This is pretty great: UC Press makes 194 e-books from its history catalog (and 700+ books total) open access http://t.co/zzw4LYZisG
— Ian Mosby (@Ian_Mosby) December 30, 2013
Here are some books which may interest readers of this blog:Monday, December 30, 2013
Open Access Academic Books from University of California Press
h/t Mark Lynch, who retweeted
Friday, December 20, 2013
Review: “I Am Malala” by Malala Yousafzai and Christina Lamb
Yomna El-Saeed reviewed I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban by Malala Yousafzai and Christina Lamb on the website OnIslam.net on 19 December 2013. I have not read the book.
Monday, December 02, 2013
Wednesday, November 27, 2013
Important Radio Discussion This Saturday on Intra-Muslim Racism
From Dawud Walid's blog: (I've added the date and a few links)
Arab American Association of New York Director Linda Sarsour and Dawud Walid are scheduled to be 900 AM WURD in Philadelphia this Saturday (Nov 30, 2013) from 5pm to 6pm Eastern to discuss the issue of the usage of the slur “abeed” and the broader issue of intra-Muslim racism and tribalism.
Islam Today Radio Show is hosted weekly by University of Pennsylvania Chaplain Kameelah Rashad. The show may be listened to live-streaming at www.900amwurd.com. Callers may join the conversation at (866) 361-0900 or (215) 634-8065.Updated December 2, 2013: A recording is available online.
Wednesday, November 06, 2013
Film: The Silencing of Dorothy Thompson - Support its Production
Consider pledging money to support this Kickstarter project on a US journalist who lost her status by drawing attention to the plight of Palestinian refugees from the 1947-48 war.
I heard about this because I follow updates from If Americans Knew (Facebook, Twitter). Its executive director, Allison Weir, is a script consultant.
The production company is Alternative Focus.
Thursday, October 24, 2013
Production Stills from Unity Productions Foundation's Film on Noor Inayat Khan
Unity Productions Foundation (UPF) is close to completing a film on Noor Inayat Khan, a Muslim who spied for the British government during World War II. Here are some picture from the production. The website for the film is http://NoorKhanFilm.org, and it should be complete by mid-November 2013. UPF asked me not to share the stills I received, so I have taken them down and I apologize to you readers for the misdirection. But I was assured that some of the stills would be placed on the website soon. In the meantime, please support UPF financially to bring this and other projects to life.
Wednesday, October 09, 2013
Religious War is Not So Bad: Modern Defenses of the Crusades
I was flipping through the TV yesterday and hit upon EWTN ON LOCATION - RETHINKING HOLY WARS: THE CRUSADES AND CATHOLIC DEVOTION IN THE MIDDLE AGES. It featured a lecture by Dr. Thomas F. Madden, of Saint Louis University, on "Rethinking Holy War: The Crusades and Catholic Devotion in the Middle Ages" delivered at the Catholic Vision of History Conference at Christendom College in Front Royal, Virginia. The full lecture is available in audio and visual format through iTunes University.
Review: Radical Reform: Islamic Ethics and Liberation by Tariq Ramadan
Mohammad Fadel (Twitter) of the University of Toronto Law School reviewed Radical Reform: Islamic Ethics and Liberation by Tariq Ramadan in the Journal of the American Academy of Religion.
I have not read the book.
Thursday, September 19, 2013
Saturday, August 31, 2013
Where the Two Seas Meet: Al-Khidr and Moses-The Qur'anic Story of al-Khidr and Moses in Sufi Commentaries as a Model for Spiritual Guidance by Hugh Talat Halman
Where the Two Seas Meet: Al-Khidr and Moses-The Qur'anic Story of al-Khidr and Moses in Sufi Commentaries as a Model for Spiritual Guidance by Hugh Talat Halman, published by Fons Vitae
I reviewed Hugh Talat Halman's children's book about al-Khidr. The American Muslim published more details on this latest volume. I have not read this book.
Sunday, August 11, 2013
Review: Democracy and Intolerance: Christian School Curricula, School Choice, and Public Policy by Frances R. A. Paterson
Democracy and Intolerance: Christian School Curricula, School Choice, and Public Policy by Frances R. A. Paterson
The author reviewed textbooks commonly used in Christian private schools' social studies and history classes in the United States and found that they prepared the reader to accept narrow political, social and religious views. Because many in the United States seek government support for these private schools, the author urges that no public support be given because these books promote intolerance of others' viewpoints in an undemocratic manner.
The author reviewed textbooks commonly used in Christian private schools' social studies and history classes in the United States and found that they prepared the reader to accept narrow political, social and religious views. Because many in the United States seek government support for these private schools, the author urges that no public support be given because these books promote intolerance of others' viewpoints in an undemocratic manner.
Wednesday, August 07, 2013
Review: Autumn of Dictatorship by Samer Soliman
The Autumn of Dictatorship: Fiscal Crisis and Political Change in Egypt under Mubarak by Samer Soliman
Professor Mohammad Fadel wrote a review at Shanfaraa.com. I have not read the book.
Wednesday, July 31, 2013
Review: A History of Race in Muslim West Africa, 1600-1960
A History of Race in Muslim West Africa, 1600-1960 by Bruce S Hall
Duke University Department of History Professor Bruce Hall has written an important book about the Sahelian region of west Africa, with implications eastward to Sudan. In our times, this region has witnessed horrific conflict, in particular Darfur in western Sudan and the periodic conflicts in northern Niger and Mali between Arab and Tuareg separatist groups on the one hand and the national governments on the other.
Monday, July 29, 2013
Crayola Provides Free Ramadan Coloring Pages
If your kids (or you!) like to draw with crayons, they can do so with Ramadan-themed coloring pages from Crayola!
I found out about this because of Mother Jones article exposing Islamophobes. The best way to encourage Crayola to continue creating such content is to download these pages and let your children draw!
I found out about this because of Mother Jones article exposing Islamophobes. The best way to encourage Crayola to continue creating such content is to download these pages and let your children draw!
Thursday, July 18, 2013
Recitations of Qur'an, files divided into 30 parts
I was looking for .mp3 files of recitation of the Qur'an for my MP3 player. I found many freely available collections where each file was one sura, but I was looking during Ramadan to be able to organize my listening by juz' (part). Muslims, for ease of tracking recitation, have divided the Qur'an into 30 approximately equal parts or ajzaa'.
Saturday, June 15, 2013
Law & Order S01E20 Perpetuates Anti-Arab Stereotypes
I finished watching Law & Order's first season on DVD. I'm sure somebody's writing Ph.D. dissertations about the cultural messages of Law & Order. I've seen a lot of Law & Order episodes over the years, but I'd never seen any of the episodes from its first season. Compared to the last few seasons, this episode had a lot more content related to what I believe is USA White Supremacy's most dangerous remaining tool, the criminal justice system expressed through the war on drugs. The real-life term Law and Order arose in response to the race riots in US cities in the 1960s. The first season of Dick Wolf's Law & Order has the echoes of the 1970s "urban blight", Central Park 5 New York City prior to the gentrified Manhattan of the last several seasons of Law & Order.
Friday, June 14, 2013
Spiritual Gems of Islam by Jamal Rahman
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat reviewed Spiritual Gems of Islam: Insights & Practices from the Qur'an, Hadith, Rumi & Muslim Teaching Stories to Enlighten the Heart & Mind by Jamal Rahman. I have not read the book.
With enthusiasm and authenticity, the author taps into the wisdom of Islam with insights and practices from the Qur'an, Hadith (the sayings of the Prophet Muhammad as well as the hadith qudsi, which are God's words communicated through the Prophet), the 14th century Sufi poet Rumi, and Muslim teaching stories. Read more ...
Wednesday, June 12, 2013
Help Preserve Ancient Manuscripts in Timbuktu
When activists moved manuscripts away from rebel-held areas in northern Mali to areas in southern Mali, the pages were exposed to a much more humid climate without appropriate protections. Please support this project! I met Ustaz Abdul Qader Haidara in Timbuktu in 1995 or 19966, and I remember his tireless advocacy on behalf of the preservation of knowledge. He also cooperated with the International Museum of Muslim Cultures in Jackson, Mississippi. More information is available at the T160K website.
Karama Has No Walls
Karama Has No Walls Trailer from S. Ishaq on Vimeo.
I've been able to see the full 27-minute movie, and I can tell you it is critical. Our peace group in Augusta, Georgia is planning to screen it as an intro to a talk by Augusta's favorite son Jeb Boone, who spent years in Yemen as an independent journalist.
In sha Allah, I'll get more information on how people can see it.
Review: The Search for Truth about Islam: A Christian Pastor Separates Fact from Fiction by Ben Daniel
Rachel Magruder at The United Methodist Reporter reviewed The Search for Truth about Islam: A Christian Pastor Separates Fact from Fiction by Ben Daniel . I have not read the book.
Saturday, May 25, 2013
Review: The Duties of Brotherhood in Islam by al-Ghazali, translated by Muhtar Holland
A review of a translation of a portion of Imam Abu Hamid al-Ghazali's book Ihyaa' Uluum al-diin is available at A Muslim's Book Shelf. I have not read the book, but I read this chapter from Ihyaa years ago. The excerpted passages are well-written English and convey the meanings I remember.
Sunday, May 19, 2013
Film: Valentine's Ghost
Hv u seen ‘Valentino’s Ghost'? This engrossing examination of US perceptions of Arabs & Arab world gets u thinkingow.ly/l7mbVI have not seen the film.
— MPAC (@mpac_national) May 18, 2013
Friday, May 17, 2013
Review: Light Without Fire: The Making of America’s First Muslim College
Bushra Burney, the Caffeinated Muslim, reviewed Scott Korb's book Light Without Fire: The Making of America's First Muslim College. You can follow Bushra on Twitter.
I have not read the book.
H/t to Ebadur Rahman
I have not read the book.
H/t to Ebadur Rahman
Caffeinated Muslim: Review of “Light Without Fire: The Making of America’s First Muslim College” ow.ly/2wW7b9
— Ebadur Rahman (@i_baad) May 17, 2013
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
The Muslims Are Coming!: Islamophobia, Extremism, and the Domestic War on Terror by Arun Kundnani
Updated: Read and reviewed!
The Muslims Are Coming!: Islamophobia, Extremism, and the Domestic War on Terror by Arun Kundnani (Twitter)
The Council on American-Islamic Relations on Twitter drew people's attention to this book, scheduled to be released in February 2014.
Updated February 16, 2014: I've reviewed the book!
The Muslims Are Coming!: Islamophobia, Extremism, and the Domestic War on Terror by Arun Kundnani (Twitter)
The Council on American-Islamic Relations on Twitter drew people's attention to this book, scheduled to be released in February 2014.
The Muslims Are Coming!: Islamophobia, Extremism, and the Domestic War on Terror... fb.me/1UbPCZRKT
— CAIR National (@CAIRNational) May 14, 2013
Updated February 16, 2014: I've reviewed the book!
Wednesday, May 08, 2013
Golden Domes and Silver Lanterns: A Muslim Book of Colors by Hena Khan and Mehrdokht Amini
Lori Norman of StoryQuill reviewed Golden Domes and Silver Lanterns: A Muslim Book of Colors by Hena Khan and illustrated by Mehrdokht Amini. You can like Hena Khan's Facebook page.
Lori Norman is on Twitter.
I have not read the book.
The Myth of the Muslim Tide: Do Immigrants Threaten the West?
Gene Bedient reviewed The Myth of the Muslim Tide: Do Immigrants Threaten the West? by Doug Sanders (Twitter) at Prairie Fire (Twitter).
What Turns Some Western Muslims into Terrorists? The Causes of Extremism, an excerpt from Chapter 2 of this book, has been published at Doug Sanders's blog.
I have not read the book.
Living Shrines of Uyghur China by Lisa Ross
Ian Johnson reviewed Friends of God: Sufi Shrines in Western China by Lisa Ross in The New York Review of Books. Some photos are on exhibit at the Rubin Museum of Art in New York through July 8, 2013.
NPR also published a piece about the book, with some photos. La Journal de La Photographie also published an introduction to Lisa Ross's work, and it has some pictures as well. There's also an article in The Wall Street Journal. Lisa Ross also participated in a Rubin Museum of Art podcast episode (iTunes).
If you are in NYC, you can meet her for lunch today, May 8, at 1:00 PM.
I have not read the book. Hat tip to Omar Sacirbey, editor of Moozweek.
Saturday, April 20, 2013
Support Georgia Innocence Project's Concept Album on Life of Clarence Harrison, Exonerated After 18 Years
I attended a talk by Clarence Harrison, a Decatur, Georgia man convicted of rape and kidnapping and sentenced to life imprisonment. He served 18 years before he was exonerated with help from the Georgia Innocence Project (Facebook page).
I have posted other material regarding the United States criminal justice system. And I hope you've watched the latest Ken Burns documentary, Central Park Five.
Donate to the Georgia Innocence Project. In addition, some musicians are teaming up with Clarence Harrison to produce songs about his life, in mostly his own words. That project needs support as well.
Friday, April 19, 2013
Play: "Disgraced" by Ayad Akhtar
The New York Times published a review of the play Disgraced by Ayad Akhtar.
I have not seen the play. H/t
I have not seen the play. H/t
- ‘Disgraced,’ by Ayad Akhtar, With Aasif Mandvi - NYTimes.com ow.ly/2wgzbc
— Ebadur Rahman (@i_baad) April 18, 2013
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Book Review: Christians, Muslims and Jesus by Mona Siddiqui
Christians, Muslims, and Jesus by Mona Siddiqui
Stuart Kelly reviewed the book at Scotsman.com. Sameer Rahim reviewed it at The Telegraph.
I have not read the book.
Here is a recording of a lecture she gave at Edinburgh University in Scotland on March 11, 2013.
Stuart Kelly reviewed the book at Scotsman.com. Sameer Rahim reviewed it at The Telegraph.
I have not read the book.
Here is a recording of a lecture she gave at Edinburgh University in Scotland on March 11, 2013.
Friday, April 12, 2013
Interview with Scott Korb, author of Light without Fire
Light without Fire: The Making of America's First Muslim College by Scott Korb (Twitter) (Tumblr) (Facebook)
Religion Dispatches published an interview with Scott Korb. The interview mentions Ebadur Rahman, whose blog I recommend.
Updated May 17, 2013: Review
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Dawud Walid Explains Why CAIR Urges Moratorium on Death Penalty in the United States
Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) has endorsed a national moratorium in the United States on the death penalty. You can listen to CAIR-Michigan's Executive Director Dawud Walid explain CAIR's position and discuss other matters related to the criminal justice system, which I've blogged about in the past.
Note: The audio file is embedded in 4shared.com. My recommendation is to create an account on the web site, but don't download and install on your computer its "download" assistant, which will embed itself in your browser and activate every time you try to download a file.
P.S. Act on this Amnesty International alert to prevent the execution of Abdullah al-Qahtani in Iraq.
Note: The audio file is embedded in 4shared.com. My recommendation is to create an account on the web site, but don't download and install on your computer its "download" assistant, which will embed itself in your browser and activate every time you try to download a file.
P.S. Act on this Amnesty International alert to prevent the execution of Abdullah al-Qahtani in Iraq.
Tuesday, April 02, 2013
Review: The Wall by William Sutcliffe
The Wall by William Sutcliffe
I have not read the book.
Pitched as a fable, his crossover novel is set in a city split in two by a vast wall. On one side live the privileged, the occupiers – and our hero Joshua. On the other live the desperate, the occupied, and when Joshua, hunting for his lost football, discovers a tunnel that leads under the wall, he sets in action a series of dreadful consequences. Without making it explicit, it soon becomes clear that this is the West Bank, that Joshua, 13, is Jewish, and that Leila, the girl who saves his life on the other side of the wall, is Palestinian.Read more of Alison Flood's review of March 30, 2013 in The Guardian.
I have not read the book.
Thursday, March 28, 2013
Report: Women and the American Mosque
The Hartford Institute for Religious Research published a third report from the US Mosque Study 2011 (Adobe). This report is entitled Women and the American Mosque (Adobe). Its authors are Sarah Sayeed, Aisha Al-Adawiya and Ihsan Bagby. Women in Islam, Inc was also one of the authors.
Graphic Novel: Justice for Aafia
H/t to MuslimMatters.org for publishing Christopher Towne's graphic novel on Aafia Siddiqi's torture and imprisonment at the direction and involvement of the USA.
Monday, March 25, 2013
Muslim Public Affairs Council Report: Muslims and the Making of America
The Muslim Public Affairs Council has published Precious Rasheeda Muhammad's report Muslims and the Making of America. You can download the entire report for free.
Inaugural Issue of Islamophobia Studies Journal
The inaugural issue of Islamophobia Studies Journal is available for download (Adobe). The publisher is the University of California, Berkeley Center for Race & Gender.
This center is also sponsoring The Fourth Annual International Conference on the Study of Islamophobia, April 19-20, 2013. The entire proceedings are to be available online. You can follow the conference on Twitter.
This center is also sponsoring The Fourth Annual International Conference on the Study of Islamophobia, April 19-20, 2013. The entire proceedings are to be available online. You can follow the conference on Twitter.
Saturday, March 23, 2013
Review: The Creation: An Appeal to Save Life on Earth by E.O. Wilson
The Creation: An Appeal to Save Life on Earth by Edward O. Wilson. I've reviewed other books by Professor Wilson.
This book is a Reader's Digest version of Professor Wilson's ideas as expressed in books like Future of Life and Social Conquest. It's meant to spread biophilia among the religious to get humanity in action to save biodiversity. Bill Moyers's 2006 show Is God Green? addresses some of this as well.
I thought that the most interesting part of the book was Wilson's explanation of biology as a discipline and how love of this branch of science could be inculcated in students, pages 103-61.
This book is a Reader's Digest version of Professor Wilson's ideas as expressed in books like Future of Life and Social Conquest. It's meant to spread biophilia among the religious to get humanity in action to save biodiversity. Bill Moyers's 2006 show Is God Green? addresses some of this as well.
I thought that the most interesting part of the book was Wilson's explanation of biology as a discipline and how love of this branch of science could be inculcated in students, pages 103-61.
Erasing Memory: The Cultural Destruction of Iraq
FreeSpeech TV is broadcasting today Shocking and Awful, a series of programs describing how shocking and how awful the USA attack on Iraq was. One segment I've watched is Erasing Memory: The Cultural Destruction of Iraq.
Review: The Social Conquest of Earth by Edward O. Wilson
The Social Conquest of Earth by Edward O. Wilson. I've previously reviewed his books The Future of Life and Anthill.
The bulk of this book describes the process by which Homo sapiens' ancestors became eusocial and how that led to multilevel selection. When a species becomes eusocial, group selection becomes an important element in the species' evolution.
For criticism of the concept of group evolution, read blog entry 1 and blog entry 2 from Jerry Coyne, the author of Why Evolution is True, a book I have in my possession and intend to read and review. I heard Dr. Coyne give a lecture in a suburb of Augusta, GA on February 4, 2013.
Being an expert in insects, the typical example of eusociality, E.O. Wilson shifts back and forth between describing the development of eusociality in ants and eusociality in anthropods.
The important thing for me, and for most readers of this blog, is Professor Wilson's final chapters where he presents conclusions on how this understanding of humanity should impact our religious and moral beliefs and ethical practices.
The bulk of this book describes the process by which Homo sapiens' ancestors became eusocial and how that led to multilevel selection. When a species becomes eusocial, group selection becomes an important element in the species' evolution.
For criticism of the concept of group evolution, read blog entry 1 and blog entry 2 from Jerry Coyne, the author of Why Evolution is True, a book I have in my possession and intend to read and review. I heard Dr. Coyne give a lecture in a suburb of Augusta, GA on February 4, 2013.
Being an expert in insects, the typical example of eusociality, E.O. Wilson shifts back and forth between describing the development of eusociality in ants and eusociality in anthropods.
The important thing for me, and for most readers of this blog, is Professor Wilson's final chapters where he presents conclusions on how this understanding of humanity should impact our religious and moral beliefs and ethical practices.
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Review: Anthill by E.O. Wilson
Anthill
by E.O. Wilson. I've previously reviewed his book The Future of Life.
This fiction book presents themes Professor Wilson has emphasized in his nonfiction books. The most important theme is the necessity of creative synthesis of capitalism and environmental protection. The lead character, Raphael Cody, learns that a beloved southern Alabama old wood forest surrounding a lake will be threatened by Mobile's expansion. In fact, his blue-blood maternal uncle is among the business elite advocating this development. Raphael leaves the study of the biosphere to complete a law degree at Harvard. Upon graduation, he returns and works as the legal counsel for the developer who purchased the property and who has previously converted woodland and wetlands to suburban Mobile sprawl. As legal counsel, he is able to develop a proposal which to a large extent preserved the quality of the land while advancing his employer's bottom line.
This fiction book presents themes Professor Wilson has emphasized in his nonfiction books. The most important theme is the necessity of creative synthesis of capitalism and environmental protection. The lead character, Raphael Cody, learns that a beloved southern Alabama old wood forest surrounding a lake will be threatened by Mobile's expansion. In fact, his blue-blood maternal uncle is among the business elite advocating this development. Raphael leaves the study of the biosphere to complete a law degree at Harvard. Upon graduation, he returns and works as the legal counsel for the developer who purchased the property and who has previously converted woodland and wetlands to suburban Mobile sprawl. As legal counsel, he is able to develop a proposal which to a large extent preserved the quality of the land while advancing his employer's bottom line.
Monday, March 11, 2013
Review: Minaret by Leila Aboulela
Professor Heather Abdelnur reviewed Minaret by Leila Aboulela.
As the movement goes from late teen’s mini-skirt wearing, callous, and shallow rich girl, to an increasingly religious and conservative working class woman, Aboulela could have made the transformation too fast, too unbelievable, or too cliche. Instead, the reader believes the changes, comes to understand the transformation of character, and, while wishing for a happy ending that might not come, we do not pity Najwa nor exhault her. ... read more ...Dr. Abdelnur has reviewed other books.
Review: Love in a Headscarf by Shelina Z. Janmohamed
Professor Heather Abdelnur reviewed Love in a Headscarf by Shelina Z. Janmohamed.
What a fun, refreshing, and good-natured presentation of the process and problems facing Western-raised Muslim women on the market for marriage! ... read more ...Dr. Abdelnur has reviewed other books.
Sunday, March 10, 2013
Review: The Butterfly Mosque by G. Willow Wilson
Professor Heather Abdelnur reviewed The Butterfly Mosque by G. Willow Wilson. I have not yet read it.
After reading it, I’m almost angry. How could I not have heard of Willow Wilson before? How had I missed this book? ... read more ...
Wednesday, March 06, 2013
Ask Alison's Science Books for Everyone
Science educator and blogger Alison Monahan answers the question:
Would you put together a recommended reading list for a world citizen in 2013 to be in a good position to judge political and moral claims in the light of science today?
Sunday, February 10, 2013
Friday, February 08, 2013
iPad App: Care of Muslim Patients: A Practical Guide
Aasim I Padela at the University of Chicago reviewed the iPad and iPhone app Care of Muslim Patients: A Practical Guide in Volume 381, Issue 9865 of The Lancet.
The application in the Apple store is free, but it only provides a portion of the content. The full content is available for 9.99 USD.
The application in the Apple store is free, but it only provides a portion of the content. The full content is available for 9.99 USD.
Tuesday, February 05, 2013
Visual Art of Dr. Ezzat Abouleish
Dr. Faroque Ahmad Khan reviewed Dr. Ezzat Abouleish's books Islam in the Eyes of an Artist and Allah and the 99 Names of God. Both books are available from the author.
Dr. Ezzat is a pioneer of obstetric anesthesia.
Dr. Ezzat is a pioneer of obstetric anesthesia.
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
To-Read: Unhitched: The Trial of Christopher Hitchens by Richard Seymour
After reading a review, I'm interested in reading Unhitched: The Trial of Christopher Hitchens by Richard Seymour.
h/t Glenn Greenwald
h/t Glenn Greenwald
InTheseTimes reviews the new book dismantling Hitchens hagiography: "Unhitched: The Trial of Christopher Hitchens"is.gd/2Dc7Um
— Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) January 28, 2013
Sunday, January 20, 2013
Ebad's Reading List
Ebad posted online a document related to the completion of his B.A. which includes many quality books. So have a look!
I've reviewed two of those books:
Jackson, Sherman A. Islam and the Blackamerican: Looking toward the Third Resurrection.
Oxford: Oxford UP, 2005.
Marable, Manning. Malcolm X: A Life of Reinvention. New York: Viking, 2011
I've reviewed two of those books:
Jackson, Sherman A. Islam and the Blackamerican: Looking toward the Third Resurrection.
Oxford: Oxford UP, 2005.
Marable, Manning. Malcolm X: A Life of Reinvention. New York: Viking, 2011
Thursday, January 17, 2013
Support "The Tiger Hunter" by Lena Khan
I supported a project on Kickstarter. It's a film by Lena Khan (website) entitled The Tiger Hunter (Facebook page). Lena is on Facebook and Twitter. Spread the word!
Hello!
Hello!
Monday, January 14, 2013
Saturday, January 12, 2013
Review: Marching Toward Hell: America and Islam After Iraq by Michael Scheuer
Marching Toward Hell: America and Islam After Iraq by Michael Scheuer (Twitter)
As I was listening to this abridged book on CD, I pictured its author Michael Scheuer as a combination of Col. Kurtz in Apocalypse Now and Cersei in Game of Thrones. His commitment to no principle other than the cohesiveness of the United States and his view that ultra-violence is a necessary tool to preserve that cohesiveness made it difficult for me, a proponent of non-violence and globalism (his term is antinationalist), to keep an open mind to his ideas. Yet I'm glad I did persevere and finish the book, and there is some value in it.
As I was listening to this abridged book on CD, I pictured its author Michael Scheuer as a combination of Col. Kurtz in Apocalypse Now and Cersei in Game of Thrones. His commitment to no principle other than the cohesiveness of the United States and his view that ultra-violence is a necessary tool to preserve that cohesiveness made it difficult for me, a proponent of non-violence and globalism (his term is antinationalist), to keep an open mind to his ideas. Yet I'm glad I did persevere and finish the book, and there is some value in it.
Monday, January 07, 2013
Review: The Book of the Superiority of Dogs Over Many of Those Who Wear Clothes
The Book of the Superiority of Dogs Over Many of Those Who Wear Clothes by Muhammad Ibn Khalaf Ibn Al-Marzuban.
The author lived, according to my memory, in 6th (AH)/13th (CE) Baghdad.
The book is in two parts. The first part condemns humans for their cowardice, greed and disloyalty. The second commends dogs for their bravery, selflessness and loyalty.
The author quotes poets and relates stories to support these contentions.
The editor/translator includes an introduction on the author and a discussion of Muslim religious rulings and attitudes regarding dogs.
The Arabic Wikipedia has an entry on the book which includes some delicious lines of poetry (my translation):
The human dog, if you consider it,
is worse for you than the canine dog
If you drive the canine away, it leaves,
while the human dog clings to you despite your rebukes.
The canine does not harm its companion,
while you remain your lifetime afflicted by the other kind of dog.
It may be difficult to purchase a copy. Use Worldcat to find a copy in a library near you or ask your local librarian to get it for you using interlibrary loan.
A Glenn Greenwald tweet about a modern instance of a dog traveling miles to stand watch over the grave of its owner reminded me of this book:
A friend of my father's wrote a Facebook note about dogs.
This organization trains dogs and places them with children with special needs:
The author lived, according to my memory, in 6th (AH)/13th (CE) Baghdad.
The book is in two parts. The first part condemns humans for their cowardice, greed and disloyalty. The second commends dogs for their bravery, selflessness and loyalty.
The author quotes poets and relates stories to support these contentions.
The editor/translator includes an introduction on the author and a discussion of Muslim religious rulings and attitudes regarding dogs.
The Arabic Wikipedia has an entry on the book which includes some delicious lines of poetry (my translation):
The human dog, if you consider it,
is worse for you than the canine dog
If you drive the canine away, it leaves,
while the human dog clings to you despite your rebukes.
The canine does not harm its companion,
while you remain your lifetime afflicted by the other kind of dog.
It may be difficult to purchase a copy. Use Worldcat to find a copy in a library near you or ask your local librarian to get it for you using interlibrary loan.
A Glenn Greenwald tweet about a modern instance of a dog traveling miles to stand watch over the grave of its owner reminded me of this book:
Dog owners already know this, but dogs have capacities that transgress the understanding of modern science is.gd/VinBY0Updated May 22, 2013: Man's Best Friend Guards Owner's Body
— Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) January 6, 2013
A friend of my father's wrote a Facebook note about dogs.
This organization trains dogs and places them with children with special needs:
Saturday, January 05, 2013
Documentary Hibana by Ameer Muhammad
I heard about Atlanta-based Ameer Muhammad's documentary film about the Dominican Republic Hibana from his interview in a Muslim American Media Alliance podcast on November 25, 2012. There is a Facebook page.
Hibana Trailer (English) from filmbyameermuhammad on Vimeo.
Hibana Trailer (English) from filmbyameermuhammad on Vimeo.
Friday, January 04, 2013
BBC Radio: Hitler's Muslim Legions
BBC Radio's Hitler's Muslim Legions is an interesting introduction to the situation of Muslims and their neighbors in the Balkans during World War II. As in many BBC historical programs, I think it glosses over some of the faults of the British Empire, but this is the first program I'd heard about Muslims who trained in Nazi Germany's armed forces.
It's no longer available at the BBC web site, but you can use peer-to-peer technologies and download it using a BitTorrent client.
It's no longer available at the BBC web site, but you can use peer-to-peer technologies and download it using a BitTorrent client.
Which book would you recommend to your friend's Islamophobic friend?
A friend requested my recommendation for a book she could recommend to her Islamophobic friend.
My friend discovered her friend was Islamophobic through a conversation that went something like this:
My friend discovered her friend was Islamophobic through a conversation that went something like this:
Between a Mormon and a Muslim, I wish the Mormon had won. I know some Muslims. The ones I know are pretty good. You don't know that Muslims believe such-and-such and are commanded to do such-and-such? If I gave you a book, would you read it? Yea, maybe.
Thursday, January 03, 2013
Film: Nero's Guests by P Sainath
LinkTV is broadcasting the documentary Nero's Guests about crushing poverty in rural India. Subthemes are the injustice of the World Trade Organization, which enforces "free trade" on the world's poor and leaves the world wealthy unpunished, and the morally horrifying callousness of India's wealthy.
Tuesday, January 01, 2013
Akbar Ahmed's Journey into America: The Challenge of Islam
Akbar Ahmed's book Journey Into America: The Challenge of Islam is also a documentary movie. It has a YouTube Channel, a Flickr stream and a blog.
There's an article adapted from the book in the Jan/Feb 2013 issue of Islamic Horizons, which should be posted soon either here or here.
I haven't read the book or seen the movie.
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