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Book reviews

Books are a cornerstone of our civilisation. They allow one person to speak to many, and they allow the dead to speak to the living. I review books that have made some kind of impression on me. The books are listed below in strict alphabetical order of their titles, with a clickable link to the actual review.

"7/7:Muslim Perspectives" by Murtaza Shibli (editor)

25 Muslims write about what they were doing on 7 July 2005, how they were affected by this terrible crime, and how they feel about it five years later. I contributed so much to this book that I cannot review it. However, you can read the full text of my chapter, the book introduction and profiles of all the other contributors.

"A Minority within a Minority: a report on converts to Islam in the United Kingdom" by M.A. Kevin Brice

At the end of 2010, Faith Matters published a 40 page report "A Minority within a Minority: a report on converts to Islam in the United Kingdom". I consider it well worth reading.

"Among the Truthers: A Journey Through America's Growing Conspiracist Underground" by Jonathan Kay

Why do people believe in conspiracy theories? The author spent three years researching the American "9/11 Truth" movement and provides some insightful answers.

"Celsius 7/7" by Michael Gove

A short and very readable book setting out Mr Gove's views regarding the threat posed by "Islamist terrorism." Opinions about the book are very polarised. I think the author is right to emphasise the importance of the terrorist ideology.

"Countering Al-Qaeda in London: Police and Muslims in Partnership" by Robert Lambert

The author spent over 25 years in the Metropolital Police and founded the Muslim Contact Unit. He explains in detail how Islamists helped reclaim the Finsbury Park Mosque from Abu Hamza, and how salafis countered Al Qaeda recruitment on the streets of Brixton.

"Fatwa on Terrorism and Suicide Bombings" by Shaykh-ul-Islam Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri

The full English translation of Dr Qadri's meticulous fatwa. It systematically demolishes every Islamic argument the terrorists can put forward to justify their actions.

"Free Capital: How 12 Private Investors Made Millions in the Stock Market" by Guy Thomas

This book is based upon detailed interviews with 12 private investors. Two are identified, while the others use pseudonyms. The anonymity allows them to speak frankly about how they became full time investors. Everyone will learn something from this book, regardless of the extent of their previous involvement with investing.

"Holy Terror" by Frank Miller

Frank Miller is the author of such famous graphic novels as "300", "Sin City" and "Batman: Dark Knight Returns", all of which have been filmed. However this 120 page graphic novel has cardboard characters, is filled with anti-Muslim propaganda and is best ignored.

"How not to die: Surprising Lessons on Living Longer, Safer and Healthier" by Dr Jan Garavaglia

Medical examiners see the many foolish ways people manage to get themselves killed. The book is entertaining while being full of sound advice for reducing the risk of an early death.

"How to get things done without trying too hard" by Richard Templar

This book is very easy to read, and quite short. It contains about 100 efficiency improving recommendations, and almost everyone will find something that they are not already doing.

"In Ishmael’s House – A History of Jews in Muslim Lands" by Martin Gilbert

Sir Martin Gilbert is an eminent historian and Winston Churchill's official biographer. He covers the period from the beginning of Islam to the end of the 20'th century. Under Muslim rulers, special rules applied to Jews (and Christians). Overall, Jews were better treated than Jews in Christian Europe, but periods of tolerance were interspersed with periods of persecution. In the 20'th century, the rise of Zionism led to increasing persecution of Jews by Arab countries in the Middle East and North Africa, culminating in the expulsion of their Jewish populations.

"In the Shadow of the Sword: The Battle for Global Empire and the End of the Ancient World" by Tom Holland

This book sets out to give a historical account of the rise of Islam. This requires evidence in the form of manuscripts, coins, buildings, inscriptions and other tangible remains which the author emphasises are sparse. The earliest written Muslim histories date from a later period. The author first covers the prior history of the Eastern Roman and Persian Empires so that he can put Islam into the historical context of the Middle East. He then addresses the available historical evidence. In his view the Quran originated when Muslims believe, and Muhammad (pbuh) was in Medina. However he considers that Islam did not originate in Mecca but instead between Medina and Palestine.

"Islamic Banking and Finance: What It Is and What It Could Be" Editor Tarek El Diwany

1st Ethical put in significant effort to enable this book, which has 11 authors as well as the editor, to be published. It is aimed at professionals new to Islamic banking and finance, and at students at undergraduate level and above. I found it interesting to read, but conclude that it fails the objectives it set itself. As well as the review, there is a response from the Editor Tarek El Diwany.

"Islamic Commercial Law: An Analysis of Futures and Options" by Mohammad Hashim Kamali

This is my favourite book on Islamic finance and provides the reader with a sound grounding in the Quranic and Hadith sources before going on to analyse futures and options. It is the book I always recommend to people who are new to Islamic finance.

"Islamic Law - Theory and Interpretation" by Michael Mumisa

A short and very readable introduction to the way Islamic Law is derived from its sources. The author The author believes that we need to interpret the Quran afresh for the modern world, rather than feeling bound by traditional interpretations.

"Jacob's Legacy: A Genetic View of Jewish History" by David B. Goldstein

The author is professor of molecular genetics and director of the Institute for Genome Science and Policy's Center for Population Genomics and Pharmacogenetics, Duke University, USA. He has written a short and gripping book which is accessible to everyone regardless of scientific or religious background.

"Jesus, Prophet of Islam" by Muhammad Ata'ur-Rahim and Ahmad Thomson

The early history of Christianity is not well known by most Muslims, or indeed by most Christians. This book explains who doctrines such as the Trinity and salvation by the redemptive sacrifice of Jesus on the cross entered the early Christian church. Most Christians are also unaware of how much coverage Jesus gets in the Quran.

"Minority Verdict - The Conservative Party, the voters and the 2010 election" by Michael A. Ashcroft

Lord Ashcroft was at the heart of Conservative campaign strategy from 2005 - 2010. He gives a fascinating, short and very readable insight into how the Conservative Party needed to change, and why it just failed to win an overall majority.

"Monkey with a Pin – Why you may be missing 6% a year from your investment returns" by Pete Comley

Pete Comley wrote this free book to share what he learned about why investors underperform the stock market index. In it he explains in very simple language why investors go wrong and recommends how they should change their behaviour.

"Muslim Civilisation: The Causes of Decline and the Need for Reform" by M. Umer Chapra

The author is a leading economist and Islamic finance specialist. He attributes the decline to causes internal to the Muslim world, and places greatest emphasis on political illegitimacy.

"Muslims on the Map: A National Survey of Social Trends in Britain" by Serena Hussain

This book by an academic geographer contains some fascinating insights into Britain's Muslim population.

"Old New Land (Altneuland)" by Theodor Herzl

A novel by the founder of modern Zionism, setting out his utopian vision for the future of Palestine.

"Principles of Islamic Jurisprudence" by Mohammad Hashim Kamali

This book is probably the leading work on the subject in English. In 500 very readable pages, the author explains how Islamic law is developed from the original sources of the Quran and the Sunnah of the Prophet (pbuh). It helps one to understand the diversity and depth of Islamic thought.

"Qur’anic Concepts of the Ethics of Warfare: Challenging the Claims of Islamic Aggressiveness" by Joel Hayward

In this short paper, Dr Hayward reviews what the Quran says about when Muslims are permitted to fight and the rules which apply. He shows that these rules are almost identical to the Christian "Just War" concept.

"Quranic Studies: Sources and Methods of Scriptural Interpretation" by John Wansbrough

This book is the source of the radical view that the Quran was not composed when generally believed, but around 200 years later, and in Mesopotamia rather than in Western Arabia. It is written in obscure academic language and very hard to read. I found it unconvincing and severely flawed.

"Radical: My journey from Islamist Extremism to a Democratic Awakening" by Maajid Nawaz

Maajid Nawaz is the Chairman and co-founder of Quilliam. He spent four years inside Egyptian prisons for his political beliefs. This autobiography vividly takes us into his life, from childhood to today. It is a compelling read, as well as giving insights into the mind of a radical.

"The Cambridge companion to the Quran" edited by Jane Dammen McAuliffe

This book comprises 14 independent chapters written by academic experts on the Quran, both Muslim and non-Muslim. It is an excellent short introduction to the study of the Quran, and is very easy to read.

"The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order" by Samuel P. Huntington

The title of this book has probably influenced far more people than have ever read it. It is often cited as evidence of unavoidable conflict between Islam and the West. On its own terms, the message of the book is much more mixed, foreseeing conflict between many civilisations. However the book's dystopian future shows no signs of being realised. It should be seen as part of a genre of "declinist" books which have been around for almost a century.

"The Constitution of Liberty" by Friedrich Hayek

This book has inspired an entire generation of people who believe in personal freedom and its relationship with free market capitalism.

"The Israel lobby and US foreign policy" by John J. Mearsheimer and Stephen M. Walt

In the USA this book was very controversial. I believe it provides a blueprint for British Muslims.

"The Jewish State" by Theodor Herzl

This short book was the founding text of modern Zionism. The seeds of the Middle East conflict can be found inside it.

"The Monster Hunter's Handbook" by Ibrahim S. Amin

This is my eldest son's first published book. It is both funny and informative.

"The Mystery of Capital" by Hernando de Soto

Why does capitalism work in the West, but fail in so many other countries? In the 1990s Hernando de Soto and his colleagues went fact-finding. They went into the streets of developing and former communist nations to learn what real people are achieving inside and outside the formal economy. They found that even poor people in such countries have assets and savings which could be used for successful capitalism, but nevertheless these countries are underdeveloped. In this book they summarise their findings and explain the key changes underdeveloped countries need to make to transform their economies.

"The Myth of Digital Democracy" by Matthew Hindman

The internet gives ordinary citizens the power to publish material that can be read by everyone in the world who has computer access. Many commentators have argued that this is democratising public discourse, since the old media such as newspapers and TV concentrated power in the hands of only a few publishers. The author demonstrates with detailed research that this view is incorrect because although it is easy to speak in cyberspace, it is very difficult to be heard.

"The other Schindlers: Why some people chose to save Jews in the Holocaust" by Agnes Grunwald-Spier

Hiding a Jew risked death for you and your family. Most people looked the other way, but some risked everything to help complete strangers. How do people make these choices? It is a fascinating short book, and very readable.

"The Right Kind of History – Teaching the Past in Twentieth Century England" by David Cannadine, Jenny Keating and Nicola Sheldon

The authors have written the first history of how History has been taught in English schools from 1900 to 2010. The book is very easy to read and helps one to think clearly about this vital issue. Afer all, we are our history.

"The Road to Mecca" by Muhammad Asad

Muhammad Asad was born as Leopold Weiss in Poland, but became one of the most famous Muslims of the twentieth century. This autobiography covers his first 32 years. It paints a vivid picture of his early life, recreates the Middle East of the 1920's, explains what brought him to Islam, and reflects upon the radical message of the Prophet (pbuh).

"The Theory of Investment Value" by John Burr Williams

This is one of the seminal works on investment valuation. Written in 1938, it is still worth reading today.

"Voodoo Histories: The Role of the Conspiracy Theory in Shaping Modern History" by David Aaronovitch

Why are some people so ready to believe in conspiracy theories? The book covers a number of modern conspiracy theories in depth and then comes up with a theory about the types of people drawn to them.

"Wandering Lonely in a Crowd" by SM Atif Imtiaz

This is a collection of the author's essays and speeches ranging over the nine years since 11 September 2001. In them the author gives a personal view what he calls "the Muslim condition in the West."