belly dancers, beauty queens, rogue CIA agents and rugged mujahideen warriors this book is truth that fact is far stranger than fiction

Charlie Wilson is a great American and one who has, somehow, been all but forgotten by history. This book explains how one American patriot can secretly change the world.

In the post 9/11 era, this book is of enormous importance to every American. I recommend it highly.