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POLITICS AND HISTORY

PASSION FOR ISLAM, by Caryle Murphy
This excellent book by a Pulitzer Prize winner who was Washington Post correspondent, living in Egypt, explains much of the causes of ÔMuslim rageÕ for those who, after 9/11, seek to fathom them.

AFTER JIHAD, by Noel Feldman
The book makes arguments in favor of democracy in Islam

ISLAM AND CENTRAL ASIA: AN ENDURING LEGACY OR AN EVOLVING THREAT, Edited by Roald Sagdev and Susan Eisenhower
This is an excellent anthology by the Center for Political and Strategic Studies in Washington DC. A number of different authors discuss Islam in Russia and Central Asia. Excellent piece by Archbishop Vladimir of the Orthodox Diocese of Bishkek and All Central Asia on Christianity and Islam in Central Asia.

TALIBAN, by Ahmed Rashid
Excellent account of the TalibanÕs rise to power, its impact on Afghanistan and the region, and its inner workings. The author explains why Afghanistan has become the world center for international terrorism.

JIHAD VS. MACWORLD, by Benjamin Barber
Get the one published after September 11th, 2001. it has a new introduction called Ò2001 Introduction,Ó which is alone worth the price of the entire book.

PIONEERS OF ISLAMIC REVIVAL, Edited by Ali Rahnema
This is an excellent anthology about nine of the most influential thinkers of the past century who have contributed significantly to the shape of popular Islamic thought.

ASPECTS OF ISLAMIC CIVILIZATION, by A.J. Arberry
This is an excellent anthology giving the reader a selection of Islamic Literature, ranging from Scripture to poetry. It is out of print, but if you can find it, it is well worth getting. Arberry was one of the first English scholars to write sensitively and lyrically on Islam and Sufism.

WHAT WENT WRONG, by Bernard Lewis

ISLAMIC ROOTS OF DEMOCRATIC PLURALISM, by Abdul Aziz Sachedine
This insightful book provides Islamic arguments based on Quranic text to demonstrate that Islam is consistent with democratic principles.

DEFENDERS OF GOD, by Bruce Lawrence
On the nature of fundamentalism across different religions.

A PEACE TO END ALL PEACE by David Fromkin
An investigation on the end of the Ottoman Empire and creation of Modern Middle East.

RECOMMENDED READING LIST

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