tˈaɪm ɪn tˈuː θˈaʊzənd fˈoːɹ kˈɔːld ɪt "pɹˈɑːbəbli ðə bˈɛst wˈʌnvˈɑːljuːm kəmpˈæniən tə ðə hˈæɹoʊɪŋ ᵻvˈɛnts ɪnðə wˈɔːɹ ˌɔn tˈɛɹɚɹˌɪzəm sˈɪns nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd nˈaɪnti sˈɪks", nˈoʊɾɪŋ ðə bˈʊks skˈeɪðɪŋ kɹˈɪɾɪsˌɪzəmz ʌvðə sˌiːˌaɪˈeɪ.
Time in 2004 called it "probably the best one-volume companion to the harrowing events in the war on terrorism since 1996", noting the book's scathing criticisms of the CIA.