Recommendations

In lieu of the full post (more of an essay, really) that I'm working on, about Western perception of Islam and some of the attendant problems with said perception, I'm going to offer a few summer reading suggestions.

1.  Prayers for the Assassin - A truly unforgettable piece of speculative fiction.  Set 30ish years in the future, the US has become a divided nation; in the North and West, and Islamic republic and in the South, a breakaway Christian nation.  Robert Ferrigno's explanation of how this situation came to be is both convincing and ground-breaking.  Filled with memorable characters, and extremely difficult to put down, this book, and its two sequels are amongst my absolute favorites.

2.  Ender's Game - Again, one of my all time favorites, by Orson Scott Card.  So creative, as far as military strategy is concerned, the book is taught in numerous military academies and most young military officers are very familiar with it.  Gripping plot, unforgettable scenarios, seriously thought-provoking.

3.  The Looming Tower - Written by Lawrence Wright, and received the Pulitzer prize.  I've read it three times now, and Wright's ability to seamlessly navigate the disparate threads of Al-Qaeda's origins, mission, goals and achievements - while balancing the stories of American law enforcement personalities charged with finding OBL - makes for a fascinating read.  Owing much, I believe, to Wright's background as a screenwriter, the book reads more like a novel than history.  He covers everything from Sayed Qtub through modern day in perfect detail; not so much as to render the book inaccessible, but more than sufficient to explain the motivations and personalities of the principal players.  Essential reading for anyone who wishes to understand how and why the September 11, 2001 attacks occurred, and the more general concept and execution of jihad.