The Crisis of Islam

Holy War and Unholy Terror

By: Bernard Lewis

Narrated by: Bernard Lewis

Length: 4 hrs and 44 mins

Publisher's summary

Bernard Lewis examines the historical roots of the frustrations and resentments that dominate the Islamic world today and that are increasingly being expressed in acts of terrorism. He looks at the theological origins of political Islam and tells us what the Islamic doctrine of jihad has meant at different times in history. And he takes us, as only he can, through the rise of militant Islam in Iran, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia, examining the impact of radical Wahabi proselytizing and Saudi oil money on the rest of the Islamic world.

Crisis of Islam ranges widely through 13 centuries of history, but in particular it charts the key events of the 20th century leading up to the bitter and violent confrontations of today. The Second World War, the creation of the state of Israel, the Cold War, the Iranian Revolution, the Soviet defeat in Afghanistan, the Gulf War, and the September 11th attacks on the United States have all shaped Muslim perceptions in important ways.

While hostility toward the West has a long and varied history in the lands of Islam, its current concentration on America is new. So too is the cult of the suicide bomber. Bernard Lewis helps us understand the reasons for the increasingly dogmatic rejection of modernity by many in the Muslim world in favor of a return to a sacred past. Based on his George Polk Award-winning article for The New Yorker, The Crisis of Islam is essential reading for anyone who wants to know what Osama bin Ladin represents and why his murderous message resonates so widely in the Islamic world.

©2003 Bernard Lewis (P)2003 Random House Audio, a division of Random House, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Remarkably succinct...offers a long view in the midst of so much short-termism and confusing punditry. Lewis has done us all - Muslim and non-Muslim alike - a remarkable service." (The New York Times Book Review)

"A timely and provocative contribution to the current raging debate about the tensions between the West and the Islamic world." (Business Week)

“Inestimable...replete with the exceptional historical insight that one has come to expect from the world’s foremost Islamic scholar.” (The Wall Street Journal)

At times dry; unparalleled information

This is a remarkable book for insight and information on the Islamic view of the West, and includes a lot of very engaging information, but it is a bit dry in places; strongly recommended for anyone with enough interest in the Middle East of or Muslims to weather the dry parts.

A very good book...a very mediocre reader...

This is a must read for all who seek insight on the creation, evolution and structure of Islam and it's struggle with the modern world.
With that being said, I suggest the author hire someone with a little more "flare" to read his next book. This was a mono-tone disaster.

Best on the subject

Best book on the subject I have read so far. Narration by the author a real plus. Certain people in high places should read this book!

A confirmation of the danger of fundamentalism.

This book confirms the use of religion to cover some of the darker aspecrts of basic human nature. Like Fundamentalist Christianity, Fundamentalist Islam is used to promote and support self interests and biases of one group over another. Islam was used to justify invasion and domination just like the medieval Crusades and later invasions. This work addresses this without burying us completely in Western bias on the topic. Very edifying.

Good primer for understanding anti-west sentiments

As a die hard supporter of secular governments I find myself alarmed at the current interpretations of the Islamic faith based states. It may not matter if the motivation is true faith, greed, anger,jealous, ignorance or a combination - the results will be the same - generations of hate, violence and death. I wonder, would a shift in world fuel from Oil to something else not found in the Holy Lands and Middle East be enough of a catalyst to change the dynamics??? I'd like to read more about the economics involved ... follow the money so to speak.
And I will proudly set aside my religious beliefs in honor of your secular rights and expect the same in return.

I did not rate this book higher because the book/author/narrator were hard to follow sometimes and the book would have benefited from better organization and editing.

Great Content, Poor Narrator

Content is good, but narration is poor. Speaker has a lot of saliva build up, and therefore needs to brush his teeth and floss. This Audible reader needs a voice coach or audio director before producing more works for Amazon.

Islam is not the answer

It is now more then twenty years later and Islam is still not the ansure. Worse, Islamic history is more and more looking as though it is unreliable.

Interesting in Parts, Boring in Others

I'm not sure if it was the content or the author's voice that had me rewinding, realizing that I had just missed the last 10 minutes that I listened to. I did this through many parts of the book, as the author's voice continued to drone and drone and drone. Some of his points are repeated over and over and others are broken away from tangentially until I forgot what his original point was. I did come away with some lasting impressions from this book, however. There is valuable content in here if you want to understand some fundamental differences between the Middle East and the US and of some Islamic's hate of the US. Only get this if this topic really interests you as this listen does nothing to draw you in. You have to have a deep interest to begin with or you will fall asleep. Overall, I feel enriched by this book, but it was not listened to without some work on my part.

Well worth it.

I have read various criticisms of this book, but I found it a concise, cogent summary of many issues relating to recent acts of terrorism. I heard nothing that seemed markedly out of step with basic historical fact, whether or not you agree with the author's interpretation. In addition, this title is well-read by the author, the recording is pretty clean and loud enough at 3, at the length is about right.

Crisis of Islam

A great historical perspective. I listended to it twice and really learned from it.