Islam is Americas fastest growing religion; with more than six million Muslims in the United States; all living in the shadow of 9/11. Who are our Muslim neighbors? What are their beliefs and desires? How are they coping with life under the War on Terror?In Mecca and Main Street; noted author and journalist Geneive Abdo offers illuminating answers to these questions. Gaining unprecedented access to Muslim communities in America; she traveled across the country; visiting schools; mosques; Islamic centers; radio stations; and homes. She reveals a community tired of being judged by American perceptions of Muslims overseas and eager to tell their own stories. Abdo brings these stories vividly to life; allowing us to hear their own voices and inviting us to understand their hopes and their fears. Inspiring; insightful; tough-minded; and even-handed; this book will appeal to those curious (or fearful) about the Muslim presence in America. It will also be warmly welcomed by the Muslim community.
#728565 in Books 2006-10-23Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 5.80 x 1.10 x 8.60l; 1.18 #File Name: 0195312112400 pages
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Great detail; would have liked less analysisBy William R. BradfordThe good: A very detailed analysis of four battles (the last is more a series)that had a profound effect on American history. Minutely researched descriptions of the battles; their place in history; and how they affected American history. Great fir people who love naval history.The not so good: Anytime you try to extrapolate that one one naval engagement changed overall history (not just naval history) you are walking into the realm of conjecture. The author acknowledges this in the acknowledgements. I can definitely buy Midway being the turning point of the Pacific theater in World War II; and Hampton Roads certainly changed naval warfare forever; but I felt the conclusions were sometimes a bit of a reach. This was especially evident in the final chapter and epilogue.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Quite a Good StudyBy Michael MederThe analysis (or is it analyses?) contained in this book are thorough; well researched; and illuminating. The history lesson is more instructive than I remember learning in my younger days. And; the opportunity to recount the last 20 years or so (1990-2010); with dispassionate study is refreshing; when compared to the strongly partisan bellowing from the Liberal / Progressive / Socialist / Communist elements found in today's discourse.I happily recommend this tome to my brethren in the US Naval Institute; and to historians; even policy wonks for their consideration.1 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Not the right five battles!By Doctor BobMaybe I am biased because I read several naval histories one after the other; and this is by far the least enjoyable; but I found this book flawed. The author notes that he took over the project from a dying friend; and changed some of the battles. I think that was an error.The first battle is Lake Erie; clearly important; clearly a defining moment for the US. However; while stressing the fact that the boats we used were actually built right there on the lake; the process of building them was given short shrift.The second is Hampton Roads; also critical; the Manilla Bay (which wasn't really much of a fight) then Midway (replacing Guadalcanal); then Persian Gulf (also not really a battle).The message of World War II; which comes through clearly from my reading this; Six Frigates; Last of the Tin Can Sailors; and Neptune's Inferno back to back is not that battleships became obsolete and the age of the carriers took over; it's that who ever has the best technology wins. Battleships and carriers only survived because destroyers were willing to get blown to bits protecting them. Cheap little torpedoes and bombs blew away the "queens" of the fleets. US destroyers with radar guided guns scared the begeebees out of battleships and cruisers with human guided systems. Willis Lee's battleships his the Japanese with every salvo; the Japanese often fire dozens of salvos that hit nothing. But -- four destroyers died protecting Lee; or his battleships would have been sunk by subs and everyone would have lost.Not as well written (and there are a surprising number of editing issues for a professional Kindle book) as the other histories I read; and it's message came across to me as off kilter -- the emphasis of the text didn't fit the signal being sent.
