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V. S. Naipaul

Among the Believers Hardcover – October 12, 1981

by V.S. Naipaul (Author)

4.4 283 ratings

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The acclaimed novelist-journalist reports on the lives, faith, and renewed sense of importance of the people of Islam, from Iran to Indonesia

Print length

430 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Knopf
Publication date

October 12, 1981
ISBN-10

0394509692
ISBN-13

978-0394509693
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Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Knopf; First Edition (October 12, 1981)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 430 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0394509692
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0394509693
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.56 pounds

Best Sellers Rank: #2,965,526 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #9,635 in Travelogues & Travel Essays
- #319,778 in History (Books)
- #626,345 in Religion & Spirituality (Books)

Customer Reviews:
4.4 283 ratings

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Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5

283 global ratings

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wiseprof

Calls a spade a spade!

Reviewed in the United States on December 25, 2001

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Mr. Naipaul's treatment of a what has now become a very contemporary issue is definitely commendable. He asks all the questions you'd like to ask and then some. While many have called this an opinionated piece of work, after reading the book I am truly surprised about such conclusions. Mr. Naipaul takes the reader on a journey through some of the bedrock Islamic societies to winnow fact from fiction and in doing so sets forth the state of affairs with remarkable practicality, bereft of either political correctness or feigned understanding of the tortuous evolution of religion and its convenient interpretation. What a refreshing change compared to the politically correct drivel we read everyday in the papers!!
The dialogs with everyday folk in Iran right after the revolution, the description of the abject conditions in Pakistan are indeed illuminating. The book has much to offer by way of insights especially into the Islamic way of life and origins of Islamic societies in Malaysia and Indonesia (e.g., the "statistical Muslim"). I only wish he had included the Middle Eastern countries in his book. It would have been quiet interesting to read what he has to say about the virulent strains of Islamic fundamentalism that has risen in those parts of the world.
In sum, the book is definitely a good read. I would ask the reader to set aside any prejudiced reviews before reading this book. For the most part Mr. Naipaul adopts a descriptive style of writing and lets the reader connect the dots and draw conclusions. Of course the book is peppered with the author's own interpretations but I did not find them overbearing in any way. It still comes across as a very balanced look at some parts of the Islamic world.
I would strongly recommend the reader to visit ...to view/listen/read Sir Vidia's Nobel lecture. It offers interesting insights into the writer's journey.

33 people found this helpful

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Art Vanderleigh

Dated but still relevant

Reviewed in the United States on December 16, 2014

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This book provides an objective look at the regular people living in some of the Islamic cultures that are very mysterious to many Westerners. The section in Pakistan was enlightening. The author highlights a theme I have since seen reinforced in other books, which is that the concept of running a society based on Islamic principles is an idealistic vision that people will fight for without ever giving serious thought to the practical challenges of such a system.

The Qu'ran forbids the charging of interest on loans: how then to institute a banking system in a society governed by Islamic law? Naipul meets with an official grappling with this very problem when he visits Pakistan, and the problem is simultaneously bemoaned by one group and kicked down the road by another, to a future where people are "True Muslims" and such problems solve themselves.

Naipul meets many people who are struggling to assimilate a very complex world into the very simple one revealed in a book. Their ultimate success or failure is left open ended, but Naipul is obviously pessimistic about their chances.

I enjoyed reading this book for the insights it gave into the thinking of the people powering the Islamic revolutions and counter-revolutions in the Middle East. In some cases they slot with depressing ease into the cynical stereotypes I had of "faithful ignorant" types, and in others they have a complex understanding of the forces at work in their society. The reality of their situation makes them feel powerless to help themselves while their faith lets them feel optimistic about the future.

I am giving this book four stars instead of five because in some places it was boring, but these places were rare and brief.

20 people found this helpful

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Dick Rochester

An Observer's Travelogue for Seekers

Reviewed in the United States on June 7, 2006

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This book was part of my set of books I read while on a quest to understand Islam and Islamic peoples. The set includes Karen Armstrong's Islam, the Barron's Islam, Huston Smith's The World's Religions, The Essential Koran, and the Koran itself (translated, of course). Armed with a topical understanding of Islam, I began reading V. S. Naipal's Among the Believers. Wow. This is the book to understand some of the religious and political attitudes of people in Islamic countries. There are surprises and there are cases where Naipal establishes just what are the "balances".

Naipal is a world class writer (Nobel prize winner) so the writing is excelent. However, more importantly, his observations are compelling. For example he suggestmhow "not having to earn a living" in Iran because of the huge oil revenues has skewed politics and religion. He explores how Islamic institutions in Pakistan, a country founded so it could be totally Islamic, have failed but no one will blame Islam - rather they blame the weak faith of the people or Western ideas. He also presents a spectrum of attitudes toward Islam even within these strong Islamic societies.

BTW, there is another edition of this book that has many customer reviews to view also.

16 people found this helpful

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M. Heiss

Stays with you

Reviewed in the United States on December 22, 2018

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V.S. Naipaul was recommended to me by a reader I trust.

It took me a while to get to this book, but once I began reading it, I stayed with it.

The writer has a way of being gentle with the people he writes about. Humans with dignity, even when he points out the absurdity of their actions or the futility of their struggles with the circumstances they find themselves in.

This book has stayed in my mind, with scenes and observations for me to turn over and consider.

My kind of book.

6 people found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

Martin Berthiaume

Naipaul got it dead on

Reviewed in Canada on August 19, 2010

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WOW!
Naipaul hit the nail right on.
If you are like me, you probably wondered if you should read a book written about "actualities" from the 1970's (maybe it's outdated!!!) ...thing is , as Naipaul pinpoint clearly, Islam doesn't evolve, the muslim world (as it is hope to be ) is a world stuck in a stand still like life was in the year 600 when the prophet came.
So , do you really think it matters now that you will read something written in 1979 about Islam;
The answer is no, It could have been written yesterday.
Read it, this is the most straight to the point inquiry about Islam and their Islamic dream state that will never be.
It isn't to deconstruct the Muslim world, it isn't about hate (or just not liking them) it is more about the whole philosophie of what is it that they want to achieve when they are talking about an "Islamic state"...
Do you respect such an idea just to be politically correct or do you try to pinpoint all the incongruity that don't make any sense at all?
Are you going to ask questions that will make them refer back non-stop to the Koran because they never themselve have the answer (since they should not have their own opinions) or are you just going to shut up because we must respect and understand that it is after all another culture?

Well, the answer is in the book, Naipaul's book not the Koran!

The dark Cyclist

One person found this helpful

LUCA FINZI CONTINI

A really grasping book, both intriguing to read and deeply informative

Reviewed in Italy on May 2, 2015

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This book was suggested to me from a Pakistani friend who knows the facts. I asked him a book to better understand Islam from the perspective of a western country citizen. He suggested that I read this one. And I really enjoy this book, both for its prose, which is so precise, compelling, descriptive and fast-paced, and for the insight into many countries' process of becoming Islamic. The perspective here is the one of the people you can find in the street, normal citizens, and no big deal on theories or doctrine. It's real daily life exposed, and how people feel about the new system, and how they just ... live.
Brilliant!

Rohit. Navale

Good, insightful.

Reviewed in India on August 23, 2017

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One man's perspective on the life, thoughts and political condition in some islamic countries. Quite informative, insightful and detailed. The author has traveled a lot and met people from various strata and spoke at length.

2 people found this helpful

Adarsh Kumar Sinh

Naipaul is greatest author of all time!

Reviewed in India on April 8, 2019

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He has incisive insight into his subject , this is must read to understand fundamentals of psychological build up of Islamic population.

3 people found this helpful

keith lodge

Like the book

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 18, 2017