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Summary: Understanding Islam (and the West)
Review: For those who want to understand current relationships between Islam (and the Arab world in particular) and the West, particularly the USA, this short book could hardly be bettered. It is a lucid, very readable account that takes in the whole sweep of history from the time of Muhammad to the present day. It explains the very different 'mental models' that are dominant in the Islamic and Western worlds and works through the consequences of those differences and of the history of relationships between the worlds. It includes an analysis of the influence of Saudi Arabia (through Wahhabi teaching) on the growth of Muslim radicalism and a description of Al-Qaida and the rise of terrorism. Both are shown to be perversions of the tenets of moderate Islam, but both can be attractive to those who feel under threat.
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Summary: Very simplistic, naive view of the middle east
Review: Lewis attributes all of the animosity that the Islamic world has toward the US to this: jealousy and envy. Not only is that incorrect, but it is dangerous. He seems to have become caught up in the Republican praise that has been heeped upon him.
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Summary: A Brilliant Dense Gem of Explanatory Power
Review: This is the second book the distinguished Bernard Lewis has put out since 9-11. In the first -- "What Went Wrong" -- he sought to explain the failure of Middle Eastern societies to modernize and, as a result, how those societies responded towards the West, which had successfully modernized. While there is some overlap with the themes in the first book, in "The Crisis of Islam" Lewis focuses his attention on the dominant religion of the Middle East, and seeks to explain how history influences relevant modern themes in Islam. After defining the religion, and showing how much of the West's current problems with terrorism in the Middle East is a result of an ongoing war among competing visions in Islam, Lewis then gives a brief history of the term "jihad" and how the Islamic world has perceived the West (America, in particular). He also describes the roots of so-called Islamic "fundamentalism", explaining the success of Saudi Arabia's promotion of the Wahhabi sect, and its unfortunate consequences for Islam as a whole. Lewis also writes a wonderful essay on the double standards in the West - particularly in the U.S. government -- towards Muslim countries, arguing that it feeds into Arab and Muslim resentment towards the United States. That the champion of freedom and liberty has allied itself with many of the region's dictators and autocrats who persecute them strikes some in the Middle East as the deepest and most unforgivable hypocrisy. This is a short book, and can be read in an evening, but it has a surprising comprehensiveness in its 164 pages. Lewis's scholarship has been condensed down to a fine sharp point. He has a talent for focusing on what's important and ignoring the rest. The only caveat I give for my recommendation is that little in this book is new for those who have read much of Lewis' work.
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Summary: What Went Wrong?---With Lewis??
Review: Expanding on his provocative autobiography, "what went wrong", mr. lewis continues on the curious course of being the best self-marketing scholar in the bookstore. you see, mr lewis' background shows us that he's a turkish historian by profession who has intermediate knowledge of arabic (which would be the equivalant of studying the french revolution speaking only chinese) but has turned himself into the most understanding man in the market. wouldn't it be refreshing to actually hear what muslims have to say about their own history? maybe for once we should stop admiring our own rhetoric
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Summary: A poignant reality
Review: 'The Crisis of Islam' is a poignant criticism of the realities faced by the lands of Islam. The Islamic civilization just a few centuries ago was threatening the existence of Europe; now appear as a tame hibernating mouse. The apparent clash of the two civilizations (west and Islam) has roots in centuries of mistrust and misunderstanding. Presently the west, have developed a matured approach with an outlook for the preservation of their security, freedom and economy. The people in the region of Islam eye the west with a level of mistrust, and a perception that the west final objective of occupation of their lands. This mistrust is not subdued by the West imperialism of region during the World Wars and unquestioned support for Israel; a state against which they suffered a humiliating defeat in the late 60's. The west to attain their outlook has created stooges with unsupported democracy or dictators, which fuels a further malice by the people. They see the rulers as shadow of the western rule creating an outright cry for and anti-west sentiments. Hence a vicious cycle has emerged to almost a revolt. What is wrong? The society faces significant ills democracy; lack of human rights abuses; lack of freedom of speech and expression, corruption. Can these ills cause the lack of development, the entire Middle East GDP equates to 1/4th of the GDP of Spain. China, Hong Kong, Singapore that suffers from similar social ills is more developed. The basic cause of the ills I feel is education and lack of focus. A country like Saudi Arabia with its immense wealth has not been able to create 1 university that is to the caliber of Harvard. What is wrong?. The interference of the west in their political systems their advocacy for democracy; equality and human rights. Agreed these are essential for a flourishing society; but they forget that their political system took centuries to develop the initial beginnings of which is traced to the French Revolution. In contrast the middle eastern countries have only 50 years understood the concept of nations. Historically the systems prevalent in the region were a very hierarchy approach; the people need to develop their own governing systems instead of being scolded by the west at every international forum. What is wrong?. Fanaticism and anti-west sentiments are resonance from the economic and literacy deprivation of the region. The few right wing groups are able to market their extremist views to the populace on a hope of a better system. Without true grass root development; I believe there will be minimal achievement in eradicating terrorism. For an employed man with hope of success will not pick up a gun to make a point. I thought this book was somewhat harsh but true to the spirit of 'Crisis of Islam'; I have read other writings from Bernard Lewis and find him to be a partial scholar in the region.
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Summary: The Crisis of Bernard Lewis-think
Review: It has become a big problem that Bernard Lewis has been christened the West's greatest teacher of Islam. Why? Because Lewis simply does not know what he is talking about beyond exoticizing the "mysterious" and "inscrutable" East. He cites that only 300+ books are translated per year by the Arab world. Where does he draw such statistics from? He certainly did not inquire with any Arabic language publishers. From only some preliminary research it can be established there are at least 1,000 English books translated into Arabic each and every year. Just computer, economics and business books alone comprise hundreds. The West's "greatest" teacher on the Middle East really needs to do a little research. Then again it must be convenient to tether together a bunch of old articles and lectures, and then have another best-seller on one's hands. The ol' Orientalist Lewis is the one laughing all the way to the bank as he disseminates faulty and exoticized research.
Read Esposito, Fromkin or Said for a better understanding of Islam and the Modern Middle East.
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Summary: Thorough And Thought-Provoking
Review: This review may differ somewhat from others that focus on the methods, perspective and research of the author, which is thorough and thought-provoking. This review focuses on the roots and causes and why their is such attention paid to this part of the world today. Bernard Lewis taps into what many of us in the West are unaware of. The eclecticism and the historical occurrences in the Muslim world since the time of Mohammed up until now. Different cultures must be respected for their own particular value systems. However, as most other areas of the world have made (and attempted to have made) inroads into women's issues, democratic reforms, education, and academic intellectualism, it is unfortunate that most of the Islamic world has been left behind. Not in a technological point of view, But moreso from a civilization perspective. Why the hatred towards the "infidel" West? Why do many young Muslims from Egypt to Pakistan blame the West in general and United States in particular for their difficulties, which all societies have? part of the reason is the flammable untruthful rhetoric spewed from the Mullahs at Mosques. The intertwining of radical fundamentalism, and the political. Preying upon impoverished youth, many of whom educated, aware of the wealth and economies of other nations, and realizing there own situation offers little (and realistically no) help. One of the concepts Lewis referred to was the "failure of modernity." On the intellectual front, to underscore the Islamic world's ignorance it was noted that the entire Arabic world translates only 330 books per year, which is the same number as the nation of Greece. Much different today, than a time when the Islamic world was at the forefront of human academic and intellectual progression. From an economic standpoint things do not look promising for the Islamic world. A large percentage of the population is currently under 15 years of age. As the population explodes this will cause more acute shortages of water. Continued migration to urban cities, inflation of poverty and suffering, an and education system that can't keep up with the rest of the world. Therefore, the current Islamic angst will continue as it has been. The question is, will this frustration be acted out upon us, or only reveal itself on the Arab street with chants, ephigy burnings, and self-flagellation. One billion people follow this religion. Lack of hope, self-induced failure culturally (Taliban, Wahhabism), politically, and economically, the fringe elements of the Islamic world will continue to be the basket case that it currently is. What they need to do, is look at themselves. This is where they'll find the roots to their problems.
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Summary: Simple, powerful story of Islamic politics
Review: Bernard Lewis has done a great job in telling the story of Islam and its modern problems. Centuries ago without a competitor civilization Islam did great job in saving the knowledge gained in Roman and Greek times. But after renaissance, enlightment Islam fell back. And since then Islam with its people struggles to cope. I don't think that with nihilism (doing everthing for the next world) Islam injects reluctance to muslims to join the integrated world system. The story is told in a simple yet powerful, descriptive style.
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Summary: They Know Zilch About Us, but What Do We Know About Them?
Review: Bernard Lewis, a Professor Emeritus in Near Eastern Studies from Princeton University, has created yet another incredibly useful and timely book from articles he wrote for the New Yorker, Foreign Affairs, the Atlantic Monthly, and other publications. THE CRISIS OF ISLAM -- even more than its excellent predecessor WHAT WENT WRONG? -- is both cohesive and spot-on. All nine chapters as well as the introduction are informed by the events of September 11, 2001 and their aftermath. The final chapter, for instance, deals directly with the subject of suicide bombers, discussing the Qur'an's ban on both suicide and murder of innocent civilians, and going on to discuss the "martyrs" of Hammas and the Al-Aqsa Brigades as a form of death cult that goes against the teachings of Islam. I was particularly intrigued by Lewis's reference to some remarks made by Osama bin Laden regarding the "humiliation and disgrace" Islam has suffered for over eighty years. He refers specifically to the abolition of the Caliphate by Kemal Ataturk and his followers in 1924. For the first time since the days of Muhammad, Islam was without a leader. Lewis suggests that Osama would not be averse to the role himself -- which would be roughly equivalent to making Jeffrey Dahmer the headmaster of a boys' school. The chapter entitled "A Failure of Modernity" gives striking evidence of the backwardness of most Islamic nations. A 2002 United Nations report states that "the Arab World translates about 330 books annually, one-fifth of the number that Greece translates. The accumulative total of translated books since [the ninth century] is about 100,000, almost the average that Spain translates in one year." If we in the West have been accused of the oddest things at times, it is because ignorance of the West is endemic. And, I might add, dangerous. In order to avoid falling into the same trap ourselves -- such as by getting all our information from "The O'Reilly Report" -- we owe it to ourselves to know why over a billion Muslims have decided that we are the Great Satan. Knowledge is more powerful than an arsenal of MOABs.
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Summary: A dark future awaits...
Review: ...The rejection of intellectualism in favor of fundamentalism has cast a cloud of ignorance over a once proud and advanced culture. Bernard Lewis traces that fundamentalist movement from its beginning to the present. The chilling last sentence brings it all to a sober focus: "If the [Muslim] fundamentalists are correct in their calculations and succeed in their war, then a dark future awaits the world, especially the part of it that embraces Islam." This book should be required reading for all who wish to understand the origin of that brand of insanity that hides behind the nobility of Islam and feeds its frenzy with unquestioned hatred of all that is "other." It is also very enlightening to learn that the basic tenets of Islam forbid the tools of the terrorist: suicide, poison [arrows], mass murder, killing the innocent bystander, torturing prisoners and the rest of their cruel arsenal. In short, he shows the nobility of Islam while revealing the flaws of its fundamentalists. A must read!
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