Warriors of the Prophet: The Struggle for Islam

Rating:
Summary: Huband Offers Incredible Insight
Review: ...I turned to this book with the hope that author Mark Huband could shed some light upon the enigma known as the fundamentalist Islamic phenomenon. From a layperson's standpoint, this book was an invaluable resource for understanding the complexities of the Middle East factions, including their history, motives, religious beliefs, and political alliances. Fortunately, the book takes specific notice of Osama bin Laden and the Islamic movements in Afghanistan, an eerie predilection of their role in future world events. With the author's journalistic style and personal anecdotes, the book held my interest as well as its significance to present circumstances. Educating ourselves is the only way we can begin to make sense of the motives behind the terrorist acts, and I found no better resource than Warriors of the Prophet. It has my highest recommendation.

Rating:
Summary: Huband Offers Incredible Insight
Review: ...I turned to this book with the hope that author Mark Huband could shed some light upon the enigma known as the fundamentalist Islamic phenomenon. From a layperson's standpoint, this book was an invaluable resource for understanding the complexities of the Middle East factions, including their history, motives, religious beliefs, and political alliances. Fortunately, the book takes specific notice of Osama bin Laden and the Islamic movements in Afghanistan, an eerie predilection of their role in future world events. With the author's journalistic style and personal anecdotes, the book held my interest as well as its significance to present circumstances. Educating ourselves is the only way we can begin to make sense of the motives behind the terrorist acts, and I found no better resource than Warriors of the Prophet. It has my highest recommendation.

Rating:
Summary: Islamists vs Isalm
Review: A magnificent book, all 228 pages. Huband's documentation alone is enough to guarantee the high quality of this book to anyone interested in the Islamist movement.

Rating:
Summary: The rise of political Islam.
Review: I believe the author to be a well versed authority on the subject he is writing about which is the rise of political Islam. This book gives a valid critique of many of the regimes of the Middle East, and the West's policy toward this vast region. Since this book was written before 9/11, it does not include any of the current developments in this region. Huband slants his writings against the West (and in particular the U.S.) and Israel. Therefore we get many criticisms of the U.S. in its policy against Iraq and as a occupying force in Saudi. We also get the comments of duplicity by the Israelis in their policy against the Palestinians. I think both comments are off the mark, and that is one reason I rated this book only a three star.
This is a short book, but the language used in the writing of this book makes it unnecessaryly difficult. The reader will learn of how the failures of the present Middle East regimes gave rise to political Islam. Failures in providing social services also gave rise to the Fundamentals. I also think the author panders to much to the Middle East audience. He blames the policies of the West and those of the elite which rule these countries of the Middle East. A difficult read and one not recommended for the beginning historian.

Rating:
Summary: Underated:....
Review: More than ever, it has become imperative for the West to understand the Arab world. Warriors of the Prophet chronicles Osama bin Laden's ascent to power during the Islamic Afghan resistance to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979. Author Mark Huband reveals the important role bin Laden played in uniting the Arab Muslims with their Afghan compatriots and spreading the ideology of the jihad, or holy war, to protect Islam, to all the various Islamic factions that took part in the war in Afghanistan. Although a number of recent books address the rise of fundamentalist movements in the Islamic world, none attempt to explain to general readers the emergence, character, and significance of that revival, nor do they bring together the many voices dividing both conservative and liberal currents in the region. I found this book extremely useful and quite compelling - a surefire way to get at the Middle East "problem" and ways in which we can do something about it. The tone is fluid yet serious, just the kind of perspective I needed. I recommended this with great confidence.