For five years, Jessica Stern interviewed extremist members of three religions around the world: Christians, Jews, and Muslims. She traveled extensively -- to refugee camps in Lebanon, to religious schools in Pakistan, to prisons in Amman, Ashqelon, and Pensacola -- and discovered that the Islamic jihadi in the mountains of Pakistan and the Christian fundamentalist bomber in Oklahoma have much in common.
Based on her vast research, Stern lucidly explains how terrorist organizations are formed by opportunistic leaders who -- using religion as both motivation and justification -- recruit the disenfranchised. She depicts how moral fervor is transformed into sophisticated organizations that strive for money, power, or attention and suggests how terrorism might most effectively be countered.
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"In this tome, Stern describes the process and findings from a courageous project she undertook in visiting with many terrorists around the world. She collected narratives from the different groups and examined them for common motifs to derive her theory of the motivations of terrorists." — Matt (4 out of 5 stars)
"In this tome, Stern describes the process and findings from a courageous project she undertook in visiting with many terrorists around the world. She collected narratives from the different groups and examined them for common motifs to derive her theory of the motivations of terrorists."
" Interesting book of interviews a brave young girl had with religious militants. "
" Very academic look at religious terrorism, including extensive interviews with current and former terrorists around the world. Very interesting, and yes, I am a big geek. "
" Amazing read! Read the book while writing master thesis on religion and violence. "
" The best thing I've read in understanding the causes of terrorism and fanaticism. "
" An interesting read. Fairly unbiased approach to religious terrorism of all faiths. I learned a lot. "
" Superbly written work looking at extremism at home and abroad. Freightening but true. "
" Good analysis of terrorism, including American anti-abortion terrorists. Interestingly, terrorists find rewards enough in the activity that they will find a reason to continue their actions even if the original reason for the terror has gone away. "
" The whole book wasn't super awesome but religiously motivated violence is an interesting topic to me. It gets cool when Stern gets the "terrorists" to open up, and sees into their lives. "
" I bought this book the day it hit the shelves, way back when. Anyone who has an opinion or thought on what really goes on in the rest of the world should consider the perspectives presented in this book. Great research. "
" I read this for a class and it was very interesting, perspective on how religion can go awry in many cultures. "
" Good journalism. Lousy scholarship. The book reads likes the semi-autobiogaphical works that good journalists produce, but it's too heavy on anecdotes and her own personal expereinces for my taste. "
Jessica Stern lectures on terrorism and is a member of the Hoover Institution Task Force on National Security and Law. She holds a doctorate in public policy from Harvard and served as a staff member at the National Security Council during the Clinton administration. A 2009–2010 Guggenheim Fellow, she was selected by Time in 2001 as one of seven thinkers whose innovative ideas will change the world. Stern is the author of the New York Times Notable Book Terror in the Name of God and The Ultimate Terrorists. She lives with her husband and son in Massachusetts.
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