Heretic: Why Islam Needs a Reformation Now

Ayaan Hirsi Ali

HarperCollins Publishers Australia, Mar 23, 2015 - Islam - 320 pages

Even as the world of political Islam continues to be dominated by acts of violence and a separatist agenda, there are signs of reform in the Arab Spring movement. Ayaan Hirsi Ali who has been at the forefront of the reform movement offers an analysis of what's happening and how it could happen faster. Around the world cracks are starting to appear in the world of political Islam. While its leaders remain strong and defiant and while it continues to be characterized by separatism and an agenda of violence, a number of people have questioned its rigid stances - from Pakistani schoolgirl Malala Yousafzai to Amina Tyler, the activist who posed nude on Facebook to make a point about women's bodies belonging to themselves. Beyond that, political movements across the Middle East - the 'Arab Spring' protests - show that a number of Muslims are increasingly fed up by what they see as a system which is too inflexible, often corrupt and which prevents countries from getting ahead. Author Ayaan Hirsi Ali has long been an outspoken critic of political Islam, specifically its treatment of women. In her books she's told her own story and how she escaped the bonds of a strict Muslim upbringing.In this book she moves beyond the personal story to a more overtly political stance. While women remain her main concern she also addresses Islam's other problems - its emphasis on passivity, its hypocrisy about the modern world, its defensiveness when criticized. Analysing the embryonic protest movements from around the world, she asks what it would take to achieve a reformation - and how long it will take.

What people are saying

LibraryThing Review

User Review  - eraderneely - LibraryThing

This book was extremely helpful to me in identifying which central tenets of Islam lead to violence and in convincing me that a reformation of the entire religion is required to stop the continuance ...

LibraryThing Review

User Review  - baggman - LibraryThing

This book is very deep, with countless references to ancient cultures, religions, customs and beliefs. This is not a book you can pick up and read for its entertainment value. I'm not suggesting that it's bad, only that it's more a research paper.

About the author

Author, activist and former MP, Ayaan Hirsi Ali is a polarizing figure who enrages conservatives and liberals alike for her fearless take on political Islam. She is the author of three renowned books; The Caged Virgin, Infidel, her global bestselling autobiography, and Nomad. She lives in the US with her husband, Niall Ferguson, and their son.

Bibliographic information

• Title: Heretic: Why Islam Needs a Reformation Now
• Author: Ayaan Hirsi Ali
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Australia, 2015
• ISBN: 0732299055, 9780732299057
• Length: 320 pages