Robert Spencer's New Book

We recommend the Politically Incorrect Guide to Islam (and the Crusades), by Robert Spencer, [Regnery, Washington, DC; 2005; ISBN 0-89526-013-1]. It benefits readers on several levels.

First, for those very new to the truth about Islam, this book serves as an excellent introduction. Second, for those already somewhat familiar with the truth about Islam, this book refreshes and furthers what they know, as well as providing references for additional reading. Third, for those quite familiar with the truth about Islam, this book serves as a terrific handout to anyone needing that nudge to get started learning; for this use, it would be worthwhile to have a case of these books for handing out.

The author is highly knowledgeable about Islam—the truth about Islam—and writes in an engaging and clear style. Much of the referenced material will be familiar to those who frequent his outstanding website, Jihad Watch/Dhimmi Watch. What may be newest to most is the author’s debunking the lies about the Crusades, perpetrated by those who have reason to conceal the truth. At the end of this small volume, the author offers a number of useful suggestions about what to do about Islam, Those new to the subject will find these suggestions particularly useful.

To us, the most important aspect of the book comes from its point/counter-point style which presents myths, errors, and outright lies perpetrated about the goodness of Islam of today and yesterday--and then presents the truth. These myths, errors, and lies recur endlessly among columnists, journalists, broadcast media folk, and among far too many Americans. Here are a few examples:

• PC Myth: We can negotiate with these people
• PC Myth: Islam’s war teachings are only a tiny element of the religion
• PC Myth: Islam is a tolerant faith
• PC Myth: Islam forbids the killing of the innocent
• PC Myth: Islam was once the foundation of a great cultural and scientific flowering

The author presents many other myths about Islam and about the Crusades as well.

One of the best chapters, as we see it, is Chapter 16, “’Islamophobia’ and Today’s Ideological Jihad." This term, “Islamophobia,” has been coined and exploited in order to demonize criticism of Islam and intimidate the morally uncertain from even attempting criticism. It is a term, as we see it, arising from three sources: the ideological pool of postmodernism with its profound anti-Americanism; the United Nations' commitment to exploiting the USA while silencing it; and the forces of the covert jihad, such as CAIR (Council on American-Islamic Relations), attempting to induce dhimmitudinous thinking, and fear into Americans. Since there are so many in America who are so morally uncertain these days, this term has traction among them. In the politically correct circles, “Islamophobia” equates emotionally to “racism,” and is intended to produce the same robotic response. Robert Spencer tackles this and similar issues fearlessly, and we bow in respectful recognition of his fearless fortitude and moral certainty. As one typical Islamist wrote Robert Spencer, a comment reproduced on the book’s front cover, “May Allah rip out his spine from his back and split his brains in two, and then put them both back, and then do it over and over again. Amen.” You have to have a lot of “spine” to face such lunatics, and Spencer has that.

It is worth noting that this book has become a main selection of the Conservative Book Club and receives extensive promotion on Town Hall, World Net Daily, and NewsMax websites. We think this has much greater meaning than recognized generally.

Previously, when a book critical of Islam showed up on the National Review Online book service, CAIR went into high gear and pressured NRO to remove the book, even though it was said to be a rather positive biography of Muhammad, written by a priest many years ago. NRO caved in. That book left its book service list, never to return. However, Robert Spencer’s Politically Incorrect Guide to Islam (and the Crusades) enjoys prominent display on the same National Review Book Service.

What do we make of the foregoing? We see it as, hopefully, part of some “great awakening” of the Right in America to the nature of Islam. Previously, the Right muted itself on Islam, kowtowing before it and providing endless excuses because, the Right said, "Islam is a religion, one of the three great religions, a religion of peace, a religion distorted by the equivalent of religious gangsters to their nefarious ends." Thanks to Spencer’s prior work, and the work of all of those outstanding contributors to the truth about Islam, and the march of the facts of reality, the Right may be awakening. Hopefully it will be enough, soon enough.

Our criticisms of Politically Incorrect Guide to Islam (and the Crusades) per se are few. As found previously in Spencer’s books, critically vital questions about (philosophical) fundamentals do not get asked or answered, and some religious correctness and philosophical errors peek out now and then. These do not detract from the overall value of the book for most people. The book will really serve more nearly as "Cliff Notes." Its title nicely defines its intended scope, with the operative term in the title being “guide.” That is what a reader should expect, and the author masterfully meets that goal. If this book takes boobus Americanus—to borrow from H. L. Mencken—who is almost militantly ignorant about Islam and and inspires him to read more, then it contributes to America’s future magnificently.

Mr. Spencer’s new book brings high value to readers, and it belongs in the libraries of even the most advanced scholars on these matters. So, thumbs up, it is; or, if you want, give this book a bunch of stars. And, be very grateful that there is someone interested enough and able enough to make these materials available and so digestible to a general readership. Even younger readers can manage this well-written book. Criticisms notwithstanding, this book belongs on our MUST READ LIST. From this book, go to his other three books and those of other terrific authors on the subject (see Recommended).