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The ISIS Apocalypse: The History, Strategy, and Doomsday Vision of the Islamic State Hardcover – September 22, 2015

by William McCants (Author)
4.5 out of 5 stars 109 customer reviews
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Product Details

  • Hardcover: 256 pages
  • Publisher: St. Martin's Press (September 22, 2015)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1250080908
  • ISBN-13: 978-1250080905
  • Product Dimensions: 6.3 x 0.9 x 9.5 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (109 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,822 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Top Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsThe Rise and Fall of the ISIS Apocalypse
By William Struse TOP 500 REVIEWER on September 23, 2015
Format: Hardcover Verified Purchase
If you are interested in understanding ISIS and its underlying apocalyptic vision for the Middle East then look no further. William McCants in, The ISIS Apocalypse: The History, Strategy, and Doomsday Vision of the Islamic State takes you on a bloody and violent tour of this doomsday cult in the words and writings of their leaders.

To be sure this was not what I would call a fun read, in fact the history of ISIS reads more like a real life horror story on the scale of the French Revolution or Nazi Germany but nevertheless I believe it is history which anyone interested in the subject would be well served in pursuing.

The Spanish poet and philosopher George Santayana wisely observed that “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” There is no doubt in my mind that ISIS and its brutal doomsday apocalysm will go the way of other such abominable regimes but the question is what will we take away from this tragedy so that future generations do not have to experience this terror? That's the real value in reading this book in my opinion.
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5.0 out of 5 stars“This is not Bin Laden’s Insurgency,” […], “Caliphate”, […, or] “Jihad.”
By C. Townsend on September 22, 2015
Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase
Will McCants writes with expertise and aplomb about the Islamic State, its history, and the foundations of its efforts at regional dominance. While, some of the zig-zagging back and forth in time requires a bit of gymnastics from the reader, the book is both educational and entertaining. Anyone interested in learning about this organization from a truly qualified scholar would benefit from a read of this book.

Dr. McCants proclaims himself, rightly, as a guide, proficient in Islamic theology and history, modern jihadism, clandestine bureaucracies, and Arabic. The good doctor flexes his linguist muscles with translations of original Arabic texts, providing crucial context to the situations he describes.

The book covers the history of the organization, beginning with distinctions between Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State; such as, AQ wanted to build popular support for caliphate, but IS wanted to impose a caliphate, regardless of the acquiescence of the masses. The book details Zarqawi’s rise to prominence and obsession with Nur al-Din and Saladin. Zarqawi linked his organization in Iraq to AQ [forming Al-Qaeda in/of Iraq (AQI)] but his brutality drew censure from Al-Qaeda Central. Once Zarqawi was killed and al-Baghdadi became commander of the faithful, AQI dissolved and was absorbed into IS with Masri as minister of war.

From there the book focuses attention on the Islamic State’s flag symbolism and parallels with historical references to the Abbasids. After Masri and Baghdadi killed in 2010, the focus shifted yet again. The group floundered until the Americans left and the Arab Spring happened. The next section details the beginning of the online presence through magazines and Twitter.Read more ›
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5.0 out of 5 starsKey insights into how IS sees the world
By John Gibbs on September 22, 2015
Format: Hardcover
This is a difficult book to review on Amazon.com, because reviews containing the sorts of words and names that would normally be used to describe the contents of this book get filtered out as potentially objectionable content.

The current refugee crisis is just one of the devastating effects of the IS. The typical Westerner has absolutely no idea how the leaders of IS think or what motivates them. In order to resist IS, it is necessary to understand their history and their apocalyptic worldview and strategy.

This book provides many useful historical insights, some of which are based on the author's interpretation of a surprising array of correspondence between the leaders of the IS movement and the leaders of that well-known organisation based in Afghanistan, whose leader met his demise at the hands of Seal Team Six.

The book does not provide a handy plan for defeating IS, but it does help the reader understand where IS leaders think the world is heading, and how they are likely to respond to different types of provocation.
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5.0 out of 5 starsIn a crowded field of books on ISIS, this is the ONE to read
By A.R on October 1, 2015
Format: Hardcover Verified Purchase
Dr. McCants does an outstanding job of explaining the history, development and ideology of ISIS in a way that is accessible to the lay reader. Despite being from an academic background, and citing materiel that is out of reach for your average non-specialist, McCants presents reams of data in a concise manner that provides outstanding insight into not just ISIS but the entire environment in which it grew and spread.

Much of the coverage on ISIS treats the group as if it emerged out of nowhere, but McCants demonstrates how it has been festering for over a decade, taking root in the chaos that Iraq found itself in after the US invasion in 2003. Despite facing multiple challenges and disappointments, ISIS was able to use the continued lack of a cohesive state in Iraq to survive and then use the breakdown of society in Syria to take advantage of the power vacuum in the region to come about.

This is not a fun read, but McCants' writing style makes it easy to follow a relatively nebulous topic.

In order to ultimately defeat ISIS, we need to understand where it came from and where it is going. There is no better guide than this book for achieving that objective.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsBest book on ISIS that's out there.

It succinctly examines the ideas, personalities, and politics behind the rise of ISIS and its campaigns in Syria and Iraq. Read more

Published 5 days ago by Design mama
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

Surely one of the best books written on ISIS.

Published 11 days ago by Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 starsA good Read

A good read if you want a good idea of what the West must contend with these days.

Published 12 days ago by Piper
5.0 out of 5 starsEducate Yourself

You hear about this in the news. Educate yourself and get this book. Read and and have a much more clear understanding about what is happening in our lives. Read more

Published 1 month ago by Angelo
4.0 out of 5 starsThoughtful and thorough handling of a complex, opaque and ...

Thoughtful and thorough handling of a complex, opaque and frequently misunderstood subject. There are lessons to be gleaned from McCants unique perspective.

Published 1 month ago by Amazon Customer
4.0 out of 5 starsMcCants casts a very bright light on the origins and ...

McCants casts a very bright light on the origins and schisms of the various factions that led to the formation of ISIS. I found it very informative. Read more

Published 1 month ago by Llewellyn K Rabenberg
2.0 out of 5 starsTOO MUCH ON EMOTION NOT ENOUGH ON FACTS AND MILITARY TACTICS OF ISIS

Will McCants spent far too much time focusing on the solutions he thinks would work. Which were pretty bogus. Read more

Published 1 month ago by Vic
4.0 out of 5 starsNo easy answers in the middle east

A lot of info to digest. No easy answers in the middle east. This book helps to explain the complex issues.

Published 1 month ago by T. Forbes
4.0 out of 5 starsVery detailed reading

It's a very detailed read, perhaps targeted toward the serious scholar on middle east affairs.
But if you want something more concise/abbreviated, it's not this book.

Published 1 month ago by KIM SCHROEDER
5.0 out of 5 starsA Must Read

Great read, especially with all the crazies in the Mideast! Really explains what it all means, written by an expert in the field!

Published 1 month ago by D. North

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