Well, you’ll run into books by people who looked at Islam from the outside or inside. And there’s the set of books that come after Huntington’s “Clash of Civilizations.” (late 70s, IIRC).
I’d look for Robert Spencer or someone else now. I’d also search out web sites for info. The problem is that so many are now in support, albeit sometimes subtly.
One issue currently is the merger between Wahabbi extremism and Salafist violence. Al Qaradawi is an example.
tellthechildrenthetruth.com will give you a sense of the rise of modern jihad.
There’s just all these little bits and pieces scattered all over that make for having to take some time to get a factual sense of things. Good luck.
Oh. Don’t read the Koran. It’s long.
One place might also be this: http://islam.uga.edu/history.html
Becoming familiar with the art and archaeology might take you into the historical periods in context.
Also, conquest. N. Africa, Spain, India, etc. Youtube has a decent set on the Crusades.
Study up on oil, too. It is, after all, a driving force there.
Unfortunately for everyone , the Caliph Uthman had the Koran arranged with the chapters out of order.
The earlier milder Meccan chapters when Muhammed was trying to convert by preaching, and the later Militant , Political Medina chapters are mixed up, making the Koran hard to fathom.
Since the Muslims consider Muhammad the perfect example to emulate, his murderous implementation of the Koran can be found in the Hadiths. -Tom