Richard Munro
asked:
Fascinating that people gave this a one presumably for politcal reasons ; I doubt they read this informative book. What did you think of it?
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The Strange Death of Europe: Immigration, Identity, Islam,
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Mark Alexis
I have the same doubts about whether some of these people read this great book before giving it a single star. I thought it very lucid, mild-mannered and balanced. But if you consider everybody to the right of Bernie Sanders a hate-filled hater full of hate, Mr. Murray is not your guy, I guess.
Boyan
I find it sad that people are 'vote mobbing' the book just because it raises observations on topics not deemed Politically Correct. Perhaps Orwell's thought police and thoughtcrime resonated in those individuals.
I for one enjoyed every page of the book - past, present and future of the delicate issue of playing with people's lives. I really liked the solution provided in the final chapter.
Oh how I wish we could admit our mistakes and make amends.
I for one enjoyed every page of the book - past, present and future of the delicate issue of playing with people's lives. I really liked the solution provided in the final chapter.
Oh how I wish we could admit our mistakes and make amends.
Cary
I'm sort of strange politically, but I'm mostly center-left in the US spectrum. Nothing in this book struck me as political ranting. I haven't fact checked it or anything, but I've heard some of these states elsewhere and, while I was surprised (read dismayed) by many of them, nothing seemed ridiculous.
Where the writing is more opinion-based, I didn't find much that was controversial. That (Western) Europe seems by and large unwilling to stand up for itself seems self-evident. The glaring disparity between how they accept what is asked of them while neither asking the same of other countries nor pushing back is by itself strong evidence for that.
Where the writing is more opinion-based, I didn't find much that was controversial. That (Western) Europe seems by and large unwilling to stand up for itself seems self-evident. The glaring disparity between how they accept what is asked of them while neither asking the same of other countries nor pushing back is by itself strong evidence for that.
David Pryce
A very informative and broadly speaking depressing read; it gave some insights into the bizarre masochistic attitudes of many in Western Europe and should be read by...well just about everyone really. Sadly, those who are in need of reading it the most will give it a wide berth and likely stick to the Guardian!
Aenea Jones
What bothered me the most, personally, was the more or less subtle religious propaganda.
The author's conclusion to face the rising Islamic fundamentalism is to remind ourselves of our Christian heritage... like, the crusades, the witch hunts, the hatred for homosexuals, the discrimination of women...
No. The reason we are a civilized society like today is precisely because Christianity lost its influence on our everyday lives. Christians used to be just as backwards as fundamental Muslims still are, but thanks to the Age of Enlightenment we stopped following religious leaders and instead started to think for ourselves.
I prefer thinking over believing.
Page 305: "I cannot help feeling that much of the future of Europe will be decided on what our attitude is towards the church buildings and other great cultural buildings of our heritage standing in our midst. Around the questions of whether we hate them, ignore them, engage with them or rever them, a huge amount will depend."
I disagree.
The author's conclusion to face the rising Islamic fundamentalism is to remind ourselves of our Christian heritage... like, the crusades, the witch hunts, the hatred for homosexuals, the discrimination of women...
No. The reason we are a civilized society like today is precisely because Christianity lost its influence on our everyday lives. Christians used to be just as backwards as fundamental Muslims still are, but thanks to the Age of Enlightenment we stopped following religious leaders and instead started to think for ourselves.
I prefer thinking over believing.
Page 305: "I cannot help feeling that much of the future of Europe will be decided on what our attitude is towards the church buildings and other great cultural buildings of our heritage standing in our midst. Around the questions of whether we hate them, ignore them, engage with them or rever them, a huge amount will depend."
I disagree.
Carlyon Viles
I have read the book and I have still given one star and my reasons are given above.
T.
I agree. Wish they would read it before commenting. I found the Tiredness chapter especially compelling.
Kerem
Whenever a book is political, unfortunately voting mobs give 1 stars, that's nothing new. You can already see from many of those reviews that they haven't read the book.
I personally didn't think the book is 5 stars but 3.5 would be more appropriate. It's very informative and thought provoking, though not always written in the best way.
I personally didn't think the book is 5 stars but 3.5 would be more appropriate. It's very informative and thought provoking, though not always written in the best way.
Natasha Tavares De Moura
The books is indeed very informative but unfortunately very poorly written and very repetitive. I had to take a break from it for those reasons but plan on finishing it soon. I wouldn't give it 5 stars either. The topic may be 5 starts but the writing is mostly a 2.5.
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