Mecca the Blessed; Medina the Radiant is an unprecedented photographic exploration of the most holy cities of Islam and the hajj; or annual pilgrimage during Ramadan; when more than a million faithful journey to Mecca's Great Mosque to commemorate the first revelation of the Qur'an (Koran).This book allows both Muslims and those unfamiliar with the Islamic faith complete access to the holiest sites of one of the world's major religions; practiced by a quarter of the world's population but often misunderstood in the west.Photographer Ali Kazuyoshi Namachi; a Muslim convert from Japan; garnered the full support of Saudi Arabian authorities—rarely given—to shoot in cities where photography is strictly controlled and non-Muslims are not allowed.An expansive work of photojournalism; Mecca the Blessed; Medina the Radiant includes:140 full-color; never-before-seen photographsMystical places and scenes of IslamBreathtaking aerial photographs of the Arabian terrainVistas of teeming crowds of worshippers surrounding the Kacbah; Mecca's sacred centerIntense portraits of faithful Muslims in prayerMagnificent architecture reflecting the faith of the believersArchival illustrationsText by Seyyed Hossein Nasr; one of the most highly regarded scholars of Islam; enhances the stunning Islamic holy city photographs to illuminate many aspects of Islamic belief that have remained enigma to non-Muslims—until now.
#1721691 in Books Finkel Meir 2011-02-28 2011-02-28Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.00 x .80 x 6.00l; .95 #File Name: 0804774897336 pagesOn Flexibility Recovery from Technological and Doctrinal Surprise on the Battlefield
Review
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful. Emphasis on top-down institutional challenges and changesBy Peter MonksDrawing on seven primary case studies from 20th century conflict; the author seeks to examine what makes large military institutions adaptable and resilient in the face of surprise. Most of the author's work is aimed at how larger military institutions respond to and cope with the unexpected; usually in the context of high-intensity combat against peer competitors. Readers interested in how to make company or platoon level leadership more adaptable or how armies focused on wars of national survival reorient themselves to guerrilla or COIN campaigns won't find much here; and in many respects the author's conclusions are sensible if not particularly original or insightful. The range and level of analysis of the historical case studies vary (the three dealing with armoured/anti-tank methods in Russia in 1941; the Western Desert in 1941-2 and the Yom Kippur War are probably the best; with that on the RAF's Bomber Command the most limited); and despite one or two interesting observations I am not sure that (although it is generally well argued and written) "On Flexibility" adds much to the available professional literature on the subject.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. an experienced soldier reviews critical turning points in battles ...By Edward N.Luttwakan experienced soldier reviews critical turning points in battles wars characterized by a sequence of massive surprise ...and recovery instead of defeat. Extremely valuable for military historians; military practitioners the multitude of readers of military history .1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy Armin DoerryAN excellent book... Should be read by all design engineers and engineering managers...
