The New World War: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Why and How Militant Muslims Plan to Destroy Western Civilization [Paperback]

John Clark Mead (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 2002

A Behind-the-Scenes look at Why and How Militant Muslims Plan to Destroy Western Civilization

--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

In this riveting account of his extraordinary experiences as a cultural anthropologist working among radical organizations deep within the world of fundamentalist Islam, John Clark Mead answers the questions few have dared to ask since the events of September 11, 2001. He offers answers to why many of the Muslims he had come to know during his years of overseas fieldwork eventually joined the ranks of militant Islam, and how he gained access to classified plans developed by leaders who set the agenda for al-Qaeda and other militant networks. In terrifying detail, Mead then reveals how September 11th fit into a comprehensive "blueprint" for the destruction of western civilization, and he offers compelling evidence that supports the view that this awful objective may one day be realized. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

About the Author

Born and raised in Connecticut, John Clark Mead is a cultural anthropologist who began living among Muslims in their native lands in 1986. His extensive fieldwork has included research into several of the world’s largest Islamic organizations and networks. Mead returned to the United States for a sabbatical just prior to September 11th, 2001. His fieldwork and research will resume in January 2003. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 172 pages
• Publisher: Xulon Press (November 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 159160303X
• ISBN-13: 978-1591603030
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,318,801 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Interesting ideas, but vague ..., September 18, 2003

By 

SEG "SEG" (Las Vegas, NV) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: The New World War: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Why and How Militant Muslims Plan to Destroy Western Civilization (Paperback)

This book is extremely vague and slow at the beginning. John Clark Mead takes you through his life as a Christian with a mission to convert the Islamic people, which is not what you would expect from a cultural anthropologist. Once you get through his religious babble to when he actually arrives in this unnamed Islamic country, the book starts getting interesting. He gives a blueprint about how Militant Islamic world will destroy Western civilization, but it lacks any facts, names or predictions of events making his whole idea sound more like a conspiracy theory.

The review by queltor hit this book on its nose. With all the facts included in this story, Mead's blueprint might have been a best seller or great information for the CIA, but nobody can seem to verify if any of the information provided in this book is correct.

I still recommend reading this book with an open mind and caution, but first you should read several other more factual books on Islamic Militants and Al Qaeda. Mead's blueprint can help in putting the pieces together on why these people hate Western Civilization and what we can do to stop them in their task of destroying the western world.

8 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Underpinnings of Militant Muslim Logic Explained, November 10, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: The New World War: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Why and How Militant Muslims Plan to Destroy Western Civilization (Paperback)

This anthropologist gives an insightful account of the militant Muslim movement from the perspective of one that has first hand knowledge. The book is well written and very readable. The author is articulate, not patronizing, in explaining the distinctions among cultural, religious and militant Muslims for those of us unfamiliar with the Muslim world.

Remarkable circumstances allowed the author to befriend leaders at the top of militant Islam is summarized. At the heart of the book the historical underpinnings of militant Muslim logic that makes them hate the West, especially America is clearly explained. In a lucid and flowing style the determined and patient strategies of the militant Muslim movement unfolds. The reasoning as to why militant Muslims believe their people and cause is threatened by, but superior to, the West is very clear and credible. This is a dangerous book. It is helpful to know thy enemy. Citizens of the West take notice.

30 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Highly suspect explanation of "the facts", April 16, 2003

By 

Michael (Washington D.C.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The New World War: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Why and How Militant Muslims Plan to Destroy Western Civilization (Paperback)

The claims made in this book are impossible to verify. While passionately written, it lacks a bibliography, references, footnotes, and detail. Instead of answering "who", "what", "when", "where", "how", and "why", this book focuses on the "why" without backing it up with any verifiable facts.

One of the primary sources for this book is introduced on page 39: "I shall refer to him as Ahmed... he belonged in some capacity to the largest fundamentalist Islamic organization in the region." Nowhere in the book do you find out who Ahmed is, what organization he's a member of, or what region of the world is being talked about (beyond somewhere that Arabs live). While the author claims he lived in the country for several years, you never find out what country or during what time period. His sponsor in the country was another university, but it's never named.

The complete lack of details leaves the reader with a collection of sweeping claims about the Islamic faith, their schools, and hostile motivations towards the West, but without mentioning names, places, or organizations.

Not only are the claims of the book impossible to verify, the author's own credentials can't be verified either. While the author claims to hold a cultural anthropology degree from a "top secular university" (pg 32) you never find out where or when he attended school, except that he transferred from an unnamed Christian college to get the secular university credentials.

If you're interested in doing research on Islamic terrorism, there are many other books available that include names, dates, references, footnotes, and a bibliography. This book includes none of those things.