Hat Tip to PaulRevere2 for compiling this information!
NEW: They Must Be Stopped : Why We Must Defeat Radical Islam And How We Can Do It by Brigitte Gabriel. In her first book “Because They Hate” Gabriel tells a story, in “They Must Be Stopped,” Gabriel paints a picture of where were are now in America: how our skewed view (and PC “goodness”) both taint the way we look at Islam, and allow Islam to have it’s way with us. She shows the invasion of our finances, schools, public policies, and she shows the coordinated, well-planned agenda of the Islamic groups here and abroad. A lot of hard truth of the current situation is spelled out (and very well referenced), and hey, that’s what Americans (of ignorance) everywhere really need. The passion Gabriel has for this country and protecting us from the jihad declared on us really comes through. It’s an interesting and compelling read. She has some great ideas – so we can have our own coordinated, well-planned response – to make sure we don’t slip into Islamic subjugation that much of Europe has already succumbed to.
America Alone: the End of the World as We Know It by Mark Steyn. Should be out in paperback by the time you read this. If you get only one book on understanding the cultural battle of “Islam vs. The West” get this one! This book is eye opening, forthright, engaging, fast moving, and entertaining all at the same time, as much as the end of our cherished way of life can get a laugh. This is the most enjoyable read on the all out assault on the West by Muslims I have ever read (so far). Demographics and will play heavily into this war. Steyn also has a VERY GOOD list of things to “do about it” in the last chapter: support women’s rights (especially in Islamic countries), combat a psychotic death loving ideology with a truly good life-giving ideology, support liberty in the Muslim world, deny whackos international legitimacy, disallow funding for mosques in the US from whacko countries, marginalize the UN & NATO (who are mostly sympathetic to terrorists), and to encourage US energy independence (and stop the flow of our dollars to regimes that aggressively advocate killing infidels).
The Politically Incorrect Guide To Islam (and the Crusades) by Robert Spencer. 90% of what you need to know about those who want to kill us is here. This should be required reading for every American, and especially in the schools. Mohammed’s history and Koran 101 are in here. Every quote is footnoted; there is very little “opinion” in this book. It’s a heavy dose of facts that pack a wallop and equip thinking US citizens to refute PC ignorance. The “Religion of Peace” is exposed for what it claims for itself: a “Religion of the Sword.”
Because They Hate: a Survivor of Islamic Terror Warns America by Brigitte Gabriel. I recommend this one especially for women. Hey, guys get off on dry History Channel interpretations of events, and women generally like a good story. Gabriel delivers a superb true story of her brainwashing as a young girl, her years of living in a bomb shelter in fear of Lebanese Muslims, her escape, and her life changing epiphany moment, and what we must do to win against the jihadists.
The Koran. Bantam books makes a cheap paperback version, translated (I think) in England so no Muslim can say the “Great Satan” tarnished it. Of course, true Muslims believe the only inspired version is in the original Arabic, which is strange considering 80% of the world’s Muslims do not speak or read Arabic. There is no way you can read this book and come away with the idea of “this is a religion of peace.” It just isn’t there. And remember the rule of “abrogation” established in the Muslim hadiths (sayings / teachings): the earlier Surahs (chapters) are “abrogated” (amended or negated) by the later ones. Oh, and they’re in order by size (largest to smallest) so you’ll have to hit up the internet for chronological order. Religion Of Peace update: the “no compulsion in religion” verse is one of the first ones. That whole “kill the infidel” stuff comes later. The Koran is about as big as the Bible’s New Testament, and you could blast through it in a few weeks, if it doesn’t make you a terrorist first. If you feel inspired to blow up Jew’s and Christians, you may want to move on in this book list to…
The Trouble With Islam: a Muslim’s Call for Reform in Her Faith by Irshad Manji. It is similar to “Because They Hate,” but from a uniquely (Canadian) Islamic view. Great book, except Muslims wouldn’t be caught dead reading it because a) it’s by a woman b) she is obviously not a “true” Muslim, because she asks the tough questions that makes Imams kick you out of the madrasah. What? Islam can’t handle tough questions? This book moves quick, and her story is engaging, but for a different reason than Gabriel’s; the (emotional) salvos Manji must endure are from her own side. She is as bold as they come; it makes for an exciting read.Although it should be noted that much of Islam today is non-Arab (I’ve heard up to 80%), the core of jihadist success comes from their effective “us vs. them” inculcation from birth. Non-Arab Muslims readily adopt the Arab tribal mindset because the advance of Islam revolves around tribal (can anyone say “cell”) power grabs.
To get inside the mind of Arabs & Muslim thinking, I recommend three books:
The Looming Tower. Author Lawrence Wright uses plenty of backstory and interesting details to answer the question, “where did this whole ‘jihad’ thing come from?” Other players certainly had their part in fertilizing psychotic Islamic ideology, but Osama Bin Laden is masterful at directing Muslim angst and unrest at the West. If only we could be this masterful in confronting a sworn enemy who has calmly pledged to use every resource possible to kill us. You’ll get inside the mind of CIA, FBI, Saudi, and Egyptian players among others, and how each responds to the other. This book also gives insight into the weaknesses of the Jihadi mindset.
The Closed Circle: an Interpretation of the Arabs by David Pryce-Jones. This book is dry, and could use some good steak sauce, because it is beefy. I confess I read it cover to cover, and there were many “a-ha” moments in this, and I will forever see the Arabic world with clearer lenses for why they do what they do (and not just jihad). I know how to approach them better. This book addresses mostly Arab thought, and less Muslim thought. But either way: they don’t think at all like Westerners; our model of solving problems is unimaginably silly to them. Yet we try it again and again…
What Went Wrong: The Clash Between Islam And Modernity In The Middle East, by (English historian) Bernard Lewis. This book is even more dry, yet I read this one cover to cover too. It covers the history of Islam, its “golden age,” the advance of modernity, and the way strict application of Islam brought about its own downfall, and it paints a picture of Islam’s own weaknesses to this day.
As for Islamic authors questioning jihad; Now, why can’t we get some honest books about Islam and Jihadist thinking (aside from Manji’s book)? That is easy, because to the devout Muslim, Islam can do no wrong. Christians of all denominations are able to examine themselves, admit mistakes, make amends, and make a heart change to follow Jesus better. In some cases, Christians (or groups of Christians) do this very publicly as well. But if a Muslim commits an act for the advancement of Islam, there are no “mistakes,” and no one cannot question it (even those within Islam) because that would be very un-Islamic, since the Koran itself makes the case for advancement of Islam at any cost. Therefore, you wont be seeing much material that is introspective (let alone self-critical) from Muslim writers. (See “The Closed Circle”). That, and those few who do question Islam publicly most certainly face death threats from the plethora of purveyors of “true Islam.”
Some books just for fun:
The Professors: the 101 Most Dangerous Academics In America by David Horowitz. Okay, this is not an “anti-jihad” book, but many of the professors listed support the ridiculous PC notion that Muslims should just be left alone to do whatever they wish.
Light in the Shadow of Jihad by Ravi Zacharias. Another clear thinker!
Part of my crusade (pun intended) to champion for a clearer perspective for you through these readings is because many of you reading will be tempted to say, “They can’t really think like that, can they?” They can. They do. Hundreds of millions of Muslims. Every day. The scores of news reports daily confirm it. Read them and see for yourself!
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