Summary of Black Flags

Black Flags: The Rise of ISIS by Joby Warrick is an exploration of the rise of the Islamic State (ISIS), and the forces, people, and events that shaped it. Warrick draws on hundreds of interviews with key players in the Middle East and beyond, and in-depth reporting from the heart of the conflict in Iraq and Syria. He uncovers how ISIS began, evolved, and grew in strength to become one of the most feared terrorist organizations the world has ever seen. In detailing the rise of ISIS, he offers penetrating insights into the ideological and political forces that fueled its growth, even as he explains why it has proven difficult to defeat.