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The Politically Incorrect Guide to Islam (and the Crusades) Paperback – August 1, 2005
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While many choose to simply blame the West for provoking terrorists, Robert Spencer’s new book The Politically Incorrect Guide to Islam (and the Crusades)™ reveals why it is time to ignore political correctness and identify the enemy - if we hope to ever defeat them.
In a fast-paced, politically incorrect tour of Islamic teachings and Crusades history, Spencer reveals the roots of Islamic violence and hatred. Spencer refutes the myths popularized by left-wing academics and Islamic apologists who justify their political agendas with contrived historical “facts.”
Exposing myth after myth, The Politically Incorrect Guide to Islam (and the Crusades)™ tackles Islam’s institutionalized mistreatment of non-Muslims, the stifling effect Islam has on science and free inquiry, the ghastly lure of Islam’s X-rated Paradise for suicide bombers and jihad terrorists, the brutal Islamic conquests of the Christian lands of the Middle East and North Africa, and more.
InThe Politically Incorrect Guide to Islam (and the Crusades)™, you will learn:
- How Muhammad did not teach “peace and tolerance”—instead he led armies and ordered the assassination of his enemies
- Why American Muslim groups and left-wing academics are engaged in a huge cover-up of Islamic doctrine and historyHow today’s jihad terrorists following the Qur’an’s command to make war on Jews and Christians have the same motives and goals as the Muslims who fought the Crusaders
- Why the Crusades were not acts of unprovoked aggression by Europe against the Islamic world, but a delayed response to centuries of Muslim aggression
- What must be done today—from reading the Qur’an to reclassifying Muslim organizations—in order to defeat jihad terrorists
- Print length270 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherRegnery
- Publication dateAugust 1, 2005
- Dimensions7.3 x 0.5 x 9 inches
- ISBN-100895260131
- ISBN-13978-0895260130
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Editorial Reviews
Review
"A much-needed antidote to the poisonous propaganda that compromises our current battle against jihadist murder." -- Bruce Thornton, historian
"An enormous amount of well-researched material. Throws the ball back into the camp of Arabist historians." -- Walid Phares, terror analyst
"Assails, with much erudition, the taboos imposed by the Politically Correct League." -- Bat Ye or, historian
"The courageous Robert Spencer busts myths and tells truths about jihadists that no one else will tell." -- Michelle Malkin, bestselling author and columnist
From the Back Cover
About the Author
His articles on Islam and other topics have appeared in the New York Post, the Washington Times, the Dallas Morning News, FrontPage Magazine.com, WorldNet Daily, Insight in the News, Human Events, National Review Online, and many other journals.
He has appeared on FOX News, CNN, PBS, and C-Span and numerous nationally syndicated radio shows, including Michael Savage’s Savage Nation, G. Gordon Liddy Show, Janet Parshall’s America, the Michael Reagan Show, and Vatican Radio discussing jihad, Islam, and terrorism.
Spencer has studied Islamic theology, law, and history for more than 20 years.
Product details
- Publisher : Regnery; Later Printing edition (August 1, 2005)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 270 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0895260131
- ISBN-13 : 978-0895260130
- Item Weight : 1.04 pounds
- Dimensions : 7.3 x 0.5 x 9 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #90,846 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #17 in Islamic Theology (Books)
- #29 in History of Islam
- #32 in Radical Political Thought
- Customer Reviews:
About the author

ROBERT SPENCER is the director of Jihad Watch and a Shillman Fellow at the David Horowitz Freedom Center. He is the author of twenty-eight books, including the New York Times bestsellers "The Politically Incorrect Guide to Islam (and the Crusades)" (Regnery Publishing) and "The Truth About Muhammad" (Regnery Publishing) and the bestsellers "The History of Jihad From Muhammad to ISIS" (Bombardier Books) and "The Critical Qur’an: Explained from Key Islamic Commentaries and Contemporary Historical Research" (Bombardier Books). His forthcoming book is "Muhammad: A Critical Biography" (Bombardier Books).
Spencer has led seminars on Islam and jihad for the FBI, the United States Central Command, United States Army Command and General Staff College, the U.S. Army’s Asymmetric Warfare Group, the Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF), the Justice Department’s Anti-Terrorism Advisory Council and the U.S. intelligence community. He has discussed jihad, Islam, and terrorism at a workshop sponsored by the U.S. State Department and the German Foreign Ministry. He is a senior fellow with the Center for Security Policy.
Spencer is a regular columnist for PJ Media and FrontPage Magazine, and has written many hundreds of articles about jihad and Islamic terrorism. His articles on Islam and other topics have appeared in the Los Angeles Times, the San Francisco Examiner, the New York Post, the Washington Times, the Dallas Morning News, Fox News Opinion, National Review, The Federalist, Human Events, American Greatness, The Hill, the Detroit New, Real Clear Religion, the Daily Caller, the New Criterion, the Journal of International Security Affairs, the UK’s Guardian, Canada’s National Post, Middle East Quarterly, WorldNet Daily, First Things, Insight in the News, World Israel News, Aleteia, and many other journals. He has also served as a contributing writer to the Investigative Project on Terrorism and as an Adjunct Fellow with the Free Congress Foundation.
Spencer has appeared on the BBC, ABC News, CNN, OANN, Newsmax, Steve Bannon’s War Room, FoxNews’s Tucker Carlson Show, the Sean Hannity Show, the Ingraham Angle, the O’Reilly Factor, Megyn Kelly’s The Kelly File, Geraldo Rivera Reports, the Glenn Beck Show, Fox and Friends, America’s News HQ and many other Fox programs, PBS, MSNBC, CNBC, C-Span, CTV News, Bill O’Reilly’s No Spin News, France24, Voice of Russia and Croatia National Television (HTV), as well as on numerous radio programs including The Sean Hannity Show, Bill O’Reilly’s Radio Factor, The Mark Levin Show, The Laura Ingraham Show, The Herman Cain Show, The Joe Piscopo Show, The Howie Carr Show, The Curt Schilling Show, Bill Bennett’s Morning in America, Michael Savage’s Savage Nation, The Alan Colmes Show, The G. Gordon Liddy Show, The Neal Boortz Show, The Michael Medved Show, The Michael Reagan Show, The Larry Elder Show, The Peter Boyles Show, Vatican Radio, and many others.
Robert Spencer has been a featured speaker at the University of California-Irvine, Temple University, Dartmouth College, Penn State University, the University of California-Los Angeles, Stanford University, New York University, Brown University, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the University of Virginia, State University of New York-Binghamton, State University of New York-Stony Brook, Florida State University, DePaul University, the College of William and Mary, Washington University of St. Louis, the University of Wisconsin at Madison, the University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee, Boise State University, Cal Poly, Portland State University, and many other colleges and universities. He has also addressed the Heritage Foundation, Westminster Institute, the Gatestone Institute, the Simon Wiesenthal Center’s Museum of Tolerance in New York City, the Hudson Institute, the Temple of the Arts in Los Angeles, the San Diego Jewish Book Fair, the Christian Rights and Freedom Institute, the Young Presidents’ Organization, Calvary Chapel Pacific Coast, the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), FreedomFest, Young America’s Foundation, Hershey’s Sweet Retreat, the John W. Pope Civitas Institute, the Conservative Forum of Silicon Valley, Train the Trainer, and many other audiences.
A complete listing of Robert Spencer’s books:
1. Islam Unveiled: Disturbing Questions About the World’s Fastest Growing Faith (Encounter Books, 2002)
2. Onward Muslim Soldiers: How Jihad Still Threatens America and the West (Regnery Publishing, 2003)
3. Inside Islam (with Daniel Ali) (Ascension Press, 2003)
4. The Myth of Islamic Tolerance: How Islamic Law Treats Non-Muslims (Prometheus Books, 2004)
5. The Politically Incorrect Guide to Islam (and the Crusades) (Regnery Publishing, 2005)
6. The Truth About Muhammad: Founder of the World’s Most Intolerant Religion (Regnery Publishing, 2006)
7. Religion of Peace? Why Christianity Is and Islam Isn’t (Regnery Publishing, 2007)
8. Stealth Jihad: How Radical Islam is Subverting America without Guns or Bombs (Regnery Publishing, 2008)
9. The Complete Infidel’s Guide to the Koran (Regnery Publishing, 2009)
10. The Post-American Presidency: The Obama Administration’s War On America (with Pamela Geller) (Threshold Editions/Simon & Schuster, 2010)
11. Did Muhammad Exist? An Inquiry Into Islam’s Obscure Origins (ISI Books, 2011)
12. Not Peace But A Sword: The Great Chasm Between Christianity and Islam (CA Press, 2013)
13. Arab Winter Comes to America: The Truth About the War We’re In (Regnery Publishing, 2014)
14. The Complete Infidel’s Guide to ISIS (Regnery Publishing, 2015)
15. The Complete Infidel’s Guide to Iran (Regnery Publishing, 2016)
16. The Complete Infidel’s Guide to Free Speech (and Its Enemies) (Regnery Publishing, 2017)
17. Confessions of an Islamophobe (Bombardier Books, 2017)
18. The History of Jihad From Muhammad to ISIS (Bombardier Books, 2018)
19. The Palestinian Delusion: The Catastrophic History of the Middle East Peace Process (Bombardier Books, 2019)
20. Rating America’s Presidents: An America-First Look at Who Is Best, Who Is Overrated, and Who Was An Absolute Disaster (Bombardier Books, 2020)
21. Mass Migration in Europe: A Model for the U.S.? (Center for Security Policy Press, 2020)
22. Islamophobia and the Threat to Free Speech (Center for Security Policy Press, 2021)
–. Did Muhammad Exist? An Inquiry Into Islam’s Obscure Origins — Revised and Expanded Edition (Bombardier Books, 2021)
23. The Critical Qur’an: Explained from Key Islamic Commentaries and Contemporary Historical Research (Bombardier Books, 2022)
24. The Church and the Pope (Uncut Mountain Press, 2022)
25. Who Lost Afghanistan? (Center for Security Policy Press, 2022)
26. The Sumter Gambit: How the Left Is Trying to Foment a Civil War (Bombardier Books, 2023)
27. Empire of God: How the Byzantines Saved Civilization (Bombardier Books, 2023)
28. Muhammad: A Critical Biography (Bombardier Books, 2024)
Spencer’s books have been translated into many languages, including Spanish, Italian, German, Finnish, Korean, Polish, Portuguese and Bahasa Indonesia.
Spencer (MA, Religious Studies, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill) has been studying Islamic theology, law, and history in depth since 1980.
What They’re Saying About Robert Spencer
“My comrade-in-arms, my pal, my buddy.” — Oriana Fallaci
“A hero of our times and one of the bravest defenders of liberty that I have ever met.” — Geert Wilders
“No one has upset the Islamophobia cabal more than Robert Spencer. First, he knows more about Islamic doctrine than they do. Next, he has outed all the tricks they use in their taqiyyah bag to disinform the public. Finally, and most importantly, Robert will not be cowed.” — Ayaan Hirsi Ali
“One of the top two or three experts in the world on this great war…against fundamental Islam. One of the top two or three experts in this nation about trying to suppress speech. People should know that Robert Spencer has been the tip of the spear in warning America, in fighting against radical Islamic jihad, not just here in this country – where you’ve done an amazing job – but throughout the world. Robert, you’re one of the true patriots in this country, and you’ve risked so much, including your life, your fortune, and your sacred honor, and your pursuit of happiness. You’re a great patriot to this country.” — Stephen K. Bannon, former Trump Administration Chief Strategist and Senior Counselor
“One of the most important writers living today…his books should be required reading.” — Dennis Prager
“A brave crusader against the dopier multiculti illusions.” — Mark Steyn
“I highly recommend that you listen to this guy.” — Glenn Beck
“A very savvy and knowledgeable critic.” – Dinesh D’Souza
“One of the most acclaimed counter-jihad scholars.” — Asian Tribune
“J’apprécie beaucoup ce que vous écrivez sur l’Islam.” — Fr. Samir Khalil Samir, S.J., internationally renowned Islamic scholar
“Robert Spencer incarnates intellectual courage when, all over the world, governments, intellectuals, churches, universities and media crawl under a hegemonic Universal Caliphate’s New Order. His achievement in the battle for the survival of free speech and dignity of man will remain as a fundamental monument to the love of, and the self-sacrifice for, liberty.” — Bat Ye’or
“A leader in this war for over a decade, documenting not just what is happening but explaining why.” — PJ Media
“A leading figure of the conservative movement in the US.” — Limerick Leader (Ireland)
“Distinguished scholar.” — Akbar Ahmed, Ibn-e-Khaldoon chair of Islamic Studies, American University, Washington, D.C.
“One of the most insightful and learned scholars of Islam.” — Catholic Insight
“Robert Spencer is indefatigable. He is keeping up the good fight long after many have already given up. I do not know what we would do without him. I appreciate all the intelligence and courage it takes to keep going despite the appeasement of the West.” — Ibn Warraq
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But having a more popular level volume on this subject is important, if for no other reason that people are busy and pressed for time. So a volume like this with its important contents can be scanned through in several hours.
Spencer covers a number of important issues. One major topic is that of the Crusades. Of course whenever people express concern about Islamic terrorism, and ask whether Islam is really a religion of peace, the usual tactic is to raise the issue of the Crusades. The implication is that the Christian West is no better than Islam, and perhaps worse, because of the Crusades.
And the Crusades are often dragged up by Muslim apologists almost as an excuse for present day jihad and terrorist attacks. It is as if the Crusades justify modern terrorist movements. Thus Spencer devotes a good third of this book to examining the issue of the Crusades in some detail.
Spencer discusses the reasons why the Crusades began, and clears up a number of myths surrounding them. In short, he argues, it is more accurate to view the Crusades as a defensive war, a reaction to 400 years of Islamic expansion and imperialism. The attempt to reclaim the Holy Lands and rescue Christians was a big factor in the Crusades.
While much excess of violence took place, and the Crusades were far from perfect, they do need to be seen in context. A number of points are raised by Spencer. For example, he cites Muslim authorities who in fact claim that Muslims tended to fare better in lands taken by the Crusaders than in Muslim lands!
And as for the 1099 sack of Jerusalem, yes it was barbaric in many ways. Yet it was not out of line with standard military practices of the day, be they Western or Muslim. Indeed, Muslim commentators of the day took a rather laconic interest in the whole matter. It was only later that this episode in particular, and the Crusades in general, became ammunition in the Muslim propaganda wars.
And what about equally odious Muslim offensives, such as the sack of Constantinople in 1453? While we constantly hear Westerners today apologising for what we did or did not do long ago, one hardly ever hears Muslims apologising for this event, or the massacre of the Armenians from 1915 to 1917, or dozens of other major Muslim atrocities. Where is the hand-wringing over these acts? Why are only Western shortcomings highlighted?
Spencer also examines the practices of Islam over the centuries: its oppression of women, it denial of freedom of conscience; its totalitarian nature, and its justification of jihad. Consider this last issue, for example. Many will argue that jihad is not really to be understood literally, that Islam is a religion of peace, and that only extremist Muslims practice violence. Not so, argues Spencer: "violent jihad warfare against unbelievers is not a heretical doctrine held by a tiny minority of extremists, but a constant element of mainstream Islamic theology".
Thus all four major Sunni schools of jurisprudence agree on the importance of jihad. Indeed, Islam is unique among the world's religions "in having a developed doctrine, theology, and legal system that mandates warfare against unbelievers". Spencer cites chapter and verse (or sura) from the Koran, along with sayings from the hadith (traditions) and examples from the life of Muhammad and his followers which make clear that the use of force is a mainstay in Islam, not an aberration.
Many other myths about Islam are here convincingly dealt with. Spencer concludes by reminding us that we are in a war. It is a war "between two vastly different ideas of how to govern states and order societies". In this struggle "the West has nothing to apologize for and a great deal to defend".
The differences between Islamic sharia law and totalitarian rule and Western freedoms and democracy are very real indeed. The two cannot co-exist. One will prevail, and Spencer knows which one he would have persevere.
He finishes with four simple proposals: Western foreign aid must be tied to the treatment of non-Muslims in Muslim nations; global alliances need to be reconfigured on this same basis; Muslim nations must renounce sharia expansionism; and the West must embark upon a full-scall search for alternate energy sources, so that we no longer have to rely on Middle Eastern oil.
All in all this brief volume contains a lot of helpful information. Many myths and misunderstandings about the nature of Islam and its threats are carefully dealt with here. While such information does not mean that we treat individual Muslims disrespectfully, it does remind us that there are two different ways of life competing for supremacy, and we need to be aware of this struggle and fortified with the right information. This volume helps us in that task.
Robert Spencer has put together an overview of how Islam has been understood and used by many of it's adherents in a manner that is highly detrimental, nay, deadly to those who did not agree with it. A strength are the quotations from source documents and people, and the references to other material for those who want to investigate in depth. Having read most of the reference material, this is a review for me, but it is a concise, fairly complete, and completely reliable review of many basic and irrefutable facts, quotes, documents, and historical findings. For those who are just approaching this subject, this is a magnificent first book.
I believe Mr. spencer is trying to achieve two very difficult learning experiences with this book. One is that there is much in Islam that that needs to be either deleted or reformed in a manner such that it cannot be reconstituted. Historically, every attempt at reformation, whether in Andalusia or Baghdad during the so-called and false "Golden Ages", i.e. every time moderate forward thinking Muslims speak out and make any progress, the radicals squash them and Jihad and Dhimmitude rule again with quotations from the basic precepts of the Holy Qur'an and the Hadiths and Traditions as their justification.
Second is that everyone should be able to openly and honestly discuss the Holy Qur'an and the Hadiths and the Traditions and the historical reality without being called racists and bigots. Islam, with all of its good, bad, and ugly needs to be examined in detail in the great marketplace of ideas. To present only the Islamic apologists side results in a very distorted and mostly false picture that is a denial of documentable reality. To argue based primarily on emotions, as the apologists do, is degrading. To argue that only Muslims can understand and interpret Islam is patently false and completely demeaning to all non-Muslims and any one with any intellectual honesty.
In order to ensure that everyone has enough knowledge to participate in the great discussion in the marketplace of ideas, this book presents an excellent knowledge base, and should be read by every non-Muslim, so they can understand the unbelievable struggle the moderates within Islam are going to have to wage if Islam is not going to continuously revert to the radicals views. It should be read by every Muslim so that even they can understand their religion and history as it relates to others and the radicals, as they are not taught this in their Mosques or Maddrasses, and thusly the moderates can truly know that they face a monumental, but necessary, task.
Sir Winston Churchill is quoted in this book. He foresaw the evil of the Nazis almost before anyone else; he forsaw the Iron Curtain and the evil of communist Russia almost before anyone else; he speaks about some aspects of Islam that must be reformed or Islam will always be a religion and lifestyle promoting and realizing the subjugation of women and non-Muslims. Churchill was the voice in the wilderness that was recognized to be perfectly correct just before it was too late with the Nazis and the Communists. Hopefully this book by robert Spencer will serve the purpose, since Sir Winston is no longer with us; just his prophetic words.
If moderate Muslims cannot win this necessary battle, then they must be willing to ally themselves with non-Muslims.
Hopefully this book will provide the vital mustard seed of reality that the Islamic apologists need in order to reenter the world of reason and factual documentation so that they can join the battle on the side of reason and rationality, and not the side of the jihadists.
This book admirably suits the purpose as described above. It should be required reading in every high school, college, board room, governmental office, living room, church, mosque, temple, and every house of worship of every religion. The learning is not just about religion, but the way of life (Shari'a) that comes with Islam.
Top reviews from other countries
Thank you Robert Spencer for putting this book together. An easy read, not at all difficult to follow but obviously well researched. Yes, there is a bias but it is well deserved and expected. Any reader who has an uncomfortable feeling about Islam but can't quite explain why, will find in this book the knowledge he or she needs to defend their feeling. It will actually bring gratitude for our Jewish friends as well as bring you closer to all non-Muslim peoples everywhere.
Congratulations Robert Spencer. In answer to the quote from [...] saying about Mr. Spencer "May Allah rip out his spine from his back and split his brains in two." I say, may God protect you from a hatred so fierce that a Muslim would actually put it in those kinds of words. A religion of "Peace and Tolerance?"
It cites many examples and references to support its conclusions.
I came away with a much clearer understanding of the developing situation in the West.
When I have quoted some violent passages to male Muslims, the response is always the same , denial, a cry of " it's not true " ! sadly my friends, it is true, there for you to see in black & white, the ugly truth.
Many children are taught the Qu-ran, by rote in a language they do not know or understand, i e : Arabic.
The same with the Immams in the UK Mosques , very few speak English, so how can the young second/third generation Muslims discuss anything with these leaders ?
Well , here is a book they could & should read , a book which explains Muhammads words & deeds in plain outspoken English. With direct quotes, & comparable ones from the Bible.
It cleverly includes the Crusades & demolishes any doubt about why they were fought, Robert Spencer has given the full picture & posed many questions for western governments, let's hope they are going to answer them , ASAP.
He rings alarm bells for the PC brigade too, let them wake up from their torpor & see how much damage they have done & continue to do. !!!
This is a book well worth buying , it's a very easy, if disturbing read.







