On basic Islamic beliefs....What's Right with Islam, by Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, is an unexpectedly rich source of all kinds of information, with an exploration of basic Islamic tenets, how those tenets interact with other religions as well as Western values (in particular the US context), and also lots of fascinating nuggets on the history of the Islamic world.On the history and evolution of Islam as a religion and a political force, with particular focus on the idea that we are currently witnessing an 'Islamic reformation'....No god but God by Reza Aslan remains one of my favorites. It's clear, eloquent and informative, and his gift for story-telling brings the history alive in startling and often moving ways.
On the current state of affairs in the Middle East...Resurrecting Empire by Rashid Khalidi is a knock-out. I haven't read all of it, but what I have read makes me want to weep for the arrogance with which we have handled so many of our foreign policy decisions. He is a well-known and respected historian, and brings a much needed historical analytical perspective to the constant superficial media portrayals of that part of the world.
And for those who really want to go deeper....The Shia Revival by Vali Nasr is an amazing account of how Sunni and Shia political and theological conflicts have long shaped interactions in the Islamic world, and will continue to do so in the future. This book is packed with relevant facts, offering a clear window into the wide ranging sweep of the evolving Islamic world, and a deep intuitive grasp of the underlying motivations and currents impacting decision-making among the religious elite. Imho, it should be a must-read for anyone involved in the foreign policy or military worlds!If anyone has read these already, or intends to do so, will love to know what you think!
8 comments:
Was wondering where you'd gone. Glad to see you back. Just a bit of light bedtime reading, I see...
HA! I think I forgot to mention I'm reading them for work....probably not what I would otherwise spend all my time on, but still, quite absorbing to me. :)
Pia...take a chill pill!
;-)
LOL! How about a week on the beach instead? :D
No please, don't feel a need to explain. I used to read encyclopaedias as a kid so I don't point fingers at others with unusual reading habits...
Besides, your work reading is a lot more interesting in mine!
LOL Dean, I think I used to do the same. We had a set, I think they were called 'World Books' or something like that? (It wasn't Britannica, that's for sure..). I used to read about spiders and snakes...go figure. ;)
Well I have this enduring memory of reading about the refining of petroleum (which sounded odd cos we just called it oil!) so snakes and spiders sounds healthy to me. We had an old American set, which was a good thing cos Britannica would not have made easy reading for a young kid.
Hey Pia...I received my goodies...thanks! I'll keep you posted...this is fun!
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