Customer Reviews

Being Muslim (Groundwork Guides)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

If it's an easy overview of key issues, topics and social and political concerns you need to serve as an introduction to Muslim concerns, you can't go wrong with BEING MUSLIM, based on travels in Muslim lands and interviews with experts there and in the West. Here's an analysis of the impact of terrorism on Muslims, explaining how Islam affects daily living and surveying differences between East and West perspectives. A very simple, easy introduction, this lends equally well to middle to high school libraries strong in social and political history.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

This is indeed the best book on the subject. I heard the interview of the author on NPR while driving to the airport from a client site! I could not wait to get this book from the library. I just finished reading the book and I will soon be buying it to add to my library. The author takes a very balanced view on the sensitive topic but spares no punches when dealing with the facts. The book deals with post 9/11 issues very directly and at the same time provides a very nice intro to the Islamic culture and traditions. I recommend this book to anyone who really wants to know what it is to be a muslim in this world that is torn apart by religious conflicts.

Mr. Siddiqui represents Muslims whose voices often go unheard amidst the Islamophobic ravings of the likes of Irshad Manji and the violent rhetoric and actions of extremists, both of whom have come to define Muslims and Islam in the public mind. A must read.

This book was a good idea. It helps to explain what it really means to be Muslim, especially in America. But its intentions of bringing support and tolerance to Muslim beliefs and behaviors is undermined by the arguments of the author. Too many remarks are hostile or laced with malice. Too often the author criticized Americans and American policy and how it has affected Muslims. I'm not saying the author is wrong, but this approach is not going to breed sympathy. There's surely a better alternative out there.

This book is perfect for those who know little about the Muslim world. It is very relevant to today considering the Mosque in New York and the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. I hope everyone that reads this book enjoys it as much as I have.

I finished this book today, and it is a bit misleading.

This book is less about 'being muslim' and more about defending the religion of Islam, and falsely, I feel, enlightening Americans about their perception of Islam and its people, themselves.

While reading this book, the narration assumes that you are Islamophobic, or at least have a warped image of the everyday Muslim. There is much bashing of President Bush and his war policies, that while not entirely dishonest, have nothing to do with 'being muslim.'

There are details of Islam's beliefs and practices in the book, but they are almost all placed in the book to counter beliefs held by the mainstream public and media.

There is information in this book, but after the bias I read in it, it's difficult for me rely on the author not to bend the truth in his favor.

I never got past the first 2 chapters. The first 2 chapters were anti-America/anit-Jew propaganda. From what I hear from other sources it is the same kind of stuff being taught in their schools and mosques that promote hate. And they are suggesting this for a teen read. I hope not.

This book is written with teens in mind. It fails. Siddiqui writes with a broad brush, frequently compares apples to oranges and leads the reader to join in him with his conclusions. His use of language and statistics to paint distorted versions of history may be acceptable and understood in adult nonfiction (where the reader may have years of "news" experience to differentiate fact from opinion.) However for a teen audience this work makes for an unethical education.