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Summary: Yet another honest account from V S Naipaul
Review: "Among the believers" stands in same league with Naipaul's famed trilogy on India, replete with glimpses of history, critical perspectives and thought-stirring (unanswered) questions. As Paul Theroux pointed once, Naipaul never uses any word without exercising forethought, and his usual diligence in presenting sensitive subjects without even trace amounts of exaggeration applies to this book too. It will be a travesty of truth if people liken his writings to anti-Islamic bigotry or stance. I think such allegations are nefarious and conspiratory to discredit the momentous work he has done. He has been equally critical/questioning of the (Hindu) civilizational millstones that beseige India. If at all one could ascribe any pre-determined judgement that Naipaul makes in this book, it is his unequivocal committment to the superiority of (current) Western traditions like Democracy, Individualism, Freewill, Science, Market Economics etc. He does not exhibit any particular preference among the Eastern civilizations. His predeliction toward Hindu-Buddhist civilization, if at all, is due to the apparent space these cultures provide to accommodate western values and certainly not because Naipaul derives solace from the theism/morality of these religions. In sum, "Among the believers" is as honest an inquiry into the predicaments of tumultuous Islamic revival as much as his other travelogues are about other geographies. A must read for all (Muslims and Non-Muslims) those who want to enter into a transparent and protracted dialogue to contain Muslim disgruntlement in different quarters.
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Summary: an excellent study
Review: A microscopic study of the various interpretations of Islam in different countries that he visited during his journey, Naipaul effectively describes his experince of the path of Islamic idealogy that the countries went for (of course, with noble ideas), and in the process their often turning a blind eye towards reality. He certainly doesn't attack individuals or even the societies, but makes you ponder about hurriedly implementing a theory, rather outdated and without alterations, and without a clear end design in mind.
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Summary: A must read for anyone who wants to understand world polics
Review: After living in islamic countries for 15 years I have tried to understand the rage that seems to affect radical muslims. This book is a great way to begin to get into the minds of these people who, in many cases don't fear the possibility of starting world war III.
Rating: 
Summary: Perceptive and insightful, but somewhat disappointing...
Review: As someone who has lived in one of Naipaul's selected Islamic countries, I was intrigued by the book's notion of exploring Islam outside of the Arab world. I read with great pleasure his fantastically intricate descriptions of the peoples and events he witnessed. I even found that he noticed some things that I had missed at a rural school in Indonesia where I had also visited. However, I also found Naipaul's narrative to fall into some of the same traps as other works about non-Arab Islam. The author tends to argue that certain practices/ceremonies/statements, etc., are un-Islamic because they are different that those in the Middle East. That is, he sometimes cannot distinguish between what is Islam, and what is Arab culture (that he takes to be Islam). On the whole I recommend this book for someone interested in how different cultures can change the character (but not the substance) of supposedly monolithic world religions. Also, in an interesting side note, the "Mr. Wahid" whom the author alludes to in his section on Indonesia, is the same Abdurrahman Wahid who is now President of the country.
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Summary: Book to understand contemporary Islam
Review: Demystifies Islam by letting Muslims speak for themselves. Very perceptive and very powerfully written. A marvellous book for Muslims and non-Muslims alike.
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Summary: Poor Mr. Naipaul, Nobody Likes Him
Review: First of all I must state I didn't finish this book: Mr. Naipaul, as ever in his non-fiction, is so anxiously meticulous that, unless you are pretty darned interested in the topic at hand, and also familiar with the geography, you can get lost in all that fine detail. I just want to say, re all the negative reviews, that Mr. Naipaul certainly can't be said to be biased in favor of his own religion or cultural background (Hinduism) - Indians don't like him either. Try to find a Hindu who's read "India: A Million Mutinies Now" and liked it. I don't know anything about Muslim countries, but I am familiar with Indians (being married to one), and his writing on India, in my opinion, is extremely perceptive and straight-as-an-arrow honest. Of course, my husband (who refuses to read him), begs to differ. Also - when he interjects stuff out of quotes, like, "He was confused" or "He didn't want to continue this topic" or whatever - that's simply to make the narrative more readable by reducing 50 words of hesitation and body language into a short phrase. Yes, if you've already made up your mind against Naipaul, you're going to assume he's twisting the interviewee's words, but I believe Mr. Naipaul is almost neurotic about letting his readers decide for themselves. When he does opine, it's obviously his opinion. He does tend to have a kind of naturally dyspeptic viewpoint on things, the emphasis of his inquiries are on what's not working and why. Also, he seems to especially enjoy poking fun (maybe too much) at people who take themselves seriously. This is a style of commentary that we Westerners like but I think is construed as inimical by people from the Eastern worlds. But I would defend him without hesitation against anyone who calls his integrity into question. He's writing extremely valuable stuff that's going to be used by historians for centuries to come. Sure, definitely, read someone who's sympathetic to Islam, but read Naipaul, too.
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Summary: Excellent Book
Review: Gives an accurate picture of non-muslims in Muslim countries. I have lived in Malaysia and Brunei and I can personally feel the author's words. This book is not against Islam but instead the author Naipaul does a wonderful job of telling the honest and true things. Some of the things like not eating on Ramadan are to be strictly followed by non-muslims like Hindus and christians.Not only that I have personally seen in Dubai(United Arab Emirates) where employers hire only muslims.That tells a lot about such countries.The poeple who don't like the author need to think logically. Keep up the excellent work Mr V.S Naipaul.God bless you! Chirag Parikh San Jose
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Summary: As relevant today as it was then
Review: Having travelled over the last decade to most of the countries mentioned in this book, I can say that the key advantage of it is that it remains highly relevant and applicable today. Thoroughly recommendable to anyone wanting an insight to the places visited by the author, easy to read at a stretch, wry in parts and unafraid to present things as they actually are. Realistic and sharp as you like, that's why it's a problem for some. Like someone in the book says, it doesn't serve their cause.
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Summary: This hardcover edition is a disgrace.
Review: I am a Naipaul fan. I am sure I will enjoy this book when I read it. However, I was so disappointed and outraged by the poor quality of this [$] hardcover edition that I feel it is important to warn other booklovers. This edition is a [waste] attempt to capitalize on Naipaul's Nobel Prize. If priced at [a lower price] I might have accepted this book as an economical, expedient way make Naipaul's work available. Bound like a library book with what looks like the cover of a paperback pasted on the front, this book,printed on the cheapest paper looks like something I'd find in a "books for a buck" bin. I feel cheated. Grrrrrr.
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Summary: Remarkably naive, relentlessly malicious, ultimately patheti
Review: I am specially interested in books about the Indian Subcontinent and Islam and try and keep up as much as I can with the literature in this area. The book under discussion is one of the most unimpressive works I have seen in my experience. A short trip to four, arguably very different, Muslim countries and a series of random anecdotes allegedly gives Mr.Naipaul the prophetic insight into all the complexities of these nations. If anyone else had written this book, it would have probably been considered unfit for publication and ridiculed for its absolute lack of conviction, depth and realism. But Mr.Naipaul rides high over a reputation built on earlier novels and tries, in my opinion, rather desperately to explore the new realm of the travel writer/philosopher. Even as a travel book it is highly dull, disjointed and unimpressive. As an attempted treatise on Islam's influence on these four countries, it is laughable beyond imagination. There is no cohesion, no wisdom, no logic, no sympathy for what he sees and above all a Pharonic disdain towards the development of a better understanding of what is going on. So shallow is the analysis that it seems that Mr.Naipaul has never read an intelligent book on the subject or conversed with anyone with a better understanding of the socio-political realities in this area. What, however, is the most troublesome and puzzling aspect of the book is the fact that Mr.Naipaul seems to be very angry over something. I can imagine an interested outside observer of this part of the world being critical, even sarcastic but at times his prose seems just plain malicious. I know this may sound strange and I assure you that I still have not been able to comprehend this phenomenon but he reads like someone who absolutely detested these places even before he went there. This ofcourse jeoperdises the entire endeavour from the start and makes it quite useless as all that such a writer can achieve is an affirmation of certain closely held biases. I can only wonder what ticked him off so much. This vitriolic tone adopted and maintained throughout the book by Mr.Naipaul makes it even more unpleasant an experience to read this book. I am very openly critical about the politics and the brand of religion which is unfortunately practised in these countries but like many others who feel the same way and have also read this book, I found Mr.Naipaul just unbelievably and transparently bitter and cutting. Such a state of mind can hardly produce a balanced and objective book. His entire journey evoked no joy, no hope and hardly any sympathy and I feel sorry for him. At the same time I am glad things are not as wicked and bleak as he religiously paints them to be. Please don't waste your time in reading this bizarre and highly disappointing work product if you have any genuine interest in understanding these areas or even in just reading a well written book. One of the worst books I have read ever, especially from a notable writer.
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