- Hardcover: 224 pages
- Publisher: Modern Library; 12th Edition edition (April 2003)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0679642811
- ISBN-13: 978-0679642817
- Product Dimensions: 14.5 x 2 x 21.1 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 667,270 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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More About the Author
Product Description
Product Description
In his first book since What Went Wrong? Bernard Lewis examines the historical roots of the resentments that dominate the Islamic world today and that are increasingly being expressed in acts of terrorism. He looks at the theological origins of political Islam and takes us through the rise of militant Islam in Iran, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia, examining the impact of radical Wahhabi proselytizing, and Saudi oil money, on the rest of the Islamic world.
The Crisis of Islam ranges widely through thirteen centuries of history, but in particular it charts the key events of the twentieth century leading up to the violent confrontations of today: the creation of the state of Israel, the Cold War, the Iranian Revolution, the Soviet defeat in Afghanistan, the Gulf War, and the September 11th attacks on the United States.
While hostility toward the West has a long and varied history in the lands of Islam, its current concentration on America is new. So too is the cult of the suicide bomber. Brilliantly disentangling the crosscurrents of Middle Eastern history from the rhetoric of its manipulators, Bernard Lewis helps us understand the reasons for the increasingly dogmatic rejection of modernity by many in the Muslim world in favor of a return to a sacred past. Based on his George Polk Award–winning article for The New Yorker, The Crisis of Islam is essential reading for anyone who wants to know what Usama bin Ladin represents and why his murderous message resonates so widely in the Islamic world.
The Crisis of Islam ranges widely through thirteen centuries of history, but in particular it charts the key events of the twentieth century leading up to the violent confrontations of today: the creation of the state of Israel, the Cold War, the Iranian Revolution, the Soviet defeat in Afghanistan, the Gulf War, and the September 11th attacks on the United States.
While hostility toward the West has a long and varied history in the lands of Islam, its current concentration on America is new. So too is the cult of the suicide bomber. Brilliantly disentangling the crosscurrents of Middle Eastern history from the rhetoric of its manipulators, Bernard Lewis helps us understand the reasons for the increasingly dogmatic rejection of modernity by many in the Muslim world in favor of a return to a sacred past. Based on his George Polk Award–winning article for The New Yorker, The Crisis of Islam is essential reading for anyone who wants to know what Usama bin Ladin represents and why his murderous message resonates so widely in the Islamic world.
About the Author
Bernard Lewis is Emeritus Professor of of Near Eastern Studies at Princeton University. He was formerly Professor of Middle Eastern Studies at SOAS, University of London, from 1949 to 1974. He is a member of the British Academy, the American Academy of Arts & Sciences and the Institut de France.
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First Sentence
It is difficult to generalize about Islam. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index
It is difficult to generalize about Islam. Read the first page
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Concordance
Browse Sample PagesConcordance
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
26 of 31 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Many of the most intractible flashpoints in the world today arise where the Islamic and Judeo-Christian worlds clash. The list of recent past includes the invasion of Iraq, the Russian and then American-led invasions of Afghanistan, the clash in Israel and 9/11. One particular problem shared by the US and its allies is that of Islamic extremism.
This slim, elegantly written volume (127 pages) distils the events which have created the mindset of Islamic extremists today. Themes include recent poverty and tyranny in Muslim countries, Islamic underperformance against European based cultures, the requirement of Muslims to convert non Muslims, and the way history has shaped the attitudes of Muslim extremists. The quite recent emergence of extremism with global reach is traced.
Themes are covered with a light but deft touch and provide a marvellous insight into what has led to the hatred felt by many Muslims for the West and in particular the "Great Satan."
This is a very good book about an issue all too prevalent in world affairs. It distils years of study by the author and presents a complex subject with great clarity. While easy answers are not obvious, this book provides the next best thing, which is an understanding of the issues. I for one will be reading other books by Bernard Lewis.
16 of 20 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Bernard Lewis' slight volume explains the reasons and causes behind the current climate of terrorism and Islamic radicalism. He explains in detail the theory behind Al Qaeda leader Usama Bin Laden's call for jihad, the true nature of the religion of Islam and most interestingly the reason behind many Muslims anti-Americansm and anti- Western thinking.It also discusses the role of the USSR, and sheds insight into how and why American foreign policy came to be the shambles it is today. A fair and unbiased approach, this book is essential reading for anyone wanting to understand the true causes of terrorism, distrust and misconceptions associated with Islam and provides a good alternative to the overload of writings blaming Islamic radicalism on anti-semitic and anti-zionist philosophy.
37 of 48 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
As someone with some familiarity with the Middle East and Islam and keen to know more, this book was perfect. Its style was more journalistic than academic and information and argument were set out clearly and concisely. Bernard Lewis manages to cover a lot of ground in this short book (only about 140 pages). I found the book so interesting that I managed to read it in a day. Perhaps some of the editing was not perfect and often there is a tendency to repeat points or jump around a bit logically, although the indexing and bibliography are good.
Overall, I enjoyed the book for its balance, objectivity, engaging style and excellent content. I definitely feel much more enlightened and I am hoping to read more of Bernard Lewis's writings on the Middle East.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Feels unfinished
This book is very readable and does contain some interesting information. However, it has a very unfinished feel to it. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Random
Brilliant
This is another fantastic book written by an author who has contributed in the understanding and the failures of Muslims. Read more
Published on 29 Mar 2010 by DMJ MIAH
A lot of information, some propaganda, few ideas
The book looks like a collection of facts and factoids loosely connected together by very unconvincingly presented ideas. Read more
Published on 6 Feb 2010 by Timur Lenk
Engaging and important book
The focus of this book is the question, `Why is so much of Islam seemingly antagonistic with the West? Read more
Published on 17 Feb 2009 by Mr. P. G. Mccarthy
Interesting
Got this book to try and get a better understanding of Islam and the history of the religion, found the book to be quite enlightening and didn`t get too much into heavy issues but... Read more
Published on 19 Mar 2005
Lewis does it again
Once again Lewis does it - generalise about westeners, muslims etc. Lewis is problematic, in this book too, since he has a tendency to view the Middle East through culturalist... Read more
Published on 14 Mar 2005 by charlotte storm
An additional important book on the subject
It was an interesting book but seemed slanted towards one side of the issue. It seems easy to blame the west for what goes on in the mideast . Read more
Published on 14 July 2003 by Robert
Interesting Reading
Bernard Lewis' slight volume explains the reasons and causes behind the current climate of terrorism and Islamic radicalism. Read more
Published on 9 July 2003 by "freakmode"
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