Rating: 
Summary: Afraid of the truth!
Review: The reviewers reviling this book ignore the daring and sincerity of Ms. Manji, and of course her right to claim her version of God. They most certainly worship another god, likely a false god. Any religion which intolerantly binds its adherents so closely and fears of any questioning or seeking, not to mention persecuting women and tolerating abuse of "others", is uncertain of its meaning and values. Oops, I think I may have also hit portions of the history of so-called Christianity or the Jewish diasphora and the Zionists. But, most of these religions and their sects do not issue death threats or fatwahs of significance against dissidents. So, one easily discards the views of the revilers in these reviews as people insecure in their selves and religion, which appears to be mostly Muslims authoring the vilest of these reviews. I do not care what sexual orientation Ms. Manji has or practices. I do not care if she was a good student in an Islamic school She has a lot to say which helps us with the context of world politics today, and yesteryear. I hope she continues to ask the hard questions that most Americans fear to ask from some sort of PC or ignorance of Islam. The old saw that some one who speaks one language is an American, certainly applies. Americans are stupidly ignorant of a whole swath of the world and the interplay of cultures over time -- leaving this all too important study to academics and so-called think tanks (usually procured for use by right wing foundations and imbued with hate and adherence to social and economic Dawinism) to interpret for us plebs and provincials. I offer all of these the bird, in favor of this young lady with a fresh voice. As for the Islamacists unhappy with Ms. Manji, bug off and grow up.
Rating: 
Summary: People must be fair
Review: Iam not a muslim but I belive the author had interpreted alot of things in islam according to her own mood....including the issue of the hur...Islam is a great religion...if some one wants to know about islam he must read books written by muslims..Why? because their are many people who hate islam because of the middle east conflict or maybe because of a personal problem and purposely through out false accusations aginst islam
Rating:
Summary: The Trouble with this BOOK.
Review: If your looking for a good book on Islam, save your money and time; look somewhere else, because this Manji's book is well, troublesome. This book presents half-baked, acedemically discredited theories on Islam as the norm. She points to Professor Luxemberg who believes the Qu'ran had it's roots in Aramaic and so the word "huurs" has been mistranslated for over 14 centuries as virgins instead of "white raisins." Manji then asserts that if the Sept. 11 terrorists only sought to question the 'original' meaning of hur then perhaps they wouldn't have followed through on their mass murder. Ok right... First the readers we have to assume that the Koran was not an Arabic literature going against the predominat acedemic, intellectual and historical findings; but somehow believe that convincing martyr wannabies that white raisins instead of virgins await them in heaven and PRESTO, no more suicide bombings. The rest of the book contains similar shallow anectodes that it makes the reader hold their laugh. So if one is looking for a good laugh (though not in a comical way, but rather sad and puzzling way), then this is your book!
Rating: 
Summary: Gutsy
Review: I really liked this book. It might be better than a 3 star. It is written by a woman who immigrated to the west and has tried to maintain her Muslim faith. I saw her interviewed on Charlie Rose Show and thought she was excellent. She is pretty hot but gay (unfortunately for the guys out there), which is neither here nor there, except in in a fundamentalist Muslim country she might be stoned for being gay. I liked the book and thought it was a brave confrontation on the problems with Islam. Glad she wrote it. It is really necessary. I wish more people had her guts. Would recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: Hype for the Clueless by the Clueless
Review: This book is a real disappointment. As a woman and one born Muslim, I've got many criticisms of Islam as it is practiced in certain areas. I've got lots of arguments. There's a ton to be said about sexuality, women, peace and responsibility. But what I don't have is a bag full of hackneyed stereotypes rehashed and repackaged for the average Islamophobic non-Muslim. Unfortunately, Ms. Manji (whose appalling lack of political consciousness is a matter of curiousity for me) supplies us with these in abundance. So much so that people she acknowledges in her book have asked to be removed from the Acknowledgments! Ms. Manji clearly hasn't read the works of so many women out there writing about issues that she just glosses over. She provides soundbites and cute, campy prose but her analysis is pathetic. But I forget, this is an open letter (to Muslims she claims, but actually it's to the average, uninformed American) not an intellectual attempt at engaging issues. That's why it lacks basic scholarship. Or else she would have included the rich work that has taken place all over the Muslim world with regards to many of the issues. Rather, Ms. Manji, who is basically the Canadian version of the brown Englishman, is content to remain in the racist, self-loathing, coccoon built by mass media and the orientalist intellectual heritage of the "West". Oh the banality of it! This book is far more about Ms. Manji's abusive father and her own experience of a particular Islam rather than about "Islam" as a multi-faceted, multi-dimensional practice engaged in by people from every part of this globe. Her knowledge of Islam outside herself seems to be rather small. And that is why this to me is such a small book, such a waste of time, so dissatisfying. In fact, it could only satisfy those who have a particular axe to grind, a particular view of Islam (read some of these reviews for instance). If Ms. Manji decides to write again about "issues", I would hope that she would take care to at least follow the norms of scholarship in the West that she so blindly touts. I hope she's achieved some reflexivity so that she can at least see how her own position in the discourse affects her understanding. If she at least gets this, her next piece won't sound so much like a delayed on-set of teenage rebellion! I appreciate that Ms. Manji displayed a little courage in writing this book (after all, in this atmosphere of Islamophobia, how courageous is it to write a polemic against Islam?), it is still a paltry intellectual effort, and will not change much of anything. I had hoped that this book would be more nuanced, more thorough with some very important and touchy issues. But if that's what you're looking for, forget it. In the beginning, she writes that Islam is on thin ice with her, that she's hanging on by her fingernails. I have this one piece of advice: let go. Move on to some other cause. Neither Islam nor Muslims will benefit from this kind of pulp (non) fiction...and those that do...well, every religion has its Peters and Judases.
Rating: 
Summary: The Book is a Bit Heavy Handed But Makes Some Points
Review: It must be frustrating to be a Muslim woman with some education living in the west. There is a certain rage that boils up in this book. That tone brings a certain chaos to the book but it does carry its message. It must be doubly grating for Muslim men to read this book since it has negative comments and is written by a woman. I remember talking to a Muslim friend after 9-11 who kept blaming America for all the world's problems and Israel and the sneaky Jews. When I asked him is it not a problem that the Muslim women are oppressed in the middle east, about 2/3 are illiterate, and they are treated as second class citizens - this is not also a problem, and the fact that there is a lack of economic, educational, industrial, and agricultural development and transportation infra-structure not the real problem? Was it not true that the oil money was squandered on palaces and jets for the rich Saudis and gambling trips and yachts in Monte Carlo. I was met with silence. The middle east and many other countries still have a long way to go before the people will be free to elect governments that act for the people. Instead we have military generals, dictators, kings, and religious leaders acting in their own self interest. We hope that some day they will be free to vote and that religious dogma can be overcome or harnessed for good. In the meantime we will have more books such as this one, and maybe things will improve for the better. At least here we are free to publish these books whether we agree or not with the views without legal repercussions or death sentences being called for by rigid religious leaders. Jack in Toronto
Rating:
Summary: Cashing in on the anti-muslim craze
Review: Manji's opportunistic chronicle which lumps all the worlds' Muslims into one big evil entity and blames Muslims for all the violence around the world and calls for Muslims to be more accepting of foreign occupation and perpetual displacement in the Middle-East is just what we Americans have been waiting for since 9/11. We were all so offended by their suspicious silence in the aftermath of the attacks, but Manji makes up for it in this simple-minded, totally confused and uninformed yet heart-warmingly hostile perspective of the religion.
Rating:
Summary: Free At Last
Review: Manji writes from a liberated mind and soul. After having endured post-9/11 endless pandering to Muslims by those outside the faith, I found it absolutely refreshing to read thoughts and ideas which expose the good and dark side of Islam to an ignorant Western World. Her blunt honesty and kind humor invite the reader to do the whole book through in one sitting. Strongly recommended for enlightenment and discussion. This will be an excellent bridge for Muslim, Christian and Jew. Others will be eager to join in the discussion as well.
Rating:
Summary: Courageous
Review: Wonderful book -- not only truthfully told, but perceptive as well. One of the main problems with extreme Islam is that its principle weapon, along with the bomb, is the lie. The propaganda is so massive that, at times, it seems overwhelming. That's one reason why the appearance of this book is such a hopeful sign. It is time for Muslims to take back their religion from the extremists, the ideologues and the killers.
Rating:
Summary: Nothing New To Offer
Review: This book certainly offers many readers what they are looking for; there is plenty of material to inflate stereotypes about Islam and Muslims for those who are already predisposed to disliking them, as well as plenty to offend those who practice the faith. For those somewhere in between, Manji offers up anecdotes, clips and quotes without a great deal of context, along with heaping dose of anger. I walked away feeling like I had gained no new insights, save the ranting of someone who is clearly upset with her perception of the religion she was born into. Despite claiming to be espousing new ideas, Manji brings little to the table that hasn't been said before, although she tends to do it in a less than elegant manner. She does kick up a lot of dust, but to anyone who knows the first thing about Islam, and the debates going on within the Muslim world (I am not sure if Manji would be included as one of these), it is clear that she has little to offer. Authours such as Esposito, Said, Ramadan or Fisk are a much better starting point. A poor effort.
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