Book Description
A sweeping narrative history of the events leading to 9/11, a groundbreaking look at the people and ideas, the terrorist plans and the Western intelligence failures that culminated in the assault on America. Lawrence Wright’s remarkable book is based on five years of research and hundreds of interviews that he conducted in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Sudan, England, France, Germany, Spain, and the United States.
The Looming Tower achieves an unprecedented level of intimacy and insight by telling the story through the interweaving lives of four men: the two leaders of al-Qaeda, Osama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri; the FBI’s counterterrorism chief, John O’Neill; and the former head of Saudi intelligence, Prince Turki al-Faisal.
As these lives unfold, we see revealed: the crosscurrents of modern Islam that helped to radicalize Zawahiri and bin Laden . . . the birth of al-Qaeda and its unsteady development into an organization capable of the American embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania and the attack on the USS Cole . . . O’Neill’s heroic efforts to track al-Qaeda before 9/11, and his tragic death in the World Trade towers . . . Prince Turki’s transformation from bin Laden’s ally to his enemy . . . the failures of the FBI, CIA, and NSA to share intelligence that might have prevented the 9/11 attacks.
The Looming Tower broadens and deepens our knowledge of these signal events by taking us behind the scenes. Here is Sayyid Qutb, founder of the modern Islamist movement, lonely and despairing as he meets Western culture up close in 1940s America; the privileged childhoods of bin Laden and Zawahiri; family life in the al-Qaeda compounds of Sudan and Afghanistan; O’Neill’s high-wire act in balancing his all-consuming career with his equally entangling personal life—he was living with three women, each of them unaware of the others’ existence—and the nitty-gritty of turf battles among U.S. intelligence agencies.
Brilliantly conceived and written, The Looming Tower draws all elements of the story into a galvanizing narrative that adds immeasurably to our understanding of how we arrived at September 11, 2001. The richness of its new information, and the depth of its perceptions, can help us deal more wisely and effectively with the continuing terrorist threat.
Customer Reviews:
the wall and its architects.......2007-10-23
This is a tremendously well researched work, which pulls few punches, save one - the wall, its architecture,
the architects, and its current state. While we'd all like to believe that it has been dismantled, and clearly a public discourse on newfound porosity is difficult, the artifice warrants serious scrutiny. Consider: is the circle of thought leadership which gave rise to its inception poised to take on another round of masonry?
A Great way to learn about our world.......2007-10-22
This is a detailed, unbiased and readable insight into the beginings of the radical Muslim movement....If you want to be a better informed citizen, read this fine book.
Compelling and Heart-stopping Account of the Rise of Al Qaeda.......2007-10-16
Lawrence Wright has written what will be arguable the best book on the subject of the Al Qaeda and their war against the West. The Looming Tower is a monumental work on a grand scale not unlike many of the epic works about World War II.
This contribution to a growing body of literature on the subject of 9/11 and the rise of Islamic extremist/terrorism is a thorough, comprehensive narrative account of one of the critical junctures of history. Wright weaves a colorful tapestry of characters, from the little known Sayyid Qutib, founder of the modern Islamic movement, circa 1940's, to Public Enemy Number One- Osama bin Laden.
Wright gives insight and background into these characters and humanizes them. We see their faults, their sophistry,their cynicysm and opportunism, but also their cunning and ruthlessness. On the American side there is the cynical Michael Scheurer (CIA), the insufferable John O'Neill--perfect charicature of an FBI/G-man, and the wily Richard Clark; bureaucractic infighters all; desparate to catch this elusive figure, this cave dweller intent on making mischief, taking innocent life.
The Looming Tower is an exhilerating, heart-stopping account of the events that led up to 9/11. After reading this book, you will have a better appreciation of what this country is facing in the War on Terror.
History that reads like a novel!.......2007-10-14
It's an enjoyable and informative read. Historians in the future will certainly cite Wright's book. Their is no need for me to say anymore as the Pulitzer says it all!
must read for every educated american.......2007-10-14
If you are an American wondering what happened to our country and why, you must read this book. It provides an unbiased perspective on what happened and why on 9/11 and who the people behind it were. I whole heartedly recommend this book
Customer Reviews:
A gripping story that tells itself........2007-10-19
Like other reviewers, I flew through this book very quickly. The story itself is gripping and tragic, and I appreciate the author's gritty honesty at the end as he deals with despair and many unanswered questions. I hope this book inspires and challenges many. However, throughout most of the book there is nothing special about the writing; the story seems to tell itself. This isn't a reason not to read the book, of course, but you might be disappointed if you are expecting a five star instant classic.
Great Book!.......2007-07-07
This book was not only exciting, it was also toucning and deeply moving. It also wasn't too "Christiany". It was an honest look at one man's faith and it didn't end like you want it to, but that's how life is. This was one of the best books I've read in a while.
An Honest Story.......2007-06-11
This is a well written recounting of a great adventure, an adventure that ends in tradjedy. While the majority of the book is the story preceeding the horrific events, it is the story that portrays life, adventure, and faith that doesn't look like typical cookie-cutter Christianity. It is filled with questions and real struggles...and this is how the story concludes with the terrorist events in Cairo. A gripping story, one that will challenge and comfort all at the same time. A very worthwhile read.
Unsettled.......2007-06-06
Many "Christian" books today offer too much of a formulaic approach while addressing popular topics such as "3 keys to become a better Christian"..."creating a more effective prayer life"...or even..."7 steps to realizing God's plan for your life". I am not pointing this out to say these types of books are wrong or bad. Rather, my intention is to contrast these with "The Only Road North". I recommend this book to anyone, like me, that has an easier time relating to real life examples. Erik's story will challenge you to seek Truth, and help you grow in ways only possible by asking the hard questions associated with tragic experiences. As a reader, I am left unsettled. Unsettled and asking questions that can only lead toward a greater understanding of God's Truth.
But, if you absolutely must follow a formula to seek truth in your own life, than try this...
1)read this book
2)imagine yourself in Erik's situation
3)allow yourself to become unsettled
4)ask tough questions
Moving.......2007-05-22
This is an excellent book that causes one to respond with wonder and action.
Book Description
He called it one of the hardest things he ever did - as difficult as leading the D-Day invasion. When Dwight Eisenhower sent the 101st Airborne to Little Rock to integrate Central High School in September 1957, he couldn't know that he was fighting the last great battle of his career...one that would change forever both him and his country. This is the story of how one of America's greatest leaders confronted America's greatest sin. This is the unlikely tale of how Ike became a civil rights president.
Ike's Final Battle represents a revolution in scholarship on Eisenhower and civil rights. Though not uncritical, the book credits his steady personal advance on the issue as well as his accomplishments in the military and as president.
Drawing on thousands of primary documents (including newly released material), Ike's Final Battle builds to its climax at Little Rock - one of the most pivotal events of the civil rights movement. Little Rock is at the epicenter, but the book will also look at the cause, and the aftermath.
* With the 50th Anniversary of Little Rock approaching in 2007, the timing is perfect. This is the last priceless nugget of civil rights history.
* The book draws on thousands of newly released documents, many never before made public.
* This is the first book on the subject in 25 years. It disproves the claim that that Ike didn't care about civil rights.
From The Wall Street Journal
D-Day in Little Rock, A Civil-Rights Showdown
By FRED BARNES, March 8, 2007
In spring 1954, as the Supreme Court was deliberating on Brown v. Board of Education, President Dwight D. Eisenhower invited Chief Justice Earl Warren to a stag dinner at the White House. He seated Warren at the same table as John W. Davis, the lawyer who had argued against school desegregation before the court. Eisenhower proceeded to tell the chief justice what a "great man" Davis was.
As it happened, Eisenhower had authorized his Justice Department to file an amicus brief in the case opposing Davis and public-school segregation. And he specifically allowed his solicitor general, Lee Rankin, to tell the justices during oral argument that "separate but equal" schools were unconstitutional. Yet he sympathized with the segregated South. "These are not bad people," he told Warren at the dinner. "All they are concerned about is to see that their sweet little girls are not required to sit in school alongside some big, overgrown Negroes." Warren was appalled.
To put it kindly, Eisenhower was ambivalent on civil rights. "Conservative by nature, he hoped that the advance of the civil rights movement would be gradual, allowing time for the South to change," writes Kasey S. Pipes in "Ike's Final Battle." Most of all, Eisenhower didn't want to lead a civil-rights crusade from the White House. "The only crusade he had ever wanted to lead was liberating Europe in World War II," Mr. Pipes says.
But when necessary -- or when steps toward desegregation were relatively painless -- Eisenhower acted. He broke the color barrier in the military by deploying black soldiers alongside whites to win the Battle of the Bulge in December 1944 and January 1945. As president, he integrated the schools and movie theaters in Washington, D.C., and federal installations around the country. Most important, he sent U.S. Army troops to Little Rock, Ark., in September 1957 to escort nine black students into Central High School after days of violent protest. It was a defeat from which segregationist forces never recovered.
"Little Rock represented something else as well: the culmination of Eisenhower's own attitude toward racial justice," Mr. Pipes writes. "Ike had enjoyed the luxury of endorsing civil rights in broad terms, knowing full well that much of segregation law was a state and local matter. Little Rock ended that."
Two days after the Army troops arrived in Little Rock, Eisenhower decided to address the nation on prime-time television. This surprised his attorney general, Herbert Brownell, who had been prodding Eisenhower for years to act more boldly on civil rights. The president wrote most of the speech himself, including a passage, suggested by Secretary of State John Foster Dulles, arguing that violent opposition to racial integration was weakening America's influence and prestige in the world.
In the speech, Eisenhower lauded the desegregation efforts of other Southern communities and their willingness to comply with federal law. This was a new tack for the president, who had refused to endorse Brown v. Board of Education, the Supreme Court's decision declaring segregated public schools unconstitutional. Nor had he denounced the murder of Emmett Till by racist thugs in Mississippi in 1955, despite pleas by the teenage boy's mother.
"He feared that moralizing from the bully pulpit would raise not only awareness, but also the collective blood pressure of the South," Mr. Pipes writes. "He saw no point in riling an already angry population. . . . To put it bluntly, Eisenhower had little interest in trying to change the minds of millions of Southerners."
But he had learned a lesson from Little Rock. His view had been, as Mr. Pipes puts it, that "segregationists and civil rights advocates were cut from the same cloth." In his dealings with Arkansas Gov. Orval Faubus, he learned otherwise.
Faubus betrayed Eisenhower. In the midst of the Little Rock crisis -- as Arkansas's National Guard was blocking the nine black students from Central High -- Faubus had agreed to meet the president in Newport, R.I. At the end of their 20-minute talk, Faubus gave the president the clear impression that he would change the National Guard's orders, requiring it to protect the black students as they entered Central High. But Faubus didn't follow through. Eisenhower felt double-crossed and told Brownell: "You were right. Faubus broke his word." The president then took the next step, dispatching the 101st Airborne.
Mr. Pipes is not a professional historian. He is a public-relations consultant and speechwriter who worked in the Bush White House from 2002 to 2005. But he has written a highly readable and credible account of Eisenhower's struggle with race and civil rights. While sympathetic, he doesn't sugarcoat Eisenhower's qualms about desegregation or excuse his unwillingness to move decisively before Little Rock.
Eisenhower famously regretted his appointment of Earl Warren as chief justice. (Warren served in that role from 1953 to 1969.) Warren confronted Eisenhower about the president's feelings toward him when they flew together to Winston Churchill's funeral in 1965. Eisenhower explained that it was Warren's liberal rulings on national security that had upset him. He didn't mention Brown v. Board of Education, and understandably so: Years earlier Eisenhower had told an aide, privately, that he thought the Brown decision was wrong; by 1965, he had concluded that it was right.
Customer Reviews:
Pipes extracts the true Eisenower regarding civil rights.......2007-07-05
This book is a fast 300 pg. narrative on Eisenhower's nuanced positions regarding civil rights. The nuance is not whether equal rights for African Americans were right vs. wrong, but instead Eisenhower's struggle on how best to protect the rights of these Americans against the prejudice of southern conservatives who controlled the southern states and the relevant committees of the Senate.
Pipes begins with Eisenhower's experiences and contributions to the cause of equal rights in the military and ends in his retirement, with the climax happening 2/3 of the way through the book when Ike sends federal troops to Little Rock, AK to defend the right of African American students to attend a whites-only public school in spite of a bigoted governor who sends the national guard to keep them out. The book finishes with reflections on his contributions looking back from the time of Kennedy and LBJ moving the ball forward even further.
Pipes provides an incredibly fair report on President Eisenhower's policy positions and actions given the frequent opaqueness of his position depending on the situation and the company he was keeping. Many have attempted to paint Ike as a racist political opportunist or a courageous leader of the civil rights movement, with both positions given to hyperbole. Instead, Pipes portrays a man who respects majoritarian positions while realizing in his heart the wrongness of institutionalized bigotry even though Eisenhower, a man of his time, shares some prejudicial beliefs. The struggle for Eisenhower is often how to move the majority to his position without his having to depend on fiery rhetoric to change hearts and minds.
While Eisenhower was never a die-hard politico, he left the GOP with a wonderful legacy inherent in republicanism as a form of government instituted in 1787. Reading this book in 2007 shows how far the current majority of Republicans have mutated away from the principles of republicanism and Eisenhower, mostly due to the Southern Conservative Democrats who emigrated to the party after LBJ signed the Democratic party up to support civil rights as a party platform plank and due to his passing the Civil Rights and Voting Rights acts being the current majority within the party and their shunting aside traditional Republicans from the North.
Pipes only flaw in the book, so minor it's not worth knocking down a star, is a weak-hearted to attempt to define Eisenhower as a conservative even though all empirical evidence in the book and other studies on Eisenhower provide ample evidence that he was a moderate who "got it" regarding our founding ideal of republicanism that limits government power and that our liberty comes through each of us individually reserving our rights along with Eisenhower's actions following the examples of previous Republican presidents using federal power to protect individual and minority rights (e.g., Madison, Lincoln, and Teddy Roosevelt).
An extensive bibliography, notes, and an index round out this welcome addition to American history shelves........2007-06-10
Written by former Bush White House worker Kasey S. Pipes, Ike's Final Battle: the Road to Little Rock and the Challenge of Equality is the amazing and unlikely true story of how Dwight D. Eisenhower became a civil rights president. Chronicling the landmark desegregation of Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, which forced a historical confrontation between state and federal authorities and set an engraved precedent that the federal government would intervene for the sake of racial justice if necessary, Ike's Final Battle meticulously recounts events in unfolding detail, with an inset section of black-and-white photographic plates. An extensive bibliography, notes, and an index round out this welcome addition to American history shelves.
Ike's Struggle.......2007-05-29
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book! It tells President Eisenhower's story very well, and it kept my interest throughout the narrative.
Pipes' thesis, that Eisenhower went through a significant "struggle within himself" about his belief in civil rights (requiring significant social change) and majority rule (which did not support significant social change at that time), is also well argued. I especially appreciate the honesty in which the author tells Ike's story, including his strengths and weaknesses.
Also, Pipes does an excellent job of noting the number of significant Republican policy makers who were strong advocates of civil rights legislation during the 1950s and 1960s.
While I think everyone will benefit from reading this book, it especially should be read by all Republican office holders and candidates, today.
Outstanding.......2007-04-24
This is a very readable book from an outstanding young author. He gives an insight to Ike that most people don't remember. I can't wait for his next book!
A Good Man's Inner Stuggle .......2007-04-23
This is a very well written, highly engaging book about Eisenhower's inner struggle with racial equality. Generally, historians give President Eisenhower low grades for his handling of civil rights: too slow, too reticent, no vision or leadership. But this was not Ike's way, Kasey Pipes argues. He was a conservative, 19th century man who believed in low-key, incremental progress, in changing people's minds before changing laws. As a military man, he was taught to manage problems, not lead a revolution. The only crusade he was prepared to lead, Pipes says, was the one that liberated Europe.
Ike did boldly effect change where he could: giving African-Americans a combat role during the Battle of the Bulge, desegrating Washington DC as well as military bases in the South. These progressive moves were often made with little fanfare, as Ike believed (probably correctly) publicity would simply stir up a backlash of opposition. However, when the Big Test came at Little Rock, in 1957, he passed with flying colors, sending in the 101st Airborne. Indeed, Pipes observes, Ike's performance at Little Rock compares favorably with President Kennedy's five years later at Ole Miss. (There were no major casualties at Little Rock versus hundreds at Ole Miss).
Pipes, a Republican speechwriter, is a gifted wordsmith, and his first book has a brisk narrative pace. A terrific read.
Product Description
Empty. Corrupted. Tormented. Starved. These words describe the Christian sex addict. No matter what he (or she) does, he will not experience true freedom from the bondage of sexual addiction until he finds the life, love and acceptance he yearns for. The inner pull to feed at the garbage can of lust must be replaced with something real, alive and lasting... something so wonderful that the short-lived pleasure of sex is nothing in comparison... a love so powerful it overflows even the hardest heart with joy. The Road to Grace begins by providing the reader with the tools needed to break free from the bondage to sexual sin with a straight-forward, Biblical approach. But this is just the beginning of the journey, as gaining true freedom from lust is about much more than learning to control external acts. The Road to Grace delves into the wounds and lies in the heart that block the reader from receiving God's love, and then guides him to the place where he can accept the free gift of the abundant life in Christ that many yearn for but few believe they can have. Topics addressed include: * Biblical methods for overcoming sexual temptation. * Finding healing from shame. * How to stop a masturbation habit. * Facing and dealing with the core issues of the heart that drive sexual addiction. * Healing for sexual abuse and father wound issues. * Understanding and accepting the grace of God in the heart. * Healing for the wives of husbands who are sex addicts. * How to restore a marriage that s been scarred by sexual addiction/adultery.
Book Description
Paul Thompson's
The Terror Timeline offers a complete and thorough history of the many roads that converged on 9/11, including the development of Islamic fundamentalism, the activities of bin Laden and al-Qaeda, and the failures of U.S. investigations and counterterrorism efforts. It traces the actions (and inactions) of every important figure in the war on terror, both before and after 9/11, bringing them together in a volume that offers a comprehensive and provocative look at this complex subject. Packed with little-known facts and disturbing questions,
The Terror Timeline is the first complete reference guide to the events of 9/11 and the war on terror -- the definitive primer on the most momentous issue of our times.
Customer Reviews:
Not That Great...Save Your Money.......2007-07-28
I originally purchased this book as a reference for my dissertation. It only takes the reading of a few pages to realize that this is anything but an unbiased look at the events leading up to the tragic events of September 11, 2001. The author's obvious hatred of the Bush administration is evident after only reading a few pages and what is being touted as "scholarly research" is nothing more than a bunch of newspaper and magazine articles formed into a book. This doesn't make the work scholarly, it makes the author lazy. The author himself, in the acknowledgement section, even admits he had "volunteers" help him write portions of the book. If you really want to know what terrorism is about, without the political spin, I recommend "The Age of Sacred Terror" by Daniel Benjamin and Steven Simon or "Voices of Terror" by Walter Laqueur. "The Age of Sacred Terror" will give any real scholar of terrorism a much greater insight into the history of terrorism and how that leads to what happened on 9/11. "Voices of Terror" is a great collection of writings by the most notorious terror organizations like Al Qaeda and Hamas and this too will give great insight into the thinking of the leaders of such organizations. Both offer a more unbiased look at terrorism and its relationship to 9/11. If you are doing any type of research and you are planning to use this book---save your money.
The terror Timeline.......2007-07-03
Item arrived quickly and in great condition. My husband is enjoying reading it. Thank you.
Detailed, accessible, and exhaustively researched.......2007-03-14
Thompson's masterful research project has birthed a resource of immense value to those desirous of an accurate history of the 9/11 tragedy. Each bit of information is followed immediately by its source, and there are nearly 600 pages of relevant documentation in this volume. Thompson's book is, as advertised, comprehensive and thought-provoking. You will not be carrying it in your shirt pocket, but you will want to page through several sections of the book every week, in order to understand the enormity both of 9/11 and of the curious and catastrophic U.S. responses to it.
A 9/11 Study Must.......2007-01-21
For anyone interested in performing an in-depth study of the heinous 9/11 attacks on our nation and our hearts, this book is an absolutely essential starting forum. One can easily surmise the heart-felt dedication of this author and the learning of the basic structure of evil of those who planned, financed and forced this on our country. I highly recommend this book.
Terror Timeline .......2007-01-04
This a great book to use as reference and is laid out in a manner that even a person that does not keep up with the International news can understand and follow. The writer does not give his own ideas and thoughts, he only uses content from other magazines and news publishers. Probably one of the best books I have ever read in regards to the 911 attack, and one that everyone should read and be able to form their own opinion in regards to 911 and our government.
Book Description
"The Road to Al-Qaeda" is a controversial book. Written by an Egyptian human rights lawyer, it is the first English-language account of the development of tensions between violent and non-violent factions in radical Islamist movements, from the perspective of an insider. It is also a biography of one of the world's most-wanted terrorists: Egyptian-born Dr Ayman al-Zawahiri. Widely recognized as the man who will take over the leadership of Al-Qaeda after Osama bin Laden, he is also the reputed architect of the Riyadh bombings in Saudi Arabia.
The original version of this book sold widely across the Arabic world. Reproduced in translation here, with an extensive introduction from distinguished scholar Ibrahim Abu Rabi, it stands alone as an unrivalled account of the divisions within militant Islamist ideology. The author provides insight into the internal politics of Islamic Jihad, and the radicalisation of bin Laden's deputy; he examines Zawahiri's opposition to efforts by other militant Islamists to call a ceasefire with the Egyptian authorities; and he narrates the redirection of Zawahiri's activities towards the US and Israel.
As an insight into one of the key minds behind Al-Qaeda this book makes unparalleled and disturbing reading. It is an important document for anyone who seeks to understand how a minority extremist ideology came to have such an impact on world events.
Customer Reviews:
The story of Zawahiri according to Zayyat.......2005-06-14
Among various books of Islamic movements that published after the tragedy of September 11, 2001, this book might be the most controversial. The author of this book, Montasser Al-Zayyât gave a reflection about his comrade Ayman Al-Zawahiri, the second command of the contractor turned religious revivalist Osama Bin Laden. Zayyât and Zawâhirî are two Islamists who rose from the underground movement in the post 1967 era. Both Zayyât and Zawâhirî are coming from the middle class of Egypt and have gained professional education and career; Zayyât as a lawyer and Zawâhirî as a medical doctor. They are bounded as comrade in the Islamic political movement after they met firstly in 1981, the time when they were imprisoned suspected of having conspiracy of assassinating the former Egyptian president Anwar Sadat. Although they did not play a part in the assassination of Sadat, they had have to spend three years in prison as the price of their involvement of the cells and their ideology of toppling Egyptian secular government. Three years time in prison is a significant phase of their life that eventually separating their practical vision; Zayyât chose to be the advocate of da'wah, a society centered movement of Islamism, while Zawâhirî chose to be a jihâd fighter, a state centered of Islamic activism.
Zayyât seems to understand of what he wrote. In the third chapter of this book, for example, Zayyât broadly analyzed the experience of Zawâhirî living in Afghanistan, the place where the ideology of jihâd was crystallized into skills, tactics, and strategies. In this book, Zayyât also differentiated two phases of the experience of Zawâhirî during his life in Afghanistan; the first is Zawâhirî's experience during jihâd against the Soviet before the 1990's; and the second is during Taliban's rule from 1996 to 2001, the time when Taliban demolished by the U.S. military. There was a vacuum period around 1992-1995 in which the Arab-Afghans like Zawâhirî had had to step out from Afghanistan. Sibghatullah Mujadadi, the interim president for the mujâhideen government of Afghanistan wanted the Arab-Afghans to go back to their home countries because their mission of wiping out Soviet's power in Afghanistan accomplished. However, this decision could not easily be accepted by the Arab-Afghans because the government of their home countries would not accept their return as free citizens. In the case of Egypt, Zawâhirî says: "Egypt had already started taking security measures against the Arab-Afghans by trying them before military courts in absentia and issuing harsh sentences, including death sentences for the elite of the Arab-Afghans, as well as sentences of life imprisonments for others (55). In this unpredicted situation, thousands veteran of Afghanistan war were in the state of uncertainty. Some of Arab-Afghans who succeed to return to their county, for example the Algerian-Afghan, because of their confidence after demolishing Soviet's power, had actively engage in attacking the Algerian government. Some others who could not even step into their countries had had to live in the foreign countries, some of them as the illegal citizens. It is in this situation that the generous help of Osama bin Laden and the strong leadership of Zawâhirî became a combination of power that highly applauded by the Arab-Afghans.
Osama bin Laden is a generous sheikh who rendered in providing a place to stay for the homeless Arab-Afgans in his military camp in Sudan. At this time, Sudan is the nirvana of the ex-mujâhideen because only in Sudan that the government were pleased to cooperate with the Islamist leaders. Thousands of the veterans of Afghanistan jihâd decided to join Osama bin Laden in Sudan after being spy on by their government. Their decision to enter Sudan was continuously followed by thousands others veterans until Taliban gained their power in Afghanistan. After Taliban took over the government of Afghanistan, Zawâhirî and Osma bin Laden returned to Afganistan and told thousands veterans to follow them. However, Afghanistan that ninety five percent of its land was controlled by Taliban was no longer a fascinating land of jihâd. Under Taliban rule, the Arab-Afghans who reentered Afghanistan were not forced to join Taliban to fight other Afghan factions. In Afghanistan, Osama bin Laden and Zawâhirî more concerned to organize the jihâd to outside of Afghanistan, rather than to fight with the other mujâhideen. At this period of time, Afghanistan really became the base of Al-Qaeda in its true meaning.
In his second phase of living in Afghanistan, Zawâhirî was more active in organizing his cadre of Islamic Jihâd to topple the Egyptian government. His friendship with the salafî contractor, Osama bin Laden, to a certain extent, had broaden his objectives and goals, from a domestic jihâd inside Egyptian border, to be a borderless international jihâd against the global enemy. It is not clear in this book how Zawâhirî became more radical and interested in a direct attack to the U.S. and its interests. Zayyât and some other experts on this issue believed that Osama was the one who brain washed Zawâhirî's mind. In this book, Zayyât commented Zawâhirî's articles in the Islamic Jihâd publication during the year of 1997 that are entitled "America and the Issue of Jihad on Jews in Cairo" and "America and the Illusion of Power." In these two articles, Zawâhirî showed his new concern to hit the U.S. regardless its strength as the only superpower on earth. Zayyât mentioned there are at least eight reasons why Zawâhirî radically changed his mind. One of the reasons, according to Zayyât, is the failure of their internal actions in Egypt. In addition to that reason, the capture of many of jihâdî members shake the Islamic Jihâd movement and finally it required alliance with the more stable organization both in term of financial and structure. Finally, Zawâhirî decided to merge the Islamic Jihâd with Osama bin Laden and they created the so-called movement "the International Islamic Front for Jihâd on the Jews and Crusaders" (64-70).
In my view, as a reader of contemporary Islamic movements, Zayyât missed several key points that are very significant to understand the setting and the idea behind the movements. Zayyât, as an insider of the Islamic movements, failed to inform his audience how the jihâd movements that is basically try to restore the ideal form of ummah as a response of modern challenge of social life, has been turned to be the so-called terrorist movements that haunted Western world. To say in the explicit words, this book is so weak in clearing up the radicalization process of the Arab-Afghans who are in the situation of culdesac after the mission of jihâd against Soviet is accomplished, but cannot go back to their normal life in their home countries, and finally find the way to continue the desire of jihâd by attacking American interests around the world. Zayyât seemed to be not interested in searching the link between the radicalization of the Islamists and the continuous repression of Arab or Muslim countries under auspices of the United States as the only super power on earth. What Zayyât wrote in this book is more about his experience of knowing Zawâhirî and his concern to respond Zawâhirî's criticisms in the book entitled "Knight Under The Prophet's Banner" against his peace initiative, rather than showing off his challenging vision of modernist Islam. It is true that in the chapter eight, Zayyât slightly revealed his modernist views by highlighting the mistakes of Zawâhirî that caused all Islamist, whether they are the member of Al-Qaeda or not, had paid the mistakes. He also criticized several conditions of his fellow Islamists such as fossilization of mind, imitation of the past, and the lack of ijtihâd. However, Zayyât's languages of criticism are nothing new to the consciousness of Muslim masses. In this pocket size book, Zayyât spent three pages to marshal the visions of the salafî intellectuals from Jamal al-Din al-Afghânî, Rashid Ridha, Hassan Al-Bana to Sayyid Qutb. However, he still unable to crystallize their ideas into a new vision that at least will give a confident to Muslim masses to wrestle with the multitude of problems of modernity and the world's advanced capitalist challenges today. Zayyât, in this period of time, seemed to understand that Islamic vision that is still using the old pattern of the early post-colonial era, such as establishing shari'a, is not a ready made-solution. At the same time, he also realized that the social conditions of Muslims that is disunited, is one of the reasons why Muslims cannot transform themselves into an ideal society.
Zayyât convinced that building peace and signing the agreement of cease-fire between Islamists and Egyptian government is the only possible way to heal the wounded Muslims today. His criticism of the use of violence by his fellow Islamists like Zawâhirî and the Islamic Jihâd's members that caused thousands loss their lives is a great effort that paved a new basic of dialog between the Islamist vision and the modern vision of society. "The type of dialog that Al-Qaeda used with the media must be avoided," he said. "So too should we abandoned the approach of bin Lâden and Zawâhirî in which the main objective is to administer as much harm to the United States as possible," he added (112). In this book, Zayyât wanted to differentiate and to distinguish in term of ideology and practical action between Al-Qaeda and other Islamists who are not interested in violence and in attacking American interests. From the whole explanation on this book, he intensely wanted to show that aim and he seemed success to do so.
Provides western readers with critically important insights.......2004-07-14
Also available in a hardcover edition (0745321763, $65.00) The Road To Al-Qaeda: The Story Of Bin Laden's Right-hand Man by Montasser Al-Zayyat is the biography of one of the world's most-wanted terrorists -- Ayman al-Zawahiri. An Egyptian, Ayman was identified as the man to take over the leadership of Al-Qaeda after the death or incapacitation of Osama bin Laden. Since the September 11 attacks, Ayman is also the reputed architect of the Riyadh bombings in Saudi Arabia. Enhanced with an extensive introduction from the distinguished Islamic scholar Ibrahim M. Abu-Rabi, The Road To Al-Qaeda provides western readers with critically important insights into the tensions between violent and non-violent factions within radical Islamist movements. No contemporary Islamic Studies collection can be considered complete or comprehensive without the inclusion of The Road To Al-Qaeda.
Essential Reading.......2004-01-03
By rendering this book into English, Ahmed Fekry and Sarah Nimis have done a tremendous service for anyone seeking more insight into international terrorism than she can get from a talking head on the evening news.
Ibrahim M. Abu-Rabi3's introduction, though a bit meandering, provides useful background and presents interesting questions.
Highly recommended.
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Adventures on the Freedom Road: The French Intellectuals in the 20th Century
Bernard Henri Levy
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War, Evil, and the End of History
ASIN: 1860460356 |
Customer Reviews:
Intellectual Journalism.......2004-11-28
The title is descriptive--these are adventures, not investigations. Levy writes about encounters he has had with the many characters of French high-culture, he met so-and-so at a book signing, or in a cafe, this is what they said to each other, and how it was surprising, or disappointing. These encounters are entry-points for meditations on the larger political involvements of these thinkers. This is in no way a comprehensive history, but rather a series of snapshots, mostly embarrassing for those pictured. A good read, but almost gossipy in tone; this book is intended only for those who already have opinions about the people and ideas being discussed.
Customer Reviews:
Truth and the American Way....way back when.......2007-07-19
I just got this book and love it. Sonny Barger has taken his years of hard living and forged a gem from it in wise words and lessons learned.
Although I don't share his opinion of law enforcement, since we do need them around, I do share his love of country, making family of friends when your own family isn't there and never has been, his ability to keep the faith with his club and friends and get it back in return.
As a fellow freedom lover, I like this book and wish a lot of folks would read it and take from it something to use in their own life. Make the best of this life and don't take any, well, you know what. Best to Sonny. If he writes any more books, I'm reading them. He's good at this.
The modern version of the Art of War.......2006-12-04
Not since Sun Tzu's The Art of War has there been such a collection of philosophies. Sonny Barger illustrates with profound insight, secrets which could apply to personal, as well as business success. This book contains brilliant insights and invaluable perspectives which will help you prevail in every situation you encounter. Freedom, Credos from the Road will be studied for centuries to come. Strong words I believe so much I had sought the man out for myself. He is wonderfully charming, polite and generous. If you read this book, I believe you will respect this man as I do.
A Significant text. . . ........2006-09-19
This was a worthwhile book, and the best thing that Sonny has written to date. I'm not in full agreement with everything he says, but he does make a number of good points and valid observations. I typically read a book only once, then toss it, sell it, or give it away. This one I've read more than once, it has a permanent place on my bookshelf, and I've purchased copies for friends.
Sonny Barger is no "role model," but at least he has the decency to acknowledge his faults and doesn't pretend to be something he isn't. A lot of folks look down upon him for a number of reasons -- when someone has such a formidable reputation (such as Dick Marcinko and G. Gordon Liddy), and presents themselves as "the baddest man alive," they open themselves up to ridicule when it is eventually revealed that they are less than perfect. Everyone makes mistakes, and it's difficult to continue to play the same role past retirement age.
Regardless of what you think of Sonny, you owe it to yourself to check this book out.
An interesting bit of insight into the mind of a dangerous man.......2006-08-20
I bought this mostly because I own the rest of Barger's books. This one was MUCH better than anticipated. From his typical twist on the Golden Rule to the theory that freedom is a state of mind, I found it refreshing to receive this information. If Sonny continues writing in this style, he may very well find his next book on my bookshelf.
Thoughts From a Real Road Scholar.......2006-04-02
Having over 22 years in the military and possessing old-school common sense, I thoroughly enjoyed Sonny's book. In the final analysis, it does not matter what you think of Sonny personally. Set those thoughts, good or bad, aside. What is important is recognizing his powerful persona. Here's a man who has the courage to live life the way he sees fit, irregardless of the consequences. How many of you have the same courage? The reality is, very few. The question then becomes, "What can be learned from his experiences?" I say, a lot.
Today, common sense is a very rare bird. In this book, Sonny shoots his thoughts on patriotism, leadership, interaction and personal growth straight from the hip. They are well-written and direct. You'll find no politically-correct mumbo-jumbo here. Politically-correct BS, by the way, is what is ruining this country.
I'm not going into the book's content; you need to read it for yourself. Although I do not agree 100% with everything in his book, What I will say is that as one who has worked in the corporate, private and military sector, both as a worker and a manager, one can leave with some new thoughts, new ideas and hopefully grasp the concept of a logical thought process. I have two college degrees in management and would like to see this book as required reading. Remember, an intelligent person does not mimic that which he sees, hears or reads. He absorbs information (learns), processes, evaluates and then decides what course of action best suits his needs, desires and environment.
Average customer rating:
- I disagree with this book for young children
- Amazing is not strong enough
- A powerful exploration of African-American history
- This book is a "must read" for all children!
- Never have words and pictures been more perfect together.
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From Slave Ship to Freedom Road
Julius Lester
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To Be a Slave
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Lest We Forget: The Passage from Africa to Slavery and Emancipation: A Three-Dimensional Interactive Book with Photographs and Documents from the Black Holocaust Exhibit
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. . . If You Lived When There Was Slavery in America
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The Middle Passage: White Ships/ Black Cargo
ASIN: 0140566694 |
Amazon.com
Slavery is a difficult concept to address with children, especially because many adults would prefer to forget that period of American history. In From Slave Ship to Freedom Road, award-winning author Julius Lester takes older children (and adults) on an intense, personal journey through the slave experience. As he gently explains the factual horrors of slave-ship conditions, auction blocks, plantation life, and the risks associated with escape, Lester consistently prods young readers with probing questions: "How would I feel if that happened to me?" "Would you risk going to jail to help someone you didn't know?" "You are free, but are you?" Lester also asks us to imagine the voices and feelings of the African Americans in the illustrations--another brilliant call for active participation.
Rod Brown's paintings are achingly vivid, so much so that a few may be too powerful for younger children. Certain depictions are difficult even for adults to bear: a lynched man with the bloody blows of a whip marking his back; slaves stacked seven-high in the hold of a ship, packed onto shelves with less room than the drawers of a morgue; and black bodies bobbing in the ocean. These are horrible images, but nonetheless historically accurate and important to remember. Brown took seven years to create these startling images, and his careful attention is reflected in the paintings' power and emotion. Children may be initially startled by From Slave Ship to Freedom Road, but they will also be engaged and enlightened. (Ages 10 to 13)
Book Description
With twenty-four magnificent paintings and a profoundly moving text, Rod Brown and Julius Lester depict the course of slavery, beginning with the ships sailing from Africa on the notorious Middle Passage and continuing through the Civil War. Julius Lester brilliantly interprets Rod Brown's powerful paintings, giving weight to both the historical facts and the emotions of the people. Invoking the memories of ancestors whose names they do not know, Mr. Lester and Mr. Brown show the kidnappings, auctions, and whippings. Equally important, they reveal the inner life of the slaves expressed in their secret worship meetings, their heroic escapes, and their joy--tinged with apprehension--about freedom. From Slave Ship to Freedom Road is a work of major importance.
Customer Reviews:
I disagree with this book for young children.......2004-07-18
Don't be fooled by the looks of this book. It isn't for little kids. This powerful narrative asks students to step into the role of a middle passage slave, a master whipping a slave, an abolitionist, and a salve who has just been set free after the Civil War. For classroom use I would send small sections home with CAREFULLY selected students for them to practice reading as a homework assignment. By numbering their entries, students can circle in order to read their parts aloud in order. To be on the safe side, sending permission slips home to parents might be a good idea. This is powerful, expect to see emotions from your students. I would not use it with students any younger than 8th grade, and that might be pushing it.
Amazing is not strong enough.......2003-11-20
I am a college student that had this book read to me in one of my literacy classes. I have never seen a "children's" book so powerful. Most elementary social studies books give a less graphic approach to slavery. I think that this is a great book to use in the classroom. Many history books paint a more rosie picture of slavery. This book can open up the eyes of many students. I fear though that parents and administrators may be disapproving of this text. That probably is because they are afraid or ashamed of history. This book would work wonders for a social issues literacy discussion. Students are encouraged to reflect feelings of empathy not sympathy when reading this book. This is a wonderful book and I encourage teachers and parents everywhere to use it when dealing with the topic of slavery. It can open many people's eyes!!!!
A powerful exploration of African-American history.......2001-11-17
"From Slave Ship to Freedom Road" combines text by Julius Lester with the superb paintings of Rod Brown. Together they tell the story of African-American enslavement and freedom.
Brown's paintings are truly stunning. He creates images that are often disturbing and graphic: men chained together like cargo in a slave ship's hold, a slave's back bloody with fresh welts, etc. But he also renders the faces of people with great care and tenderness.
At times, I felt that Lester's text was a bit too racially charged (for example, he includes separate "Imagination Exercises" for black and white readers). But on the whole, this is a moving and educational book. Also, there is text and an illustration explaining how many whites risked their lives to help escaped slaves; this aspect of the book is an effective celebration of racial reconciliation.
This book is a "must read" for all children!.......1999-11-13
Julius Lester has an amazing way with words in this powerful book about the journey to America on the slaveship. The illustrator, Rod Brown, is phenomenal! The two of them together made this book a tool for empowering young people to understand the experiences of Africans coming to America against their will. Although some of the content is tear-jerking and painful, it is necessary reading for all upper elementary and higher grade students. Adults should read it too!
Never have words and pictures been more perfect together........1999-06-28
Even though the book is for children it will open the eyes and heart of anyone that reads it. It's like the painting was done as the story was written. I had a chance to meet Rod Brown and he does an excellent job of reviewing the book while displaying his art work. I was moved to tears.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent Self-Help Book.......2001-02-01
I came across Road To Debt Freedom at one of my friends home. After glancing through it for a while I decided to purchase the book a few days later. Being embarrassed about my credit card bills and overall financial picture I decided to take matters into my own hands. This book provided me with many chapters of useful information while being easy to read and understand. It's very rare for people these days take the time to say good job for something well done. Good Job!
A step-by-step guide to financial security and debt freedom!.......2001-01-13
Being in the debt management and credit counseling industry, we read a tremendous number of related books and articles. Every once in a while we come across an outstanding work of art that merits special attention. Road To Debt Freedom ranks at the upper echelon in this category!
The 144 page paperback covers virtually every aspect of managing, understanding and eliminating debt. Reading the book cover to cover, I was personally captivated with the style of writing and the handling of each subject matter. Also impressive was the authors' use of analogies which distinctively paints a vivid picture, especially in areas of finance which consumers often find confusing.
While this book is a MUST read for anyone burdened with debt, if so empowered, I would make it mandatory reading before anyone was granted credit. - Daniel Gelinas, The Center For Debt Management™
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