Review Quotes
"Abdo...conducted hundreds of interviews within previously closed segments of society 'to present the true face of Islam.' Along the way, she discovered a great diversity of religious expression in a social transformation that poses a greater challenge to Western interests than the militarymovement now in decline.... This firsthand account will serve as a role model for Islamic reform in the 21st century."--Library Journal
"Abdo...conducted hundreds of interviews within previously closed segmentsof society 'to present the true face of Islam.' Along the way, she discovered agreat diversity of religious expression in a social transformation that poses agreater challenge to Western interests than the military movement now indecline.... This firsthand account will serve as a role model for Islamic reformin the 21st century."--Library Journal
"A fascinating look at an Islamic subculture mostly unknown to the Western non-Muslim. Abdo presents fruitful cross-cultural undercurrents that provide hope for peace and understanding between secularism and religion." --Booklist
"A fascinating look at an Islamic subculture mostly unknown to the Westernnon-Muslim. Abdo presents fruitful cross-cultural undercurrents that providehope for peace and understanding between secularism and religion."--Booklist
"As Abdo effectively points out in this important work, regardless of significant Western cultural influence and a relatively secular and firm Egyptian government, the grassroots Islamic revival taking shape in Egypt is indeed a serious and thriving force."--Middle East Insight
"As Abdo effectively points out in this important work, regardless ofsignificant Western cultural influence and a relatively secular and firmEgyptian government, the grassroots Islamic revival taking shape in Egypt isindeed a serious and thriving force."--Middle East Insight
"Geneive Abdo chronicles Egypt's contemporary moderate Islamist movement with clarity and insight...(She) has a firm grasp of the history of which she writes and an obvious empathy for her subjects. She is a fine journalist and a sensitive analyst."--The Washington Post Book World
"Geneive Abdo chronicles Egypt's contemporary moderate Islamist movementwith clarity and insight...(She) has a firm grasp of the history of which shewrites and an obvious empathy for her subjects. She is a fine journalist and asensitive analyst."--The Washington Post Book World
"Geneive Abdo chronicles Egypt's contemporary moderate Islamist movement with clarity and insight....(She) has a firm grasp of the history of which she writes and an obvious empathy for her subjects. She is a fine journalist and a sensitive analyst."--The Washington Post Book World
"Geneive Abdo chronicles Egypt's contemporary moderate Islamist movement with clarity and insight.... [She] has a firm grasp of the history of which she writes and an obvious empathy for her subjects. She is a fine journalist and a sensitive analyst."-- The Washington Post Book World "A fascinating look at an Islamic subculture mostly unknown to the Western non-Muslim. Abdo presents fruitful cross-cultural undercurrents that provide hope for peace and understanding between secularism and religion." -- Booklist "Abdo...conducted hundreds of interviews within previously closed segments of society 'to present the true face of Islam.' Along the way, she discovered a great diversity of religious expression in a social transformation that poses a greater challenge to Western interests than the military movement now in decline.... This firsthand account will serve as a role model for Islamic reform in the 21st century."-- Library Journal "Western observers and regime apologists tend to oversimplify social or political activism when it exhibits an Islamic coloration, casting it as monodimensional, uncompromising, and reactionary. No God But God debunks these one-dimensional depictions of Egyptian Muslims by offering an incisive, fresh, and richly drawn canvas. Yet, Abdo's book is not simply a riposte, but a congenial, informed, and often affectionate account of Muslims seeking to redefine themselves, their politics, and their society. If her subjects are groping for meaning, and recreating themselves in the process, the same may not be said of the government. Abdo's material is devastating, not least the image of an inept, uncreative, but often brutal government with a limited repertoire of tactics." --Augustus Richard Norton, Professor of International Relations and Anthropology, Harvard University "Geneive Abdo has produced a remarkable volume. She makes the dynamics of Egyptian society come alive. Combining sound scholarship and observation with an engaging style, readers will be given an insight into Egypt today and tomorrow that cannot be found elsewhere. The author's long and in-depth experience in Egypt, particularly her access to sectors of society that are often inaccessible to outsiders, gives this volume a depth and authenticity that cannot be found elsewhere. It is also the reason why she avoids so many of the pitfalls to which others succumb." --John L. Esposito Director, Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding Georgetown University
"Geneive Abdo chronicles Egypt's contemporary moderate Islamist movement with clarity and insight.... [She] has a firm grasp of the history of which she writes and an obvious empathy for her subjects. She is a fine journalist and a sensitive analyst."--The Washington Post Book World "A fascinating look at an Islamic subculture mostly unknown to the Western non-Muslim. Abdo presents fruitful cross-cultural undercurrents that provide hope for peace and understanding between secularism and religion." --Booklist "Abdo...conducted hundreds of interviews within previously closed segments of society 'to present the true face of Islam.' Along the way, she discovered a great diversity of religious expression in a social transformation that poses a greater challenge to Western interests than the military movement now in decline.... This firsthand account will serve as a role model for Islamic reform in the 21st century."--Library Journal "Western observers and regime apologists tend to oversimplify social or political activism when it exhibits an Islamic coloration, casting it as monodimensional, uncompromising, and reactionary.No God But Goddebunks these one-dimensional depictions of Egyptian Muslims by offering an incisive, fresh, and richly drawn canvas. Yet, Abdo's book is not simply a riposte, but a congenial, informed, and often affectionate account of Muslims seeking to redefine themselves, their politics, and their society. If her subjects are groping for meaning, and recreating themselves in the process, the same may not be said of the government. Abdo's material is devastating, not least the image of an inept, uncreative, but often brutal government with a limited repertoire of tactics." --Augustus Richard Norton, Professor of International Relations and Anthropology, Harvard University "Geneive Abdo has produced a remarkable volume. She makes the dynamics of Egyptian society come alive. Combining sound scholarship and observation with an engaging style, readers will be given an insight into Egypt today and tomorrow that cannot be found elsewhere. The author's long and in-depth experience in Egypt, particularly her access to sectors of society that are often inaccessible to outsiders, gives this volume a depth and authenticity that cannot be found elsewhere. It is also the reason why she avoids so many of the pitfalls to which others succumb." --John L. Esposito Director, Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding Georgetown University
"Geneive Abdo chronicles Egypt's contemporary moderate Islamist movement with clarity and insight.... [She] has a firm grasp of the history of which she writes and an obvious empathy for her subjects. She is a fine journalist and a sensitive analyst."--The Washington Post Book World "A fascinating look at an Islamic subculture mostly unknown to the Western non-Muslim. Abdo presents fruitful cross-cultural undercurrents that provide hope for peace and understanding between secularism and religion." --Booklist "Abdo...conducted hundreds of interviews within previously closed segments of society 'to present the true face of Islam.' Along the way, she discovered a great diversity of religious expression in a social transformation that poses a greater challenge to Western interests than the military movement now in decline.... This firsthand account will serve as a role model for Islamic reform in the 21st century."--Library Journal "Western observers and regime apologists tend to oversimplify social or political activism when it exhibits an Islamic coloration, casting it as monodimensional, uncompromising, and reactionary. No God But God debunks these one-dimensional depictions of Egyptian Muslims by offering an incisive, fresh, and richly drawn canvas. Yet, Abdo's book is not simply a riposte, but a congenial, informed, and often affectionate account of Muslims seeking to redefine themselves, their politics, and their society. If her subjects are groping for meaning, and recreating themselves in the process, the same may not be said of the government. Abdo's material is devastating, not least the image of an inept, uncreative, but often brutal government with a limited repertoire of tactics." --Augustus Richard Norton, Professor of International Relations and Anthropology, Harvard University "Geneive Abdo has produced a remarkable volume. She makes the dynamics of Egyptian society come alive. Combining sound scholarship and observation with an engaging style, readers will be given an insight into Egypt today and tomorrow that cannot be found elsewhere. The author's long and in-depth experience in Egypt, particularly her access to sectors of society that are often inaccessible to outsiders, gives this volume a depth and authenticity that cannot be found elsewhere. It is also the reason why she avoids so many of the pitfalls to which others succumb." --John L. Esposito Director, Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding Georgetown University "The fate of Egypt, the core country of the Arab world, may be decisive for the future of the Middle East and the Muslim world. In this original and perceptive book, enriched by first-hand acquaintance with the country and with its Islamic opposition, Geneive Abdo gives us a portrait of Egypt's religious establishment and opposition, and explores the thinking that seeks to reshape Egyptian culture, law and society along authoritarian Muslim lines. Focusing on the protracted conflict between military government and illiberal opposition, Abdo portrays a society in which the religious opposition is, while avoiding a direct challenge, transforming the state and society around it. The wide support for this movement among the middle class as well as the poor, and the often suspicious and rancorous politics it espouses, produce a disturbing picture of Egypt today. -- Fred Halliday, author of Nation and Religion in the Middle East and Professor of International Relations, London School of Economics
"Geneive Abdo has produced a remarkable volume. She makes the dynamics of Egyptian society come alive. Combining sound scholarship and observation with an engaging style, readers will be given an insight into Egypt today and tomorrow that cannot be found elsewhere. The author's long andin-depth experience in Egypt, particularly her access to sectors of society that are often inaccessible to outsiders, gives this volume a depth and authenticity that cannot be found elsewhere. It is also the reason why she avoids so many of the pitfalls to which others succumb." --John L. EspositoDirector, Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding Georgetown University
"Geneive Abdo has produced a remarkable volume. She makes the dynamics ofEgyptian society come alive. Combining sound scholarship and observation withan engaging style, readers will be given an insight into Egypt today andtomorrow that cannot be found elsewhere. The author's long and in-depthexperience in Egypt, particularly her access to sectors of society that areoften inaccessible to outsiders, gives this volume a depth and authenticity thatcannot be found elsewhere. It is also the reason why she avoids so many of thepitfalls to which others succumb." --John L. Esposito Director, Center forMuslim-Christian Understanding Georgetown University
"Geneive Abdo has produced a remarkable volume. She makes the dynamics of Egyptian society come alive. Combining sound scholarship and observation with an engaging style, readers will be given an insight into Egypt today and tomorrow that cannot be found elsewhere. The author's long andin-depth experience in Egypt, particularly her access to sectors of society that are often inaccessible to outsiders, gives this volume a depth and authenticity that cannot be found elsewhere. It is also the reason why she avoids so many of the pitfalls to which others succumb."--John L. Esposito,Director, Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding Georgetown University
"The fate of Egypt, the core country of the Arab world, may be decisive for the future of the Middle East and the Muslim world. In this original and perceptive book, enriched by first-hand acquaintance with the country and with its Islamic opposition, Geneive Abdo gives us a portrait ofEgypt's religious establishment and opposition, and explores the thinking that seeks to reshape Egyptian culture, law and society along authoritarian Muslim lines. Focusing on the protracted conflict between military government and illiberal opposition, Abdo portrays a society in which thereligious opposition is, while avoiding a direct challenge, transforming the state and society around it. The wide support for this movement among the middle class as well as the poor, and the often suspicious and rancorous politics it espouses, produce a disturbing picture of Egypt today. -- FredHalliday, author of Nation and Religion in the Middle East and Professor of International Relations, London School of Economics
"The fate of Egypt, the core country of the Arab world, may be decisivefor the future of the Middle East and the Muslim world. In this original andperceptive book, enriched by first-hand acquaintance with the country and withits Islamic opposition, Geneive Abdo gives us a portrait of Egypt's religiousestablishment and opposition, and explores the thinking that seeks to reshapeEgyptian culture, law and society along authoritarian Muslim lines. Focusing onthe protracted conflict between military government and illiberal opposition,Abdo portrays a society in which the religious opposition is, while avoiding adirect challenge, transforming the state and society around it. The wide supportfor this movement among the middle class as well as the poor, and the oftensuspicious and rancorous politics it espouses, produce a disturbing picture ofEgypt today. -- Fred Halliday, author of Nation and Religion in the Middle Eastand Professor of International Relations, London School of Economics
"The fate of Egypt, the core country of the Arab world, may be decisive for the future of the Middle East and the Muslim world. In this original and perceptive book, enriched by first-hand acquaintance with the country and with its Islamic opposition, Geneive Abdo gives us a portrait ofEgypt's religious establishment and opposition, and explores the thinking that seeks to reshape Egyptian culture, law and society along authoritarian Muslim lines. Focusing on the protracted conflict between military government and illiberal opposition, Abdo portrays a society in which thereligious opposition is, while avoiding a direct challenge, transforming the state and society around it. The wide support for this movement among the middle class as well as the poor, and the often suspicious and rancorous politics it espouses, produce a disturbing picture of Egypt today."--FredHalliday, author of Nation and Religion in the Middle East and Professor of International Relations, London School of Economics
"Western observers and regime apologists tend to oversimplify social or political activism when it exhibits an Islamic coloration, casting it as monodimensional, uncompromising, and reactionary. No God But God debunks these one-dimensional depictions of Egyptian Muslims by offering anincisive, fresh, and richly drawn canvas. Yet, Abdo's book is not simply a riposte, but a congenial, informed, and often affectionate account of Muslims seeking to redefine themselves, their politics, and their society. If her subjects are groping for meaning, and recreating themselves in theprocess, the same may not be said of the government. Abdo's material is devastating, not least the image of an inept, uncreative, but often brutal government with a limited repertoire of tactics." --Augustus Richard Norton, Professor of International Relations and Anthropology, HarvardUniversity
"Western observers and regime apologists tend to oversimplify social orpolitical activism when it exhibits an Islamic coloration, casting it asmonodimensional, uncompromising, and reactionary. No God But God debunks theseone-dimensional depictions of Egyptian Muslims by offering an incisive, fresh,and richly drawn canvas. Yet, Abdo's book is not simply a riposte, but acongenial, informed, and often affectionate account of Muslims seeking toredefine themselves, their politics, and their society. If her subjects aregroping for meaning, and recreating themselves in the process, the same may notbe said of the government. Abdo's material is devastating, not least the imageof an inept, uncreative, but often brutal government with a limited repertoireof tactics." --Augustus Richard Norton, Professor of International Relations andAnthropology, Harvard University
"Western observers and regime apologists tend to oversimplify social or political activism when it exhibits an Islamic coloration, casting it as monodimensional, uncompromising, and reactionary. No God But God debunks these one-dimensional depictions of Egyptian Muslims by offering anincisive, fresh, and richly drawn canvas. Yet, Abdo's book is not simply a riposte, but a congenial, informed, and often affectionate account of Muslims seeking to redefine themselves, their politics, and their society. If her subjects are groping for meaning, and recreating themselves in theprocess, the same may not be said of the government. Abdo's material is devastating, not least the image of an inept, uncreative, but often brutal government with a limited repertoire of tactics."--Augustus Richard Norton, Professor of International Relations and Anthropology, HarvardUniversity