In Cairo in the 1940s; Leila Ahmed was raised by a generation of women who never dressed in the veils and headscarves their mothers and grandmothers had worn. To them; these coverings seemed irrelevant to both modern life and Islamic piety. Today; however; the majority of Muslim women throughout the Islamic world again wear the veil. Why; Ahmed asks; did this change take root so swiftly; and what does this shift mean for women; Islam; and the West? When she began her study; Ahmed assumed that the veil's return indicated a backward step for Muslim women worldwide. What she discovered; however; in the stories of British colonial officials; young Muslim feminists; Arab nationalists; pious Islamic daughters; American Muslim immigrants; violent jihadists; and peaceful Islamic activists; confounded her expectations. Ahmed observed that Islamism; with its commitments to activism in the service of the poor and in pursuit of social justice; is the strain of Islam most easily and naturally merging with western democracies' own tradition of activism in the cause of justice and social change. It is often Islamists; even more than secular Muslims; who are at the forefront of such contemporary activist struggles as civil rights and women's rights. Ahmed's surprising conclusions represent a near reversal of her thinking on this topic. Richly insightful; intricately drawn; and passionately argued; this absorbing story of the veil's resurgence; from Egypt through Saudi Arabia and into the West; suggests a dramatically new portrait of contemporary Islam.
#502892 in Books 2013-03-19Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.25 x 1.06 x 6.12l; 1.29 #File Name: 0300170289304 pages
Review
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful. Original; Practical and Fascinating....By Geo12Intrigue; adventure; charismatic leaders and political games between world powers; is a combination more likely to be found in a Bond film than a book on leadership. Murphy and Coye's historical scholarship offers vivid accounts of historic voyages during the Age of Discovery; while their scholarship in management allows them to offer refreshing new insights about the potential positive impact of mutiny and its role in the modern organization. The richness of the historical accounts and its "no holds barred" approach to understanding the various dynamics at play is where Mutiny and its Bounty really stands out as a refreshing addition to the genre.Part I of the book offers real world accounts with in-depth detail allowing the reader to understand the complexity of the relationships and leadership dynamics at play in seafaring ventures; the parallels faced by modern entrepreneurial enterprises and business environments with high uncertainty become immediately apparent. Examining the voyages of Columbus; Magellan; Cabot and Hudson will shed new light on these historically momentous voyages; of interest to the casual reader and history buff alike. Part II focuses on the practical lessons about leadership drawn from the historical accounts and come full circle as Coye discusses his own experience with mutiny on the open seas and contemporary examples of mutiny are examined. Murphy and Coye's expertise in management and modern organizations allow them to offer both practical and original insights on the potential positive force of mutiny and methods to understand its drivers. The conceptualization of trust as a 2 dimensional construct (composed of trust and distrust) is an excellent example of a practical paradigm useful to members at all levels of an organization. Many readers will be able to identify with either the lovable yet incompetent leader or the expert but aloof one. Whether you or an employee under such a leader or a leader with these characteristics; Mutiny and its Bounty will offer practical insights on how to improve your current organizational positioning.As a professional in financial markets I am always intrigued by attempts to understand how and why radical changes occur especially in an organizational setting. Mutiny and its Bounty offers an excellent framework for understanding leadership and mutiny as two sides of the same coin and a method for recognizing which types of environments set the stage for mutiny. Rarely does a book offer practical guidance beneficial from the c-suite to the front lines; while recognizing the natural limitations of the modern industrial organization. Whether a CEO leading your organization through uncertain times; an entrepreneur guiding your venture into the unknown or an employee seeking to improve your organization from the bottom up; Murphy and Coye have put together a work worthy of your careful attention.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Very good!!!By Dikai ChenIt is in a very good condition with light weight. Every word print inn the book is clear. Just what I want!1 of 2 people found the following review helpful. NIce TryBy T. HestwoodThis is a well-written; well-researched and interesting review of mutinies in the age of sail. However; it falls short as a business book because the lessons of mutinies are very general. For instance; the potential for mutinies is shown to be less if there are shared values; and organizations should; therefore; strive for shared values. Hardly a major revelation. Mutinies at sea are fascinating and can be instructive; but they are most instructive as they relate to the potential for other mutinies.
