Terrorism 101: A Library Reference & Selected Annotated Bibliography [Paperback]

Leon Newton (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 3, 2006

This book is a Must for Libraries Reference Sections Today's terrorists are often part of a global network of highly sophisticated, methodical, comprehensive, well funded terrorist organizations whose perversions of their faiths allow them to justify even the most heinous of acts. It stands to reason that our response must likewise be global, sophisticated, methodical, comprehensive and well funded. We have at our disposal an arsenal of the finest, most powerful weapons available to fight terrorism. Not bombs and bullets, but people: experts in diplomacy, intelligence gathering, computers, anthropology, economics, communications, crisis management, arbitration, languages, foreign realations, and dozens of other fields that can contribute to the all-important task of identifying, stopping and preventing terrorism. If there were a "right" answer to how best to deal with global terorism, surely we would have found it by now. But just as surely, finding the solution must lie in asking the right quesitons.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Terrorism 101 is a valuable reference book for our dangerous times.Within its pages, readers are given an eye-opening picture of what terrorism is,from its beginnings many centuries ago to its proliferation today.The book takes a close look at how the face of terrorism has changed due to advancing technologies in the fields of communication, weapons, transportation, international finance and biochemical research.Terrorism 101 reference book provide the readers a wide understanding of the subject of terrorism and what it will take to win the war on terror.Terrorism 101 reference book is a must for libraries as an initial point of access for research on terrorism.

From the Author

Terrorism is an -old scourage. as long as there have been governments there have been those in opposition whose deliberately violent actions fall outside the purview of the state sponsored military attack. So it is somewhat surprising that after centuries of witnessing terrorist acts, people still cannot agree on a proper definition. No such objective definition exist. Our own State Department`s guidelines are sufficiently vague as to make it impossible to easily distinguish some military actions from acts of terrorism.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 316 pages
• Publisher: Outskirts Press (July 3, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1598006118
• ISBN-13: 978-1598006117
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,390,910 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Leon Newton is the author of the Price about a millionaire who do not believe in God or Jesus. My second book is " Not In This Church " about same sex marriages. I wanted to God`s work and he gave me the talent to write. I decide to write christian plays. I am a professor and writer of books, plays and articles.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Excellent Reference Book on Terrorism, September 22, 2006

By 

Carroll Payne "World Conflict Quarterly" (www.globalterrorism101.com) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Terrorism 101: A Library Reference & Selected Annotated Bibliography (Paperback)

Leon Newton, has written "Terrorism 101" that offers a fresh perspective on the many works introducing terrorism that have been published since 9/11.

"Terrorism 101" covers a wide variety of ideas and subjects that have been all been hotly debated within the subject. It opens with the a discussion of the definition of terrorism and rather than becoming bogged down here as so many other authors have done, he offers us a workable definition and then quickly moves on to a historical discussion of the issue.

Newton also covers Al-Qaeda, The PATRIOT Act, International Terrorism, Causes of Terrorism, Media and Terrorism, Weapons of Mass Destruction and the Potentials of Future Terrorism. Newton's book is easy to read and students will not find it difficult to follow.

It is in the second half of the book that "Terrorism 101" breaks with the other books in the market and offers an Annotated Bibliography that will prove to be of immense valve to the reader.

What Newton has done is compile an Annotated Bibliography of terrorism related books, articles, scholarly related publications, government publications, reports and Internet sources. These resources will be of immense aid to any student of current events as well as the secondary school or collegiate level student conduction research for assignments.

This book is designed for a public or private library with students beginning their research into the subject of terrorism. This book would also be a great addition to any personal library due to its outstanding bibliography.

Whether purchased for a private, public or personal collection "Terrorism 101" is an excellent addition to any library.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Compelling and Insightful Read, September 28, 2006

By 

Tracy Roberts (Nova Scotia, Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Terrorism 101: A Library Reference & Selected Annotated Bibliography (Paperback)

Terrorism 101 provides an insightful and educational read into the "nuts and bolts" of Terrorism. Terrorism is not a new trend. Dr. Leon Newton shows that terrorism has existed for as long as Governments have been in place. He points to historical accounts of terrorism that go back to such early periods as BC 334.

Terrorism 101 offers readers a detailed account of the history of terrorism, the role of the media and terrorism, the historical roots of terrorism, countering terrorism, foreign policies and their influence on terrorism, and a historical account of the formation of Al Qaeda. A thoroughly researched reference book, Terrorism 101 presents an enlightened perspective on terrorism. An in depth Appendix and Bibliography provides readers with many works written by other experts in the field of terrorism.

With so much written about terrorism, it is often difficult to research the topic to gain an understanding of the motives behind it. Dr. Newton provides readers with well-researched and factually documented information that helps one understand the various aspects of terrorism. It is a handy resource tool for those seeking to educate themselves about the many issues concerning terrorism.

When reading the book, a number of important topics come up. The role of the media and its ability to sway public opinion is one important concern. It would have been interesting to see a chapter devoted exclusively to the Cable Television News Networks. The 24-hour news channels are a powerful tool in swaying public opinion. For instance, when the subject of invading Iraq was placed in the public domain, the 24 hour news channels first tried to show both sides, those for and those against. Later, a bias evolved supporting the pro invasion side, possibly motivated by the thrill of accompanying the military during the invasion, which may have influenced journalists to stop asking the right questions.

Much like the "war on drugs," the declaration of "war on terror" and the use of preemptive strikes reveal an unrealistic ideal. The Preemptive Strike Doctrine only fuels the spread of Terrorism. By addressing historical and current events, Dr. Newton points out that "modernizing a culture too fast can lead to a proliferation of terrorists, as those who feel marginalized, powerless, and threatened," become easy prey for terrorist organizations seeking new recruits.

Dr. Newton explains that military intervention alone does not stop terrorists. In times of turmoil, losing one's rational perspective, diplomatic voice, and non-military methods aimed at preventing terrorism, can only lead to the further proliferation of terrorists. We see this happening in Iraq.

Terrorism 101 provides readers with a rational and comprehensive guide to understanding terrorism and the choices that are available to reduce the spread of terrorist activities with the goal of preventing such horrific events as 911. I highly recommend this well crafted and well-researched book to readers interested in a rational approach to understanding terrorism. It should be an added resource tool for all libraries and personal reference collections.

Tracy Roberts, Write Field Services Reviewer.

Paperback: 316 pages
Publisher: Outskirts Press (July 3, 2006)
ISBN: 1598006118

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Enthusiastically recommended as an informed and informative study, November 5, 2006

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Terrorism 101: A Library Reference & Selected Annotated Bibliography (Paperback)

Written by Leon Newton Ph. D. (Professor of Political Science at Jackson State University), Terrorism 110: A Library Reference & Selected Annotated Bibliography is a solid reference, written for scholars, field professionals, and lay readers alike. Drawing upon history, research, and a wealth of documentation, chapters illuminate the true nature of the terrorist group Al Qaeda, why the root causes of terrorism cannot be explained simply, the relationship between terrorism and the media, the ramifications of terrorism in today's modern age, and much more. A massive, 150-page bibliography is as valuable as the main text, which draws succinct and well-reasoned conclusions where it can and states plainly when there is too little evidence to be certain. Enthusiastically recommended as an informed and informative study text to dispel common myths about terrorism such as the belief that poverty causes it, or that all terrorists are insane.