Feel free to add your recommendations.
What Went Wrong: Western Impact and Middle Eastern Response by Bernard Lewis
For anyone who's read Schwartz's book, I'd recommend Michael Ledeen's "The War Against the Terror Masters" for the real scoop on Iran and the very real anti-US cooperation between Sunnis (Iraq, Saudi Arabia, etc.) and Shiites (Iran) that the State Department and Schwartz insist doesn't exist.
I have not read this book but have heard good things about it.
The Closed Circle by David Pryce-Jones - excellent read from the early 1990s about the nature of the Arab mind and how western principles of culture, freedom and the individual are completely incompatible with the Arabs and Islam.
The Haj fiction written by Leon Uris about the forming of Israel and the pathetic nature of the Arabs. Slanted by an easy read and informative.
Great list, thanks.
You will never read a more powerful, intimately revealing book about Arabs and their culture.
There are so many myths about Arab Muslims' history. Pryce-Jones grew up among the Muslim Arabs, has a deep love for them, but he's one of those people who refuse to accept sentimental deceits in the place of reality.
Bat Ye'Or has written several books on Islam and its treatment of 'infidels'. Every one of her books is packed with specific, brutal, historical information. She is an exacting professional historian, and is another who refuses the mish-mash of sentimental multiculturalism.
I have bought and read nearly all the authors you list, Destro, though there's a couple I haven't read and will now get. Thanks for the post.
(PS....immediately following September 11, I began reading about Islam, which I knew nothing about. I looked everywhere for a copy of Pryce-Jones' book The Closed Circle, but everyone had already sold out their used copies. It was out of print at that time. Finally, I found a copy listed by a little book shop in India and ordered it...paid something like $8 total for the book and shipping. When the postman brought my package to the door, he gave me a very hard looking-over. I quickly explained what the package was, even tore the flimsy paper off to show him. He looked relieved and left. I was so glad he was so alert at that scary time!)
Why in the world would anyone want to discredit an entire religion based on the few wacko radicals, even if there are major elements within the faith that are pure evil? I can't think of a single race, creed, or religion that hasn't currently, or in the past, used the devout to reek havoc on others.
You are what you pretend to despise, a hate monger, whether you like it or not, and I for one couldn't sleep tonight if I let you pass without being exposed in the light, like the vermin you undoubtedly are!
I want this thread to remain so others can read my post and make up their own mind! There is no doubt that you and your comrades would be the first to condemn anyone that would say such things about your faith or race... You sick hypocritical creep!
The Quest for the Historical Muhammad by Ibn Warraq (Editor), Ibn Warraq (Translator
What the Koran Really Says, Edited and Translated by Ibn Warraq
Leaving Islam: Apostates Speak Out, Edited by Ibn Warraq
I saw Ibn Warraq (pseudonym) on C-SPAN2 recently. This guy is incredible. He was reading from the last book on the list above. He had to appear wearing large dark glasses and a wig because of a Rushdie-type problem. He has a fascinating website where the statements of people who have left Islam are collected: www.secularislam.org
By G. Horton
The long out of print, well known book "THE BLIGHT OF ASIA" was published in 1926 in the USA and written by the American General Consul in Smyrna in 1922, who was an eye witness of all the perils of that city and of its Christian inhabitants at the hands of the Muslim Turks. This testimony comes from a high-ranking American diplomat, who served in this capacity in that part of the world for about 30 years, and was therefore a knowledgeable and impartial source.
This book is made available in web format thanks to S. Georgiadis, a Rear Admiral of the Hellenic Navy (Ret). [March 2001]