Hubris

The Inside Story of Spin, Scandal, and the Selling of the Iraq War

By: Michael Isikoff, David Corn

Narrated by: Stefan Rudnicki

What was really behind the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq? As George W. Bush steered the nation to war, who spoke the truth and who tried to hide it?

This fast-paced, behind-the-scenes narrative tells the inside story of how the Bush administration used bad intelligence to sell and then justify the Iraq war. Veteran reporters Michael Isikoff and David Corn take the reader behind the scenes at the White House, the CIA, the Pentagon, the State Department, and in Congress, where controversial decisions and turf battles were fought in and with the highest circles of the Bush administration.

Hubris connects the dots between George W. Bush's determination to get rid of Saddam Hussein, the role of neoconservatives in pushing the case for war, and the outing of a CIA officer, which led to the indictment of a top White House official. It's a news-making account of conspiracy, backstabbing, ineptitude, and, perhaps most especially, arrogance.

©2006 Michael Isikoff and David Corn (P)2006 Blackstone Audio Inc.

Critic reviews

• Audie Award Finalist, Judges' Award: Politics, 2007

"Many critics of the Iraq War have highlighted the ideological drive behind the invasion. Fewer have grappled with the more complex question of why it was impossible for skeptics, doubters, and more scrupulous analysts to stop it. Isikoff and Corn enable us to understand better how this devastating policy tragedy played out." (The Washington Post's Book World)

A must read

Meticulously researched, this should be a "must read" for every American voter. It absolutely underlined the idea that power must be questioned and held accountable.

A captivating and thorough analysis of the Bush administration’s selling of the Iraq war

Thorough but not dry at all. This is the best book I’ve read on this topic to date. No stone left unturned. Offered insightful analysis without letting anyone off the hook. Every minute was interesting and infuriating.

I enjoyed it

Would you consider the audio edition of Hubris to be better than the print version?

I am a fan of audio books.

What other book might you compare Hubris to and why?

Drift

What does Stefan Rudnicki bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

He brought out my imagination.

What’s the most interesting tidbit you’ve picked up from this book?

The entire affair seemed to be a giant tangled web of lies, covering up what was going on, and revenge.

Any additional comments?

None.

Reads like a thriller

This book is very well written and very disturbing. I wish that both conservatives and liberals would read this. But I think that people mostly read things they agree with.

I was mostly, but not totally, against the war in Iraq, because at the time I didn't think Bush and his people were outright lying to us. So, one had to wonder.

But after reading this, I am madder than ever. It seems that Bush wasn't just lying to us, but that he seems to have believed his own lies. Which is even scarier.

This is a very disturbing, compelling, and well-researched book. And it holds your interest like a good work of fiction. It's a shame it's all true.

Still a Great Book

This book reminds why I thought GW Bush was the worst President in over 100 years, until Donald Trump of course. But beyond politics it’s an important book for all Americans to read to avoid letting our government get us into another self-inflicted tragedy.

A very important book

The only issue with this book is how dry it is being read. It makes for great reading and a great sleep aid when being listened to.

Not really fair to the narrator...

What made the experience of listening to Hubris the most enjoyable?

The narrator was really very good. He took what is a very touchy subject for many people and made it, not necessarily enjoyable, but at least possible to listen to.

What was the most compelling aspect of this narrative?

The most compelling part was the fact that even though I lived through this, watched high school friends go to war (some of them not coming back) and followed the news with a fair amount of regularity, there was so much I did not know. There was so much of the story of intelligence errors, redundancy, and secrecy (even between allies) that we were able to go to war on facts the intelligence community KNEW was wrong. It is disheartening to hear from an ethical standpoint, this was the first war we were engaged in where we were not attacked first (Vietnam still technically being considered a conflict), and from the viewpoint of someone who has always respected the intelligence forces of our country.

What does Stefan Rudnicki bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Stefan Rudnicki was able to get me through the book. I had purchased it for my Kindle and was unable to even get into the third chapter because I would get so angry.

Better than most

This isn't bad for those who haven't read/heard "State of Denial" or that book written by Richard Clark, (and one or two others), but for those who have, this will read like an amalgamation of all the other 9/11 and Iraq books. Currently listening to Tenet's book, and so far, Tenet's writing is pedestrian at best, sloppy at worst.

The sad truth

This is probably the most detailed book on the white house's deception for starting the Iraq war. Aptly named.

It really shows you that it didn't matter what the REAL evidence was, the neo-cons that took power had decided on war and WMDs were just the most convenient excuse. If they had never existed, another excuse (Gulf-of-Tomkin like) would have been created (as the book will describe).

Essential reading on Iraq

The powerfully written account of the behind-the-scenes decision making leading up to and controlling the Iraq war is essential reading for anyone wishing to get a better understanding of the issues around Iraq.
The authors are incredibly comprehensive in the fact finding and explanation of the intelligence data provided to the key players within the White House and the decisions made with this information.
In addition, the narrator is as always, excellent.
I would highly recommend this book.