Islam Under Siege: Living Dangerously in a Post- Honor World

""The 21st century will be the century of Islam,"" writes Ahmed, who holds a chair in Islamic Studies at American University in Washington, D.C. Moreover, the 21st century may be""a time of war between Islam and... other world civilizations."" Ahmed resists easy characterizations of Islam, always striving to offer a balanced depiction: Islam is both exclusivist and inclusivist, respectful of women but also mired in some cultural traditions that oppress them. Some portions of the book are dry and theoretical, and the academic jargon makes for slow reading. Other sections are fascinating and engaging--particularly Ahmed's ethnographic explorations of different pockets of Muslim life. He shares his difficult personal experiences as a scholar who spearheaded a controversial film study of Pakistan founder M.A. Jinnah, and concludes:""Looking at the breakdown of society for a Muslim scholar is like staring into the face of despair."" In the next section, however, he communicates his optimism after visiting the inclusive, tolerant Muslim community in Toledo, Ohio.