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Nine Lives summary
Aimen Dean
Paul Cruickshank
Tim Lister
My Time As MI6's Top Spy Inside al-Qaeda
28 mins
Brief summary
Nine Lives by Aimen Dean with Paul Cruickshank and Tim Lister is a memoir that recounts the author's experiences as a former al-Qaeda member turned MI6 spy. It provides insight into the operations, ideology, and mindset of the terrorist group, as well as the dangers and challenges of intelligence work.
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Nine Lives
Summary of 9 key ideas
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Key idea 1 of 9
Ali al-Durrani lost the first of his nine lives as a teenager in the Bosnian War.
Aimen Dean was in Dubai packing for his nephew’s wedding in Bahrain when the call came. It was the groom-to-be himself, but he was calling with bad news.
The Bahraini security services had been in touch: there was a plot against Aimen’s life. He couldn’t safely attend the wedding.
It was 2016 – eight years since Aimen had been uncovered as a spy working for British intelligence. But al-Qaeda had not forgotten.
Why was Aimen still a marked man? His story begins in his childhood – back when he was Ali, not Aimen. His involvement with the Islamist cause started out in Bosnia, but eventually took him all around the world, from Afghanistan to the Philippines and eventually to the UK.
The key message here is: Ali al-Durrani lost the first of his nine lives as a teenager in the Bosnian War.
Born in 1978, Ali was the sixth Durrani child, much younger than his five brothers. Aged four, he lost his father in an accident, and when he was 12 his beloved mother died of an illness. Devastated, the intense and studious child, who had already memorized the Koran, found solace in a controversial religious text: In the Shade of the Qur’an, by Sayyid Qutb, the father of the modern jihadi movement.
Qutb was executed in 1966, becoming a martyr. He wrote that, in life, one’s words are unlit candles. They burst into light at the moment of martyrdom.
Ali was also taught anti-Western beliefs in religious study groups – although he didn’t always agree with them. He kept on drinking Coca-Cola and continued watching The Smurfs despite being told that it was a Western conspiracy. However, in most respects, he was a devoted student.
So nobody could stop Ali, just turned 16, traveling to Bosnia to defend his fellow Muslims from vicious Serbian attacks in 1994. He became a battlefield medic, treating injured soldiers and witnessing disturbing sights. At one point, he got his legs entangled in four landmines at once. His survival was a miracle.
Ali was not comfortable with all the violence he witnessed. He believed that executions should be swift, and civilians should be spared. Instead, he saw the opposite – as well as indiscriminate torture. He even watched his friend Khalid behead a Serb. But he couldn’t bring himself to do the same.
Yet he remained devout. Against the odds, Ali was still alive in Bosnia after a year. He wept – God had not made him a martyr.
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What is Nine Lives about?
Nine Lives (2018) is the thrilling story of Aimen Dean, a double agent who worked for British intelligence from inside al-Qaeda at the turn of the millennium. Once a committed jihadi, he lost faith in al-Qaeda’s mission and turned informant.
Nine Lives Review
Nine Lives (2018) tells the gripping true story of a former al-Qaeda insider turned MI6 spy. Here's why this book is worth reading:
- It provides a unique perspective on the inner workings of al-Qaeda, offering insights into radicalization and terrorism.
- The personal journey of the author, Aimen Dean, adds authenticity and emotional depth to the narrative, making it a compelling read.
- With its balance of suspense and thought-provoking analysis, the book keeps readers engaged and helps them understand the complexities of counter-terrorism.
Who should read Nine Lives?
- People interested in the War on Terror
- Memoir enthusiasts
- Lovers of a good spy thriller
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Nine Lives FAQs
What is the main message of Nine Lives?
The main message of Nine Lives revolves around the unique experiences and perspectives of Aimen Dean, a former jihadist turned British spy.
How long does it take to read Nine Lives?
The estimated reading time for Nine Lives is several hours. The Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is Nine Lives a good book? Is it worth reading?
Nine Lives is worth reading for its gripping firsthand account and deep insights into the world of terrorism. It offers a unique perspective on a complex topic.
Who is the author of Nine Lives?
Aimen Dean wrote Nine Lives with the collaboration of Paul Cruickshank and Tim Lister.
What to read after Nine Lives?
If you're wondering what to read next after Nine Lives, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- The Second Sex by Simone de Beauvoir
- The Spy and the Traitor by Ben Macintyre
- Building Your Money Machine with ChatGPT by Larry Wheeler
- How to Begin by Michael Bungay Stanier
- The Shortest History of Economics by Andrew Leigh
- A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking
- Capitalism, Socialism and Democracy by Joseph Schumpeter
- Spy the Lie by Philip Houston
- How to Become a People Magnet by Marc Reklau
- ISIS by Michael Weiss and Hassan Hassan