How to Win a Cosmic War: God, Globalization, and the End of the War on Terror (Hardcover)

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Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

This book offers an informed critique of good-and-evil dualisms on both sides in the war on terror. Terrorists and their opponents share an "us against them" conception of reality that vilifies the enemy as irredeemable and suited only for destruction. Political estrangement and isolation nurture the cosmic dualism inherent in violent jihadist ideologies, argues Aslan (creative writing, Univ. of California at Riverside; No god but God: The Origins, Evolution, and Future of Islam). But a similar dualism lies behind ill-founded American responses to terrorism. In quick, informative surveys, Aslan takes readers through the origins of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, zealotry in ancient Jewish and contemporary (evangelical Christian and Zionist) forms, the history of Islamic jihadist distortions of Islamic teaching, and the repressive postcolonial governments that nurture such radical ideologs. But Aslan is hopeful: radical groups moderate their ideologies when they are drawn into the political process, and a new U.S. administration may adopt a more enlightened foreign policy. Aslan's suggestions are simple but not simplistic. Recommended for all readers interested in viewing the war on terror from this alternative perspective.—Steve Young, McHenry Cty. Coll., Crystal Lake, IL
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From The New Yorker

Aslan’s thoughtful analysis of America’s war on terror argues that the nation’s jihadist enemies believe the conflict is taking place on a spiritual, “cosmic” plane and thus cannot be lost. Only by denying the terrorists their good-versus-evil religious narrative can the United States keep the war grounded and winnable. Certainly this is good advice, although, given President Obama’s abandonment of his predecessor’s Manichaean foreign policy, it may have been overtaken by recent events. Far more interesting is Aslan’s agreement with Bush on the question of democracy. He distinguishes Islamist nationalist groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah from global jihadist groups such as Al Qaeda, and contends that recognizing the former as legitimate participants in the democratic process will undermine support for unyielding war. It’s an appealing, if unproved, claim.
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Product Details

• Hardcover: 228 pages
• Publisher: Random House (April 21, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1400066727
• ISBN-13: 978-1400066728
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 5.9 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #44,315 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Bringing the Cosmic War Back to Earth, June 26, 2009

By	Timothy Haugh (New York, NY United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

With his second book, How to Win a Cosmic War, Reza Aslan has solidified his place as the voice of moderation in the battles of Christian vs. Islam. As an American-born Muslim, he has insights for his fellow citizens about the history and perspective of those whose hearts and minds we are trying to win in the Middle East.

Unlike his previous book, No god but God, which was more of a history lesson in Islam for those of us in the West, this book focuses more specifically on the issues of fundamentalism and terrorism with which we are dealing today. He describes the growth of radical groups throughout the twentieth century. He shows how the idea of jihad was perverted by certain Muslims and what that means for us today.

Ultimately, he is trying to convince us to take what is too often articulated as a "cosmic war" (often unthinkingly) and bring it back down to earth. The terrorists we battle are dangerous because they don't have attainable, negotiable goals. The overthrow of the West, worldwide Islamic rule--these are not likely to happen and are certainly not things we can negotiate. This rhetoric elevates their struggle to the cosmic plane. The image becomes one of Good vs. Evil, God vs. Satan. Yet, when we allow ourselves to echo this rhetoric and inflame tensions by using words like "crusade," we are fighting a cosmic battle, not a real one. Cosmic battles cannot be won. Mr. Aslan reminds us that only by focusing on real, attainable goals can we make progress and reduce terrorism. By changing the "real world" around the terrorists for the better, they cannot recruit. There will always be radicals, but they are criminals, not warriors, however they see themselves.

Mr. Aslan has a rare point-of-view. Perhaps it arises from the mistrust he often feels all around--some Americans don't trust him because he is a Muslim of Middle Eastern decent and Middle Easterners don't trust him because he's American. But this perspective gives him an amazingly reasonable view of our world and he is often right on target. He has a tendency to be over-generous in his judgments sometimes--he is optimistic about everyone--but he is fair. That is a point-of-view we can use more of in our world.

33 of 47 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars How to Win a Cosmic War: God, Globalization, and the End of the War on Terror, April 30, 2009

By	Aphrodite D. Navab "Aphrodite Desiree Navab" (New York, NY) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I finished reading Reza Aslan's "How to Win a Cosmic War" yesterday when the WHO, World Health Organization, raised the level of influenza pandemic to five. In my mind, both Albert Camus' "The Plague" and the orange alerts raised by the Homeland Security's "War on Terror" collapsed into one war waged against our deepest fears.

Against this landscape, both real and imagined, Aslan's book speaks volumes. Through a critical analysis of the violence committed in the name of religion and renamed as politics from Judaism, Christianity to Islam, Aslan contends that the "War on Terror" cannot be won, for it is a cosmic one at the level of ideology. No armies, no nations, no treaties can solve a war between good and evil. Rather, Aslan posits, an honest, down to earth, and diplomatic discussion of the grievances is what is necessary. Not in the heavens of religion nor invention, could a cosmic war be won.

Aslan's astute analysis and conclusion comes at a crucial time when we need to imagine alternative ways of interaction than to demonize and dichotomize. Only by refusing to fight one, by bringing disputes to the flesh of the real, of the terrestrial, can we begin to have a real conversation. By reading "How to Win a Cosmic War," one takes a profound step towards beginning this dialogue.

26 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars An Easy Read., April 29, 2009

By	tania kazi - See all my reviews

Between his first book No God but God and this one, Reza Aslan has a lot to say. He is well versed with the discrepancies within the Islamic world, and portrays them very eloquently in both his books.
Additionally, this book is a broad narrative on the rifts between the muslim world and the Judeo-Christian world, and gives the reader a deep insight into the reasons that created global Jihad.
For anyone who wants to peel the layers and understand these rifts and their reasons, this book should be added to their list.
Its an objective account of history and a peaceful proposition to end religious wars.