A READING REFERENCE LIST

For anyone who wants to dig into these subjects there is a wealth of information available on the web sites of The Cato Institute, The Heritage Institute and The Hoover Institute at Stanford University. Additionally, the following is a sampling of what I think is the best of my reading list. All of the books on Islam have the potential to disturb you: from the pro-Islamic affirmation of their basic aims and from pro-western writers by the scope of revealing research and depth of documentation but, as well, the blindness of our culture’s exposure to a serious threat. Studying Islam is incredibly fascinating and disturbing because it so radically different from the western mind set and offers no suggestion of a way to peacefully co-exist except conversion. All of these books are available in book stores or at Amazon.com. Because of oversight I did not use standard book listing format.
* Books also recommended in Spencer’s Politically Incorrect Guide. He also
recommends many other books not listed here.
** Your best bet for economy of learning.

LEARNING ABOUT ISLAM

An End to Evil by David Frum and Richard Perle. Focuses on the tactics and leadership we would need to win the war on terror. We do indeed lack the leadership.
An Introduction to Islamic Law by Joseph Schacht. A scholarly and detailed guide to Islamic religious law written in 1982. *
Because They Hate by Brigitte Gabriel. The author is a Lebanese Marionite Christian who was forced to grow up in the Lebanese turmoil.
Defeating Jihad by Serge Trifkovic, Ph.D. A European historian and former commentator for the BBC and US News & World Report, Trifkovic calls for a strategy for dealing with a deadly threat by isolating America from Islam, strictly controlling immigration and returning to our cultural and moral values. The author has a special talent for condensing alien and complex concepts into understandable prose. He blends demographic trends with Islamic activism in a thoroughly convincing way.
** Infidel by Ayaan Hirsi Ali. The autobiography of an incredibly strong and brave woman. Illustrates violent and myopic Islamic extremes as well as a unique view of life at ground level within Muslim society. A real eye opener on differences.
** Infiltration by Paul Sperry. Sperry is an investigative reporter. This book turned out to be the most informative of all regarding current events and dangers with great detail and strong focus on contemporary happenings inside the US. If you want to get an education on what is going on now as opposed to history, this is a must read and it will definitely not bore you. *
** Islamic Imperialism by Ishmael Karsh. This is the book to read for detailed historical content. The author is Chair of Mid East studies at London University. He is a Jew and, based on my e-mail exchange with him, a kindly and thoughtful man. This is a very deep and detailed study of Islamic history and culture with emphasis on Islam’s growth from the beginning. It is a serious text book approach rather than a relaxed read.
Islam: A Short History by Karen Armstrong. A book I reviewed that became apparent as a shill for Muslim spin on their ‘peace loving’ religion. An objective observer will see this book as shallow apologia. However, Armstrong, an ex British Nun and religious writer, along with American John Esposito, are two among many western Islamic apologists. It is always worthwhile to read both sides of a controversy.
No End to War (Terrorism in the 21st Century) by Walter Laqueur. Drives home the message that Islam will never give up their Jihad against Israel and the West. Wordy and exasperatingly pretentious but full of good insights.
Quran: Liberation and Pluralism by Farid Esack. A rare liberal Muslim who is still alive. He writes about his attempts to liberalize Islam. One of his points is that, rather than hijacking and twisting Islam to evil purposes, according to western apologists, UBL is a devout and true Muslim practitioner and a true man of God. But – we knew that!
Religion of Peace, Islam’s War Against The World by Gregory M. Davis
Terror in The Name of God by Jessica Stern. This is a hard to read and excessively wordy but still useful analysis of the motivations of terrorists and killers. Be prepared to learn something but this is a politically correct text that is two thirds space filler of dreck and drone so typical of text books.
The Legacy of Jihad by Andrew Bostom, Ph.D. The scriptural roots and actual history of Jihad as a tool of expansion and conquest are extensively detailed.
The Life of Mohammed by Rev. J. L. Menezes, S.J. Written in 1906, this tough to read book has the advantage of not being influenced by current events. Very insightful
and worthwhile but, due to its antique style, is challenging.
** The Life of Muhammad: A Translation of Ibn Ishaq’s Sirat Rasul Allah by A. Guillame. A dose of Islamic reality and a devastating denial of the bland PC beliefs concerning Islam from the mouth and pen of an Islamic scholar & cleric. *
** The Politically Incorrect Guide to Islam and the Crusades by Robert Spencer. Spencer is a prolific writer and researcher of Islamic history and happenings. This book strongly confirmed what I had learned in school about the Crusades many years ago only to see it become Politically Incorrect today. Also rich in reference material.
The Sword of the Prophet by Serge Trifkovic. The book’s theme is that politically correct and rigid elitist views of Islam blind us to the true nature of the threat it poses.
** The Truth about Muhammad by Robert Spencer. A focus on the life of Muhammad researched from Muslim sources. Without reading the Koran itself, this is a mini Koran study.
** The West’s Last Chance by Tony Blankley. A writer and journalist and former Brit, Blankley spells out the growing dangers and a scenario for taking back the initiative to preserve our way of life.
The Quran (Koran). Translated by M.A.S. Abdel Haleem. There are many English translations and a few are referenced by Spencer. Keep in mind that any version not written in Arabic are held by Islamists as invalid, even accurate translations written by Muslims, and are automatically discredited as corrupt when cited in open debate. But it is informative to read Koranic passages. *
**** Why I Am Not a Muslim by Ibn Warraq, a pseudonym. The author, a Pakistani, left Islam for atheism after much reflection on his Islamic schooling and the Salman Rushdie affair. This iconoclastic dissection of Islam was written 6 years before 9/11. It is a deeply researched learning experience. More than any other source it tells of many liberalizing efforts within Islam that have been quashed. He also challenges blind faith of any type.

MISCELLANEOUS

** America Alone by Mark Steyn. Steyn is a Canadian writer and columnist of political matters. This book details the political and strategic consequences of world demographic trends. The most comprehensive on demographic impacts but with a light style.
AMERICA’S God & Country edited & compiled by William J. Federer. Highlights of America’s heritage in notable quotes, court decisions, speeches and more;
This book is a treasury of reference material that is worth reading on its own merit.
A Global Intelligence Briefing for CEOs, an essay by Herbert Meyer. Covers four major topics; The Iraq War, The emergence of China, Shifting Demographics and Restructuring American Business. A very good global update that was widely distributed.
A Message to Garcia by Elbert Hubbard, c 1899. A lesson in character. Find it by Googling on Elbert Hubbard, A Message to Garcia.
A New Deal for Social Security by Peter Ferrara and Michael Turner. One of many good books that deal with the crisis that is here and now and is a disaster for younger generations and which is being ignored because of disgraceful partisan politics. It also serves as a good primer on the mechanics of Social Security.
A World Without Public Schools by David Gelernter from The Weekly Standard of 6/4/07, p29. An essay on public schools and our changing culture. Excellent.
Basic Economics by Thomas Sowell. The author is a highly respected and widely published Economist at the Hoover Institute. He is nationally syndicated and frequently appears with columns and Op-Eds in most major media. He has a clear, amusing and down to earth style that is easy to enjoy. He is the essence of adult.
Economic Showdown by Brian Wesbury, Wall Street Journal Op-Ed, 4/19/07, pA17. Analysis of long term economic boom, 1990 to present.
Freedom’s Power by Paul Starr. A liberal author who does a great job of defining the original meaning of liberal western democracy that confirms my definition in CIVICS and seems to be an effort to bring Democrats back to a patriotic center.
Freedom & Virtue Edited by George W. Carey. Essays on freedom and responsibility from prominent Conservatives and Libertarians.
Guns, Germs & Steel by Jared Diamond. Highly regarded liberal UCLA Professor’s study of why civilizations fail or succeed. A very worthwhile read.
GDP/Population Spread Sheet. Compiled from UN and Heritage Foundation publications, attached. See under Global Warming essay.
How the Catholic Church Built Western Civilization by Thomas Woods, Jr. The Catholic label notwithstanding, this book really documents the huge influence of Christianity, not just Catholicism, on western civilization and governmental forms. *
Immigration and the End of Self Government by Louis T. March. An easy read that focuses on the dangers and internal results of current immigration trends.
No Retreat, No Surrender by Tom DeLay. Makes a case for refocusing our country on core Constitutional and traditional values. A real benefit of this book, regardless of your opinion of DeLay, is a best ever explanation of what conservatism means as well as how Congress works at the floor level.
Reckless Disregard by Lt. Col Robert Patterson. How democrats and the Clinton Administration undercut and ignored the War on Terror and National Security.
The Broken Hearth by William J. Bennett. Makes a case for reversing the moral collapse of the American family as the core of a healthy society.
The Death of Outrage by William J. Bennett. Deals with the premise that political correctness and moral relativism has weakened the core of traditional American and family ideals.
They Just Don’t Get It and On The Hunt by Col. David Hunt. Shortcomings and blunt critique on the War on Terror. Hunt lays it on the line with a unique style.
The Next Century by David Halberstram. An economic model of the coming America which he presents as not so much gloom for us but simply the sobering reality and meaning to take from witnessing much of the world catching up with us economically.
The Theory of Everything by Stephen W. Hawking. A former atheist’s brainiac words of science for ordinary people with a surprising spiritual touch.
The Weather Makers by Tim Flannery. A good explanation of global warming factors and corrective action. Well written, entertaining and worth reading. Don’t let the liberal stamp keep you away. This guy is extreme, but good. We all know global warming needs deliberate attention.
The Whirlwind by James Clavell. Exciting fiction with a good insight into the Iranian revolution.
The UN Exposed by Eric Shawn. Shawn is an investigative reporter who has focused on corruption in the UN. This will load you with outrage.
Showdown by Jed Babbin & Edward Timperlake. The authors are former senior Pentagon officials. The book documents China’s rapid build up offensive military capability and poses scenarios for its purpose.
Winning The Future by Newt Gingrich. Some political wisdom from the most brilliant politician who will never be elected again.

WORTHWHILE ADULT PERIODICALS
Wall Street Journal
The Weekly Standard
America, formerly The American Enterprise
National Review
New York Times
New York Post
Washington Times
Washington Post
Human Events
The Claremont Review of Books


THOUGHT PROVOKING QUOTES

John F. Kennedy, U.S. President, assassinated 1963: “Today, we need a nation of Minutemen, citizens who are not only prepared to take up arms, but who regard the preservation of freedom as the basic purpose of their life”
John Howard, Current Australian Prime Minister: “Immigrants, not Australians, must adapt. Take it or leave it. I am tired of this nation worrying about whether we are offending some individual or culture”.
Ronald Reagan, U.S. President, 1980-88. “If we ever forget that we’re one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under”.
Edmund Burke, British political philosopher, 1729-1797. “All that is required for evil to triumph is for a few good men to do nothing”
Tony Blair, Contemporary British Prime Minister’s answer when challenged in open Parliament over his support for America. “A simple way to take measure of a country is to look at how many want in and how many want out”
G. K. Chesterton, early 20th century American writer and philosopher. “A man who ceases to believe in God does not believe in nothing, he believes in anything” and, “The most bigoted people are those with no convictions at all”.
Mohammad, Messenger of God & Founder of Islam, c 620. “Fight in the name of Allah and make a holy war thusly by giving your enemy three choices; accept Islam and suffer no harm (become Muslim); refuse Islam but pay Jizya (punitive tax) and be safe (become a very 2nd class citizen); refuse both Islam and the Jizya and be warred upon without remorse (lose your head)” (paraphrased for brevity)
Islamic Public Protest Signs in contemporary London by religion of peace protestors;
“Freedom go to hell”
“Europe – Take lessons from 9/11”
“Butcher those who mock Islam”
“Be prepared for the real holocaust”
“Behead those who insult Islam”
Sir William Muir, 1819-1905, Scottish scholar of Islam and author. “The sword of Mohammad and the Koran are the most stubborn enemies of Civilization, Liberty, and Truth which the world has yet known”.



Special Note: Victor Davis Hanson is a Research Fellow at the Hoover Institute, a UC Professor Emeritus of the Classics, military historian, columnist, essayist, social commentator and a raisin farmer near Selma, CA. Although I have not directly referenced him I read everything of his I can and, like Thomas Sowell, I greatly admire his writings for their clarity and objectiveness. Therefore I recommend the same for you and the best way to get your eyes around him is at Wikipedia.com. It also includes some very hateful rebuttals and reviews of him.