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Freedom Book of the Month
Email List Archive
Free-Market.Net's Freedom Book of the Month
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Edited by Sunni Maravillosa. To join or leave this and other
lists, click to: http://www.free-market.net/features/lists/
* April, 2004: "The Trouble with Islam," by Irshad Manji
* New and notable
* Winners of 2003 Freedom Book of the Year
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Freedom Book of the Month for April, 2004:
"The Trouble with Islam"
by Irshad Manji
St. Martin's Press 2004, trade paper, 240 pp.
ISBN: 0312326998
It appears that things keep sliding from bad to worse in the Middle
East. Across the political spectrum in the western world, experts of
varying types push their interpretations of why animosity toward the
west -- and the United States in particular -- is so high among
Muslims. Many seem to have some political motivation in mind; common
ones are perpetuating the gap between Christian and Muslim religions,
and feeding American guilt (for being so successful, for the war, and
other related things). Is there anyone who is of the Muslim faith who
can talk about it candidly, offering insights to its history as well
as its current state?
Perhaps there is. Irshad Manji can hardly be called an objective
individual, but in "The Trouble with Islam" she writes movingly of
her attempts to be a good Muslim while simultaneously not turning
off her mind. Written as an open letter to "my fellow Muslims", she
offers a unique perspective on the Muslim religion and culture --
that of both an insider and an outsider.
Manji can be considered both an insider and outsider because she was
raised in Canada to be a proper Muslim woman. Being a bright
individual, however, she noticed striking differences between her
madressa -- religious school -- and the public school. Her
inquisitive, challenging mind was not only allowed, but encouraged
to explore, to seek more information as her interests led at school;
the madressa and imams wanted her to accept and follow their
teachings -- no questions or challenges allowed. Manji rejected that
close-mindedness, and later set out on her own exploration of the
Koran and the Muslim faith.
As a lesbian, Manji's an outsider to Islam on that dimension as well.
Rather than being cowed by the condemnation thrown at her over her
sexuality, Manji candidly asks tough questions that ought to inspire
any Muslim minority -- whether "Paki", female, or gay -- to rethink
their acceptance of a faith that marginalizes them.
"The Trouble with Islam", while offering diverse servings of
scholarly and historical research, is not an exhaustive examination
of Islam. It is the forthright response of one woman to a religion
she wants to claim as her own -- on terms she believes Islam once
held as dear as she does, but has since rejected in a choice of
stagnation over progress.
For Americans and other westerners wondering why there appears to
be so much hatred of western culture, Manji offers telling vignettes
and a spirited defense of capitalism that she says is cherished by
a growing number of Muslim faithful. She touches on the divisiveness
within Islam as well, which if nothing else should reassure those
concerned about the often overblown terrorist fears directed at
individuals of Arab descent or appearance. And of course, Manji
takes on the Palestine/Israel mess, offering tales of her personal
experiences in the area to paint a vivid impression of life there.
I don't know if Irshad Manji is libertarian, but her impassioned
argument for tolerance and reason, along with her defense of free-
market ideas and call for rights for women and other minorities, are
enough for me to welcome her as a sister of freedom. "The Trouble
with Islam" offers an unusual but informed look at one of the most
important religious movements in the world today; more importantly,
it offers hope that a greater understanding between cultures and
religions is possible.
Order "The Trouble with Islam" from Amazon.com:
http://www.free-market.net/rd/343569650.html, $16.07
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New and notable
o "The New Prohibition," edited by Bill Masters
Dissenting voices to the drug war, from politicians to philosophers
and beyond, speak out in this slim, powerful book. Contributors
include Ron Paul, Jeffrey Singer, Ari Armstrong, and Ron
Crickenberger.
Order "The New Prohibition" from Accurate Press:
http://www.free-market.net/rd/863195990.html, $14.95
o "Educational Freedom in Urban America," edited by David Salisbury
and Casey Lartigue Jr.
Fifty years after the U.S. Supreme Court ended public school
segregation, the overall performance of urban schools remains
dismal, with African-Americans and Hispanics bearing the brunt of
this disgraceful finding. Yet some hope remains for those students,
borne largely on parental choice in school selection. Another
informative, excellent book from the Cato Institute.
Order "Educational Freedom in Urban America" from Amazon.com:
http://www.free-market.net/rd/876648605.html, $17.46
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Winners of the 2003 Freedom Book of the Year
I don't know what came over me last month -- spring fever, perhaps,
or excitement over the prospects of living longer and healthier
revealed in last month's book of the month. Whatever it was, I
forgot to announce the winners of the 2003 Freedom Book of the Year
voting. I hope y'all haven't been sitting on the edges of your
seats, this entire time, restlessly nibbling your fingernails ...
First, the winner of the drawing for the $100 Laissez Faire Books
gift certificate: Paul Miniato, a libertarian and longtime
Free-Market.Net friend from the Great White North. Paul was very
pleased to have his name chosen from our virtual hat, and like
any smart libertarian, promptly took advantage of LFB's 15% off
sale this month. (There's still time for you to catch their
savings, too -- it runs through 4/30!)
The voting was unusually light this year, and as a result, I have
two more winners to announce. That's right -- there was a tie for
first place. Interestingly enough, both books were written by
women, another first. I'm pleased to see that one of my favorite
books of 2003 was also highly regarded by our voters; that is Mary
Ruwart's "Healing Our World in an Age of Aggression". If you missed
my review the first time around, it'll tell you why you need to buy
multiple copies of this powerhouse for sharing:
http://www.free-market.net/features/bookofthemonth/healingworld.html
The second book is a novel, sometimes wrongly considered a children's
book. Prescient chap that he is, Don Lobo Tiggre -- who did a guest
review of the book -- asked in the title of his review if "Harry
Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" could win Freedom Book of the
Year. His review was almost enough to convince me to read all the
books in order to have the proper context for this one; you can read
or re-read it to remind yourself why this book is so great, while
waiting for the next installment:
http://www.free-market.net/features/bookofthemonth/harrypotter.html
Given the quality of the books I'm seeing already this year, the
voting for 2004 Freedom Book of the Year may similarly be close. What
a great boon for liberty lovers -- terrific ideas packaged in various
ways that help inspire, persuade, and challenge individuals to keep
pursuing that highest of values: individual liberty.
Keep doing freedom,
Sunni Maravillosa
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