A Small Book about a Big Problem, 7 Feb 2003

Bernard Lewis writes lucidly about what he knows best - the results of his many years of distinguished scholarship in the history of the Middle East. He sheds much light on the answer to the question of "what went wrong?". He starts with the Muslim world's discovery of a challenge on its frontiers with the history of its military failures that started in the early 18th century. He then goes on to describe the impact of this challenge on the Muslim cultural world. The impact was mostly in the form of various Muslim attempts (mostly failed) to capture for itself the secret ingredients of wealth and power. More than any other author Prof. Lewis will bring you closer to the answers and prospects for the future. His arguments are particularly good on the Western impact on politics, administration and science in the Middle East. His book has little to say on the economic history of the region, which I thought would be central to answering the question "what went wrong?".

The reader will enjoy the book for its style and the authority of its scholarship. Note the chapter notes and bibliography that are both solidly packed with sources in the original Middle Eastern languages. This is a refreshing change from most other popular scholarship on the topic (e.g. Esposito's The Islamic Threat) that seems to be based upon secondary sources in only one language - English.

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masterful, but flawed, 27 Sep 2004

There are two criticisms I would make though. Firstly, (and it is a minor criticism) Lewis' tone can be condescending and patronising as he characterises Muslim attempts to imitate, or their outright rejection of, Western values. Sure, it's funny - but it lacked a bit of empathy and was more of an antrhopologist's outside-looking-in view of Islam rather than an insider's knowledge.

Secondly, Lewis does not answer the question "What went wrong?" and the related question (at least, I think it is inherently related) WHY did it go wrong? Having finished the book, I'm not sure as to when, what or why it changed, but I'm very aware that Islam's relationship with to West DID change and what the symptoms of that change are - and (and this is where Lewis is very good) what the crucial relevant differences between the two political and social cultures are.

The big question is tackled incisively but all too briefly in the 'Conclusion', the structure of which could suggest a better approach to the specific question. Issues are raised here that could have been drawn out, and in some cases really should have, in the main body of the work - Lewis appears to summarise what has not been expounded. And interesting ideas such as the Judeo-Christian/Judeo-Islamic nature of Israel deserve exploring, not confining to a single paragraph.

In essence, there's no argument running throughout the book that can be neatly tied up in a conclusion as its provocative title would suggest. This isn't surprising - it's formed, in a large part, from lectures and thus wasn't conceived as a coherent whole.

And it isn't actually particularly important - the question of "what went wrong?" and why, would take up a vast scholarly tome and this clearly isn't what Lewis was aiming for. What he sets out to do he achieves in style - a lucid, informative and illuminating and account of the dynamic interaction of Islam with the West.

In fact, exactly what he says in the subtitle.

JUST CHANGE THE DAMN TITLE, LEWIS.

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Does not answer the question, 2 Sep 2002

I would have liked to know why the islamic world that - for a time in the middle ages - led the west in many areas: military power, science, philosophy, openness, tolerance; why they fell behind and were overtaken by the west.
What changed within the islamic world?
This book does not answer this question.

Two stars for interesting facts on islamic culture and 0 stars for answering the book's title question.

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