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132nd out of 275 books
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The Politically Incorrect Guide to Islam (and the Crusades)
Islam expert Robert Spencer reveals Islam's ongoing, unshakable quest for global conquest and why the West today faces the same threat as the Crusaders did--and what we can learn from their experience.
Paperback, 270 pages
Published
July 1st 2005
by Regnery Publishing
(first published January 1st 2001)
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Definitely well researched.
these books usually have the same problem; they have to spend quite a lot of time appealing to their veracity. It becomes mundane. To combat the over-saturation of the politically correct opinion, they add too many examples of each of their claims.
This book is well worth reading if only for the angle in which it portrays the Crusades and the estimable aspects of Western Culture. The world view that if found in the western Judeo Christian cultures is ...more
these books usually have the same problem; they have to spend quite a lot of time appealing to their veracity. It becomes mundane. To combat the over-saturation of the politically correct opinion, they add too many examples of each of their claims.
This book is well worth reading if only for the angle in which it portrays the Crusades and the estimable aspects of Western Culture. The world view that if found in the western Judeo Christian cultures is ...more
Oh my God, what a stupid book.
It's difficult to know where to begin with a book like this. On the one hand, you cannot dismiss it as the invention of a whackjob. Robert Spencer has clearly done research on his subject and there are a fair number of points that an honest mind would have to concede to him.
Yes, Mr. Spencer, the Crusades were not an example of the Western world colonizing the Middle East.
and
Yes, Saladin's chivalrous reputation glosses over some of...more
It's difficult to know where to begin with a book like this. On the one hand, you cannot dismiss it as the invention of a whackjob. Robert Spencer has clearly done research on his subject and there are a fair number of points that an honest mind would have to concede to him.
Yes, Mr. Spencer, the Crusades were not an example of the Western world colonizing the Middle East.
and
Yes, Saladin's chivalrous reputation glosses over some of...more
taarak
rated it
Recommends it for:
Anyone interested in saving Western civilization from the new barbarian hordes.
This is the definitive answer to Karen Armstrong's well known history of Islam. Scary, captivating, and damned blunt, this is a must read book for anyone that hopes to live through the next two decades!
You think you know about Islam. But, did you know that Islam teaches that Muslims must wage war to impose Islamic law on non-Muslim states, or that American Muslim groups are engaged in a huge cover-up of Islamic doctrine? These and other "politically incorrect" facts are re...more
You think you know about Islam. But, did you know that Islam teaches that Muslims must wage war to impose Islamic law on non-Muslim states, or that American Muslim groups are engaged in a huge cover-up of Islamic doctrine? These and other "politically incorrect" facts are re...more
An excellent historical overview of the founding of Islam, the life of Mohammed, the spread of Islamic supremecy througout the world, the reason for the current threat of violent Islamic jihad that the world currently faces, an explanation of the violent texts of the Koran and how they are the rule of law for Islamic violence, as well as little-known facts about the events leading up to and resulting in the Christian Crusades. This is an excellent introduction to a timely and important topic. Th...more
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Spencer provides an exhaustive and scholarly review of Islam, from it's founding in the Middle East, to the rise of the Muslim empire and the resulting Crusades, to the jihad that we see today. He cites his sources well, and provides proof from the Koran and Islamic leaders of the founding of Islam as a religion of war and intolerance toward unbelievers, who the Koran refers to as "kafirs". He explores the intolerance and restrictive nature of the dhimmi ("the guilty") syst...more
Politically Incorrect but Factually Correct as far as i can determine,one source being discussions with an Iraqi Christian i know. It's laid out well and easy to digest, although you may feel a little nervous reading on public transport (: which is something to think about, why should you be?). Robert Spencer does not believe most Muslims have the immediate mindset that he discusses here, but his point is that it is Inherent in the teachings of Islam. (Wikipedia: While admitting that he believes...more
Like many people I used to believe that Islam was a religion of peace and it's doctrines had been hijacked by the terrorists, but after reading not only this book, but many others I am convinced that the exact opposite is true. This book was the first book against Islam that I had read and I must say that his arguments are much more honest and frank than the books put out by apologists for Islam, both Western and Non-Western.
He has done his research and cites every text and source he...more
He has done his research and cites every text and source he...more
Hey Everybody! I have an awesome-cool idea! Let's educate ourselves about Islam. Sound like a neato plan? Come on, then, let's get busy with our rad selves.
Where can we start? Well, there are dozens, maybe even hundreds, of books about Islam and the Qu'ran, written by people native to Muslim countries, fluent in classical and colloquial Arabic, educated on the religion's many complexities. There are just tons of accurate studies by Westerners and Easterners, Muslims and non-Mus...more
Where can we start? Well, there are dozens, maybe even hundreds, of books about Islam and the Qu'ran, written by people native to Muslim countries, fluent in classical and colloquial Arabic, educated on the religion's many complexities. There are just tons of accurate studies by Westerners and Easterners, Muslims and non-Mus...more
I like the early chapters where the author goes through common arguments like 'Even in the Old Testament Moses killed off tribes... so how is this different than Islam?' This and many other common arguments are answered and dealt with directly, not with clever phrases, but well thought and very rational answers. A MUST READ! Changes the way you see the news on the main-stream media. Look at the reviews below that rate this less than three stars. They don't even comment on the content and referen...more
Jacob Aitken
added it
We will still resist the unholy alliance between militant Islam and the western liberal tradition. Spencer does a phenomenal job exploding myths about Islam and the Crusades. I really don't have the literary skill to do an adequate review, but the following will be enough:
1) The dhimmi: Life was good under Islamic rule, right? No, it sucked. You had to pay a degrading tax, couldn't own weaponry, and couldn't testify against a Muslim in court because the word of a Christian dog was no good....more
1) The dhimmi: Life was good under Islamic rule, right? No, it sucked. You had to pay a degrading tax, couldn't own weaponry, and couldn't testify against a Muslim in court because the word of a Christian dog was no good....more
This book preaches hatred and I am disgusted that something so blatantly discriminatory is regarded as remotely acceptable. Shame on Robert Spencer for spreading hatred.
Makes broad, sweeping, wrong generalizations. Intolerant.
This book was recommended to me by an avid reader as "the best summary I have seen of the main tenants of Islam and how they relate to the current socio-political challenges of our world."
The genious of this book is it's focus. Spencer uses primary sources to illustrate, not ALL the tenets of Islam, but simply those that have bearing on the socio-political interaction of Muslims within Islamic society and with those outside of Islamic society (be they co-located or in out...more
The genious of this book is it's focus. Spencer uses primary sources to illustrate, not ALL the tenets of Islam, but simply those that have bearing on the socio-political interaction of Muslims within Islamic society and with those outside of Islamic society (be they co-located or in out...more
Marcus Wimbley
added it
Summary:
The Political Incorrect Guide is a book about Islam. The book criticizes Islam as militant and oppressive, and provides a historical perspective of the Crusades arguing that they were a late response of European civilization to centuries of invasion and occupation which had begun at the turn of the 8th century in the Iberian Peninsula, Italy, Sicily and France. The author attributes the civilizational clash between Islam and the West in the 21st century to a continuation of a...more
The Political Incorrect Guide is a book about Islam. The book criticizes Islam as militant and oppressive, and provides a historical perspective of the Crusades arguing that they were a late response of European civilization to centuries of invasion and occupation which had begun at the turn of the 8th century in the Iberian Peninsula, Italy, Sicily and France. The author attributes the civilizational clash between Islam and the West in the 21st century to a continuation of a...more
Robert Spencer's The Politically Incorrect Guide to Islam (and the Crusades)'s most useful aspects are its examination of Islamic texts, including the Koran, its historical overview of the application of those texts, especially the violent ones, and its defense, at least in part, of the Crusades. This quick read is divided into three parts. Part one deals with Islam generally and more specifically Islam's relation to war, intolerance, and oppression of women. Part two debunks the myths surroundi...more
This is a controversial book; of that there is no doubt. It is difficult to endorse it without appearing to be racist or paranoid. That having been said, let me heartily endorse this book to anyone that does not believe that Western Society, Western Civilization is not threatened by the spread of Islam. Those that believe that Allah as worshipped by Islam is the same God Christians and Jew worship are either ignorant, at best, or diluded, at worst.
This book makes the case, through...more
This book makes the case, through...more
Well, I never really expect a balanced, nuanced view from a PIG guide. :-) This just happened to be the first of a group of books I began hunting down last summer to show up on my doorstep so. I am still hunting and searching for answers to the paradoxes of Islam--how did a flourishing, progressive culture in the Middle Ages become backward and anti-progress? How can the same people who partner with the Church in standing for decency and family, be the same people who murder those who disag...more
Before I saw this book title (I can't remember where I first ran across it), if asked, I would have said that Islam was a peaceful religion, that, like many other religions in history, has been hijacked by evil-doers. But when I saw this book, I wondered. Could he be right? I decided to read it, and give the author a chance to make his point.
I am acquainted with some American Muslims who would argue against this, but I wonder if they aren't plagued by their own bias. After all, who ...more
I am acquainted with some American Muslims who would argue against this, but I wonder if they aren't plagued by their own bias. After all, who ...more
This book is very insightful into the ways of Islam. I've read quite a bit on the subject and the concepts in this book are in agreement with everything else I've read. I believe what he teaches in the book. My difficulty with the book stems from what I percieved as an antagonistic attitude in the author. I believe what the author said, but I think he lost credibility by his tone. I read a book on the same subject a few months ago. Those authors said the same things but with a gentle humble styl...more
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Pretty interesting. I didn't read all of this but what I did, I found interesting. Spencer is a scholar that really understands the writings of Mohammed and he breaks down different passages of the Koran, and even later compares passages between portions of the Old and New Testaments. He debunks some assumptions that are repeated in the news media.
The biggest thing I came away from is that Islam is not at it's heart a peaceful religon. Mohammed was a warrior first, then a prophet. Because ...more
The biggest thing I came away from is that Islam is not at it's heart a peaceful religon. Mohammed was a warrior first, then a prophet. Because ...more
Most things I already knew, but a good introduction for those who want to 'believe' that everything is perfect in the world and that Islam has no other motives than to peacefully coexsist. Things are not always as the appear and/or you can only turn a blind eye for so long before you go blind completely. A great intro into what radical Islam is all about and what Islam in general 'may' be about.
Don't go to anything by Robert Spencer for an objective look at Islam. He definitely has an agenda: he sees Islam as a threat to the West (if not the whole world). Some of his statements and allegations are more than politically incorrect, they are outrageous. The only reason to read this book is to see how narrow-minded bigots think. But don't buy it; get it from the library like I did.
This was an interesting read. I don't know how much better informed I am about Islam and the Crusades because, obviously, this book provided rebuttals to a lot of information it (fairly) presumes me to know that I either don't know or don't know in great enough detail. I would have gotten more out of the book knowing a bit more about Islam, but I think this could still be an acceptable read without knowing much about Islam. Warning, though: I think it will be more useful if you've got some grasp...more
After reading Karen Armstrong's "The Battle for God" and "Islam: A Short History " I sought out a book on the other end of the spectrum. I am finding Spencer's statements to be more open, honest, and incisive than Armstrong's.
Having now finished the book, I recommend it highly. It's very clear and well-researched. The author recommends numerous books "you're not supposed to read" according to the PC world.
Having now finished the book, I recommend it highly. It's very clear and well-researched. The author recommends numerous books "you're not supposed to read" according to the PC world.
Informative book. I feel like I don't know enough about Islam to accurately judge it based on content, but at any rate, even if the view is biased, Spencer seems to have done his research and gives good background as to the claims he suggests Islam makes etc.
There's only so much that you can take. I couldn't finish this one either. Yes, he does raise great points, but again it gets pretty mundane after a while.
It is interesting to note that a fatwa was ordered on his head...so much for peace.
It is interesting to note that a fatwa was ordered on his head...so much for peace.
Some good points to be taken here, but I guess when reading anything you have to be aware of perspective and bias. I believe there to be a lot of truths evident within these pages, but they are also slanted. It is a good overall summary.
Robert Spencer gives us some much-needed perspective on Islam and the Crusades, and counters the politically correct rubbish that the mainstream media wants us to believe. Read it. You'll be shocked.
John
added it
Firstly, I read the first part that is ostensibly about Islam and that's why I chose to read the book. Then I skipped the second part about the Crusades and only quickly scanned the third part about specific contemporary issues. So I haven't read the whole thing.
Spencer asks some good questions, but leaves some stuff out. His approach is sometimes to draw on the Quran for defining Islam, and at other times to draw on the behavior and speech of self-declared Muslims for defining Islam...more
Spencer asks some good questions, but leaves some stuff out. His approach is sometimes to draw on the Quran for defining Islam, and at other times to draw on the behavior and speech of self-declared Muslims for defining Islam...more
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Robert Bruce Spencer is an American author and blogger best known for critiques of Islam and research into Islamic terrorism and jihad. He has published ten books, including two New York Times bestsellers, and is a regular contributor to David Horowitz's FrontPage Magazine. In 2003 he founded Jihad Watch, a blog which aims to bring public attention to what it describes as "the concerted effor...more
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