A new book by Mattias Svensson examines the aftermath of the attacks on the World Trade Center in the USA on September 11, 2001. The work explores the dangers of expanding state power in response to external threats. Svensson argues that the reaction to the 2001 attacks demonstrates the risks associated with unchecked governmental authority. His analysis suggests that measures taken in the wake of the attacks may have had unintended and negative consequences. The book prompts a critical re-evaluation of the ‘war on terrorism’ and its long-term effects globally. It questions whether lessons were truly learned from the events that unfolded following the attacks on the World Trade Center in the USA. Ultimately, it serves as a warning against sacrificing civil liberties in the name of security.