In this cultural history of Americans' engagement with Islam in the colonial and antebellum period; Timothy Marr analyzes the historical roots of how the Muslim world figured in American prophecy; politics; reform; fiction; art and dress. Marr argues that perceptions of the Muslim world; long viewed not only as both an anti-Christian and despotic threat but also as an exotic other; held a larger place in domestic American concerns than previously thought. Historical; literary; and imagined encounters with Muslim history and practices provided a backdrop where different Americans oriented the direction of their national project; the morality of the social institutions; and the contours of their romantic imaginations. This history sits as an important background to help understand present conflicts between the Muslim world and the United States.
#933478 in Books Heuser Beatrice 2010-11-30 2010-10-14Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.98 x 1.22 x 5.98l; 2.02 #File Name: 052115524X594 pagesThe Evolution of Strategy Thinking War from Antiquity to the Present
Review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Heavy ReadingBy Sue M.I am a lay-person with a long standing interest in strategy tactics. But in reading this book; I realized that there is much more to this topic than I had realized. While I recognized much of the 20th century terminology the much broader explanations debates were eye opening to me. I admit to forcing myself to plow throughout some segments much of the detail names are already lost to me. Nevertheless it gave me a much greater perspective. My husband attended the Naval War College in the mid 70s I typed his papers. I recognized names some of his required reading. My father had also had been a career military man. His career began in the Army Air Corp in 1939 later the Air Force. This may explain my interest.My 5 star rating is not based on my expertise of the subject. I can neither defend or argue against much of it. the book was more than I expected held my attention interest to the end. Therefore my rating is; again; based on lay perspective.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Maybe good for professionals but definitely not for amateurs - even ...By TornikeToo long; the same topics discussed without any hope of finishing... Maybe good for professionals but definitely not for amateurs - even for those who study history4 of 5 people found the following review helpful. ExcellentBy Terry TuckerThis is a highly readable history that is packed with detail. I bought the Kindle edition of this book and am pleased with the format. This book has twenty chapters and and starts with defining the art and science of strategy. It moves into what the author calls the "Long-term Constants" and then covers some of the key developmental periods of history - Napoleonic; Naval and Maritime strategy; Air Power and Nuclear strategy; "Small Wars" and then lastly; "The Quest for new paradigms after WW II."
