Although this book has been illuminating about nascent dissident movements and figures in the Islamic world. I think it is full of wishful thinking and over-interpretation of some positive anti-extremism trends.

The author tries to build a case that modern Muslims are increasingly going against extremism and tries to point out signs of this. She is simply over optimistic. As the saying goes "one swallow does not make a spring", and the proverbial Arab Spring was this little sad swallow coming before its time.

The Author spoke at length about Iran, Egypt, Iraq, and Yemen and even mentioned some "developments" in Afghanistan. Conspicuously absent from this book, however is any attempt to look at Syria. It was mentioned in one sentence in passing. Perhaps because the unfolding events there demonstrate the exact opposite of what she was trying to prove. The autocratic regimes winning the day through the alarming rise of extremist ideology.

The book taught me a few things about isolated and small movements against the tide of Islamism. At some other time this could have been enough to reassure a less engaged western mind. But it is much less convincing for someone who lived in the Islamic world or even for someone enlightened enough and living in this turbulent age. We need a lot more than a sprinkling of dissents to make extremism decline for good.


( )

Not very often do you get read history in the making. Wright's work is a firsthand look into the Arab Spring of 2011. Wright goes beneath the surface to understand the motivations of the populace. A large part of the nonviolent uprising has to do with changing the narrative of the Islamic faith from religious fanatics and battling peacefully against propped up autocrats, but internal jihad, day-to-day struggles is also fueling this nonviolent uprising. Human rights--civil rights, women's rights, and gay rights--come against fighting conservative religious fanatics and corrupt despots, while managing to maintain a balance of peaceful, respectful, religious principles in a globalized world. The United States, and the rest of the West, has for once come up with a consistent foreign policy and stick to it. Can't preach democracy one minute, and in the same breath, aid and abet dictators and think no one in the world is going to find out, connect all the dots, and post them on YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter.
( )

A fascinating snapshot of what is happening now in the Middle East. Highly recommended. ( )

A fascinating snapshot of what is happening now in the Middle East. Highly recommended. ( )

This book comprises several parts. The first, about 100 pages or so, summarizes the Arab Spring movements that ousted long-time rulers in Tunisia and Egypt, and is exactly that: a good recap of what happened in those countries, with glances at some if their neighbors. The second part of the book was much more interesting to me, a review of cultural and social changes going on across the Muslim world that add up to a repudiation of extremist violence. As Wright tours us through Islamic hip-hop, comedy, televangelism and more, she refutes stereotypes and outlines an emerging Islamic pop culture that will seem both familiar and strange to American readers. ( )