I'm no expert, but have studied both the Koran and Sufi Mystic poetry. An interesting thing to note is that many Sufi mystics (themselves Muslim) were killed by other Muslims, who justified the killings by using reference from the Koran. The murderers thought the Sufi mystics were heathenous.

As a straight read, the Koran is fairly disconcerting. But, the Bible can be a little bit, too, so I guess it all depends on how you perceive it. But I will say there's a veritable mountain of un-PC stuff in the Koran, epsecially in regards to women, punishment, etc.

You should get it.

So I can read it when you're done.

I'd like to second what Jo notes, though: there are passages in the bible that would be inflammatory if someone chose to write a politically incorrect guide to Christianity.

In fact, that might be an interesting exercise.

I promise to share if purchased. Right now, it's #2 behind the handbook to being a member of the vast right wing conspiracy.

You're obviously right about every religion having its skeletons--look at the poor Mormons and all they put up with. Have you read Tom Cruise's interview in Rolling Stone where he rages in his defense of Scientology? It's the cover story at rollingstone.com if you feel like reading something funny.

Scientology? Said in your best Tom Cruise voice: "It's the shit, man!"

...I still can't believe he said that.

Like all holy books, the Qu'ran has areas that appear blood thirsty. However, an outsider only has to read the old testament to create a smear book like this one.

"Smear book" is kind of harsh. It looks like good entertainment that's loosely based on the facts. Christianity certainly takes its hits everyday as well. The author Serge probably has something against Islam, but I like that he questions the PC response following 9/11 to position Islam as a religion of peace that has nothing to do with its fundamentalist fringe. Islamic history would suggest that we're in the midst of a holy war.

I would definitely not buy it. Especially when there are so many other great books out there you could be reading on the subject or Islam or Arab culture. Fouad Ajami, Bernard Lewis... (I cannot recommend "The Middle East" enough.) "The Closed Circle" by David Pryce-Jones. "Clash of Civilizations" by Samuel Huntington. "From Beirut to Jerusalem" by Thomas Friedman.

There is no sense in reading that book when there are so many other more informative books on (essentially) the same subject you could be reading. The description is lousy. What the Muslims don't want you to know! Christ. Doesn't sound like a well-reasoned, objective view of Islam.

Now as for this particular book: Serge (the author) is described as foreign affairs editor of "Chronicles" magazine. Scroll there and you see "Thomas Fleming, president of the Rockford Institute and editor of Chronicles". A search for those terms brings up stories of a Thomas Fleming of Rockford who started a Neo-Confederate group and was an "inflammatory speaker in the school desegregation case". And the "Rockford Institute" home page says they're trying to "contribute to the renewal of Christendom". And the author is an editor for their magazine. In my book "renewal of Christendom" + "Neo-Confederate group" != "good source of info on the religion of Islam". Run away, man. Run away!

And I could lend you some of those books I mentioned. (Lewis, Pryce-Jones, T.E. Lawrence's memoirs...)

That's sound advice, I'd say.

Thanks DF. After hearing Samuel Huntington on a radio show here in Denver, Clash of Civilizations has been on my list. I also heard Thomas Friedman on the same show, different day, and he was great also.

I agree that there are many better books to read first and I feel disappointed in National Review for promoting such a shallow book. The advertising of it was very "tabloid"--fun, but wrong.