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Click here to see our the best books of
2001 from Mideastinfo.com
|
Mideastinfo.com Most Recommended Books after September 11, 2001 |
| 1. Silent No More, Confronting America's False Images of Islam (see below for details) |
| 2. The Islamic Threat: Myth or Reality? |
| 3. I'm Glad I Look Like a Terrorist: Growing Up Arab in America |
| 4. The Battle for God |
| 5. Legacy of the Prophet, Despots, Democrats and the New Politics of Islam |
| 6. Islam and the West |
| 7. Between Jihad and Salaam: Profiles in Islam |
| 8. On Being a Muslim: Finding a Religious Path in the World Today |
| 9. Muhammad: A Biography of the Prophet |
10.
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Islam
 |
SILENT
NO MORE; Confronting America’s False Images of Islam, By Paul Findley.
In his recently released book Silent No More: Confronting America’s False Images
of Islam, Paul Findley, a 22-year veteran of Congress, chronicles his long,
far-flung trail of discovery through the World Of Islam: the false stereotypes
that linger in the minds of the American people, the corrective actions that the
leaders of America’s seven million Muslims are undertaking, and the community’s
remarkable progress in mainstream politics.
It is an indispensable source for Muslims and for anyone who speaks, writes, or
worries about human rights, interfaith harmony and global cooperation. With
precise citations, Findley, a Christian, debunks in his narration, the
stereotypes of Islam. The author of four other books, two of them on the
Arab-Israeli conflict, Findley draws on his decade-long experience as the senior
Republican on the House of Representatives subcommittee on the Middle East, his
personal knowledge of the region and its leaders, as well as his nationwide
acquaintance with U.S. Muslims. (
)
Mecca the Blessed, Medina the Radiant : The Holiest Cities of
Islam, by Ali Kazuyoshi Nomachi and Seyyed Hossein Nasr. (
)
- These photographs of the Muslim holy cities Mecca and Medina, taken by a
Japanese convert, Ali Kazuyoshi Nomachi, are something new for most Westerners,
and perhaps even for many Muslims. Non-Muslims are never allowed into Mecca, and
it is almost unheard-of for religious and government leaders to allow such
pictures to be taken. Most of these images were shot during the holy month of
Ramadan, when many faithful are in Mecca and Medina on pilgrimage.
Persian Mirrors : The Elusive Face of Iran, by Elaine
Sciolino (). -
In 1979, a clerical revolution in Iran swept aside the
inarguably corrupt government of Shah Reza Pahlavi and set in motion events that
would make that nation a world pariah. In the place of one dictatorship came
another, one led "by an old bearded cleric in a turban and cloak whose
answer to the king's injustice was to wrap the country in a populist message of
promise and smother it with an intolerant version of Islam." So
writes Elaine
Sciolino, a reporter for The New York Times who entered Iran with the
Ayatollah Khomeini and who remained there for more than 20 years, providing
American readers with memorable accounts that were less, it seemed, about
politics and religion than about human nature. For Iran is a mass of
contradictions, she writes, a country many of whose leaders press for
forward-looking change while serving a government that seeks a return to the
distant past, and whose citizens constantly seek ways to experiment "with
two highly volatile chemicals--Islam and democracy."
Khomeini : Life of the Ayatollah by Baqer
Moin () - The
Ayatollah Khomeini was the most radical Muslim leader of this age. In
transforming himself from a traditional Muslim theologian into the charismatic
Iranian ruler who took on the world, Khomeini launched an Islamic revival
movement that, with the collapse of communism, quickly evolved for some as the
centre-piece in the pantheon of western demonology, and for others as the
inspiration for spiritual and political rebirth. Whether viewed as a hero by his
supporters or as a villain by his enemies, Khomeini was undoubtedly one of the
seminal figures of the twentieth century, whose influence will extend some way
into the new millennium.
A Border Passage : From Cairo to America-A Woman's Journey by Leila
Ahmed () - In
language that vividly evokes the lush summers of Cairo and the stark beauty of
the Arabian desert, Leila Ahmed tells a moving tale of her Egyptian childhood
growing up in a rich tradition of Islamic women and describes how she eventually
came to terms with her identity as a feminist living in America. As a young
woman in Cairo in the 1940s and '50s, Ahmed witnessed some of the major
transformations of this century--the end of British colonialism, the creation of
Israel, the rise of Arab nationalism, and the breakdown of Egypt's once
multireligious society. Amid the turmoil, she searched to define herself--and to
see how the world defined her--as a woman, a Muslim, an Egyptian, and an Arab.
In this memoir, she poignantly reflects upon issues of language, race, and
nationality, while unveiling the hidden world of women's Islam. Ahmed's story
will be an inspiration to anyone who has ever struggled to define their own
cultural identity.
Sacred Landscape : The Buried History of the Holy Land Since
1948, by Meron
Benvenisti () - As
a young man Meron Benvenisti often accompanied his father, a distinguished
geographer, when the elder Benvenisti traveled through the Holy Land charting a
Hebrew map that would rename Palestinian sites and villages with names linked to
Israel's ancestral homeland. These experiences in Benvenisti's youth are central
to this book, and the story that he tells helps explain how during this century
an Arab landscape, physical and human, was transformed into an Israeli, Jewish
state. Benvenisti first discusses the process by which new Hebrew nomenclature
replaced the Arabic names of more than 9,000 natural features, villages, and
ruins in Eretz Israel/Palestine (his name for the Holy Land, thereby defining it
as a land of Jews and Arabs). He then explains how the Arab landscape has been
transformed through war, destruction, and expulsion into a flourishing Jewish
homeland accommodating millions of immigrants. The resulting encounters between
two peoples who claim the same land have raised great moral and political
dilemmas, which Benvenisti presents with candor and impartiality. Benvenisti
points out that five hundred years after the Moors left Spain there are
sufficient landmarks remaining to preserve the outlines of Muslim Spain. Even
with sustained modern development, the ancient scale is still visible. Yet a
Palestinian returning to his ancestral landscape after only fifty years would
have difficulty identifying his home. Furthermore, Benvenisti says, the
transformation of Arab cultural assets into Jewish holy sites has engendered a
struggle over the "signposts of memory" essential to both peoples.
Sacred Landscape raises troublesome questions that most writers on the Middle
East avoid. The now-buried Palestinian landscape remains a symbol and a battle
standard for Palestinians and Israelis. But it is Benvenisti's continuing belief
that Eretz Israel/Palestine has enough historical and physical space for the
people of both nations and that it can one day be a shared homeland.
Den
of Lions, by Terry Anderson () The Story
of Anderson's seven years as a hostage in Lebanon. An eye opening account of
bravery, fear, power, and hope. Highly Recommended.
This
Side of Peace: A personal account, by Hanan Ashrawi. The story of the
Palestinian-Israeli peace process as retold by a member of the Palestinian
delegation. Often moving and frustrating, this is a must for anyone who wishes
to understand what happens behind closed doors. Highly Recommended.
Out
of Place: A Memoir, by Edward Said (
) A
look into the life of one the Arab world's best writers. Allows the reader to
examine Said's years as a child in Cairo and Lebanon and into his dramatic life
since.
On
the Hill of God, by Ibrahim Fawal () The
tale of a boy's passage into manhood in 1947-48 Palestine.
I'm
Glad I Look Like a Terrorist: Growing Up Arab in America, by Roy Hanania ()
An often humorous, by very realistic about a growing ethnic opinion in America.
Ataturk
(Profiles in Power Series), by A.L. MacFie(
).
A profile of the founder of modern Turkey.
Asad:
The Struggle for the Middle East, by Patrick Seale ()
Provides some insight into the thinking of Syria's Hafez al-Assad and the
development of modern Syria.
Arafat:
a Political Biography, by Alan Hart ()
A biography of the founder of the PLO and the President of modern Palestine.
King
Hussein: a Life on the Edge, by Roland Dallas. The first comprehensive
biography of the King since his tragic death in 1999.
For
the Future of Israel, by Shimon Peres and Robert Littell ()
The former Prime Minister of Israel discusses his views of Israel from its
creation in 1948 until the beginning of the 1990s peace process.
The
End of the Peace Process. by Edward Said.
A must for anyone who is confused by the Arab-Israeli peace
process, or is looking for the inside edge. Professor Said addresses the real
issues at the heart of the conflict, those of the Palestinian people. This
collection provides true insight into the lives of Palestinians and their
aspirations that are so often left out of the media. ().
The
Founding Myths of Israel. Ze'ev Sternhell. Reassesses the ideas and
philosophies that surrounded the creation of Israel. ().
The
Arab World: Forty Years of Change. Elizabeth Warnock Fernea and
Robert A. Fernea. The sociologist husband and wife team have revised their
earlier book The Arab World by revisiting the cities and towns they have
written about in Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon, Israel, Jordan, the West Bank and Saudi
Arabia. Covering forty years of experience the books stories and commentaries
take the reader beyond the halls of power and into people's homes, their
families and the changing world they live in. This book covers important topics
such as the Cold War, the Lebanese civil war, the Iran-Iraq war, the
construction of the Aswan Dam, Nasserism, the Persian Gulf War, and the ongoing
peace process between Israel and its neighbors. A great look into the Arab
world. ().
Drinking
the Sea at Gaza: Days and Nights in a Land Under Siege, Amira Hass. An
Israeli reporter who stayed in the Gaza Strip for four years. Her experiences
and observations as one of the few Israelis to overcome social fear of the
region. ()
Sharing
the Promised Land: A Tale of Israelis and Palestinians, by Dilip Hiro.
Explores the entangled history of Israelis and Palestinians, covering topics
such as Jerusalem, Settlement building, Hebron and the future of Palestinian
refugees.
Arabs
in America: Building a New Future, by Michael W. Suleiman. Trying to
disprove the belief that "Arab" is equivalent to
"terrorist," Suleiman brings together 21 scholars in the areas of
history, politics, law and sociology to examine the lives of Arab-Americans in
the United States.
The
Eagle and the Lion: the Tragedy of American-Iranian Relations, by James Bill ()
A review of the relations between Iran and the United States.
Perceptions
of Palestine: Their Influence on US Middle East Policy, by Kathleen Christison.
A former CIA analyst shows how American ignorance of the Palestinian situation
has affected US foreign policy towards Israel and interrupted the peace process.
Unequal
Conflict: the Palestinians and Israel, by John Gee ()
Re-examines Israel's "victories" since its creations and evaluates the
future of the Palestinian state and its people.
Beirut
Fragments: a War Memorial, by Jean Said Makdisi ()
A memoir of 15 years in Beirut during the Lebanese Civil War.
Dictionary
of the Middle East, by Dilip Hiro ()
More than 1,000 entries cover people, places, political and religious ideologies.
Private
Voluntary Organizations in Egypt: Islamic Development, Private Initiative, and State
Control, by Denis J. Sullivan. Covers NGO's and other organizations and
their missions in Egypt.
In Search of
Identity, by Anwar al-Sadat. The late President of Egypt's memoirs and his
views of the future of Egypt.
The Middle
East: Ten Years after Camp David, by William B. Quandt (Editor). A review of
the relations between Israel and Egypt following the historic peace treaty.
Islam in Contemporary
Egypt: Civil Society vs. the State, by Denis J. Sullivan & Sana
Abed-Kotob. An analysis of how do the views of the people and the government
differ on the future of Islam and the state.
A Place
Among Nations: Israel and the World by Binyamin Netanyahu. The former
Prime Minister of Israel discusses his nations future in the world arena.
Women and
Gender in Islam: Historical Roots of a Modern Debate, by Leila Ahmed. An
examination of the historical role of women in Islam and how modern belief and
theories relate. ()
Arab
Women: Between Defiance and Restraint, by Suha Sabbagh. ()
In
Search of Islamic Feminism: One Woman's Global Journey, by Elizabeth Warnock
Fernea. (
)
Remaking
Women: Feminism and Modernity in the Middle East, by Lila Abu-Lughod.
Between
the Flag and the Banner: Women in Israeli Politics, by Yael Yishai.