Winner of the Jewish Book of the Year AwardThe first comprehensive yet accessible history of the state of Israel from its inception to present day; from Daniel Gordis; "one of the most respected Israel analysts" (The Forward) living and writing in Jerusalem.Israel is a tiny state; and yet it has captured the world’s attention; aroused its imagination; and lately; been the object of its opprobrium. Why does such a small country speak to so many global concerns? More pressingly: Why does Israel make the decisions it does? And what lies in its future?We cannot answer these questions until we understand Israel’s people and the questions and conflicts; the hopes and desires; that have animated their conversations and actions. Though Israel’s history is rife with conflict; these conflicts do not fully communicate the spirit of Israel and its people: they give short shrift to the dream that gave birth to the state; and to the vision for the Jewish people that was at its core. Guiding us through the milestones of Israeli history; Gordis relays the drama of the Jewish people’s story and the creation of the state. Clear-eyed and erudite; he illustrates how Israel became a cultural; economic and military powerhouse—but also explains where Israel made grave mistakes and traces the long history of Israel’s deepening isolation. With Israel; public intellectual Daniel Gordis offers us a brief but thorough account of the cultural; economic; and political history of this complex nation; from its beginnings to the present. Accessible; levelheaded; and rigorous; Israel sheds light on the Israel’s past so we can understand its future. The result is a vivid portrait of a people; and a nation; reborn.
#32114 in Books Ayaan Hirsi Ali 2016-02-02 2016-02-02Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.00 x .65 x 5.31l; .0 #File Name: 0062333941288 pagesHeretic Why Islam Needs a Reformation Now
Review
129 of 138 people found the following review helpful. One of the most important public debates in our timeBy Roger LipseyAyaan Hirsi Ali has been conducting for some years now one of the most important public debates in our time and facing immense risk to do so. Her clarity of mind and purpose are stunning. For her there are three camps in Islam: Medina; Mecca; and Reform-minded. Her exposition and critique of their values and stances within the Muslim world and toward the non-Muslim world is uniquely insightful and; I hope; influential where it most counts in the Muslim world and among global political leaders; and among the rest of us who are not just along for the ride; we are involved. For me; on the basis of quite different experience from hers; Muslim civilization over the centuries divides differently--between its achievements in literature; visual art and craft; architecture; and spirituality; and the incessant violence and inhumanity of jihad today. Which is the true Islam? The honest answer is both--both the serenely glorious Taj Mahal and the insane massacre in Kenya. Islam is the Thousand and One Nights--among the greatest; funniest; most thought-provoking tales told on this Earth--and the beheadings. It is the fantastic carpets and rugs made by villagers; nomads; and teams of court artisans; and the blood endlessly spilled. It is the inspiring determination of young Malala and the disgusting determination of those who nearly murdered her because she champions education for girls. Ayaan Hirsi Ali wins the argument; in my view: it is time and past time for religious reform in Islam; so that the genius responsible for the books and carpets and supremely great buildings prevails over murderous chaos in the name of religion.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Heretic: Why Islam Needs a Reformation NowBy Jack KettlerHeretic: Why Islam Needs a Reformation NowBy Ayaan Hirsi AliReviewed by Jack KettlerA Bio:Ayaan Hirsi Ali was born in Mogadishu; Somalia. She was raised as a Muslim; and spent her childhood and young adulthood in Africa and Saudi Arabia and Nairobi; Kenya. In 1992; She came to the Netherlands as a refugee. She earned her college degree in political science and worked for the Dutch Labor party. She condemned Islam after the September 11th World Trade Center terrorist attacks. In the past she has been an elected Dutch parliamentarian. She distinguished herself by fighting for the rights of Muslim women in Europe; the enlightenment of Islam; and security in the West. In addition; Ayaan Hirsi Ali is a New York Times bestselling author of Infidel; Nomad; and The Caged Virgin. She is prominent speaker; debater; and journalist; she was chosen as one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people in the world. She is now a fellow at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. She is the founder of the AHA Foundation; which fights female genital mutilation (FGM).What others are saying:“Brave; inspiring; and beautifully written…Narrated in clear; vigorous prose; it traces the author’s geographical journey from Mogadishu to Saudi Arabia; Ethiopia and Kenya; and her desperate flight to the Netherlands to escape an arranged marriage.†- The New York Times“Ayaan Hirsi Ali is one of Europe’s most controversial political figures and a target for terrorists. A notably enigmatic personality whose fierce criticisms of Islam have made her a darling of...conservatives...and...popular with leftists...Soft-spoken but passionate.†- Boston Globe“Crammed with harrowing details; Hirsi Ali’s account is a significant contribution to our times.†- Kirkus Review“A powerful; compelling read…Put simply; this woman is a heroine.†- The Christian Science Monitor“A charismatic figure...of arresting and hypnotizing beauty...[who writes] with quite astonishing humor and restraint.†- Christopher Hitchens“A book full of compassion.†- Paul Steenhuis; NRC Handelsblad“We ignore her quill to our shame and peril.†- Katherine Ernst; City Journal“Hirsi Ali offers a fine example for the braver souls among us.†- Michael Totten; CommentaryMy thoughts on the book:Ayaan Hirsi Ali's intellect matches her extraordinary beauty in every way. She contends that it's foolish ignorance to believe that the barbarous demonstrations of Muslim violence can be considered separate from the theological and philosophical Islamic belief system's framework that ultimately creates these acts. She makes the case that this violence is driven by a religious political belief system embedded in the core of Islam's most sacred texts itself; the Quran and Hadiths. She puts forth a credible defense of her thesis that a reformation is needed to stop the Muslim suppression of women and it's relentless persecution and murder of non-Muslim minorities that happens throughout the entire Muslim world and is increasing exponentially in the West.She makes the case that Mohammad incorporated and codified 7th century Arabic cultural norms and practices along with superstitions into a religious formulation that can never be criticized or challenged under a divine ordered penalty of death. Her chapter; Shacked by Sharia: How Islam's harsh religious code keep Muslims stuck in the Seventh Century is a case in point and a indispensable chapter for understanding Sharia law and its cultural onslaught and conflict with the Western societal norms. Islamic supremacy is most ominous crazed force I have ever seen.Ayaan Hirsi Ali believes that a “Reformationâ€of the entire Muslim theological and philosophical framework that will lead to accommodation; innovation and tolerance of non-Muslims is at hand. I have a hard time believing this; but hope she is right. I hope this because the Western world with its abandonment of the Judeo/Christian world view seems incapable of countering the advance of Mohammadism's intractable world view. It seems like the the order of the day among Western leaders is accommodation; appeasement and more politically correct sensitivity training. After increasing jihadist terrorist attacks; Western leaders are reduced to standing in support with the victims as if standing is actually doing something that is meaningful and will lead to the stop of more terrorism. I'm not sure if the terrorists are frightened by political leaders standing together. It probably looks to them like a soft target.She proposes 5 key changes to Muslim philosophical framework that Muslims should construct on the chance that they're to bring their belief system out of the seventh century and into the 21st.1. the status of the Quran as the last and immutable word of God and the infallibility of Muhammad as the last divinely inspired messenger;2. Islam's emphasis on the afterlife over the the here-and-now;3. the claims of sharia to be a comprehensive system of law governing both the spiritual and temporal realms;4. the obligation on ordinary Muslims to command right and forbid wrong;5. the concept of jihad; or holy war. (235)In conclusion; she says that it is imperative that the West' should help the Muslim reformers rather than their persecutors. Not surprisingly; most Western leaders have appeased front line Muslim invaders like “The Muslim Brotherhood.†Western leaders have done this by blacklisting and shaming these same reformers and specially trained educators and experts in Islamic law and tradition who are warning of the dangers of unbridled non-Muslim assimilation in the West.Every book written by Ayaan Hirsi Ali; should be read with serious attention. She came from Somalia to fight for our freedoms! “Silence is an accomplish to injustice.†- Ayaan Hirsi AliMr. Kettler is the owner of Undergroundnotes.com a conservative web hub and the author of the new book; The Religion That Started in a Hat: A Reference Manual for Christians who Witness to Mormons that is available at .2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Great Britain and the USBy RJA Lenferna de la MotteI highly rate Ali's revelation regarding the impact of Islam's social; political and religious ideology highly; assuming that she is correctly portraying the texts and applications thereof to Muslims in general. Having read various other authors who write on Islam from Sunni; Shi'a; Quranic and Christian background; I find the Islam that Ali depicts to be consistent with these other authors and therefore believe that she is accurate in her portrayal. However; regarding her view as to the main catalysts behind the Protestant Revolt; which she calls the Reformation; the alleged 'tyranny' of the Church against non-Catholics during the Middle Ages; is being challenged and debunked by modern historians; including a number of Protestant historians. This is understandable for Ali not to be as well versed in Catholic Church history as she is with Islam; after all; as Ali recounts herself that she received her Western education in The Netherlands; Great Britain and the US; all historically Protestant states that have long been persecutors of Catholics in their own countries. It was not too long ago that Catholics were not admitted to Oxford University. US historians will recall that not too long ago in the US; signs such as "Catholics; Jews and Blacks need not apply" were not uncommon. This is why I rate her otherwise excellent and informative book as a four star effort and I will happily recommend this book to anyone wanting to understand Islam further.
