Overview
āFascinating, terrifying, occasionally blackly humorous.āāSteven Pinker, author of The Better Angels of Our Nature, on āWhat ISIS Really Wantsā
Tens of thousands of men and women have left comfortable, privileged lives to join the Islamic State of Iraq and Syriaāand kill for it. To them, its violence is beautiful and holy, and the caliphate a fulfillment of prophecy and the only place on earth where they can live and die as Muslims.
The Way of the Strangers is an intimate journey into the minds of the Islamic Stateās most radical true believers. From the streets of Cairo to the mosques of London, Graeme Wood interviews supporters, recruiters, and sympathizers of the group. We meet an Egyptian tailor who once made bespoke suits for Paul Newman and now wants to live, finally, under Shariah; a Japanese convert who believes that the eradication of bordersāone of the Islamic Stateās proudest achievementsāis a religious imperative; and a charming, garrulous Australian preacher who translates the groupās sermons and threats into English and is accused of recruiting for the organization. We also learnĀ about a prodigy of Islamic rhetoric, now stripped of the citizenship of the nation of his birth and determined to see it drenched in blood.Ā Wood speaks with nonāIslamic State Muslim scholars and jihadists, and explores the groupās idiosyncratic, coherent approach to Islam.
The Islamic State is bent on murder and apocalypse, but its followers find meaning and fellowship in its utopian dream. Its first caliph, Abu Bakr al Baghdadi, has declared that he is the sole legitimate authority for Muslims worldwide. The theology, law, and emotional appeal of the Islamic State are key to understanding itāand predicting what its followers will do next.
Through character study and analysis, Wood provides a clear-eyed look at a movement that has inspired so many people to abandon or uproot their families. Many seek deathāand they will be the terror threat of the next decade, as they strike back against the countries fighting their caliphate. Just as Lawrence Wrightās The Looming Tower informed our understanding of Al Qaida, Graeme Woodās The Way of the Strangers will shape how we see a new generation of terrorists.
Praise for The Way of the Strangers
āReaders are taken on a global journey to meet the frothing fans of ISIS. . . . Wood wants to know these people, to get in their skin, to understand how they see the world. Unlike most journalists writing about Islam today, there is no partisan axe to grind here, no hidden agenda to subtly advance.āāNew Republic
āThe best way to defeat the Islamic State is to understand it. And to do that, the best place to start is [The Way of the Strangers]. . . . A series of gripping, fascinating portraits. . . . Wood has the talented journalistās skill for interview and observation. Heās an astute psychologist and a good writer to boot. . . . Itās a great read.āāThe Week
ā[Graeme Wood] shows, convincingly, that the stifling and abhorrent practices of the Islamic State are rooted in Islam itselfānot mainstream Islam, but in scriptures and practices that have persisted for centuries. . . . The Islamic State, such as it is, is a dangerous place, and Woodās book amounts to a tour around its far edges.āāDexter Filkins, The New York Times Book ReviewĀ
This book title, The Way of the Strangers (Encounters with the Islamic State) - 9780812988772, ISBN: 9780812988772, by Graeme Wood, published by Random House Publishing Group (May 7, 2019) is available in paperback. Our minimum order quantity is 25 copies. All standard bulk book orders ship FREE in the continental USA and delivered in 4-10 business days.
Unlike Amazon and other retailers who may also offer The Way of the Strangers (Encounters with the Islamic State) - 9780812988772 books on their website, we specialize in large quantities and provide personal service, from trusted, experienced, friendly people in Portland, Oregon. We offer a Price Match Guarantee, and QuickQuote form, to make purchasing quick and easy.
Prefer to work with a human being when you order The Way of the Strangers (Encounters with the Islamic State) - 9780812988772 books in bulk? Our Book Specialists are standing by Monday-Friday 8-5 PST, ready to help!