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Title: Islam Without Illusions: Its Past, Its Present, and Its Challenge for the Future (CONTEMPORARY ISSUES IN THE MIDDLE EAST) by Edward Hotaling, Ed Hotaling ISBN: 0-8156-0766-0 Publisher: Syracuse University Press Pub. Date: 01 August, 2003 Format: Hardcover Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $24.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 4 (2 reviews)
Rating: 4
Summary: Anti-stereotyping of Islam and Muslims
Comment: Concise and well written, with a deep understanding and strong background about many of the historical events and personalities in the Muslim, Arab and Middle Eastern cultures. The author hand used many of the authentic resources and translations for the Quran. The author has a great understanding of the background that is familiar to those who come from these cultures. His description of Muhammad's characters, family life, his wives, status of women in early Islamic era is close to perfection.
P87, 88: the author in an interesting analysis about Muhammad states "as a civilian, in Mecca, he was a respected businessman, beloved by his family and friends, a helpful personal counselor, a man centuries ahead of his time on the rights of women, whom he liked, admired and honored, a tolerant leader, who honored the other great faiths. In Medina, he becomes a statesman and diplomat, an innovative general, a tough Arab Chieftain who could have perhaps stopped the massacre of the Jewish men after the Battle of the Confederates, but a diplomat and negotiator with other Jewish communities. All things considered, if Muhammad were alive today, he might well be an American." Ed's connects many of the current events with their roots, and goes through historical stops with great ease and communicates a cohesive message about Bin Laden and his school of thought, and also explains many of the Islamic personalities, Islam, Christianity and Judaism, many historical balanced facts about the real impact of the Crusades. In addition, Ed had a great analysis to the "Why they Hate US?"statement. Ed's concluding chapter about responsibility of each of us today regarding all the new changes that are going on in the world are very timely.
Rating: 4
Summary: fair minded, and better toward the end
Comment: This is not a perfect book -- sometimes the prose reflects the author's background in broadcast rather than printed media -- but Ed Hotaling delivers something very helpful if you are trying to understand Islam from a western point of view -- without trying to condemn or confirm one or another set of cultural values.
First of all, Hotaling provides some eye-opening insights into key cultural concepts that are simply hard to find without a religious or political agenda attached. Did you know that when Bin Laden sheltered in a cave, to Muslims he looked like he was emulating the Prophet, while in the West it was portrayed as "going to ground?"
This is not the most profound and important of Hotaling's insights, but it is one of many that illustrate the misunderstandings between our civilizations, and how they can be most cynically manipulated on both sides.
Hotalin's chapters of "Islam for Beginners" lay the groundwork for the critique of political approaches on both sides that ends the book. And it is a little frightening to put this volume down, and realize how little we understand each other.
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Title: The Betrayal of Work: How Low-Wage Jobs Fail 30 Million Americans and Their Families by Beth Shulman ISBN: 1565847334 Publisher: New Press Pub. Date: 02 September, 2003 List Price(USD): $25.95 |
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Title: Her Voice, Her Faith: Women Speak on World Religions by Arvind Sharma, Katherine K. Young ISBN: 0813365910 Publisher: Westview Press Pub. Date: 07 January, 2003 List Price(USD): $26.00 |
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Title: England's Elizabeth: An Afterlife in Fame and Fantasy by Nicola J. Watson, Michael Dobson ISBN: 0198183771 Publisher: Oxford University Press Pub. Date: 01 December, 2002 List Price(USD): $29.95 |
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Title: The Essence of Capitalism : The Origins of Our Future by Humphrey McQueen ISBN: 1551642204 Publisher: Black Rose Books Pub. Date: 15 April, 2003 List Price(USD): $28.99 |
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Title: God's Rule: The Politics of World Religions by Jacob Neusner ISBN: 0878409106 Publisher: Georgetown University Press Pub. Date: 01 June, 2003 List Price(USD): $29.95 |
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