Rating: 
Summary: Light weight reading at it's worst
Review: This is a truly awful book. It is poorly written, devoid of meaningful dialog and themed more like a talk show then a novel. It is truly lightweight reading for lightweight minds. It certainly comes as no surprise that it is endorsed by some of our country's most right wing nutjobs (Limbaugh, etc). Don't waste your time on this one.
Rating: 
Summary: AWESOME BOOK!!!!! A must read
Review: I was browsing through my local library and booked this up intrigued by the title. I LOVED it!!!! Rosenberg ranks right up there with Vince Flynn and Tom Clancy. He has a real talent and I anxiously await the sequel. I hope it is longer because I was soooo disapointed when this one ended so "soon". I was very impressed with the subtle christian ideas. They were not overly powerful but enought that a non-beliver would want to investigate more. I thought it was great that it was not in the "Christian Fiction" section of the library so that non-belivers might be more inclined to read it. Once again a great read for all people.
Rating:
Summary: A conservative fantasy
Review: Many reviewers have called this book 'timely.' That may be the reason for its success at the bookstores and among conservative readerships. However, the topicality of its subject matter has undoubtedly clouded the judgment of readers who would otherwise recognize stilted, trite prose, and awkward dialogue. Certainly, the story advances at a brisk pace that makes reading it an afternoon's work at most; but it does so at the expense of careful construction and memorable characterization. Most disturbing is Rosenberg's tendency to attribute animal-like characteristics to the perpetrators of the terrorism, perhaps in an unconscious expression of Redfield's human/non-human binary. He mentions an Iraqi's 'beady, black, lifeless eyes,' and has various leaders 'barking' in Arabic. The author engages also in an existential discussion on evil, and the importance of eliminating it. In her book The Origin of Satan, Elaine Pagels shows how the idea of Satan ' of pure evil ' has aided the condemnation and elimination of the Other, especially in the context of Judaism and Christianity. Sadam Hussein, of course, is not innocent of this logic, but neither is Rosenberg. His construction of the terrorists specifically, and the Iraqis generally, as 'evil' ' as only barely human ' aids in the justification of their destruction. On another note, Rosenberg offends perhaps every feminist critic since Laura Mulvey in his depiction of Erin McCoy, the financial wiz come CIA operative heroine who the author continually infantilizes; he even has her sucking on a lollipop in what must be a tribute to Nabakov. In the final scenes of the novel, she proves her grit by shooting up some Iraqis, only to be referred to as 'buried treasure' by the hero. Her mix of righteous violence and girlish chastity must be the fantasy of young Republican boys everywhere. Indeed, the whole novel provides a glimpse of the conservative fantasia that has for the past two years mesmerized this nation. To have an enemy that is purely evil, to have a motive that is purely just ' such is the recipe for legend. It is the Republican Beowulf, and Rosenberg validates the political lassitude and psycho-spiritual conviction of many Americans with his good/bad, black/white scenario. Unfortunately for Republicans, analyzing international conflict requires more than simple binary classifications; and unfortunately for Rosenberg, writing a good book requires more than a political agenda.
Rating: 
Summary: Terrorism once again threatens world peace.
Review: "The Last Jihad," a political thriller by Joel Rosenberg, was written before Operation Iraqi Freedom ended Saddam Hussein's reign. Rosenberg's novel presents a scenario that has Suddam Hussein still ruling Iraq and threatening his enemies with weapons of mass destruction.The beginning of the novel is electrifying. The President of the United States, James MacPherson, has just landed in Denver, Colorado, when a kamikaze pilot attacks the Presidential motorcade. The country is thrown into a state of panic, as the leaders of the free world must decide how they will retaliate. Jon Bennett, a brilliant Wall Street strategist and close friend of the President, is on the verge of brokering a deal that could bring peace and prosperity to the Middle East. Unfortunately, the specter of terrorism threatens to destroy Bennett's deal and any hope of world peace. The stakes could not be higher as the most powerful leaders on earth make decisions that will determine the fate of the world. "The Last Jihad" is a gripping spy novel, filled with action, twists, and turns that will keep the reader engrossed until the story reaches its shocking conclusion.
Rating: 
Summary: Don't go mailing the Pulitzer just yet...
Review: This was a good book, good, not great.
Rosenberg has a flair for detail, in that way, you may say he's much like Tom Clancy. He explains things in a very detailed manner, like Clancy.
HOWEVER, the plot here is a little too straightforward. The idea was great, but it seems like that's all he had to work with.
His basic idea and then the minute details.
It's almost as if it's an outline for a future novel. If Rosenberg had added another 100 pages of straight characterization, he would have made a GREAT first novel. I say three stars, and on that, I'll buy his next novel to see if he improves.
Rating:
Summary: I could not put this book down.
Review: This is the best book that I've read. I'm not a big reader, but I was drawn into the book from the very beginning. I couldn't put it down literally. After picking it up and reading it that evening I took it to work and read it between calls. I even found myself readining it while stuck in rush hour traffic going home, and then finished it that evening. Someone has to buy the movie rights for this book! This is an absolute must buy!
Rating:
Summary: Sign O The Times
Review: Yes, I stuck the title of the previous item that I reviewed on this recent political thriller. Anyway, The Last Jihad does give some good insight into a possible future showdown with Saadam if we do not disarm him. Heck this could even be on tommorow's headlines as we try to liberate the Iraqui citizens under his regime of terror. The novel is filled with a lot of stunning action packed scenes of attempted assinations of the American President as well as other world leaders. A compelling oil deal to unite Israel and Palestine is also a subplot. That one is a little unrealistic. But the role of General Aziz certainly is so similar to the feelings of the current Iraqi dictatorship. Some of the scene shifts and political maneuverings are a little bit too rapid fire without enough time given to develop certain characters and how they relate to the story. The ending is quite abrupt. Maybe there is a sequel in the making but still a little bit more of a comprehensive conclusion is definitely requested. Nonetheless this is a fairly exciting read in spite of some faulty connections.
Rating:
Summary: Tomorrow's Headlines?
Review: The Last Jihad could very well contain tomorrow's headlines. The setting is a few years beyond 2003 and the assumption is that Iraq was not dealt with in 2003. Much of the story centers around the U.S. president and his protection. Insight was given to much behind the scenes activity of such government security agencies as the CIA, FBI and Secret Service. In the background of the story is a "solution" to the Palestine - Israel problem which involves a massive joint oil venture. The final chapter ends rather abruptly with a nuclear confrontation. The book kept my interest throughout. I believe the book would be of interest to anyone with conservative leanings and an interest in government operation at the international level.
Rating:
Summary: The Last Jihad
Review: This story hits the ground running, with all the excitment and suspense of a fine motion picture. As relevant and thought- provoking as today's news.
Rating:
Summary: I FELT LIKE I WAS WATCHING THE CURRENT NEWS!
Review: THIS BOOK IS SO TIMELY! I READ WHILE ALSO WATCHING FOX NEWS AS PRESIDENT BUSH TRIES TO GET THE UN TO GO AFTER SADDAM! THE BOOK WAS SHOWING WHAT TO EXPECT IF WE DON'T FINISH WHAT WE STARTED IN THE GULF WAR. AS OTHERS HAVE SAID, THIS IS A FAST TRACK BOOK THAT YOU CANNOT PUT DOWN. IT MOVES FASTER THAN A MOVIE AND GIVES INSIDER VIEWS ON HOW OUR GOVERNMENT WORKS. I WISH ALL THOSE FOLKS WHO THINK BUSH MAKES THIS DECISION ALONE COULD READ THIS BOOK AND SEE ALL THE ADVISORS THE PRESIDENT CONSULTS. WISH I HAD MORE BOOKS LIKE THIS TO READ NEXT!
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