No God but God: Egypt and the Triumph of Islam

Features

• Cover Type: Paperback with 240 pages
• Published by: Oxford University Press, USA October 24, 2002
• Written in: English
• ISBN 10 Number: 0195157931
• ISBN 13 Number: 978-0195157932
• Book Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 0.7 inches
• Weighs: 10.4 ounces

Product Review
In a book of first-rate investigative reporting, Geneive Abdo uncovers the hidden side of Egypt's so-called Islamic threat. The Arab world's only secular state, Egypt is the West's trophy in the area's power politics, yet insurgent Islamism has been a constant threat to this status. While the West and Egypt's own government have focused on the importance of exterminating Islamic militants, a quiet revolution has transformed the general population. Abdo, news correspondent for British publications, dons her veil and interviews the varying faces of Egypt's newly devout Muslims. By the time Abdo has traipsed from Cairo slums to elite college campuses, from influential professional organizations to a den of militant activities, it is clear to anyone willing to see that Islamic organizations have been good to the majority of Egyptians, who have been locked out of Egypt's corrupt government. Yet Abdo also questions the implications of Islam as a political solution, and the answers can be disturbing. With Egypt viewed as a vanguard of the Middle East, No God but God cannot be ignored. --Brian Bruya --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist
Despite recent efforts by historians and journalists, Islam still remains a subject that is misconstrued and often reviled by the West. Many books have tried to explain that all adherents of the prophet Mohammed are not terrorists, warmongers, empire builders, and anti-American. This most recent effort shows the peaceful nature of Islam and is a fascinating look at an Islamic subculture mostly unknown to the Western non-Muslim. Abdo, a Middle East correspondent for the Guardian and the Economist, has delved into the grassroots Islamic movement in Egypt to show how that country is accepting modern secularism, yet at the same time rediscovering Islamic religious devotion, and doing it peacefully. Abdo was able to break through the walls of mistrust felt toward the Western press by donning full Islamic dress and was allowed into a world that has little before been seen by outsiders. Through her interactions with Muslims of all social structures and classes in Egypt (thereby showing that Islamic revivalism is not a matter for just the poor), Abdo presents fruitful cross-cultural undercurrents that provide hope for peace and understanding between secularism and religion. Michael Spinella
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Reader Reviews
This review is from: No God but God: Egypt and the Triumph of Islam (Hardcover) To be honest, when I first borrowed this book, I expected to sift through an easy read full of quirky anecdotes that I would enjoy but I did not find too engaging. It surprised me, however. Once again, it made me rethink the trends of Egyptian society and Islam. Mrs. Abdo is amazingly persistent in gathering the information for this book. As an expatriate living in Egypt with a first-hand observation of how difficult the society can be for Western women, I was in awe at her achievements. Her portrait covers the slums to Imbaba to the elite of the American University in Cairo and Egyptian hollywood, and she provides interesting vignettes of each sector of society. I do wish she would have been a bit more comprhensive. The influential and visible Coptic population of Egypt remained on the margins. One cannot expect too much, so perhaps she fealt this was not a part of her analysis. Nonetheless, if you are fascinated by the Mid East and modern Egypt, you will enjoy this book heartily. It is readable and very accessible to the average reader.