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Now They Call Me Infidel: Why I Renounced Jihad for America, Israel, and the War on Terror
A political and personal odyssey from hatred to love
When Nonie Darwish was a girl of eight, her father died while leading covert attacks on Israel. A high-ranking Egyptian military officer stationed with his family in Gaza, he was considered a shahid,a martyr for jihad.
Yet at an early age, Darwish developed a skeptical eye about her own Muslim culture and upbringing. Why the love of violence and hatred of Jews and Christians? Why the tolerance of glaring social injustices? Why blame America and Israel for everything?
Today Darwish thrives as an American citizen, a Christian, a conservative Republican, and an advocate for Israel. To many, she is now an infidel. But she is risking her comfort and her safety to reveal the many politically incorrect truths about Muslim culture that she knows firsthand.
When Nonie Darwish was a girl of eight, her father died while leading covert attacks on Israel. A high-ranking Egyptian military officer stationed with his family in Gaza, he was considered a shahid,a martyr for jihad.
Yet at an early age, Darwish developed a skeptical eye about her own Muslim culture and upbringing. Why the love of violence and hatred of Jews and Christians? Why the tolerance of glaring social injustices? Why blame America and Israel for everything?
Today Darwish thrives as an American citizen, a Christian, a conservative Republican, and an advocate for Israel. To many, she is now an infidel. But she is risking her comfort and her safety to reveal the many politically incorrect truths about Muslim culture that she knows firsthand.
272 pages, Paperback
First published November 13, 2006
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April 3, 2008
This selection is for two book groups. It was recommended by a neighbor who prefers non-fiction.
I was a bit bored in the beginning pages, until I realized that I needed the history of egypt to accept Ms. Darwish's POV on radical Islam and current terrorist tactics. It was important to understand the succession of leaders in Egypt, the ordinary family dynamics, education system, economics and information flow of Egypt from the 1950s to present time to not feel overwhelmed and skeptical of her claims. After about 50 pages, the author begins a methodical explanation of how her own experiences and understanding of Islam thinking and actions shapes her alarming view of modern radical Islam. Note: She has found that there is no 'moderate' Islam. So while 'radical' seems, well, radical, she feels that those who claim themselves 'moderate', are truly 'radical' by OUR/the Christian/Judaic standards.
This book was eye-opening, and I feel uncomfortable discussing it with anyone who has not read the book. The opinions are strong, and out of context, are difficult to swallow. Bottom line: Our western civilization's foundation of brotherly love and acceptance is seen as a weakness to Islam, and will therefor be used and abused to further the mission of Islam.
I was a bit bored in the beginning pages, until I realized that I needed the history of egypt to accept Ms. Darwish's POV on radical Islam and current terrorist tactics. It was important to understand the succession of leaders in Egypt, the ordinary family dynamics, education system, economics and information flow of Egypt from the 1950s to present time to not feel overwhelmed and skeptical of her claims. After about 50 pages, the author begins a methodical explanation of how her own experiences and understanding of Islam thinking and actions shapes her alarming view of modern radical Islam. Note: She has found that there is no 'moderate' Islam. So while 'radical' seems, well, radical, she feels that those who claim themselves 'moderate', are truly 'radical' by OUR/the Christian/Judaic standards.
This book was eye-opening, and I feel uncomfortable discussing it with anyone who has not read the book. The opinions are strong, and out of context, are difficult to swallow. Bottom line: Our western civilization's foundation of brotherly love and acceptance is seen as a weakness to Islam, and will therefor be used and abused to further the mission of Islam.
November 21, 2016
This illuminating , penetrating, engrossing and heartfelt book is essential reading for anyone who wishes to truly understand the realities and dynamics at play concerning terrorism, the threat of Islamist radicalism to the free world , the Arab-Israel conflict and Islamic oppression of and atrocities against women and minorities.
Nonie Darwish in the first chapter of the book describes her childhood in Cairo and Gaza. Her father a top officer in Egyptian military intelligence was the man in charge of facilitating attacks of the terrorist 'fedayeen ' incursions into Israel in which many Israeli civilians were murdered. He was assassinated by Israeli intelligence in a military operation . This , Darwish , rightly puts the blame for squarely of the Egyptian tyrant Gamel Abdel Nasser, the greatest enemy of Israel and the Jewish people from 1953 to 1970, and who in his obsessive passion to destroy Israel and drive her Jewish population into the sea, thus in his mind restoring Arab honour, also caused many Egyptian deaths and suffering.
When she arrived as a child in Gaza she recalls the poverty of the areas when it was then under Egyptian control (under Israeli control from 1967 to 2005, the standard of living shot up exponentially) . The Arab powers wanted to see the lives of the 'Palestinian' Arab refugees as intolerable and pushed up against the Israeli border with no where else to go so that A) They could be used as terrorist infiltrators to attack and kill Israeli civilians and B) World pressure would be brought to bear on Israel. And thus Nasser's regime refused to relocate the 'Palestinian' Arab refugees into the vast spacious and almost empty Sinai peninsular.
In January 1956 Nasser vowed a renewed campaign of aggression against Israel and more fedayeen terror groups were trained in Gaza to infiltrate Israel and kill Israeli Jews. Israeli commandos were sent to Nonie's heavily guarded home but she only found out in the morning and slept throughout. This struck Nonie that the Israelis did not harm the women and children in the house though the Egyptian-organized terrorist fedayeen frequently murdered Israeli civilians, women and children.
In Chapter 2 Darwish describes 'Growing up in Cairo' where women were horrifically oppressed and abused, and could not enjoy any of the basic human rights women in western countries take for granted, where hatred for Jews and Christians was and the culture of jihad (holy war) inculcated in all Egyptian Muslims since birth. As she describes 'No Arab could avoid the culture of Jihad. Jihad is not some esoteric concept. In the Arab world the m,earning of jihad is clear: It is a religious holy war against infidels. , an armed struggle against anyone who is not a Muslim. It is a fight for Allah's cause to promote Islamic dominion in the world.'
The calls in the mosques as the author describes were frequently followed by fiery sermons that urged Muslims to destroy all Jews and infidels, the enemies of Allah.
And then of course there was the class system. social classes in Egypt were and are very stratified. The upper classes treat the poor in Muslim countries with arrogance, contempt, cruelty and injustice.
This is a far cry from the more egalitarian society Israel was founded on, and I believe that the fear that Israel's democratic and egalitarian society would inspire the Arab proletariat to want the same was a large part of the reason that the Arab effendis stirred up the masses for jihad against the Jews.
Darwish stresses that few Westerners can comprehend the degree to which hatred of Jews (Not just Zionists but Jews) permeates every aspect of Arab culture. She began to wonder 'What was wrong with allowing a few million Jews to live among us in peace?Arab land was plenty. They had only a small sliver of land, in some places only thirty kilometers wide. But the hatred and anti-Semitism was frighteningly prevalent in our society'
In Chapter Four Darwish further elaborates the culture of oppression, atrocities and institutionalized rape in Muslim countries Poor Egyptian girls without fathers or brothers who decide to wear Western clothes are seen as deserving of rape and/or murder.
For this reason many young women, even though secular choose to cover their heads for their own safety and survival. And yet leftwing Western feminists very seldom speak out against gender oppression in Muslim countries, because this would not fit in with their perfidious political agenda.
A women who chooses her own sexual partners is often punished by death in these societies . And Darwish also refers to the system of slavery in Sudan by the Muslim Arabs of the North against the Christians and Animists of the South.
Darwish boldly and valiantly points out against the hypocritical and wicked Islamist and neo-leftist propaganda that 'Judeo-Christian culture has greatly contributed to humanity and the order of things in Western civilization by it's insistence on the value of one man and one women joined in holy matrimony'
Chapter Five 'The Invisible Wall' describes the culture of indoctrination and bottomless hate against the Free West and particularly against Jews and Israel, which can only mirror that of Nazi Germany in the 1930s and 40s. The author tells us how 'The public was continually told that the Jews and Israel wanted to conquer the Arab world. Golda Meir was portrayed in Egyptian cartoons as an ugly, bloodsucking woman with dangling breasts, messy hair and blood dripping from her mouth . All Jews were supposed to look like that - holding bloody daggers after killing little Arab babies' How sad one can only reflect it is how the leftist media in the West and elsewhere around the world have copied this anti-Israel demonology.
To survive one had to agree with this hatred or at least pretend to. A similar culture which exists across the Muslim world is now also reproducing in universities, leftwing media and NGO circles and regimes like South Africa and Venezuela.
In the sixth chapter where she describes life in America she both describes a freer more humane society (and for all the faults of American and Western society no decent person can deny that is far morally superior and more humane than any Islamic society) as well as Islamic radicalization in American mosques and universes
She makes the point that most Muslims all over the world today are part of a 'political Islam' rather than any introspection of personal relationship with their Creator. And that often the nonpartisan Muslims are just as extreme , biased, violent and supportive of terror as the religious extremists.
Those who brainwash children in Muslim countries are no doing the same in Western countries they have immigrated to and aim to invade and claim Western societies that have received them as their own. The West must be conquered for Islam.
Furthermore Darwish observes how their is a venomous jealousy of Jewish achievement in the Muslim world Instead of trying to emulate and learn from those achievements Muslims want to murder them , demonize and destroy them, Perhaps because they remind them of the inadequacies and mass poverty of Arab societies despise these Arab nations halving rich oil reserves.
On her visit to Egypt after 20 years of living in America Darwishpointsout that she saw more radicalism and religious repression than ever before. the 'religion of peace' in Egypt are suppressing ands genocide the Copts.
Darwish outlines her noble initiative of Arabs for Israel which aims to spread understanding and tolerance and the acceptance of the right of the tiny state of Israel to exist limn peace and security in the Middle East neighborhood. Darwish would like to tell the Palestinians and the Arab world that having a neighbor of a different religion and culture need not be a reason for hatred , violence, feminization and genocidal intentions. that it can be a blessing. and an asset.
Sadly Darwish in her campaign for genuine peace, tolerance and human rights has been prosecuted and attempts made to silence her not only by Islamist extremists but also by the radical left who today care nothing for human rights, truth or real justice but only their wicked jihad to destroy Israel and the free world. They therefore try to silence those who want peace in the middle East rather than genocide of Israel, and who want real rights for women and minorities
These wicked nihilistic far left radicals control universities , the media and NGOS and even some governments and have decided it suits tier nefarious purposes to back uncritically the IslamoNazis. They refer to all who speak up against the Islamist oppression and terror as ''racist's , 'Islamophobes' and 'bigots. But it is people like Nonie Darwish, Brigitte Gabriel, Wafa Sultan, Bat Yeor, Robert Spencer, Melanie Philips, Julie Burchill, Geert Wilder, Ayaan Hirsi Ali Pat Condell, Daniel Pipes, Guilio Meotti, Caroline Glick, Nadia Matar, Pilar Rahola and the late Oriana Fallaci who are the brave forces of truth and humanity who refuse to be politically correct and cowardly and who refuse to allow evil and inhumanity to prevail.
Nonie Darwish in the first chapter of the book describes her childhood in Cairo and Gaza. Her father a top officer in Egyptian military intelligence was the man in charge of facilitating attacks of the terrorist 'fedayeen ' incursions into Israel in which many Israeli civilians were murdered. He was assassinated by Israeli intelligence in a military operation . This , Darwish , rightly puts the blame for squarely of the Egyptian tyrant Gamel Abdel Nasser, the greatest enemy of Israel and the Jewish people from 1953 to 1970, and who in his obsessive passion to destroy Israel and drive her Jewish population into the sea, thus in his mind restoring Arab honour, also caused many Egyptian deaths and suffering.
When she arrived as a child in Gaza she recalls the poverty of the areas when it was then under Egyptian control (under Israeli control from 1967 to 2005, the standard of living shot up exponentially) . The Arab powers wanted to see the lives of the 'Palestinian' Arab refugees as intolerable and pushed up against the Israeli border with no where else to go so that A) They could be used as terrorist infiltrators to attack and kill Israeli civilians and B) World pressure would be brought to bear on Israel. And thus Nasser's regime refused to relocate the 'Palestinian' Arab refugees into the vast spacious and almost empty Sinai peninsular.
In January 1956 Nasser vowed a renewed campaign of aggression against Israel and more fedayeen terror groups were trained in Gaza to infiltrate Israel and kill Israeli Jews. Israeli commandos were sent to Nonie's heavily guarded home but she only found out in the morning and slept throughout. This struck Nonie that the Israelis did not harm the women and children in the house though the Egyptian-organized terrorist fedayeen frequently murdered Israeli civilians, women and children.
In Chapter 2 Darwish describes 'Growing up in Cairo' where women were horrifically oppressed and abused, and could not enjoy any of the basic human rights women in western countries take for granted, where hatred for Jews and Christians was and the culture of jihad (holy war) inculcated in all Egyptian Muslims since birth. As she describes 'No Arab could avoid the culture of Jihad. Jihad is not some esoteric concept. In the Arab world the m,earning of jihad is clear: It is a religious holy war against infidels. , an armed struggle against anyone who is not a Muslim. It is a fight for Allah's cause to promote Islamic dominion in the world.'
The calls in the mosques as the author describes were frequently followed by fiery sermons that urged Muslims to destroy all Jews and infidels, the enemies of Allah.
And then of course there was the class system. social classes in Egypt were and are very stratified. The upper classes treat the poor in Muslim countries with arrogance, contempt, cruelty and injustice.
This is a far cry from the more egalitarian society Israel was founded on, and I believe that the fear that Israel's democratic and egalitarian society would inspire the Arab proletariat to want the same was a large part of the reason that the Arab effendis stirred up the masses for jihad against the Jews.
Darwish stresses that few Westerners can comprehend the degree to which hatred of Jews (Not just Zionists but Jews) permeates every aspect of Arab culture. She began to wonder 'What was wrong with allowing a few million Jews to live among us in peace?Arab land was plenty. They had only a small sliver of land, in some places only thirty kilometers wide. But the hatred and anti-Semitism was frighteningly prevalent in our society'
In Chapter Four Darwish further elaborates the culture of oppression, atrocities and institutionalized rape in Muslim countries Poor Egyptian girls without fathers or brothers who decide to wear Western clothes are seen as deserving of rape and/or murder.
For this reason many young women, even though secular choose to cover their heads for their own safety and survival. And yet leftwing Western feminists very seldom speak out against gender oppression in Muslim countries, because this would not fit in with their perfidious political agenda.
A women who chooses her own sexual partners is often punished by death in these societies . And Darwish also refers to the system of slavery in Sudan by the Muslim Arabs of the North against the Christians and Animists of the South.
Darwish boldly and valiantly points out against the hypocritical and wicked Islamist and neo-leftist propaganda that 'Judeo-Christian culture has greatly contributed to humanity and the order of things in Western civilization by it's insistence on the value of one man and one women joined in holy matrimony'
Chapter Five 'The Invisible Wall' describes the culture of indoctrination and bottomless hate against the Free West and particularly against Jews and Israel, which can only mirror that of Nazi Germany in the 1930s and 40s. The author tells us how 'The public was continually told that the Jews and Israel wanted to conquer the Arab world. Golda Meir was portrayed in Egyptian cartoons as an ugly, bloodsucking woman with dangling breasts, messy hair and blood dripping from her mouth . All Jews were supposed to look like that - holding bloody daggers after killing little Arab babies' How sad one can only reflect it is how the leftist media in the West and elsewhere around the world have copied this anti-Israel demonology.
To survive one had to agree with this hatred or at least pretend to. A similar culture which exists across the Muslim world is now also reproducing in universities, leftwing media and NGO circles and regimes like South Africa and Venezuela.
In the sixth chapter where she describes life in America she both describes a freer more humane society (and for all the faults of American and Western society no decent person can deny that is far morally superior and more humane than any Islamic society) as well as Islamic radicalization in American mosques and universes
She makes the point that most Muslims all over the world today are part of a 'political Islam' rather than any introspection of personal relationship with their Creator. And that often the nonpartisan Muslims are just as extreme , biased, violent and supportive of terror as the religious extremists.
Those who brainwash children in Muslim countries are no doing the same in Western countries they have immigrated to and aim to invade and claim Western societies that have received them as their own. The West must be conquered for Islam.
Furthermore Darwish observes how their is a venomous jealousy of Jewish achievement in the Muslim world Instead of trying to emulate and learn from those achievements Muslims want to murder them , demonize and destroy them, Perhaps because they remind them of the inadequacies and mass poverty of Arab societies despise these Arab nations halving rich oil reserves.
On her visit to Egypt after 20 years of living in America Darwishpointsout that she saw more radicalism and religious repression than ever before. the 'religion of peace' in Egypt are suppressing ands genocide the Copts.
Darwish outlines her noble initiative of Arabs for Israel which aims to spread understanding and tolerance and the acceptance of the right of the tiny state of Israel to exist limn peace and security in the Middle East neighborhood. Darwish would like to tell the Palestinians and the Arab world that having a neighbor of a different religion and culture need not be a reason for hatred , violence, feminization and genocidal intentions. that it can be a blessing. and an asset.
Sadly Darwish in her campaign for genuine peace, tolerance and human rights has been prosecuted and attempts made to silence her not only by Islamist extremists but also by the radical left who today care nothing for human rights, truth or real justice but only their wicked jihad to destroy Israel and the free world. They therefore try to silence those who want peace in the middle East rather than genocide of Israel, and who want real rights for women and minorities
These wicked nihilistic far left radicals control universities , the media and NGOS and even some governments and have decided it suits tier nefarious purposes to back uncritically the IslamoNazis. They refer to all who speak up against the Islamist oppression and terror as ''racist's , 'Islamophobes' and 'bigots. But it is people like Nonie Darwish, Brigitte Gabriel, Wafa Sultan, Bat Yeor, Robert Spencer, Melanie Philips, Julie Burchill, Geert Wilder, Ayaan Hirsi Ali Pat Condell, Daniel Pipes, Guilio Meotti, Caroline Glick, Nadia Matar, Pilar Rahola and the late Oriana Fallaci who are the brave forces of truth and humanity who refuse to be politically correct and cowardly and who refuse to allow evil and inhumanity to prevail.
May 24, 2024
While reading I compared this book to Infidel in my mind. Both are women influenced by Arab Muslim cultures--Aayan Hirsi Ali grew up in a strict lower-class somewhat-rebel family in Somalia, while Darwish grew up in an upper-class rich military family in Egypt. Both eventually learned about Western values, and both now speak out publicly about the harmful realities of their Muslim upbringing.
While also an autobiography, this book holds fewer details than Ali's story, mostly skimming through Darwish's upbringing, and drawing wider religious and cultural conclusions from her experiences, rather than relating the intimidate details of a vivid personal story. The book feels outdated at times, having been published in 2006, five years after 9/11. Yet I found it valuable in 2024, helping me to better understand the complicated Israel-Arab relationship.
At one point Darwish says there are no real distinctions between moderate and radical Muslims, yet later in the book she presses the point that she only condemns radical Muslims, or terrorists, not all Muslims. She misspeaks sometimes, and the book requires a gracious reader, someone who will give her the benefit of the doubt, acknowledging the truth in her wider points, while some of her word choices are easily picked apart.
Highlights from the book on Muslim culture: Prioritization of appearance and honor over reality. Lots of family and peer pressure in an honor/shame culture. Severe restriction of women's rights. Common proliferation of polygamy. Much fatalism and lack of independent agency. Much narcissism, willful blindness, pride. See Ali's book for similar themes.
Darwish also brought up another point I hadn't considered before:
"I believe this attitude toward child rearing is one of the underlying reasons why Arabs are so sensitive to criticism and tend to blame others rather than accept responsibility for their actions. As children, those who admitted fault were severely punished. Doing so opened a whole can of worms. Telling the truth and taking responsibility was simply unacceptable. That cultural stricture can have the effect of paralyzing progress. Unique and spontaneous behavior is the basis of innovation and progress, but anyone who did anything out of the ordinary or in any way promoted change or deviation from the norm was called shameful names and ousted from respectful society."
Darwish has also written:
--Cruel and Usual Punishment: The Terrifying Global Implications of Islamic Law
--The Devil We Don't Know: The Dark Side of Revolutions in the Middle East
While also an autobiography, this book holds fewer details than Ali's story, mostly skimming through Darwish's upbringing, and drawing wider religious and cultural conclusions from her experiences, rather than relating the intimidate details of a vivid personal story. The book feels outdated at times, having been published in 2006, five years after 9/11. Yet I found it valuable in 2024, helping me to better understand the complicated Israel-Arab relationship.
At one point Darwish says there are no real distinctions between moderate and radical Muslims, yet later in the book she presses the point that she only condemns radical Muslims, or terrorists, not all Muslims. She misspeaks sometimes, and the book requires a gracious reader, someone who will give her the benefit of the doubt, acknowledging the truth in her wider points, while some of her word choices are easily picked apart.
Highlights from the book on Muslim culture: Prioritization of appearance and honor over reality. Lots of family and peer pressure in an honor/shame culture. Severe restriction of women's rights. Common proliferation of polygamy. Much fatalism and lack of independent agency. Much narcissism, willful blindness, pride. See Ali's book for similar themes.
Darwish also brought up another point I hadn't considered before:
"I believe this attitude toward child rearing is one of the underlying reasons why Arabs are so sensitive to criticism and tend to blame others rather than accept responsibility for their actions. As children, those who admitted fault were severely punished. Doing so opened a whole can of worms. Telling the truth and taking responsibility was simply unacceptable. That cultural stricture can have the effect of paralyzing progress. Unique and spontaneous behavior is the basis of innovation and progress, but anyone who did anything out of the ordinary or in any way promoted change or deviation from the norm was called shameful names and ousted from respectful society."
Darwish has also written:
--Cruel and Usual Punishment: The Terrifying Global Implications of Islamic Law
--The Devil We Don't Know: The Dark Side of Revolutions in the Middle East
February 5, 2009
I was quite dissapointed about this book. I agree with one of the reviews, indicating that there should've been more effort in the editing. The author's points and arguments were repeated and oftentimes drawn out. I also don't think there was enough emphasis given to explain that the true-essence of the Koran & Islam, which is completely different than the fanatical interpretation fueling politics & culture of mostIslamic states. While this book provides a generalized opinion of muslims coming from radicalized Islamic countries, it misrepresents those that come from more liberal nations (i.e. Turkey, E. Europe, etc).
August 5, 2012
Nonie Darwish's fascinating peak into the mind of a Muslim woman, Now They Call Me Infidel (Sentinel 2006) takes the reader through her life as she shares the events that shaped her opinions and ultimately caused her to leave her homeland Egypt and make her life in America. It is a history of Egypt and why it changed from a middle class somewhat prospering nation that valued effort, hard-work, kindness, and honesty to a socialist society that ultimately destroyed the middle class of workers and the capitalist economy that scaffolded their lives, and the part that played in their move to a government of radical Islamic values.
Nonie Darwish was the daughter of a Muslim shahid--a man who was martyred for the Islamic cause. He, and Noni through him, was honored, almost worshipped for giving his life so the religion of Allah could move forward. Her life was blessed because of her father's work. Nonie's mother seemed to find her stride with the death of her husband (she did unusual activities for a female in Egypt like drive a car). Through her, Nonie was able to study, educate herself, and make decisions that other Islamic women were not able to do. She began to question some of the beliefs she'd grown up with, such as that all Jews were horrible and that women should serve their husbands.
Through Nonie's experiences, we the reader get insights into inate differences between the Islam society and American. For example:
* No Arab could avoid the culture of jihad. Jihad is not some esoteric concept. In the Arab world, the meaning of jihad is clear: It is a religious holy war against infidels, an armed struggle against anyone who is not a Muslim
* God expected us to embrace jihad
* The word 'shadid' means 'martyr.' It is the highest honor bestowed on a Muslim and absolutely guarantees entrance to heaven. Shahaida can be achieved by being killed during jihad against the perceived enemies of Islam
* Because of that verse in the Koran, many Muslim men feel that it is within their legal and religious right to beat their wives
* At the time I left(1970's), Egypt had a 70 percent illiteracy rate
* In the Muslim world there are no real distinctions between moderate or radical Muslims; all are Muslims
* The non-practicing Muslims are often as biased, extreme and supportive of jihad as the religious extremists
* I soon discovered that rabid anti-American feeling is rampant in the majority of US mosques
* Many American mosques show no respect to their host country. They have come with the agenda of changing the culture and not to be part of America.
* For those of us who fled tyranny, if not for America, where else could we run? If it weren't for America, where would I be now?
One of the greatest take-aways from this book is that I am reminded why immigrants are the most patriotic of Americans for they see us for what we are, not for our failures.
Nonie Darwish was the daughter of a Muslim shahid--a man who was martyred for the Islamic cause. He, and Noni through him, was honored, almost worshipped for giving his life so the religion of Allah could move forward. Her life was blessed because of her father's work. Nonie's mother seemed to find her stride with the death of her husband (she did unusual activities for a female in Egypt like drive a car). Through her, Nonie was able to study, educate herself, and make decisions that other Islamic women were not able to do. She began to question some of the beliefs she'd grown up with, such as that all Jews were horrible and that women should serve their husbands.
Through Nonie's experiences, we the reader get insights into inate differences between the Islam society and American. For example:
* No Arab could avoid the culture of jihad. Jihad is not some esoteric concept. In the Arab world, the meaning of jihad is clear: It is a religious holy war against infidels, an armed struggle against anyone who is not a Muslim
* God expected us to embrace jihad
* The word 'shadid' means 'martyr.' It is the highest honor bestowed on a Muslim and absolutely guarantees entrance to heaven. Shahaida can be achieved by being killed during jihad against the perceived enemies of Islam
* Because of that verse in the Koran, many Muslim men feel that it is within their legal and religious right to beat their wives
* At the time I left(1970's), Egypt had a 70 percent illiteracy rate
* In the Muslim world there are no real distinctions between moderate or radical Muslims; all are Muslims
* The non-practicing Muslims are often as biased, extreme and supportive of jihad as the religious extremists
* I soon discovered that rabid anti-American feeling is rampant in the majority of US mosques
* Many American mosques show no respect to their host country. They have come with the agenda of changing the culture and not to be part of America.
* For those of us who fled tyranny, if not for America, where else could we run? If it weren't for America, where would I be now?
One of the greatest take-aways from this book is that I am reminded why immigrants are the most patriotic of Americans for they see us for what we are, not for our failures.
August 27, 2008
Very pro-American/anti-Islam book. It is interesting to hear a former Arab speak out so passionately against their culture that breeds terrorists. If nothing else, it will make you feel better about being an American.
I also have to say that I read this book while I was studying Isaiah. All of a sudden Isaiah makes a lot more sense.......
I also have to say that I read this book while I was studying Isaiah. All of a sudden Isaiah makes a lot more sense.......
November 18, 2014
A true story, Nonie Darwish tells about her upbringing as a Muslim, first in the Gaza Strip as a young child and then in Cairo after her father's assassination there when she was 8 years old. As a precocious child, Nonie could never understand why her people hated the Jews so terribly, and why they seemed hell-bent on wiping every Jew off the face of the earth; knowing no peace until the job was accomplish. Nor could she understand how her father could be dead - never to return to his family again. Nonie asked questions she shouldn't be asking, and she delved into subjects no respectful female was supposed to broach. At 30 she married a Christian Egyptian, and because of the great persecution going on regarding this group of people at the time, they moved to the United States. Nonie was immediately overjoyed with her new country and basked in her freedoms and so many little pleasures she could never have known back home. When her spiritual life seemed a bit empty, she went to the mosque in Los Angeles and was horrified to hear the "preacher" preaching death to the Americans and hatred for the infidel! Upon her return to Cairo, with her second husband and her 3 children, excited for them to see where she had been raised, she was again horrified to find the same old hatred, jealousy, and discord that she'd left 20 years before, believing that, surely, by now, things would have eased up. Her return to America from this trip was on September 10, 2001, the day before the towers were hit in New York City. Totally horrified she sought some reassurance from family and friends in Egypt that they were as horrified as she was, but only found opposition to her, hostility, and some calling her a traitor. It was time to tell her story and try to help American's understand what they were up against and the horrors that would surely come upon them if they did not stop this invasion of their country. WWIII is in the process, but it isn't with atomic bombs.
May 16, 2012
They say that there are two sides to every story. When it comes to terrorism, there are many more than two sides. Nonie Darwish's father was a Muslim Shahid who was the head of Egyptian military intelligence in Gaza when he was killed in 1956. She grew up in Gaza and then Egypt and was educated in British and American schools there and moved to the US at age 30. She shares about the extreme poverty in Egypt and the many problems caused by the government, the Muslim religion and the culture of the Arabs. She calls for a change in the way Arabs conduct themselves and how they react to the terrorism that arises out of their culture. This book is very revealing and enlightening and I highly recommend it.
March 2, 2008
An insightful discussion of Islam from the viewpoint of someone who grew up Egyptian Muslim but converted to Christianity and became a US citizen. Darwish very clearly lays out her specific issues with different aspects of Islam and how they impact people's lives and attitudes. The ideas are compelling, but the actual voice is somewhat dry. In addition, the clear opinion sometimes seem to push aside other explanations behind the "radicalism" discussed. That being said, the book is a worthwhile read and eye opening in many ways.
October 2, 2007
Brave and unapologetic. In a time when being PC could cost America everything, Nonie Darwish sends out a stern warning, don't trade the truth for Political Correctness. If you want to know why this woman renounced Jihad for America, Israel and the war on terror then this is a must read. Also check out the movie "Obsession" that the PC distributors refuse to put into theaters. You can purchase it at Obsessionthemovie.com You will hear Nonie speak out in this groundbreaking documentary.
February 24, 2016
Cohesive, well-written and brave! The author, an Egyptian Muslim who grew up in Gaza and Cairo and now lives in the U.S., builds a credible and sensible case against the politicization of Islam and the damage done to individuals and society by Muslim cultural traditions such as polygamy, oppression of women, sharia law, the unreasonable and deep hatred towards Israel and towards America (even by those who have chosen to live there) and the constant calls for jihad.
April 10, 2009
You absolutely must read this book to understand what is going in in Gaza, Israel and Egypt. This is the story you will never get from our biased media and you can't understand the Middle East if you don't know what is in this book.
April 7, 2015
Meh.
More 2.5 stars.
I disagreed with a lot of the book, but I respect her perspective. That's why it gets the rating it does.
I just fear that the audience of this book won't seek alternative perspectives.
More 2.5 stars.
I disagreed with a lot of the book, but I respect her perspective. That's why it gets the rating it does.
I just fear that the audience of this book won't seek alternative perspectives.
January 28, 2009
Medium
She is so against the culture that she doesn't share any of the good traits. We need to look at different cultures with tolerance and acceptance to dispel hatred.
She is so against the culture that she doesn't share any of the good traits. We need to look at different cultures with tolerance and acceptance to dispel hatred.
Read
August 9, 2011Ms Darwish has my utmost respect for writing this book. THe courage it takes for her to speak out against the twisted teaching of Islam, against the radical Muslims, is unimaginable. She placed herself in constant danger for writing a book like this. THus I don't believe in the accusation that it's all a lie and that she was never a Muslim. I don't believe anyone would conjure up stories like this in an attempt to gain profits. There are better, SAFER ways to get rich.
The book is easy to read for someone like me whose first language is not English. And the message is clear. I was very touched, reading this book. I felt her sincerity, I felt her emotion. I only wish everyone would read this book, particularly the Americans, and ESPECIALLY the President! I always think US gives too much freedom to Muslims. Sure, we must respect each and every religion but freedom to practise one's religion must not be given at the peril of national security and peace.
Reading this book made me feel depressed of the world's future. But at the same time, hopeful about it because of someone like Ms Darwish. We need more voice from like Ms Darwish.
I learnt a lot about the Israel/Palentine conflict from Ms Darwish. This book is an eye-opener.
A great book. I strongly recommend everyone to read it.
The book is easy to read for someone like me whose first language is not English. And the message is clear. I was very touched, reading this book. I felt her sincerity, I felt her emotion. I only wish everyone would read this book, particularly the Americans, and ESPECIALLY the President! I always think US gives too much freedom to Muslims. Sure, we must respect each and every religion but freedom to practise one's religion must not be given at the peril of national security and peace.
Reading this book made me feel depressed of the world's future. But at the same time, hopeful about it because of someone like Ms Darwish. We need more voice from like Ms Darwish.
I learnt a lot about the Israel/Palentine conflict from Ms Darwish. This book is an eye-opener.
A great book. I strongly recommend everyone to read it.
March 18, 2011
Simply put, Muslim student organizations wanted to advocate "Islam as a religion of peace" through intimidation and arguments that made no sense.
p 230
To some Islamic idealists, what muslims are doing on earth - terrorism and jihad - is necessary and will be forgiven because they have good intentions to spread Islam to those who dont know they need it. ... In their minds, the ideal of peace will be achieved later when Islam dominates the world. They reason that peace can wait until that great achievement, and in the meanwhile, we'll merely "talk about peace" to mollify the West.
p 151
I consider myself a reasonable feminist who wants equality and respect, but i feel that treating one's body like a tempting juicy steak that should be covered up - besides being confortable and impractical - implies an arrogant, holier-than-thou attitude. It also displpays a symbol of the oppressive ugly past of the middle east and an in-your-face defiance of all the achievements women have fought for in the last one hundred years.
p 231
p 230
To some Islamic idealists, what muslims are doing on earth - terrorism and jihad - is necessary and will be forgiven because they have good intentions to spread Islam to those who dont know they need it. ... In their minds, the ideal of peace will be achieved later when Islam dominates the world. They reason that peace can wait until that great achievement, and in the meanwhile, we'll merely "talk about peace" to mollify the West.
p 151
I consider myself a reasonable feminist who wants equality and respect, but i feel that treating one's body like a tempting juicy steak that should be covered up - besides being confortable and impractical - implies an arrogant, holier-than-thou attitude. It also displpays a symbol of the oppressive ugly past of the middle east and an in-your-face defiance of all the achievements women have fought for in the last one hundred years.
p 231
August 2, 2012
Overall: some interesting insights into Egyptian culture and definitely worth a read. However, not as strong as Ayaan Hirsi Ali's "Infidel".
Strengths: Reveals how Muslim politicians manipulate populace into blind hatred of Israel, America and the West. Also shows how poorly women are treated in modern Muslim society and attempts to provide answers as to why moderate Muslims in the west don't speak up against the Wahabbists. The most powerful part is how she's able to forgive and love those who killed her father. She's also able to objectively evaluate his role in this whole process.
Weaknesses: Like I said, definitely not as riveting or moving as Ayaan Hirsi Ali's "Infidel" nor as well written. Overall, the book didn't flow as smoothly as I would have hoped and also more religious theory/background would have been useful.
Strengths: Reveals how Muslim politicians manipulate populace into blind hatred of Israel, America and the West. Also shows how poorly women are treated in modern Muslim society and attempts to provide answers as to why moderate Muslims in the west don't speak up against the Wahabbists. The most powerful part is how she's able to forgive and love those who killed her father. She's also able to objectively evaluate his role in this whole process.
Weaknesses: Like I said, definitely not as riveting or moving as Ayaan Hirsi Ali's "Infidel" nor as well written. Overall, the book didn't flow as smoothly as I would have hoped and also more religious theory/background would have been useful.
September 1, 2015
This is probably the scariest book i've ever read. She's basically shouting; "The Muslims are coming, the muslims are coming!" And she's right. The problem is: What are they coming to do? Some say to oppress and force everyone in the world to conform to their destructive religion by any means necessary. And some others say that they just want to be free to spread their religion by any means peaceful.
A very informative book by an author who apparently doesn't understand the difference between Allah and Jehovah. I think a Bible study is in order...
A very informative book by an author who apparently doesn't understand the difference between Allah and Jehovah. I think a Bible study is in order...
October 25, 2013
Very interesting! The author was raised in Egypt, the daughter of a man who worked for the army and lead attacks on Israel from Gaza. He was killed. She came to the US. She says terrorism is a behavior of desperate people. Also she says that democracy (the right to question and debate,and change religions)cannot survive with current Muslim values (jihad, terrorism, and martyrdom). She calls the silent Muslim majority to speak up, accept responsibility and not blame problems and corruption on Israel. She says "oil money" is funding college classes in Islam and radical Mosques in the US.
April 16, 2008
I read this book to help a friend's cousin out with a school project and because I love reading trashy memoirs about the Middle East. This one is particularly poorly written, but what continually shocked me was how accepting the author was of any experience except hers. Life is a complicated thing and most of it is lived in shades of gray, but she does not acknowledge any gray areas. Now I have to figure out how to put this in some sort of context....
Read
December 23, 2010Wow!! I learned more about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in the first 10 pages than I had ever learned before. I love her "question everything" mentality and how it lead her to the truth about Islam and radical Islam. I know this woman speaks the truth. And it is truth we need to know now. This is information not to be missed.
March 19, 2008
With all the rhetoric on Arab and/or Islam culture, I wanted to read something by someone who’s been there and done that. I was more than satisfied. Darwish is not a professional author, but she writes clearly. Her perspective is frank and honest, without a feeling of malice.
Read
December 9, 2008This book was very educational. I read it prior going to a dominant Muslim nation so I had a difficult time enjoying my time in the Mosques. I think it is a must read for anyone who wants to travel to Egypt.
January 27, 2009
Startling insights, but repetitious.
Read
July 28, 2011Nonie Darwish was a young girl in Gaza, whose father was stationed by the Egyptian government to maintain law and order in the Gaza Stip. Her description of life under the Egyptians is dismal. They live a life of harsh conditions and are largely confined to an open air prison. Poor coinditions led to intifada against the Egyptian government. To fix the situation her father was sent o make life better and organize fedayeen squads to atack Israel. Life in Gaza is not easy when returning from Cairo the author is advised to hide her gifts so as to avoid tempting the evil eye and m aking the Gazans friends she has jealous. While in Gaza they live in a nice villa but al around them is life mired in poverty both in Gaza and in Cairo. Life gets dnaagerous when an Israeli hitsquad enters the Darwish home looking to assassinate her father. Fortunately he is not home, but the rest of the family is and no one gets hurt or killed. The father decide to move the family out of Gaza . Shortly before they were to leave Gaza a pachage blows up in his hand killing the father and injuring the young son who was with him.
Life for the young Nonie and the rest of the family starts to go down hill. In the rest of her narrative she documents all the shortcomings of living in Egypt. As the with all women the author's mother is not allowed to drive and parents are supposed to discourage their daughters from wearing bathing suits and going swimming. This mother drives and allows all her children to got swimming. Being the widow of a Shahid is not easy, a martyrs wife is never supposed to remarry despite the fact that it is hard to exist in Egypt without the income of a husband. Moreover since plygamy is allowed in Egypt where in a man can have up to 4 wives women tend not to trust eachother and often shun the widow becasue she may want to tempt her girlfriend's huisband into taking a second wife. In Egypt the common praactice is to , if your wealthy enough. taake a hidden wife on the sly. In order to prevent this from happening women wil often spend their husbands mponey beffore he has a chance to spend it on a second women. Beaar in mind that the children of second women have rights of inheritance equal to the childrenn of the first wife.
Nonie Darwish also goes on to describe Cairo's intense poverty and how most of the populace fears the dictator who at the time was Nasser. There is also a class system inplace and often times the upper class will mistreat and exploit the lower class. The economy was so bad in her time that often times people could not get maried becasue the man could not find a job where in he coulld aford to buy and apartment and feed his family. Often times a rich person wou;d have two wives while a poor persson would have one. THe rich take everything includingg aal the women.
THe author also compares her education in Gaza to her education in Cairo in a Catholic school. She describes her education in Gaza as braiwashing. She desdsribes that education as rote memorization of the Koran, and hatred off the infidel and Israel. In the Catholic School sshe was taught love and got a real education. Upon graduation she got a job censoring news before it hit the paper..
Later on she moved to America. Her Coptic boyfriedn converted to Islam and they had two daughters. The author does make comments on how poorly the Copts are treated in Egypt. Nonie Darwish also appreciates the freedom and sincerity of AMerica and it's people. After may years of living in AMerica she will divorce her first husband and marry a second usban who is American.
She will discover a a christian Church and it's message of peace and love. After living in AMerica for so many years she goes bacck to Egypt. In Egypt she sees a ccountry that is going more adn more fundamentalist. Al the women are covering up some of it freely some off it under pressure. She attributes most of this to the influence of Saudi Arabia. She alos notices a growth of fundamental Islam here in America and that the preacher are deliverig sermon that preacch hatred toward the western societies in which they live. Nonie Darwish now has written two book and goes around delivering speacches.
Life for the young Nonie and the rest of the family starts to go down hill. In the rest of her narrative she documents all the shortcomings of living in Egypt. As the with all women the author's mother is not allowed to drive and parents are supposed to discourage their daughters from wearing bathing suits and going swimming. This mother drives and allows all her children to got swimming. Being the widow of a Shahid is not easy, a martyrs wife is never supposed to remarry despite the fact that it is hard to exist in Egypt without the income of a husband. Moreover since plygamy is allowed in Egypt where in a man can have up to 4 wives women tend not to trust eachother and often shun the widow becasue she may want to tempt her girlfriend's huisband into taking a second wife. In Egypt the common praactice is to , if your wealthy enough. taake a hidden wife on the sly. In order to prevent this from happening women wil often spend their husbands mponey beffore he has a chance to spend it on a second women. Beaar in mind that the children of second women have rights of inheritance equal to the childrenn of the first wife.
Nonie Darwish also goes on to describe Cairo's intense poverty and how most of the populace fears the dictator who at the time was Nasser. There is also a class system inplace and often times the upper class will mistreat and exploit the lower class. The economy was so bad in her time that often times people could not get maried becasue the man could not find a job where in he coulld aford to buy and apartment and feed his family. Often times a rich person wou;d have two wives while a poor persson would have one. THe rich take everything includingg aal the women.
THe author also compares her education in Gaza to her education in Cairo in a Catholic school. She describes her education in Gaza as braiwashing. She desdsribes that education as rote memorization of the Koran, and hatred off the infidel and Israel. In the Catholic School sshe was taught love and got a real education. Upon graduation she got a job censoring news before it hit the paper..
Later on she moved to America. Her Coptic boyfriedn converted to Islam and they had two daughters. The author does make comments on how poorly the Copts are treated in Egypt. Nonie Darwish also appreciates the freedom and sincerity of AMerica and it's people. After may years of living in AMerica she will divorce her first husband and marry a second usban who is American.
She will discover a a christian Church and it's message of peace and love. After living in AMerica for so many years she goes bacck to Egypt. In Egypt she sees a ccountry that is going more adn more fundamentalist. Al the women are covering up some of it freely some off it under pressure. She attributes most of this to the influence of Saudi Arabia. She alos notices a growth of fundamental Islam here in America and that the preacher are deliverig sermon that preacch hatred toward the western societies in which they live. Nonie Darwish now has written two book and goes around delivering speacches.
January 19, 2019
I loved this book because of the straightforward & provocative way the author candidly presents the truth from a well informed personal perspective. It's refreshing and much needed information that's not readily available through popular media. Her facts are on point & her opinions are sound & logical. Definitely an eye opener.
December 9, 2012
I truly wish this book were in every stocking this Christmas. The author of this book is the daughter of an Egyptian Army Lt. General, Mustafa Hafez, who was martyred in 1956 when serving under Nasser's administration. The first half of the book presents the history of conflict between Egypt, Gaza, Palestine (and the entire Middle East) -- I would venture to say, it is not the record of account that any of us learned in High School, which makes it so important to read. What we are experiencing today is nothing new and the history of this conflict must be understood in its historical perspective.
Darwish writes well and communicates her thoughts well. The second half of the book goes through her personal revelation -- the discovery that hate drives Islamic forces both in the Middle East, and now in America (and around the world.) She describes the difficulty of growing up as a Muslim from an important family -- being taught hate in elementary school, specifically against Israel and America. One thing in particular stood out to me; though this book was written in 2006, things she mentioned as frightening have come true today -- one of which was the fear of the Egyptian people that the Muslim Brotherhood would come into power.
As you follow her journey into freedom, she revels that in America, even pets have more freedom than people in Egypt. She thanks her understanding of capitalism for this freedom. That again is an astute observation on her part.
It was difficult to overcome that fact hate was taught to her -- and the atmosphere she grew up in was not what some Americans perceive it to be. She cautions Americans to understand what it going on right under our noses through the establishment of local mosques in our own community. In Islam, you are either a Muslim -- or an infidel. There is no other choice. God loves Muslims -- he hates the rest of us. It's something to understand that is crucial to the core of Islam. She also explains form of jihad most Americans know nothing about.
This is a very readable book. Don't overlook it. Her perspective is much needed in the current American politically-correct atmosphere. Facts, truth and real information are necessary when political correctness masks truth. I can't recommend this book enough to everyone.
Darwish writes well and communicates her thoughts well. The second half of the book goes through her personal revelation -- the discovery that hate drives Islamic forces both in the Middle East, and now in America (and around the world.) She describes the difficulty of growing up as a Muslim from an important family -- being taught hate in elementary school, specifically against Israel and America. One thing in particular stood out to me; though this book was written in 2006, things she mentioned as frightening have come true today -- one of which was the fear of the Egyptian people that the Muslim Brotherhood would come into power.
As you follow her journey into freedom, she revels that in America, even pets have more freedom than people in Egypt. She thanks her understanding of capitalism for this freedom. That again is an astute observation on her part.
It was difficult to overcome that fact hate was taught to her -- and the atmosphere she grew up in was not what some Americans perceive it to be. She cautions Americans to understand what it going on right under our noses through the establishment of local mosques in our own community. In Islam, you are either a Muslim -- or an infidel. There is no other choice. God loves Muslims -- he hates the rest of us. It's something to understand that is crucial to the core of Islam. She also explains form of jihad most Americans know nothing about.
This is a very readable book. Don't overlook it. Her perspective is much needed in the current American politically-correct atmosphere. Facts, truth and real information are necessary when political correctness masks truth. I can't recommend this book enough to everyone.
August 6, 2012
Nonie Darwish was born in Cairo. Her father, Colonel Mustafa Hafez, served in the Egyptian army in Gaza. Darwish went to elementary school in Gaza. The Palestinians in Gaza were prevented from entering the rest of Egypt, even though Gaza was part of Egypt. Egypt intentionally kept the Palestinians in Gaza in poverty, in order to make Israel look bad. In Gaza in the 1950s there were two primary political ideologies, Communism and the Muslim Brotherhood. In 1955 the Palestinians staged an intifada, not against Israel, but against Egypt. Egypt indoctrinates its school children with hatred of Jews and Israel. Egyptian children are not educated about the long history of the Jews in Israel, and are instead taught that the Israelis are only European colonists of Arab lands. The international star, Omar Shariff, was widely criticized for costarring in Funny Girl, with Barbra Streisand, a Jew.
Darwish attended the American University of Cairo, where she studied sociology and anthropology. Her first job was working at the Middle East News Agency in Cairo. She was an editor, translator and censor. At one point she writes that all journalists in Egypt are employees of the government.
Men who express affection for their wives in public by hugging them or holding hands, are ridiculed for being under his wife's control.
In 1978 Darwish moved to the United States. She cherished her new-found freedom. But in recent years, she has begun to feel the presence of fundamentalist Islam again. The Saudis have funded many fundamentalist mosques in the United States. Many American Arabs have been influenced to become more fundamentalist, the men by growing beards, and the women by wearing the veil again.
Darwish attended the American University of Cairo, where she studied sociology and anthropology. Her first job was working at the Middle East News Agency in Cairo. She was an editor, translator and censor. At one point she writes that all journalists in Egypt are employees of the government.
Men who express affection for their wives in public by hugging them or holding hands, are ridiculed for being under his wife's control.
In 1978 Darwish moved to the United States. She cherished her new-found freedom. But in recent years, she has begun to feel the presence of fundamentalist Islam again. The Saudis have funded many fundamentalist mosques in the United States. Many American Arabs have been influenced to become more fundamentalist, the men by growing beards, and the women by wearing the veil again.
September 7, 2012
This was somewhere between three and four stars for me, but I decided to round up. I can sum up my feelings about this book by saying that it's something I'd have liked to read as part of a book club or class. I'd like to have read it with those who are more informed than I about Islam in general, and I'd also like to have sat down with a map while reading and a better historical and cultural understanding of the topic in advance of reading.
I very much enjoy memoirs, but have a hard time simply taking one account of any experience or situation as plain and indisputable truth. That said, for her part Darwish makes many convincing arguments that Americans and the American government needs to pay closer attention to the Muslims in the country and their intentions and practices while they are here.
I thought the writing was mediocre. I had to will myself through the historical section of the book (which came first), though admittedly I am a person who would rather listen to lectures of history than read it for myself. Lots of the book was repetitive, probably to strengthen the author's points and focus, but I found it distracting. I did greatly enjoyed the sections detailing sharia law, and the cultural chasm between America (and Europe) and the Middle East. The parts of the book that I liked, I liked immensely.
And it was a VERY eye-opening piece. Once again, I would have liked to have some knowledgable folks with which to discuss. Definitely worth the read, and has inspired me to read more and educated myself further on the topic.
I very much enjoy memoirs, but have a hard time simply taking one account of any experience or situation as plain and indisputable truth. That said, for her part Darwish makes many convincing arguments that Americans and the American government needs to pay closer attention to the Muslims in the country and their intentions and practices while they are here.
I thought the writing was mediocre. I had to will myself through the historical section of the book (which came first), though admittedly I am a person who would rather listen to lectures of history than read it for myself. Lots of the book was repetitive, probably to strengthen the author's points and focus, but I found it distracting. I did greatly enjoyed the sections detailing sharia law, and the cultural chasm between America (and Europe) and the Middle East. The parts of the book that I liked, I liked immensely.
And it was a VERY eye-opening piece. Once again, I would have liked to have some knowledgable folks with which to discuss. Definitely worth the read, and has inspired me to read more and educated myself further on the topic.
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