- Hardcover: 160 pages
- Publisher: W&N (29 Jun 2006)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0297851462
- ISBN-13: 978-0297851462
- Product Dimensions: 19.8 x 13.4 x 2 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 48,633 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Review
"This title apes Michael Moore's polemical Fahrenheit 9/11, but this is not a bombastic broadside. Gove - a Tory MP and Times columnist - denies that the war has made Britain a target, arguing that we have not done enough to punish regimes that sponsor terrorism." (THE TIMES )
"All I can really urge you to do is buy it. It's a truly marvellous book about the refusal in the West to acknowledge the reality and scale of the Islamist threat to civilisation. It ought to be compulsory reading.... It's so well written that it is impossible to put down. Gove ranges across the history of Islamism, the reality of today's terror, the real role of Israel and the response of Western liberals. It's a book that needed to be written. Buy it here. You won't regret it." (Stephen Pollard, David Blunkett's biographer www.stephenpollard.net - political blog )
"a terrific oped in today's Times, excerpted from his forthcoming book, Celsius 7/7" (David Frum, Bush's former speechwriter http://frum.nationalreview.com )
"brilliant, essential and terrifying... lucid, unhysterical, informed - the landmark book that, together with Melanie Philips's Londonistan, finally acknowledges the scale of the problem before us... Gove's book has arrived not a moment too soon." (JAMES DELINGPOLE THE MAIL ON SUNDAY )
on Tuesday I went to hear an MP speak at a debate and was surprised by how surprised I was that he managed to be both persuasive and articulate. The MP was Michael Gove and he was arguing that the West's policy of appeasement has provoked yet more fundamentalist terror.... he has just written a book on this subject, Celsius 7/7... it reminded me that it is still possible to feel inferior to politicians." (Nigel Farndale SUNDAY TELEGRAPH )
"a superb book on the threat of Islamism" (MATTHEW D'ANCONA SUNDAY TELEGRAPH )
"I have never seen the argument for a robust response to the threat spelt out so clearly and succinctly as in Gove's book... Best of all is his analysis of the role that the Israel issue has played in the debate about terrorism and Middle Eastern policy." (THE SPECTATOR )
Michael Gove is one of the rising stars of the British parliamentary Conservative party on account of the exceptional depth and lucidity of his thinking. Almost alone among British politicians, he courageously opposes the ugly anti-Americanism and hatred of Israel which are currently convulsing British society. His new book, Celsius 7/7, is a brilliant analysis of Britain's wilful blindness in refusing to grasp the true nature and extent of the Islamist war upon the west
and the resulting culture of appeasement which threatens to undermine Britain's special relationship with America. At a time when the hostilities in the Middle East are ratcheting up Britain's state of denial to an unprecedented level of irrationality and prejudice, Gove's urgent wake-up call could not be more timely or prescient. (MELANIE PHILIPS )
"Attacks on Israel are merely a small part of what global Islamism is about. As Michael Gove points out in Celsius 7/7 - his short but brilliant guide to the global threat we all face - as fascism degraded nationalism and communism betrayed socialism, Islamism is a political creed that perverts Islam." (RUTH DUDLEY EDWARDS, historian of The Economist, IRISH INDEPENDENT )
"Gove does not take prisoners... Gove has done us all a service by uncovering the extremist antecedents of the "moderate" Muslim spokesmen feted by the race relations industry and its sympathisers in the BBC." (DAILY TELEGRAPH )
"Michael Gove is one of the most media-savvy young politicians in Britain. And now, with the release of this remarkable and important book, he has also become one of the most important... one of the best and most important books on the Middle East and the problems facing the West through Islamism to have been published in recent years... the political book of the year so far." (JOHN SPAIN IRISH INDEPENDENT )
"long, well informed and persuasive.... Gove provides the essential background - the origins of Islamist radicalism from Sayed Qutb to Maududi, the role of the Muslim Brotherhood and its main present-day representatives, the aims of the jihadists." (WALTER LAQUEUR THE TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT )
"Gove's coruscating book makes an impassioned case" (SUNDAY BUSINESS POST )
"He does an excellent job of contextualising the intellectual and political appeal that Islamism holds while examining the failures in Western approaches to the problem. This is a timely, thought-provoking and thorough argument." (GOOD BOOK GUIDE )
"All I can really urge you to do is buy it. It's a truly marvellous book about the refusal in the West to acknowledge the reality and scale of the Islamist threat to civilisation. It ought to be compulsory reading.... It's so well written that it is impossible to put down. Gove ranges across the history of Islamism, the reality of today's terror, the real role of Israel and the response of Western liberals. It's a book that needed to be written. Buy it here. You won't regret it." (Stephen Pollard, David Blunkett's biographer www.stephenpollard.net - political blog )
"a terrific oped in today's Times, excerpted from his forthcoming book, Celsius 7/7" (David Frum, Bush's former speechwriter http://frum.nationalreview.com )
"brilliant, essential and terrifying... lucid, unhysterical, informed - the landmark book that, together with Melanie Philips's Londonistan, finally acknowledges the scale of the problem before us... Gove's book has arrived not a moment too soon." (JAMES DELINGPOLE THE MAIL ON SUNDAY )
on Tuesday I went to hear an MP speak at a debate and was surprised by how surprised I was that he managed to be both persuasive and articulate. The MP was Michael Gove and he was arguing that the West's policy of appeasement has provoked yet more fundamentalist terror.... he has just written a book on this subject, Celsius 7/7... it reminded me that it is still possible to feel inferior to politicians." (Nigel Farndale SUNDAY TELEGRAPH )
"a superb book on the threat of Islamism" (MATTHEW D'ANCONA SUNDAY TELEGRAPH )
"I have never seen the argument for a robust response to the threat spelt out so clearly and succinctly as in Gove's book... Best of all is his analysis of the role that the Israel issue has played in the debate about terrorism and Middle Eastern policy." (THE SPECTATOR )
Michael Gove is one of the rising stars of the British parliamentary Conservative party on account of the exceptional depth and lucidity of his thinking. Almost alone among British politicians, he courageously opposes the ugly anti-Americanism and hatred of Israel which are currently convulsing British society. His new book, Celsius 7/7, is a brilliant analysis of Britain's wilful blindness in refusing to grasp the true nature and extent of the Islamist war upon the west
and the resulting culture of appeasement which threatens to undermine Britain's special relationship with America. At a time when the hostilities in the Middle East are ratcheting up Britain's state of denial to an unprecedented level of irrationality and prejudice, Gove's urgent wake-up call could not be more timely or prescient. (MELANIE PHILIPS )
"Attacks on Israel are merely a small part of what global Islamism is about. As Michael Gove points out in Celsius 7/7 - his short but brilliant guide to the global threat we all face - as fascism degraded nationalism and communism betrayed socialism, Islamism is a political creed that perverts Islam." (RUTH DUDLEY EDWARDS, historian of The Economist, IRISH INDEPENDENT )
"Gove does not take prisoners... Gove has done us all a service by uncovering the extremist antecedents of the "moderate" Muslim spokesmen feted by the race relations industry and its sympathisers in the BBC." (DAILY TELEGRAPH )
"Michael Gove is one of the most media-savvy young politicians in Britain. And now, with the release of this remarkable and important book, he has also become one of the most important... one of the best and most important books on the Middle East and the problems facing the West through Islamism to have been published in recent years... the political book of the year so far." (JOHN SPAIN IRISH INDEPENDENT )
"long, well informed and persuasive.... Gove provides the essential background - the origins of Islamist radicalism from Sayed Qutb to Maududi, the role of the Muslim Brotherhood and its main present-day representatives, the aims of the jihadists." (WALTER LAQUEUR THE TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT )
"Gove's coruscating book makes an impassioned case" (SUNDAY BUSINESS POST )
"He does an excellent job of contextualising the intellectual and political appeal that Islamism holds while examining the failures in Western approaches to the problem. This is a timely, thought-provoking and thorough argument." (GOOD BOOK GUIDE )
SUNDAY BUSINESS POST
"Gove's coruscating book makes an impassioned case"
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
25 of 30 people found the following review helpful
Michael Gove's `Celsius 7/7' is an engaging and thought provoking text. His drive is to explain the escalation of the war against `the West,' long waged by Islamic fundamentalists. His argument takes a convincing tone by linking contemporary issues, such as the London bombings to the fundamental teachings and history of radical Islam. He traces the struggle with `the West' back to the collapse of the Ottoman Empire and the reflexive rise of the Brotherhood in the 1920's. Gove reveals how the teachings of the Brotherhood's leading advocates shaped the fundamentalist views of the morally corrupt West.
After setting the basis, Gove's argument takes on a new found momentum, skipping through the middle eastern countries and explaining their activity in the radicalising political map. He aligns this argument with how a series of failures have exposed `the West's' weaknesses, irretrievably damaging their solidarity and common purpose, whilst reinforcing the radical Islamic cause. Simultaneously, Gove explains how the actions of Western governments since the 1970's have encouraged terrorism, extending the argument to contemporary spheres like the Danish Islamists cartoons in 2005 and other examples of the narrow discourse of the current media. He expands these points in light of other recent political issues, such as the merging of the Left with radical Islamic groups and the exposure of fundamentalist sympathisers in the mainstream British media. Here the argument for moral clarity comes to life.
Gove's neatly organised and momentous account employs down-to-earth language which complements to his admirable style over the 152 pages. My review may be plagued by the admission I am not an expert on the subject of Islam. However, writing as a keen learner, the text held my full attention for its duration. I have read few similar books which are so thoughtful and yet make me eager to turn to the next page (when not turning to the limited notes at the back that is). The volume of information presented by Gove in support of his streamlined points, although not cited entirely consistently, will make stimulating reading again and again.
After setting the basis, Gove's argument takes on a new found momentum, skipping through the middle eastern countries and explaining their activity in the radicalising political map. He aligns this argument with how a series of failures have exposed `the West's' weaknesses, irretrievably damaging their solidarity and common purpose, whilst reinforcing the radical Islamic cause. Simultaneously, Gove explains how the actions of Western governments since the 1970's have encouraged terrorism, extending the argument to contemporary spheres like the Danish Islamists cartoons in 2005 and other examples of the narrow discourse of the current media. He expands these points in light of other recent political issues, such as the merging of the Left with radical Islamic groups and the exposure of fundamentalist sympathisers in the mainstream British media. Here the argument for moral clarity comes to life.
Gove's neatly organised and momentous account employs down-to-earth language which complements to his admirable style over the 152 pages. My review may be plagued by the admission I am not an expert on the subject of Islam. However, writing as a keen learner, the text held my full attention for its duration. I have read few similar books which are so thoughtful and yet make me eager to turn to the next page (when not turning to the limited notes at the back that is). The volume of information presented by Gove in support of his streamlined points, although not cited entirely consistently, will make stimulating reading again and again.
42 of 51 people found the following review helpful
I read Melanie Phillips's "Londonistan" before reading Gove's book. Both books cover roughly the same ground, but I have to say that Phillips's tone can become rather exasperating, no matter how important the topic. Gove's book, on the other hand, is eminently controlled, level in tone, well researched and well written. For these, and for other reasons, "Celsius 7/7" is the more powerful of the two volumes.
And it is mercifully concise.
In his conclusion Gove makes an appeal that we would all do well to heed:
"More broadly, we also need to rediscover and reproclaim faith in our common values. We need an ideological effort to move away from moral relativism and towards moral clarity, as well as a commitment to build a truly incusive model of British citizenship in which divisive separatist identities are challenged and rejected."
Gove's is a clarion call to all of us to defend liberty and rationality. Unless we do this, we may well find ourselves heading rapidly towards a time of repression by religiously motivated totalitarian ideologues.
And it is mercifully concise.
In his conclusion Gove makes an appeal that we would all do well to heed:
"More broadly, we also need to rediscover and reproclaim faith in our common values. We need an ideological effort to move away from moral relativism and towards moral clarity, as well as a commitment to build a truly incusive model of British citizenship in which divisive separatist identities are challenged and rejected."
Gove's is a clarion call to all of us to defend liberty and rationality. Unless we do this, we may well find ourselves heading rapidly towards a time of repression by religiously motivated totalitarian ideologues.
23 of 28 people found the following review helpful
Much as it grieves me to praise a book by a Tory MP from the Home Counties, here goes. Yes this is a good book! Timely and important and a wake up call to those who would provide succour for Islamists.
The book is well-written and provides background on the roots of the current trend towards Islamism amongst a cerain section of the muslim community around the world. It also decries the moral and cultural relativists for whom the West is no better or no worse than some of the fascistic, theocratic or arsitocratic dictatorships with which the Islamic world finds it self saddled with. It illustrates the real danger and the real agenda behind Islamism - nothing less than the defeat of the West and the implementation of a global state governed by Sharia Law. The analogies to the rise of fascism and the totalitarian excesses of communism are starkly exhibited here.
The book compares well with other material I've read on the subject. It is much more sensible than Oriana Fallaci's "The Rage and The Pride" (but then it couldn't fail to be!). It is more balanced and serious than Bruce Bawer's "While Europe Slept". However, I'm not sure it is as good as Nick Cohen's "What's Left" (though this book is ostensibly about the idiocy of some on the left and in the liberal intelligentsia, it's central theme is the response to Islamism).
I don't agree with everything that Michael Gove says. I think he is a little too naive on the subject of Israel for example. Yes Israel is a lone democracy surrounded by autocratic states, but it does not entirely excuse what Israel does. Whilst Gove does finally admit that the Palestinians have a right to statehood he does rather gloss over the facts regarding their original denial of that goal.
Gove blames much of the appeasing attitude of the European left on their rejection of the legitimacy of the nation state. Whilst this is undoubtedly an issue it is nowhere near as big a reason as the replacement of the industrial working class by the poor of the developing world as a cause celebre amongst the modern left and the liberal classes.
I have a problem on critiques of the left from those who are not and have never been members of the left. They are free to criticise but they generally seem to find it difficult to restrain themselves and write less than magnanimously about the prominence of capitalism in the 21st Century. I'd rather read Nick Cohen, David Aaronovitch or Christopher Hitchens for a more genuine view on this. The fact is that the threat from Islamism should bury old left/right enmities - it is that serious!
A good book and well worth the read.
The book is well-written and provides background on the roots of the current trend towards Islamism amongst a cerain section of the muslim community around the world. It also decries the moral and cultural relativists for whom the West is no better or no worse than some of the fascistic, theocratic or arsitocratic dictatorships with which the Islamic world finds it self saddled with. It illustrates the real danger and the real agenda behind Islamism - nothing less than the defeat of the West and the implementation of a global state governed by Sharia Law. The analogies to the rise of fascism and the totalitarian excesses of communism are starkly exhibited here.
The book compares well with other material I've read on the subject. It is much more sensible than Oriana Fallaci's "The Rage and The Pride" (but then it couldn't fail to be!). It is more balanced and serious than Bruce Bawer's "While Europe Slept". However, I'm not sure it is as good as Nick Cohen's "What's Left" (though this book is ostensibly about the idiocy of some on the left and in the liberal intelligentsia, it's central theme is the response to Islamism).
I don't agree with everything that Michael Gove says. I think he is a little too naive on the subject of Israel for example. Yes Israel is a lone democracy surrounded by autocratic states, but it does not entirely excuse what Israel does. Whilst Gove does finally admit that the Palestinians have a right to statehood he does rather gloss over the facts regarding their original denial of that goal.
Gove blames much of the appeasing attitude of the European left on their rejection of the legitimacy of the nation state. Whilst this is undoubtedly an issue it is nowhere near as big a reason as the replacement of the industrial working class by the poor of the developing world as a cause celebre amongst the modern left and the liberal classes.
I have a problem on critiques of the left from those who are not and have never been members of the left. They are free to criticise but they generally seem to find it difficult to restrain themselves and write less than magnanimously about the prominence of capitalism in the 21st Century. I'd rather read Nick Cohen, David Aaronovitch or Christopher Hitchens for a more genuine view on this. The fact is that the threat from Islamism should bury old left/right enmities - it is that serious!
A good book and well worth the read.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
A lack of real knowledge
Unfortunately Michael Gove chose a subject on which he has little true knowledge. I spent 8 years resident in Muslim countries, divided between 2 of them - one of which is far and... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Duncan Clark
Cooking on flatus
This really is too bad to waste words on. Before reading this offal, perform a supraorbital lobotomy, pickle your frontal lobes, puree them unspiced, and then pour back in through... Read more
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Compelling
Celsius 7/7 should be required reading for all the Al Qaeda apologists seeking to exclusively blame the west for the rise of militant Islamism. Read more
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More meat on the bones needed
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The most important book you will read this year. Bar none.
The author argued, in a piece published in The Times on the morning before the 9/11 attacks, that the West's response to Islamism made further terrorist attacks inevitable. Read more
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Like similar voices in the wilderness in the 1930s, Gove warns against the dangers of appeasement.He also makes interesting parallels between 20th century ideologies of nazism,... Read more
Published on 23 Oct 2006 by mcsmall
About time some of these messages were sent
When reading this book, I was minded of many playground lessons from childhood. The children who created problems deliberately to gain favour in finding a solution. Read more
Published on 1 Oct 2006 by C. N. Russell
On dear....
I could write a lengthy review on this all, but I won't. All I need to say is that I'm extremely concerned that people (including those in power) read and believe this. Read more
Published on 30 Sep 2006 by A. Betts
The best analysis of this issue to date
If you are to buy one book this year, this should be it. I don't think any British politician has written anything more to the point, more eloquently argued, or more restrained in... Read more
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